American Head Charge

"[4] Although sometimes speculated that their name was taken from Adrian Sherwood's famous dub label On-U Sound act African Head Charge, which was formed in the early 1980s, it is in fact a coincidence.Chad Hanks remarked in an interview before they were signed that, "It turns out that there is actually a band called African Head Charge; it's so hard to be original these days."After settling on the name American Head Charge, the band made their debut on the underground industrial metal scene with their 1999 independent self-released album Trepanation.The personnel on the album saw Heacock and Hanks (now respectively re-christened Martin Cock and Banks) joined by guitarist David Rogers, Peter Harmon on drums, and Christopher Emery on keyboards/samplers.Second guitarist Wayne Kile, keyboard player Justin Fowler and sampler/sound programmer Aaron Zilch joined the ranks during mid/late 1999, while Peter Harmon parted ways from the band and Chris Emery took over the vacant drum position.During the demo process, The War of Art producer Rick Rubin became increasingly elusive, and the band subsequently asked to be let out of their recording contract.[8] Guitarist Bryan Ottoson died on April 19, 2005,[9] at the age of 27 in the middle of a tour conducted with the bands Mudvayne, Life of Agony, and Bloodsimple.The musician's body was found lying on a sleeping bunk on the band's tour bus in North Charleston, South Carolina, where the group was scheduled to perform at the Plex club.[10] According to North Charleston police documents, scene investigators concluded the guitarist's death was the result of an accidental prescription drug overdose.In August 2008, he commented that drugs had once again become an obstacle for the band, with Hanks himself claiming to have become sober again in winter 2007, while Cameron Heacock waited until April 2008 to attend a treatment facility in California."This is not the kind of news I enjoy being the bearer of, but we've been ready and waiting for input from Cameron for almost two years; we've written and recorded two albums worth of material in that time.""At this point, he no longer gives being in this band any sort of top priority, which is so sad seeing as how he has such an amazing and unique voice; I couldn't wait to hear it on these songs.In the following months, bassist Chad Hanks made posts on his Twitter page,[15] saying that the band is back together with guitarist Karma Cheema, drummer Chris Emery, vocalist Cameron Heacock, keyboardist Justin Fowler and himself.In October 2011, American Head Charge embarked on their "tourette" with supporting acts Wrecking Day, Gabriel and the Apocalypse, and Dead Horse Trauma.After 6 months filled with recording and touring, the band took time off with a "Holiday Hangover" show on December 27, 2014, planned for Minneapolis' Turf Club.[31][32] A benefit and memorial concert to Hanks was held on Sunday, November 26, 2017, at the iconic First Avenue Mainroom in Minneapolis, MN, just two weeks after his death.The concert featured a special performance from Head Charge, with current and former members; Cameron Heacock, Justin Fowler, Karma Cheema, Aaron Zilch, Benji Helberg, and Dane Tuders playing with the band.The show also saw sets from Blue Felix, Black Flood Diesel, The Omega Sequence, Outside The Murder, Strate Jak It, and DJ Aaron Zilch, all of which were handpicked to play by Hanks himself before his passing.A special tribute performance from Chad's former School of Rock students playing two of his favorite songs, "Land of Sunshine" by Faith No More, and "Strutter" by Kiss also took place.[33] American Head Charge has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue,[36] recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue.