Members of the Verve Pipe
The Verve Pipe is one of the new artist success stories of the year. The singles from their platinum debut album Villains, on RCA Records, have included 'Photograph,' 'Cup Of Tea,' 'Villains' and 'The Freshmen' -- certified gold and one of the most successful multi-format tracks of 1997. In addition to their success on radio, sold-out concert dates throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia, features in Spin and Rolling Stone and videos on MTV and VH1, the band has made numerous television appearances, including "The Tonight Show," "Late Night With David Letterman," MTV's "Jenny McCarthy Show" and "120 Minutes," VH1's "Hard Rock Live" and "The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show."
Since the release of Villains in March 1996, the band has been touring non-stop, completing well over 400 shows, bringing their brand of passionate, hard-hitting rock & roll to clubs and theaters throughout the world, including two months opening for the reunited Kiss in Europe. Their live performance brings raves from fans and press alike. According to Album Network, "Theirs was a show that will go down as one of the best I've seen in the last 10 years."
The Verve Pipe -- from East Lansing, Michigan -- consists of Brian Vander Ark (Lead Vocals, Guitars), Donny Brown (Drums, Background Vocals), A.J. Dunning (Guitars, Background Vocals), Doug Corella (Keyboards, Percussion) and Brad Vander Ark (Bass, Background Vocals). Their two highly praised independent albums on LMNO Pop! Records -- I've Suffered A Head Injury and Pop Smear -- had collectively sold more than 50,000 copies before RCA/BMG re-released the albums nationally earlier this year. "We're not concerned to what degree it happens for us. We just look forward to playing and having people know our music," says drummer Donny Brown "and we're happy to have albums we're proud of."
On their major label debut Villains, produced by former Talking Heads Jerry Harrison, The Verve Pipe combines brawn with brain, creating memorable songs that strike simultaneously at heart and head. "The band succeeds in rocking the listener to the soul. Rock 'n' roll is supposed to be about passion. Passion for a girl. Passion for a dream. Passion for a song. Too many bands have forgotten that - but not The Verve Pipe," said Insider Magazine. From Q Magazine, "(Villains) boasts a richly crafted sound ... there is a real melodic depth to the material here."
In January, a new track from the band can be heard in the 20th Century Fox film and soundtrack "Great Expectations," a modern-day adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Ethan Hawke, Robert De Niro and Anne Bancroft.
After taking a short, well-deserved break, The Verve Pipe returns to the studio in December with producer Jack Joseph Puig - who produced the radio version of 'The Freshmen' - for their second RCA release, due in Spring '98.