48-536: Whiskeytown was an American alternative country band formed in 1994 from Raleigh, North Carolina . Fronted by Ryan Adams , the group included members Caitlin Cary , Phil Wandscher , Eric "Skillet" Gilmore, and Mike Daly . They disbanded in 2000 with Adams leaving to pursue his solo career. Whiskeytown gradually expanded its sound outside the confines of alternative country while still maintaining its alternative roots. The band released three albums. No two albums shared
96-463: A Seattle show to perform two songs. It was the first time the two had appeared onstage together in 3½ years. Adams and Cary have claimed to be reuniting Whiskeytown on multiple occasions, as recently as 2010, but nothing new has been released yet. He told an interviewer in January 2017 that he was writing a book about the band, but had no plans to record or tour with Whiskeytown. A scheduling conflict
144-662: A best friend. Iha wrote and sang a number of Smashing Pumpkins' songs, such as: "Blew Away" on Pisces Iscariot , "Bugg Superstar" on Vieuphoria , "Take Me Down" on Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness , "...Said Sadly", "Believe", "The Boy", and "The Bells" on The Aeroplane Flies High , "Summer" on the " Perfect " single and "Go" on Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music . He co-wrote with Billy Corgan " I Am One " on Gish , " Soma " and " Mayonaise " on Siamese Dream , "Plume" on Pisces Iscariot and "Farewell and Goodnight" on Mellon Collie and
192-558: A consistent lineup; Adams and Cary remained the only constants. After performing punk rock with a band called The Patty Duke Syndrome, Adams founded Whiskeytown in 1994 in Raleigh, North Carolina . The music of country-rock artist Gram Parsons served as his inspiration. The band initially consisted of Adams, violinist Caitlin Cary , drummer Eric "Skillet" Gilmore, bassist Steve Grothmann and guitarist Phil Wandscher . Faithless Street , released on Mood Food Records in 1995, established
240-768: A cover of "Judy Is a Punk" by the Ramones for 30th anniversary of a Japanese clothing label Beams . In February 2007, Side-Line announced that Iha delivered a remix for the Ladytron single "Weekend Mixes" out on March 9 via Smoke & Mirrors. In April 2007, he recorded a remix for the Midnight Movies track "Patient Eye". Iha appeared on stage with Swedish band the Sounds , on the season finale of MTV 's Bam's Unholy Union in April 2007 and contributed guitar to
288-574: A duo group called The Small Ponds with Matt Douglas of Raleigh band The Proclivities. In 2013, Cary and solo artist Jon Lindsay co-founded the NC Music Love Army – a collective of many notable musicians from North Carolina who oppose the leadership of the newly emerged Republican supermajority in their home state. Between 2013 and 2014, the group has put out nine releases on their own label (Love Army Records), as well as thru Redeye Distribution and Bloodshot Records . Adams has remained in
336-497: A friend. Corgan had already been telling people he was in a band called "Smashing Pumpkins", and decided to make it a real band with Iha. Iha later became romantically involved with the band's bassist D'arcy Wretzky , but the couple broke up just prior to the band's performance at the Reading Festival in 1992. After a brief feud between the two, Iha sustained a friendly and close relationship with Wretzky, citing her as
384-508: A guitarist and co-founder of the alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins . He was a member until the band's initial breakup in 2000 and rejoined in 2018. Iha has produced songs, contributed guitar, keyboards and vocals and produced remixes for a number of artists, including Midnight Movies , Isobel Campbell , Marilyn Manson , Whiskeytown , Scott Weiland and Michael Stipe . Among his other musical projects, Iha has been
432-428: A moderately successful solo album , Let It Come Down . One music video was produced from this album, for the song " Be Strong Now ", which was released as a four-track single. When his former bandmates Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin revived the "Smashing Pumpkins" name, Iha did not participate, and in fact had not spoken to Corgan in years. Corgan stated in a 2008 blog entry that when he and Chamberlin reunited,
