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Freddy Herrera |
Scott Stevens |
Chris Skane |
The exies burst onto the Los Angeles club scene in 1997 when singer/guitarist Scott Stevens drafted bassist Freddy Herrera and drummer Thom Sullivan to form a new group whose sound molds late '60s British Invasion pop with futuristic wall-of-sound guitars. Stevens friend Chris Skane played guitar in an early incarnation of the exies, but had other priorities. Stevens then recruited guitarist David Walsh, who added some crunchy riffs and steller leads to his intricately crafted pop numbers.
Although some have compared the exies sound to Stone Temple Pilots, their only connection is Dean DeLeo, a very early fan of the band who expressed interest in producing their first album. (His commitments to STP prevented him from doing so.)
Their debut album was released in 2000, and the exies toured extensively. While touring, they caught the attention of Grammy winning Producer Matt Serletic, who bought their contract from the indie label they were on.
Thom and the exies parted ways in September Y2K, and Dennis Wolfe joined the band.
2001 was spent writing and recording. A bit more recording in the beginning of 2002, then off to tour starting in August.
The exies continued touring in 2003 in support of Inertia, with single “My Goddess” being performed on David Letterman and peaking at #12 on modern rock charts. The video for “My Goddess”, filmed by Diane Martel, became a top 10 hit on MTV2.
In June 2004 the exies headed back into the studio with rock producer Nick Raskulinecz, for a more straightforward, powerful sound. Less experimenting with arrangements, more rock! Head For the Door debuted November 30, 2004, and produced the #6 Active Rock/Top 10 Modern Rock hit “Ugly,” used by World Wrestling Entertainment as the theme to their Survivor Series pay-per-view event.
Guitarist David Walsh and drummer Dennis Wolfe left the band in 2006 to pursue other interests, and old friend Chris Skane came back onboard as guitarist; and Hoss is on drums.
For a more detailed biography, check out the Official exies Site.
last, but not least, the name exies . . .
Scott picked the name “the exies” from a John Lennon biography. As said on Rockline (11/9/2002), it was the only Beatles-related name left that wasn't taken. When the Beatles were touring around Hamburg, Germany in the 60s, they encountered 3 distinct social groups among the kids: the mods, the rockers, and the art students (who referred to themselves as “the existentialists”). John Lennon coined the term “the exies” to refer to the art students. But don't look for some deep existentialist meaning, the exies themselves don't particularly espouse the philosophies, they're just Beatles fans.
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