Fuel

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Fuel
Origin	Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Genre(s)	Post-Grunge Alternative Rock Alternative Metal
Years active	1989 – present
Label(s)	SonyBMG/Epic
Website	http://www.fuelweb.com/
Members
Jeff Abercrombie Carl Bell Toryn Green Tommy Stewart
Former members
Jody Abbott Erik Avakian Kevin Miller Jonathan Mover Brett Scallions

Fuel is a rock band formed by guitarist/songwriter Carl Bell and bassist Jeff Abercrombie in 1989. Originally known as Small the Joy, they would change the group's name to Fuel sometime in 1994. They are well known for their hit songs "Shimmer", from the album Sunburn, and "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" and "Bad Day" from the album Something Like Human.

Contents [hide] 1 History 1.1 Early years 1.2 Rise to fame 1.3 Line-up changes 1.3.1 Miller and Scallions leave 1.3.2 Daughtry receives lead singer offer 1.3.3 New singer chosen 1.4 Angels & Devils (2007) 2 Trivia 3 Members 3.1 Current lineup 3.2 Former members 4 Discography 4.1 Albums and EPs 4.2 Singles 5 Notes 6 External links

 

 History

 

 Early years

Fuel was originally formed in 1989 in Kenton, Tennessee. Singer/guitarist Brett Scallions joined the group after guitarist/songwriter Carl Bell and bassist Jeff Abercrombie saw him in a bar in Jackson, Tennessee in 1993.^[1] The band moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1994 where they played at local Pennsylvania bars and nightclubs. Their first EP Porcelain was released in 1996 and sold well locally, spawning a small radio hit with "Shimmer." The popularity of the EP brought them to the attention of Sony's 550 imprint, which released their second EP Hazleton the following year. In 1999, they eventually moved to Atlanta.

The band's full length debut, Sunburn, came out in 1998. "Shimmer" was again included and almost became a Top 40 hit; while, the other singles ("Bittersweet," "Jesus or a Gun," and "Sunburn,") received some airplay. The songs "Shimmer" and "Sunburn" are also featured on the charitable album Live in the X Lounge. "Sunburn" was also featured in the movie Scream 2.

 

 Rise to fame

In 2000, after laying low for two and a half years, Fuel came back with their second album, Something Like Human, and scored a Top 40 hit with "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" (#30), as well as going double platinum with the album.

The third album, Natural Selection, came out in 2003, which spawned the hit "Falls on Me" but did not sell as well as its predecessor. They released their greatest hits album The Best of Fuel on December 13, 2005.

 

 Line-up changes

 

 Miller and Scallions leave

After disagreements (both public and private), drummer Kevin Miller was dismissed from the band in 2004. On February 7, 2006, Fuel announced through their website that singer Brett Scallions had left the band. Although the band (now just Carl Bell and Jeff Abercrombie) said that Scallions left on friendly terms, Bell has stated that there were problems with Scallions' voice, "Brett had some voice issues…struggling with his voice at times... he had kinda lost a little bit of it."^[2] Bell also wrote a letter on their website stating "We will all miss him and we wish him the best."

 

 Daughtry receives lead singer offer

Fuel had already laid down the instrumental tracks for their fourth album and soon started auditioning singers so the band could move forward. Abercrombie and Bell took notice of American Idol contestant Chris Daughtry, after he performed "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" on the show. The single shot up to the Top 10 download list on iTunes and stayed there for a number of days. This also sparked interest in other Fuel songs, which began to appear in the Top 100 download chart on iTunes. On March 3, 2006, judge Randy Jackson stated in an interview that Daughtry had been offered the opportunity to become Fuel's new lead singer.^[3] Fuel confirmed their interest on their official website. On May 11, 2006, Abercrombie and Bell appeared on the TV show Extra to officially offer Daughtry the job.^[4] However, though flattered, Daughtry turned down this offer.^[5]

By this time also, Tommy Stewart, formerly of Godsmack, was named as Fuel's drummer on Fuel's Myspace page.^[6]

 

 New singer chosen

On June 8, 2006, Bell announced that the band has found a new lead singer but were waiting confirmation from the record label to announce it.^[7] Still, they officially entered the studio in mid-August with producer Scott Humphrey to start recording their fourth album. Tommy Lee and Josh Freese have helped with additional drums on the new album. The band has posted photos from within the studio fairly often on the band's website and MySpace.

On March 9, 2007, Carl Bell officially announced that Fuel's next album, complete with new band members, was fully mixed and going to mastering, and on April 19, 2007, he posted on Fuel's official website that their new lead singer has been confirmed as Toryn Green.

 

 Angels & Devils (2007)

On May 15, 2007, Bell announced the title of the new album - Angels & Devils - set to be released on August 7, 2007. On June 19, 2007, Fuel's first single from their new album, "Wasted Time," was released into rock radio and internet download and peaked at #24 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. A second single, "Gone," was released on October 23rd.

Fuel performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Friday August 10, 2007.

Angels & Devils made its debut at #7 on itunes in the "all" category, and #1 in the "rock" category. It went up to #4 in the "all" category.

It debuted on the Billboard 200 at #42 (15,000 units).