480-743: A permanent fixture of supergroup A Perfect Circle since 1999. He was also a member of Tinted Windows , a group with members of Cheap Trick , Fountains of Wayne , and Hanson . He previously co-owned independent record label Scratchie Records with Adam Schlesinger and, from 1999 to 2012, owned a recording studio with Schlesinger and Andy Chase of Ivy called Stratosphere Sound. Iha was born in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove Village, Illinois , which he described as "a boring, middle-class suburb of Chicago." Iha received average grades in high school, and, after
528-728: A recording studio and independent label. Iha had lived in Manhattan since 2000 and has since moved to Brooklyn. In May 2008, Marilyn Manson said that Iha would be making a guest appearance on his new record ; however, Iha was not credited as a guitarist on the album. On December 22, 2008, the Swedish band A Camp (the solo project of the Cardigans vocalist Nina Persson ) put out a press release announcing that their new album would come out on April 28, 2009, featuring guest appearances by Iha and other musicians. On February 17, 2009, it
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#1732780650985576-595: A small European tour in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Lisbon. In 2013, under management of David Bason , Iha collaborated with Japanese musician Yukihiro Takahashi , writing songs for and performing on Takahashi's album Life Anew , and performing as part of Takahashi's band "In Phase" on tours in Japan. In 2014 Iha scored the soundtrack to Lionsgate/Hulu series Deadbeat . On March 26, 2016 Iha rejoined Smashing Pumpkins onstage for several numbers. In 2016 Iha composed
624-446: A successful two-year stint at a local junior college , he majored in graphic design at Loyola University Chicago before dropping out to dedicate himself to the Smashing Pumpkins . He is a second-generation Japanese-American and is able to speak only a little Japanese. Like his bandmate Billy Corgan , Iha has a brother with a disability. In 1987 Iha, then playing guitar in the Chicago band Snake Train, met Billy Corgan via
672-562: A track from Norwegian pop singer Annie 's debut album Anniemal . Released in October 2006, Florida pop group the Postmarks 's "Goodbye" EP features a remix by Iha. That same year, Iha teamed up with Schlesinger to co-produce folk band America 's comeback album, Here & Now , and recorded on Scottish singer Isobel Campbell 's album, collaborating on her renditions of traditional Irish and Scottish folk songs. In 2006 Iha recorded
720-403: A version of the genre under the name insurgent country . The bands Blue Mountain , Whiskeytown , Blood Oranges and Drive-By Truckers further developed this tradition before most began to move more in the direction of rock music in the 2000s. James Iha James Yoshinobu Iha ( 伊葉吉伸 , Iha Yoshinobu ) (born March 26, 1968) is an American rock musician. He is best known as
768-712: Is a loosely defined subgenre of country music and/or country rock that includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream country music, mainstream country rock, and country pop . Alternative country artists are often influenced by alternative rock . Most frequently, the term has been used to describe certain country music and country rock bands and artists that are also defined as or have incorporated influences from alternative rock , indie rock , punk rock , heartland rock , Southern rock , progressive country , outlaw country , neotraditional country , Texas country , Red Dirt , roots rock , indie folk , folk rock , rockabilly , bluegrass , and honky tonk . In
816-422: The "door was open" for Iha to rejoin, but he declined, and Corgan said that he "can now say definitively that Iha isn't ever coming back." However, in a 2012 interview about the band reformation, Iha stated that he was never even asked back into the band in the first place. Iha also admitted within the interview that he has not heard any of the band's new music since the reformation. In a March 2013 interview, he
864-576: The 1990s, the term alternative country , paralleling alternative rock, began to be used to describe a diverse group of musicians and singers operating outside the traditions and industry of mainstream country music. Many eschewed the increasingly polished production values and pop sensibilities of the Nashville -dominated industry for a more lo-fi sound, frequently infused with a strong punk and rock and roll aesthetic. Lyrics may be bleak or socially aware, but also more heartfelt and less likely to use
912-447: The 2006 tribute album to Serge Gainsbourg , Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited , "I love you (me either)", that featured Cat Power and model Karen Elson singing and "L'Hotel" with Michael Stipe on vocals. Iha recorded on the track "The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde" in a duet with singer Kazu Makino (of Blonde Redhead ) on the US edition of the album. In February 2006, a digital EP " In
