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All Music Guide:
Named after their bandleader, Danko Jones are a Canadian hard rock trio whose bluesy style is rooted in the tradition of Thin Lizzy and AC/DC and whose popularity in Western Europe compensates for their lack of recognition in the neighboring United States. Comprised of band namesake Danko Jones (vocals/guitar), John Calabrese (aka JC; bass guitar), and Dan Cornelius (drums), the band was founded in Toronto, Ontario, in 1996 and made its recording debut in 1998 with a five-track self-titled EP on Sonic Unyon. A follow-up EP on Sound King Records, My Love Is Bold (1999), garnered airplay on Canadian hard rock radio, setting the stage for I'm Alive and on Fire (2001), a 13-track compilation of the band's recording output from 1996 to 1999.
Marking the beginning of Danko Jones' commercial ties to Europe, I'm Alive and on Fire was released in Europe by the Swedish label Bad Taste Records. The band's full-length album debut, Born a Lion (2002), was its first major-label release, distributed in Canada by Universal Music Group; Bad Taste Records continued to release the band's music on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. We Sweat Blood followed in 2003 under the same arrangement. For Danko Jones' next album, Sleep Is the Enemy (2006), they remained with Bad Taste Records in Europe yet switched from Universal to the independent label Aquarius Records in Canada. Never Too Loud followed in 2008 under the same arrangement.
Recorded at Studio 606 in Los Angeles with Grammy Award-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz, whose credits include the Foo Fighters (One by One, 2002; In Your Honor, 2005) and Velvet Revolver (Contraband, 2004), Never Too Loud was Danko Jones' most commercially successful album to date in Europe, particularly in Germany, where it became a Top 40 hit. In February 2009 the group released the appropriately titled B-Sides, followed in 2010 by its fifth full-length, Below the Belt. The following year, Danko Jones announced the departure of longtime member Dan Cornelius, who was replaced by Angels & Airwaves drummer Atom Willard. In 2012, Danko Jones returned with their sixth studio album, Rock and Roll Is Black and Blue.
Wikipedia:
Danko Jones is a Canadian rock band from Toronto, Ontario. The band consists of Danko Jones (vocals/guitar), John 'JC' Calabrese (bass guitar) and Atom Willard (drums).
History [edit]
Formation [edit]
Formed in 1996, they played consistently for two years in and around the north-eastern United States and Canada, opening for The New Bomb Turks, Nashville Pussy, Blonde Redhead, The Make-Up, The Dirtbombs, The Chrome Cranks and The Demolition Doll Rods. Originally they did not even want to release an album opting to have the band's live reputation spread via word of mouth.
Eventually, the trio relented and put out a self-titled six song e.p. on Sonic Unyon records in 1998. In 1999 they released the self-produced My Love Is Bold E.P. and achieved national exposure with the single "Bounce". They were nominated for a Juno Award in 2000 for Best Alternative Album.
In 2001 Bad Taste Records released a compilation of the band's early recordings, demos, and b-sides entitled, I'm Alive and On Fire. A 5 week European tour followed to promote the release including shows at the Roskilde festival in Denmark and Hultsfred festival in Sweden. By the end of the year they had returned 2 more times, most notably as main support for the Backyard Babies.
2002: Born A Lion [edit]
In 2002 they released their first full-length album, Born A Lion, produced by Bill Bell, on Bad Taste Records in Europe and on Universal in Canada. The band did several European tours and two Canadian tours to promote the record including an unprecedented repeat performance at Roskilde and the now legendary return to Hultsfred as well as notable stops to Pukkelpop in Belgium and The Lowlands festival in the Netherlands. They also managed to grab the opening slot with The Rolling Stones on their "40 Licks" World tour kick-off show at the Palais Royale in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on August 16, 2002.
2003: We Sweat Blood [edit]
2003 saw the release of We Sweat Blood, produced by Matt DeMatteo, and the group taking a heavier approach to their hard-rock sound. More touring followed that included Europe and Japan. They were also nominated for two Junos: Best Rock Album (Born a Lion) and Best video (Lovercall).
While success was happening abroad, home relations with Universal Canada had soured and the band was dropped mid-album run. Explanations from the label were vague, but speculations point to Jones' February 2004 appearance on CBC Sunday where Jones appeared as a pro-downloader opposite then CRIA president, Brian Robertson. Getting dropped from Universal Canada did little to stop the group as they continued to tour heavily for the rest of the year well into 2004 with bands like Turbonegro, Sepultura and The Bronx. While touring they managed to pick up another Juno nomination for Best Rock Album (We Sweat Blood) and tour Australia as well as more European dates including Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park in Germany and Download, Leeds and Reading in England.