 

 Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• Fuel was forced to call off tour dates after an on-stage accident led to lead singer Brett Scallions' nose being broken. Forced to have surgery, he had to re-learn how to sing for the recording of Something Like Human.
• The band performs many cover songs of other rock bands; one of its favorites to perform is an acoustic version of "Going to California" by Led Zeppelin, which they also recorded for their Something Like Human album as a bonus track.
• Coincidentally, there is another band also known as Fuel, which plays emocore in the same vein of Fugazi or Hot Water Music. They were around in the early 1990s and released one full length CD, titled Monuments to Excess.
• "Won't Back Down," from the album Natural Selection, was featured on the soundtrack of the movie Daredevil.
• "Quarter," also from the album Natural Selection, was featured in the soundtrack of the video games Need for Speed: Underground, Nascar Thunder 2004, and NFL Street. Both games were released by divisions of the Electronic Arts company.
• "Scar", another song from Natural Selection, was featured on the video game "NHL Hitz 2002".
• "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" was featured on episode 8 of the first season of "Cold Case."
• "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" was also featured on the sixth episode in the first season of "Hack".
• The song "Bad Day" was covered by Korey Livy on Australian Idol. A few weeks later Dean Geyer performed "Shimmer" on Australian Idol's rock week.
• In March 2007, former frontman Brett Scallions was selected as the singer for "Riders on the Storm," featuring Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek -- former members of The Doors.
• In a rock magazine released titled, "Heavy Metal's All-Time Top 100 Vocalists," Brett Scallions was ranked number fifty.^[8]
• "Empty Spaces" was featured in the 2002 film A Walk to Remember.
• On July 26 2007, Australian rugby league Brisbane Broncos star, Sam Thaiday performed, "Shimmer," on The Footy Show.
• "Walk The Sky" was featured on the soundtrack of the 1998 "Godzilla" movie.
• "Falls On Me" featured on the 12th episode in season 4 of "Cold Case"
• Their song "Gone" was used as the theme song for WWE's 2007 Pay Per View, Vengeance.
• Their song "Again" was used in a FOX commercial for "Prison Break"
• Fuel performed "We Three Kings" on the Christmas Calling CD.

 

 Members

 

 Current lineup

• Toryn Green - vocals
• Carl Bell - guitar, keyboards, vocals
• Jeff Abercrombie - bass guitar
• Tommy Stewart - drums, percussion

 

 Former members

• Brett Scallions - vocals, guitar (1993-2006)
• Kevin Miller - drums, percussion (1997-2004)
• Jonathan Mover - Drums (1994-1998)
• Jody Abbot - Drums (1989-1994)
• Erik Avakian - keyboards (1994-1995)
• Larry Swartz - keyboards (1991-1994)

 

 Discography

 

 Albums and EPs

Date of Release	Title	Label	U.S. peak	Certification
1994	Small the Joy EP	Self-release	-
March 17, 1994	Fuel EP	Self-release	-
May 1, 1996	Porcelain EP	Self-release	-
March 17, 1998	Hazleton EP	Epic Records	-
March 31, 1998	Sunburn	Epic Records	77	Platinum
September 19, 2000	Something Like Human	Epic Records	17	2x Platinum
September 23, 2003	Natural Selection	Epic Records	15	Gold
December 13, 2005	The Best of Fuel	Epic Records	-
August 7, 2007	Angels & Devils	Epic Records	42

 

 Singles

Year	Title	U.S. Hot 100	U.S. Modern Rock	U.S. Mainstream Rock	Album
1998	"Shimmer"	42	2	11	Sunburn
1998	"Bittersweet"	-	17	15	Sunburn
1999	"Sunburn"	-	31	-	Sunburn
1999	"Jesus or a Gun"	-	26	24	Sunburn
2000	"Hemorrhage (In My Hands)"	30	1	2	Something Like Human
2001	"Last Time"	-	25	21	Something Like Human
2001	"Innocent"	-	4	10	Something Like Human
2001	"Bad Day"	64	12	14	Something Like Human
2003	"Won't Back Down"	-	37	22	Natural Selection
2003	"Falls on Me"	52	11	9	Natural Selection
2004	"Million Miles"	-	33	16	Natural Selection
2007	"Wasted Time"	-	-	24	Angels & Devils
2007	"Gone"	-	-	-	Angels & Devils

The singles from the first three albums are all featured on the compilation album The Best of Fuel, with the exception of "Million Miles" (it contains the song "Quarter" from the same album instead).

 

 Notes

1. ^ KAOS 2000 Magazine interview w/ Carl Bell
2. ^ Carl Bell of Fuel Speaks Out
3. ^ http://www.accesshollywood.com/news/7659307/detail.html
4. ^ http://extratv.warnerbros.com/v2/news/0506/11/1/text.html
5. ^ http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=121114
6. ^ http://www.myspace.com/fuel
7. ^ http://forum.sonymusic.com/webx?14@443.KPQkaXSIcK4.0@.ee7e779!discloc=.ee825b9
8. ^ http://www.hearya.com/2006/12/04/hit-paraders-top-100-metal-vocalists-of-all-time/

 

 External links

• Official website
• Fuelies.net
• Fuel at MySpace

Fuel
Current members: Jeff Abercrombie | Carl Bell | Toryn Green | Tommy Stewart
Past members: Brett Scallions | Kevin Miller | Jonathan Mover | Jody Abbott | Erik Avakian
Discography
EPs: Small the Joy | Fuel | Porcelain | Hazleton
Studio albums: Sunburn | Something Like Human | Natural Selection | Angels & Devils
Compilation albums: The Best of Fuel
Singles: "Shimmer" | "Bittersweet" | "Sunburn" | "Jesus or a Gun" | "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" | "Last Time" | "Innocent" | "Bad Day" "Won't Back Down" | "Falls on Me" | "Million Miles" | "Wasted Time" | "Gone"
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