960-523: The Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Iha played a third show with the band in their hometown of Chicago at the Civic Opera house on April 14, 2016. In 2017, reunion rumors were leaked through various sources, and in 2018, Iha was spotted with Corgan, Chamberlin, and former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist Jeff Schroeder in the studio and at a photo shoot, confirming his return to the band. In summer 2018,
1008-892: The Blank Theory and recorded on their album Beyond the Calm of the Corridor producing the song "Addicted" together with Schlesinger and contributing guitar playing. Iha scored the Japanese film Linda, Linda, Linda , released in late summer of 2005. The same year he teamed with Schlesinger again to produce a duet cover of Bobby Darin 's " Splish Splash " for the soundtrack to the Wayne Wang film Because of Winn-Dixie . The same year Iha contributed guitar to some tracks of Chino Moreno 's band Team Sleep second album, which has yet to be released. Iha produced two tracks on
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#17327806509851056-552: The Carter Family , often cited as major influences. Another major influence was country rock , the result of fusing country music with a rock & roll sound. The third factor was punk rock , which supplied an energy and DIY attitude . Attempts to combine punk and country had been pioneered by a number of bands prior to 1990, including Nashville 's Jason and the Scorchers , San Francisco ’s American Music Club , and
1104-528: The Infinite Sadness . He sang the band's covers of the Cure 's " A Night Like This " and Syd Barrett 's "Terrapin". During his time with the Pumpkins, Iha recorded with other bands, including Ivy , to which Adam Schlesinger contributed, and Swedish New Wave band the Sounds . Billy Corgan has claimed that Iha played very little guitar on the first two Smashing Pumpkins albums, with Corgan himself playing most of
1152-637: The Minneapolis-based band the Jayhawks , along with the 1980s Southern Californian cowpunk scene with bands such as the Long Ryders and X . However, the “alt country” label did not gain popularity among music journalists until the release of Uncle Tupelo 's 1990 LP No Depression , which has been credited as being the first "alt-country" album. It is also the namesake of the online notice board and eventually magazine that underpinned
1200-545: The Smashing Pumpkins . Iha made bigger news when he joined the alternative rock supergroup A Perfect Circle in July 2003 in time for their Thirteenth Step club tour. He has since recorded on their 2004 album eMOTIVe as well as contributed remixes of Blue and Outsider , and is back with the band following its near 6-year long hiatus. In 2003, he joined Vanessa and the O's . The group released an EP Plus Rien in Sweden
1248-607: The Sun " produced by Iha featuring Michael Stipe and Chris Martin was released. The EP was for the benefit of Gulf Coast victims of Hurricane Katrina . The song was featured on an episode of Grey's Anatomy . In collaboration with Stipe, Iha played guitar at the "Bring 'Em Back Home Now" concert in March 2006 in New York City to benefit Iraq War veterans peace groups such as Veterans for Peace . Iha remixed "Me Plus One",
1296-482: The album after signing Adams (who, in the interim, recorded his highly acclaimed debut solo record Heartbreaker on indie label Bloodshot Records ) and released it in May 2001 [3] . Since the band dissolved, most core members have chosen to remain active in music. Cary, who married original drummer Eric "Skillet" Gilmore, has released three solo albums and created a female folk trio named Tres Chicas . In 2010 she formed
1344-447: The album was a cast of guest stars, including The Replacements ' Tommy Stinson and The Smashing Pumpkins ' James Iha . Despite the album's completion and Whiskeytown's sizable fanbase, Outpost Records closed during the merger between Polygram and Universal, and as a result the album stayed in limbo for nearly two years, effectively ending the band. Lost Highway Records , the roots-minded label imprint of Universal Music , picked up
1392-462: The album's release. The band cycled through numerous members throughout the next year, including Jeff Rice and Steven Terry, both of whom were involved in the recording of Almanac but left later that year. The band's reputation preceded it in the live setting. In a 1997 Detroit Free Press article titled Whiskeytown: half band, half soap opera, a June 1997 show at Mac's Bar in Lansing, Michigan