2005-2006: Sleep Is The Enemy [edit]
Early 2005 was taken up by recording the follow-up to We Sweat Blood, but not without a series of tours amidst recording that brought the band to the Netherlands, Germany and South Africa. In April, American label, Razor & Tie released We Sweat Blood and the band set out to America in support as well. Working two releases simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic proved quite hard and the worldwide release for the upcoming album, Sleep Is The Enemy, produced by Matt DeMatteo, was pushed back to 2006.
During the summer and fall of 2005 the band toured America heavily with two of We Sweat Blood's singles being second most added to active rock radio in America ("Lovercall" and "Forget My Name"). Stateside tours with Flogging Molly, Our Lady Peace, The Supersuckers, and The (International) Noise Conspiracy followed. Prior to the release of Sleep Is The Enemy drummer Damon Richardson left the band, citing fatigue as a reason for leaving. He was replaced by Dan Cornelius.
In January and February 2006, under new Canadian label, Aquarius Records, the band set out to do their first Canadian tour in almost 4 years opening up for Nickelback. With the release of Sleep Is The Enemy came more touring including America and a headlining European club tour with support from Brant Bjork & The Bros.
The summer saw them perform at Rock Am Ring, Rock Im Park, With Full Force and Wacken Open Air in Germany; Hellfest and Furiafest in France, Metaltown in Sweden, Pinkpop and Lowlands in The Netherlands, Tuska Festival, Ruisrock and Ankkarock in Finland, Gampel in Switzerland and Wireless in the UK among at least a dozen more. In October 2006, a 2 week tour of Norway saw the band play with ex-Kyuss front-man, John Garcia who appeared on the song "Invisible" off Sleep Is The Enemy.
2008: Never Too Loud [edit]
Their fourth album, Never Too Loud was released on February 27, 2008 and produced by Nick Raskulinecz. The album yielded three singles, "Code Of The Road" followed by "Take Me Home" and "King Of Magazines". A major city tour of Europe in April 2008 was followed by a Canadian tour in May and a three month stint in Europe playing almost 30 dates on the festival circuit that included Rock Am Ring, Rock Im Park and With Full Force in Germany; Bospop and Lowlands in The Netherlands; Sziget Festival in Hungary; Rabarock in Estonia; Provinssi Rock in Finland; and Eurockeennes and Hellfest in France, where Jones got to sing on stage with one of his favorite bands, Death Angel for the song, "Bored". In the fall/winter of 2008 Danko Jones toured England, Germany, France and Benelux opening for Motörhead.
2009: B-Sides [edit]
On February 3, 2009 B-Sides was released in Europe only - a collection of previously released b-sides from European singles and unreleased tracks that spanned 1996 to 2008. On February 24 they commenced a 7 week tour in support of the release that spanned The Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, France and the UK with support coming from The Backyard Babies, Winnebego Deal and The Black Spiders. The CD yielded the singles "Sugar High" and "My Problems (Are Your Problems Now)". A greatest hits compilation titled This Is Danko Jones was released on April 7 the same year in Canada only.
In the summer the band managed a few festival appearances, most notably, the Sziget Festival in Hungary on the main stage with Faith No More and The Offspring, as well as Huntenpop in The Netherlands, Winterthur and Gampel Open Air in Switzerland, Parken Festival in Norway and Jurassic Rock in Finland. In January and February 2010 the band toured across Canada with Guns N' Roses and Sebastian Bach. In March the same year they toured the United States with Clutch.
2010: Below the Belt [edit]
Their fifth album Below the Belt was released on May 11, 2010 and produced by Matt DeMatteo. The album's first single, "Full of Regret", features Elijah Wood, Lemmy Kilmister, Selma Blair and Mike Watt in the accompanying video. It debuted at No. 36 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks in November. It is also featured on EA's NHL 11. soundtrack. The second single, "Had Enough", has Ralph Macchio appearing in the accompanying video.
On June 8, 2011 Danko Jones announced on the band's website that drummer Dan Cornelius was no longer with the band. In the same statement Danko Jones said Atom Willard had joined as a replacement. In a March 2012 question-and-answer session with fans on Twitter Danko Jones said: "Dan's time with the band had run its course but it was completely mutual from both sides. An amicable split."
2012: Rock and Roll Is Black and Blue [edit]
In early 2012 Danko Jones revealed the band was working on a new album, posting footage of the writing process on the band's YouTube channel. Jones said the album was likely to be out in the European fall.
