Coilback

Coilback

Coilback performing at the Dallas Scaregrounds in 2004. Left to Right: Eddie Johnson (bass), Steven Green (drums), Lew Morris (vocals / guitar)
Background information
Origin Dallas, Texas, United States
Genres Hard Rock, Gothic Metal, heavy metal
Years active 2000–present
Labels Shadowmorph Music (band's own label)
Associated acts Netrual Density, Ghoultown, 6Gun7, Alexis Charisse & Five West, Liquor Goat
Website , ,
Members Lew Morris, Fernando Salas, Chris Carnage, Andrew Jensen
Past members Andy Moore, Rick M, Vlad Cadillac, Steven Green, Eddie Johnson, John Navarro, John McCauley
Lew Morris of Coilback performing on stage
Lew Morris of Coilback plays at the RBC in Deep Ellum, Dallas, Texas. Photo by DeLisa Corrine Photography.

Coilback is a heavy metal / hard rock band from Dallas, Texas. Their sound has been likened to a combination of old style Metallica and Rob Zombie.

Biography

Coilback formed in 2000 after the split up of the band Liquor Goat (also from Dallas). Lead singer Lew Morris and guitarist Vlad Cadillac (aka Steve Chapman) decided to form a band that had a more modern sound and focused more on songwriting.[1] The initial lineup of Coilback featured Andy Moore on the drums, Rick M on the bass, Vlad Cadillac on the guitar, and Lew Morris on lead vocals as well as guitar. After only a few shows, Andy Moore and Rick M left the band to form the band Secret Silo as they felt it was closer to the direction of sound they preferred.[2] Coilback then brought on Steven Green on drums and Vlad Cadillac moved to bass.

2000–2001

Only weeks after bringing Steven Green into the band, Coilback went into Pineapple Studios in Arlington, Texas to record their debut EP. The EP featured the songs, Hate Me, Your Misery, Take It From Me, Throw Away and Won't Follow. There are notable differences on these songs versus the versions that later appeared on their full length album (with the exception of Won't Follow which was not re-recorded for the full length release). Deciding to keep control of the music to themselves, Lew Morris formed the Shadowmorph Music label to distribute the EP under as well as Shadowmorph Music ASCAP as the publishing company for their songs. The cover art featured a "pop art" style picture of the band with their infamous skull "CB" logo in the middle. The cover art was done by Lew Morris. The initial buzz was great and stocks of their EP release were quickly depleted. The band performed locally around the DFW area, but heavily promoted themselves on the internet, especially to internet radio and independent radio stations.[3] The band continued to write songs in anticipation for their full length release while playing several shows each month.

2002–2003

The middle of 2002 had Coilback slowing down on their live performances in order to prepare for the recording of their full length album. Coilback rang in the 2003 new year at a special performance at Monte Carlos in Arlington, TX and had made arrangements to record their performance in order to possibly include some of the live tracks on their album.[4] The engineer had power issues with some of the equipment and the only usable recording was of the song Hate Me which was later posted for free download on the band's website. After the show (almost literally), the band went into the studio to begin work on their full length album. Two months later, the band announced they had finished recording their full length album (this time done at Sonic Research Lab in Arlington, TX) and was preparing for its release. In April 2003, the full length album, entitled, Love Is Dead was released. The cover featured Dallas model Tammy Winters on the front (in very dark shadowing) as well as a tombstone and "plasma flames." The cover art and packaging was done by Lew Morris once again.

While 2003 featured more of the same constant performing for the band, the band also recorded some special tracks for cover model Tammy Winters for her "Gelatin Wrestling" video (later entitled The 2003 Texas Nude Grudge Gelatin Wrestling Smackdown).[5] The recordings were very tongue-in-cheek and only featured Steven Green and Lew Morris (Lew played the bass parts as well for these recordings). The band wrote and performed the theme song as well as three special tracks for the "bad girls" of the video (one of which was an early instrumental recording of "Let Me Go" from their full length album). The band is also featured in one of the "fake commercials" on the DVD. Tammy Winters has become somewhat of the band's mascot and is usually also featured in the band's posters and promotional material.

2004–2005

Around the beginning of 2004, bass player Vlad Cadillac was forced to quit the band due to relocation. Vlad was replaced by bass player Eddie Johnson. The band, deciding to return to its original four piece set up auditioned several guitar players and performed with a few of them, finally settling on guitarist John Navarro as the permanent lead guitar player. During the summer of 2004, drummer Steven Green was fired from the band due to issues between himself and lead singer, Lew Morris. Rumors originally stated that Steven left the band, but Lew Morris later came forward on his personal blog to say that Steven was fired from the band due to "backstabbing" the band and that he could not be trusted any longer.[6] Steven was replaced by drummer John McCauley. This left Lew Morris as the only founding member of the band still in the lineup. The band began to write and perform many new songs live. The band stated that a second full length album was in the works.