1440-568: The band as one of the genre's leaders, thanks to glowing reviews in publications such as No Depression , and helped the band score a major-label record deal with the Geffen Records imprint Outpost. Faithless was re-released on the imprint in 1998 with nearly a dozen bonus tracks from the era. Among the bonus tracks were previously unreleased tracks and tracks that had been released on earlier albums and EPs, including Strangers Almanac and Rural Free Delivery . One track, "Oklahoma,"
1488-531: The band taped a live performance for Austin City Limits . During the tour for Stranger's Almanac , most of the band was fired or quit at a concert in Kansas City. The only people who started and finished the tour were Adams, Caitlin Cary , Mike Daly and tour manager Thomas O'Keefe . The band managed to add a new core member in multi-instrumentalist Mike Daly , who contributed significantly to
Whiskeytown - Misplaced Pages Continue
1536-421: The band's sound on their third album, Pneumonia . The album's recording was a much different affair from the first two—likely because of the band's constantly changing dynamic. The traditional country of the first two albums, especially Faithless , was largely replaced with a more sophisticated country-rooted pop sound, very similar to Wilco 's 1999 album Summerteeth . Also adding to the different flavor of
1584-427: The clichés sometimes used by mainstream country musicians. In other respects, the musical styles of artists that fall within this genre often have little in common, ranging from traditional American folk music and bluegrass, through rockabilly and honky-tonk, to music that is indistinguishable from mainstream rock or country. This already broad labeling has been further confused by alternative country artists disavowing
1632-672: The entirety of each of their three albums at each concert, with one album being played per night. It was announced that the lineup would consist of Maynard James Keenan, Billy Howerdel, Josh Freese, Matt McJunkins , and Iha. Iha's second solo album titled Look to the Sky was released in March 2012. To begin its promotion, Iha performed at the 2nd EMI ROCKS festival in Saitama , Japan in February 2012, and later in December that year performing
1680-466: The movement, mainstream artists declaring they are part of it, and retroactive claims that past or veteran musicians are alternative country. No Depression , the best-known magazine dedicated to the genre, declared that it covered "alternative-country music (whatever that is)". Alternative country drew on traditional American country music, the music of working people, preserved and celebrated by practitioners such as Woody Guthrie , Hank Williams , and
1728-467: The movement. They released three more influential albums, signing to a major label, before they broke up in 1994, with members and figures associated with them going on to form three major bands in the genre: Wilco , Son Volt and Bottle Rockets . Bottle Rockets signed, along with acts like Freakwater , Old 97's and Robbie Fulks , to the Chicago-based indie label, Bloodshot , who pioneered
1776-454: The parts in the studio that Iha played live. Iha was often considered the "quiet one" in Smashing Pumpkins, but he was known to engage in ad-libbed jokes and rap sessions at live performances. His humor was encapsulated in his use of the catchphrase, "I've seen a million faces, and I've rocked them all," originally from the Bon Jovi song " Wanted Dead or Alive ". In 1998, Iha released
1824-1018: The reunited band embarked on the Shiny And Oh So Bright Tour , which was followed at the end of the year by the release of their album Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. Iha would go on to also record Cyr with the reunited lineup, which was released in November 2020. After the Smashing Pumpkins' breakup in 2000, Iha pursued many projects. He continues to contribute to other artists' recordings, such as "Don't Be Sad" on Whiskeytown 's Pneumonia released in 2001 and further guest appearances for bands Ivy and Fountains of Wayne , both of which he remained close to, appearing on virtually every release by both bands since 1997. Andy Chase of Ivy, and Adam Schlesinger of both Ivy and Fountains, recorded on most songs James produced or wrote for other artists. Schlesinger first recorded on Iha's song on " The Bells " by