A 90-minute documentary about the band, entitled Bring on the Mountain, was released in June 2012. The 2-disc DVD also featured a short film based on the band's latest three videos, all their music videos and several live clips.
An oral history book about the band, called Too Much Trouble: A Very Oral History of Danko Jones is set to be released by ECW Press in October 2012.
The title of the new album was revealed to be Rock and Roll Is Black and Blue, and will be released on 21 September 2012 in Europe and 9 October in North America.
It was announced that Danko Jones will hit the road for 2013 Spring tour with Volbeat and Spoken.
Radio, Spoken Word and Columns [edit]
Jones hosts a syndicated radio show called "The Magical World Of Rock" broadcast out of 95.3 Rocket FM in Stockholm (Sweden) and syndicated to Power 97 in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada), Pure Rock Radio in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Canada), CT Das Radio in Bochum (Germany) and Radio Tango in Oslo (Norway).
He also released his first spoken word album in 2004 entitled The Magical World Of Rock and completed two spoken word tours that same year, including a show at the Crossing Borders festival in The Hague, Netherlands where he spoke alongside Nick Hornby, Ian Mackaye, Jim White, Michael Franti and Irvine Welsh.
Danko Jones currently writes four separate bi-monthly columns for Rock Hard (Germany), Guitar For The Practicing Musician (Germany), Rockstar Magazine (Switzerland), Close-Up Magazine (Sweden), RockZone Magazine (Spain) and Lángoló Gitárok (Hungary).
Jones is also one of the characters in the book Sex Tips from Rock Stars by Paul Miles published by Omnibus Press in July 2010.
He also records and releases Podcasts which can be obtained from the band's official website and from iTunes for free. These Podcasts mainly consist of Danko reading his written Columns out.
Appearance in Need for Speed: Nitro [edit]
In 2009, EA's Need for Speed: Nitro was released for Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DSi. Danko Jones' "Code of the Road" was featured in the game's trailer and soundtrack.
Compilations [edit]
"The Return of Jackie and Judy", from The Song Ramones the Same (2002) (White Jazz / MNW)"Bounce" from How We Rock (2002) (Burning Heart)"The Mango Kid" from "The Vinyl Factory, Vol. 1" (1999) (MMS/Brilliant)"Dr. Evening" from Now We Are 5 (1998) (Sonic Unyon)"Samuel Sin" from Go! 50 Canadian Punk/HC Bands (1996) (Fans of Bad Productions)"I Gotta Calm Down" 7"/CD with Prog Punk band RemovalVideography [edit]
"I Think Bad Thoughts" from the album Below the Belt (2010) - by the DiamondBrothers"Had Enough" from the album Below the Belt (2010) - by the DiamondBrothers"Full of Regret" from the album Below the Belt (2010) - by the DiamondBrothers"Sugar High" from the album B-Sides (2009) - Director George Vale"King of Magazines" from the album Never Too Loud (2008) - by Nick Cross and Steve Stefanelli w/ Dave Cooper"Code of the Road" from the album "Never Too Loud" (2008) - Director George Vale"Take Me Home" from the album Never Too Loud (2008) - Director George ValeLive in Stockholm DVD (2006) (Live Zone / Bad Taste)"Don't Fall in Love" from the album Sleep Is the Enemy (2006) - Director Oskar Gullstrand"First Date" from the album Sleep Is The Enemy (2006) - Director Micah Meisner"Baby Hates Me" from the album Sleep Is the Enemy (2006) - Director Chris Grismer"I Love Living in the City" from the album We Sweat Blood (2004) - Director Hanna Lejonqvist"Dance" from the album We Sweat Blood (2003) - Director Kalle Haglund"I Want You" from the album We Sweat Blood (2003) - Director Craig Bernard"Lovercall" from the album Born a Lion (2002) - Director Craig Bernard"Sound of Love" from the album Born a Lion (2002) - Director Craig Bernard"Cadillac" from the album I'm Alive and on Fire (2001) - Director Jason Romilly"My Love Is Bold" from the E.P. My Love Is Bold (2000) - Director Jason Romilly"Bounce" from the E.P. My Love Is Bold (2000) - Director Jason RomillyHonours [edit]
Juno Awards
2004 Nominated, Best Rock Album (We Sweat Blood)2003 Nominated, Best Video ("Lovercall")2003 Nominated, Best Rock Album (Born a Lion)2000 Nominated, Best Alternative Album (My Love Is Bold)
