[King’s] X Marks the Spot ~ and We All Get to Be There!
Photo courtesy of Limelight Mag and King’s X
King’s X Comes to the Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, NH on Sunday, August 10 at 7:00pm + Announce Additional Tour Dates
Get tickets at www.tupelomusichall.com.
RSVP here.
King’s X earlier this month at Starland Ballroom; photo by GoLightly Photography
Few hard rock (although they describe their music as “indescribable,” a pretty accurate assessment since ~ with wonderful results ~ it really does defy any particular genre) bands are as widely respected yet shamefully overlooked as King’s X. The band, which takes progressive rock and soul and deftly combines them with vocal arrangements influenced by gospel, blues and British Invasion groups, still features original members Doug Pinnick (vocals/bass), Ty Tabor (guitar) and Jerry Gaskill (drums). They were ranked #83 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock and released over a dozen albums featuring the radio hits “Over My Head,” “It’s Love,” “Black Flag” and “Dogman.”
The band hanging out with Rex and Dimebag (RIP) from Pantera at a King’s X in-store signing celebrating the release of Dogman
Watch/listen to Nuno Bettencourt perfectly sum up the genius that is King’s X.
King’s X released their first studio album, Out of the Silent Planet, in 1988. Despite earning significant critical accolades, the album didn’t do well commercially, peaking at #144 on the Billboard album charts. The band’s 1989 sophomore release, Gretchen Goes to Nebraska, fared slightly better in terms of commercial acceptance; the song “Over My Head” received moderate airplay on MTV and radio and the exposure helped pique the public’s interest when King’s X released their third album, Faith, Hope, Love, in the fall of 1990.
Faith, Hope, Love was the group’s first album to crack the US Top 100, bolstered by the successful single “It’s Love.” From there, the band landed a gig opening for AC/DC in the U.S. and Europe for the first half of 1991 and also toured with Living Colour; these two major accomplishments marked, in hindsight, the band nearing the peak of their popularity.
King’s X live
King’s X signed with major label Atlantic Records for their next [self-titled] release. After parting ways with their longtime manager, the band enlisted veteran producer Brendan O’Brien, who had previously produced albums for Stone Temple Pilots and Pearl Jam. The ensuing release, Dogman, made a decent showing on the charts and helped land the band a gig opening shows for Pearl Jam ~ but more importantly, deliver a show-stopping performance on the opening night of the huge Woodstock ’94 festival.
King’s X completed their contact with Atlantic Records with Ear Candy in 1996 and moved over to Metal Blade Records, where they released four studio albums and one live release. The band’s latest studio albums, Ogre Tones (2005) and XV (2008), were released on the InsideOut label. XV was their first album since Ear Candy to chart on the Billboard Top 200, ushering in a new wave of popularity for the band. Watch King’s X perform “Go Tell Somebody” from XV on their 2008 tour if you need to be reminded of how incredible the band was and is.
Watch the video for “Pray,” from the same tour and album.
Check out the band’s July tour dates here.
King’s X is BACK; photo by Michael Kenney
Very special thanks to Limelight Mag!