Hollywood Undead unleashed as part of Counter Revolution

Hollywood is the birthplace to famous bands and big names in the industry who have become known globally, but away from the glamour of the Hollywood that people picture when the city of Los Angeles is mentioned, is North Hollywood - a much rougher part of Tinsel Town, where you’re warned prior in going to by yourself. 

But this rough spot, however, is responsible for shaping a band of six friends, commonly and now famously known as Hollywood Undead, a rap metal band of childhood comrades fighting against the folk that have told them that they’d never make it.

The early days of the outfit saw the band hiding their identities through the adoption of wearing masks on stage, and with alter egos quickly forming, most only knew the members of the line up as Charlie Scene (Jordan Terrell), J-Dog (Jorel Decker), Johnny 3 Tears (George Ragan), Da Kurlzz (Matt St. Claire), Funny Man (Dylan Alvarez) and Deuce (Aron Erlichman).

Since their 2005 formation, Hollywood Undead found itself with MySpace Records, gaining attention from heavy traffic and plays via their MySpace profile, however the band left the record label due to the proposed censorship of their debut album Swan Songs.

Finally signing with A&M/Octane Records, Swan Songs was released in the US in September 2008, reaching #22 of the Billboard 200 in its first week by selling over 21,000 copies. Reaching kids over radio and various social networking sites, followers of the band quickly organized themselves into the Undead Army, repping their idols and spreading the word, making masks themselves, getting tattooed and creating fan art.          

Quickly releasing a follow up - the live album Desperate Measures - containing a few cover songs alongside other previously unreleased material, remixes and live recordings of songs from their debut full-length album, Desperate Measures was unleashed in November 2009, just in time for the late 2009 Vatos Locos Tour.

From this point, Hollywood Undead’s fame was spreading like a wild fire, and it came as a shock to most when Deuce did not complete the usual line-up of the 2009 American and European Vatos Locos Tour, with a friend of the band - Daniel Murillo a.k.a. Danny - stepping in from the second week of the shows onwards. As can been assumed, rumors for the reasoning of Deuce's departure began quickly, and in early 2010 it was officially stated that there had been “musical differences” between Deuce and the rest of Hollywood Undead.                  

Following the reformed line-up, the band’s fan base split into two: supporters of Deuce who started bad-mouthing Hollywood Undead for kicking out their long-time friend and ‘mastermind’ behind most of their material, and fans that simply kept following the band they had supported from day one. Self-indulgent behaviour from Deuce was noted after he released a song entitled “Story Of A Snitch” which left very little to the imagination as to how bad he had taken the split from the outfit, and at the time of this posting, the relationship between him and the remaining band members is seemingly still rather tense.

After months of touring North America and Europe, the boys went back to L.A. and entered the studio for their long awaited second studio album in early summer of 2010, this time with Daniel Murillo confirmed as full time member. From teasers that were released, I had gotten the impression that the “party songs” that I had come to love so much on their debut had been washed down with production more ‘radio friendly’, more mainstream and with lyrics having lost their tongue-in-cheek attitude. Planning on a release for autumn of 2010, it became apparent that this date was not going to be met and fans that had sided with Deuce after he had been dropped, were quick in stating that the band was lost without his input and that the album would be a flop.

But upon the release of their sophomore record American Tragedy in early 2011, it became clear that reaching #4 on the Billboard 200 and topping sales with 67,000 copies in its first week, that the band had grown in fame and recognition over the past years, the long wait between studio albums definitely having been worth it!

Having been named in this year’s Soundwave Revolution bill - which, as you would now know, has been cancelled - I have been more than relieved to see that Hollywood Undead would still come to tour Australia as part of the few Counter Revolution gigs alongside the Welsh alternative and punk metallers Skindred, marking the band’s first ever tour of Australia.

Having seen Hollywood Undead live in both Europe and the US whilst sharing a few laughs and drinks with the line-up, I cannot wait to see these boys back on the stage - with me most likely annoying everyone around by telling them about how amazing the band is live and hoping on a chance of a repeat of that booze and laughter filled night I was blessed enough to share with them in late 2009 in Europe.

You can say what you will about “white boys rapping” and mixing it in with rock beats, off-color language, the wearing of masks and having stage names in today’s times, but if you love having a good time at a show, like to have a laugh and are open to new music, then you should definitely mark your calendars for late September and buy your tickets for this Counter Revolution mini-tour! You will not be disappointed!

Hollywood Undead will be touring under the banner of Counter Revolution with Skindred as support on the following dates:

• 23rd September - The Step Inn/ Brisbane (18+) - www.oztix.com.au
• 25th September - The Metro/ Sydney (Lic. AA) - www.ticketek.com.au 132 849
• 27th September - The Espy/ Melbourne (18+) - www.oztix.com.au  / www.espy.com.au
• 28th September - Fowlers Live/ Adelaide (Lic. AA) - www.moshtix.com.au, www.venuetix.com.au & outlets
• 30th September - Rosemount Hotel/ Perth (18+) - www.oztix.com.au

Tickets are on sale now!

Visit: www.facebook.com/hollywoodundeadofficial / http://site.hollywoodundead.com