1872-421: The same year and followed up with the album La Ballade d'O in 2005–06 on the band's independent record company Rushmore Recordings playing live shows in Sweden during the summer of 2005. Iha has collaborated on musical and fashion design projects in Japan. He collaborated on and produced two tracks with Japanese musician Chara for her 2001 album Madrigal called "Boku ni Utsushite" and "Skirt". The latter
1920-507: The site, Iha considered his next solo album "halfway done (in his mind)". Shortly thereafter, a picture of Iha with Kelly Pratt and Jon Natchez from the band Beirut was posted on the Web site saying they would be playing horns on the album. In August 2010, members of A Perfect Circle posted messages to their Twitter accounts telling fans of their return after a 6-year long hiatus. The band later announced tour dates in which they would be playing
1968-611: The song "Seatbacks and Traytables", on Fountains of Wayne 's 2007 album Traffic and Weather . His former bandmate Melissa Auf der Maur contributed to that album. In the spring of 2007, Iha told Rolling Stone magazine that he was writing and recording songs for a second solo album . In the spring of 2007, Iha remixed Midnight Movies and the Postmarks as freebies on the Internet. A Chicago weekly reported in June 2007 that Iha had been living in New York City for some time, running
Whiskeytown - Misplaced Pages Continue
2016-424: The spotlight since the band's breakup, releasing numerous solo albums, including three in 2005. In 2004, Adams founded Ryan Adams and The Cardinals , an alternative rock band. The band released several albums before disbanding in 2009. He has drawn considerable praise from such legends as Elton John and Phil Lesh for his songwriting. In February 2001, original Whiskeytown guitarist Phil Wandscher joined Adams at
2064-426: Was accompanied by a music video featuring Iha as a hunter in a forest. With the help of longtime friend and manager Isao Izutsu , Iha started the clothing label Vaporize (f.k.a. 'Vapor') in 2001, and recorded "Never Ever", his first solo song since the Smashing Pumpkins demise, for Vaporize's first runway show. The brand has been a collaboration with the Japanese label Beams since 2001. In 2001, Iha played live with
2112-464: Was announced that Iha had, together with Taylor Hanson , Fountains of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger , and Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos formed a new band called Tinted Windows . The band played their first publicized gig at SXSW in Austin, Texas on March 20. Their first album was released on April 21, 2009 to generally positive reviews. In April 2010, Iha's website reopened. According to
2160-478: Was asked about looking back at the band's history and explained that he never really thought about his former success with the band, but did look back with fondness when asked about the 6 studio albums he made with them. He revealed that he and Corgan had not spoken in around ten years, but that he did speak to Wretzky "once in a while". On March 26, 2016 and March 27, 2016, Iha joined Corgan and Chamberlin on stage unannounced at back to back Smashing Pumpkins shows at
2208-565: Was blamed as the reason for the reunion not taking place. The band did reunite for a one-off, impromptu gig after one of Adams' shows in Raleigh, NC, in 2005. Gilmore, Cary, and Adams were joined on-stage by Adams' pedal steel player, Jon Graboff, and bassist Catherine Popper . Studio albums Unreleased Alternative country Alternative country (commonly abbreviated to alt-country ; also known as alternative country rock , insurgent country , Americana , or y'allternative )
2256-565: Was described by fans as a half-baked performance. Despite the band's internal strife, Almanac was a successful album with critics, with the tracks "16 Days" and the Replacements-esque "Yesterday's News" receiving significant radio play. The positive reviews came from increasingly mainstream publications such as Rolling Stone , who claimed at the time, "If there's to be a Nirvana among the bands that are imprecisely dubbed alternative country, look to Whiskeytown." In January 1998,
2304-405: Was removed. Adams claimed that the reason for the re-release was the muddy sound of the original version and his distaste for "Oklahoma," which was added to the album despite his objections. Whiskeytown's 1997 major-label debut, Strangers Almanac , helped to establish Adams' reputation as a songwriter. In the midst of the album's recording, Gilmore and Grothman left, and Wandscher left soon after
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