Around the end of 2005, guitarist John Navarro was noticeably absent from many of the live performances and the band was performing again as a three piece. It was later learned that John was dealing with some medical issues (back pain) and was on a temporary hiatus.[7]

2006–2007

The band slowed down many of their live performances due to the decline of the music scene in the Dallas area at this time. Many of the clubs that played rock and metal were closing down in Dallas and the band found that there was more success with promoting on the internet instead. In early 2006, it was announced that bass player Eddie Johnson was leaving the band due relocating out of state as well. There was no immediate replacement for Eddie. Lew stated in an interview that the band would continue to work on new tracks for their second album and would end up playing the bass parts himself if necessary.

In April 2007, the band played what Lew Morris had said was, "the last show Coilback would play for a while." The band featured Ray Deauman on bass from the band Peterbilt and also featured the return of John Navarro on guitar. Coilback played at TomCats in Dallas, TX (located in the Deep Ellum district). The band played several encores and even brought a fan onstage to sing what became a "spontaneous" death metal song.[8] No further information was given on the status of the new album or the band.

2008–present

In January 2008, Lew Morris relocated to Florida. In an interview posted on the band's website, Lew stated that Coilback was "not dead" and that there is still a chance the second album would be made. At this time, Lew began work on a side project electronic band named, Neutral Density. The Coilback website remained unchanged the entire time with no new updates on the band.

Lew announced his return to Texas in January 2009 and stated on Coilback's MySpace page that Coilback was indeed returning and that the intention to record the new songs was still there. The plans to reform stalled when a solid lineup could not be put together (some rehearsals took place and could be found on YouTube at the time) and the project was scrapped.

In 2013, rumors have spread that Coilback is indeed reforming again and that rehearsals are already under way. So far, no solid news has come out (most likely due to the issue with the 2009 lineup), but Lew Morris has mentioned on his Facebook page that he was currently in rehearsals.

On August 2014, Coilback announced via their Facebook and Reverbnation pages that a new lineup is indeed set up and the band is currently preparing to start performing live again.

January 2015, Coilback announced a brand new lineup and a "Return" show at Diamond Jims in Arlington. The show was cancelled due to inclement weather and was rescheduled for February at the RBC Club in Deep Ellum (Dallas, TX). The band played another show the following month at The Boiler Room (also in Deep Ellum) and hasn't had any future shows appear on their schedule. A highlight of the shows were the inclusion of a new song ("Lose Your Soul") as well as a few of the other "new" songs that were written before the previous breakup and reworked with the new lineup. The band also played a cover of Metallica's "Master of Puppets," at both shows, one of which was uploaded to YouTube. Lew cites that the members all have full personal schedules at the moment so the band is taking a hiatus to regroup once everything smooths out.

Current members related bands and projects

Lew Morris has also been a member in the following bands previous to Coilback: Golem, Darkheart, and FF9 (a cover band). Lew also played with the band Ghoultown as part of their 2003 tour as Lewis Lazario. He played acoustic guitar and backing vocals in place of Lizard Lazario while Lizard was on hiatus. Lew is still considered an "honorary" member of the band. Lew also has an electronic music side project named Neutral Density.[9]


Lew and John McCauley also had a small side project under the name, 6Gun7 that was a "southern industrial electronic" group. They only recorded one song entitled Tear (as in ripping something versus crying) for the soundtrack for the horror film Long Pig. Due to production delays, the song did not make it into the final cut, but can be found on Lew's personal webpage as well as his YouTube channel. Lew has stated several times that he may revisit the project by himself and make a few more songs. [10]

Band members

Current lineup

Former members

Discography

Notes

  1. ↑ Coilback promo one-sheet, May 2001
  2. ↑ Harder Beat Magazine, October 2001
  3. ↑ Interview with Lew Morris, Black Angel Promotions Newsletter, September 2001
  4. ↑ Harder Beat, February 2003
  5. ↑ Tammy Winters Update, June 2003
  6. ↑ Lew Morris Blog, Myspace.com/Lewmorris
  7. ↑ Harder Beat Magazine, December 2006
  8. ↑ Severed Angel Newsletter, May 2007
  9. ↑ "What is Lew Up to ?", Harder Beat Magazine, Apr 2008.
  10. ↑ "What is Lew up to ?", Harder Beat Magazine, Apr 2008.

References

External links

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