As of now I have a few articles on Finger Eleven from various magazines and I am always on the lookout for more!!

Guitar Magazine

When the Toronto-based quintet Finger Eleven began working in its debut album, Tip, it was like enrolling in Record Making 101. "There was so much simple stuff that we had to learn," groans guitarist James Black. Much of the band's subsequent education came from producer Arnold Lanni (Our Lady Peace, King's X), who taught Black and the band's other guitarist, Rick Jackett to focus. "He told us that we each really needed to listen closely to what [the other was] playing," says Black. "He said that I shouldn't turn myself up at full blast and hope Rick's playing worked with mine."

The lesson served Finger Eleven well. Black and Jackett's dual guitar attack interlocks tightly and powerfully on Tip, a heavy, yet melodic album that sounds like a cross between Tool and Stone Temple Pilots. Black usually handles the main riffs, while Jackett often adds textures. "A lot of times in a chorus or bridge, hwne it's really heavy, we'll play the same part with two different styles," adds Jackett.

The album opens with "Quicksand," a fiery, emotional number that recently caught a buzz on commercial radio. Constructing the song was a challenge. "Writing it was like putting together pieces of a puzzle," says Black. "Trying to keep the feeling of a drop beat throughout was something we had to work at."

Although they formed Finger Eleven in 1996, the bandmembers had been playing together since 1994 in a band called (believe or not) Rainbow Butt Monkeys, which specialized in a funky style of rock influenced by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They even cut a well-received record under the outrageous original moniker. But eventually, the group decided to work on music that was more serious and introspective. "The whole thing has been an amazing learning experience that's helped us to find out what we're all about," Black says.

And just what does "Finger Eleven" actually mean? Well, the term came from the original lyrics to the song "Thin Spirits," which ended up on Tip. In the tune, vocalist/lyricist Scott Anderson talks about a point in his life when he was being pushed in one direction by his peers, but nudge in another by his instincts-his eleventh finger. "When we thought about changing the name, [Scott] was actually doing a vocal take," Jackett says. "We were like 'stop, stop! Do you know what you just sang?' 'What, finger eleven?' At that moment, we knew it was our new name."

Hit Parader

Emotion. It's a word that throughout the decades has frequently helped to define the essence of the rock and roll experience. From the heart-wrenching passion of the blues that first propelled early heroes like Led Zeppelin to greatness, right up through the angst-riddled pathos that served as the foundation for latter-days stars such as Nirvana, emotive venting has continually remained a core element of rock's on-going appeal.

While the young band Finger Eleven still has a long, long way to go before anyone will even think about placing them in the class of the mighty Zep or the hallowed Nirvana, the emotional sounds that fill their debut disc, Tip, clearly mark them as a band to watch out for in the months and years to come. Vocalist Scott Anderson, bassist Sean Anderson, drummer Rich Beddoe, guitarist James Black, and guitarist Rick Jackett seem to have a special affinity for creating poignant and powerful rock messages that manage to simultaneously tug at the heart strings and uplift the soul. It is an approach that they hope will soon lead them down rock's primrose path to fame and fortune.

"We really like to make use of tempo shifts," Black said. "And we love to put a lot of parts into songs, but the bottom line is always the music. We're not trying to split the atom. We just want to write good songs."

For the members of Finger Eleven the emergence of their first album culminates a five-year long battle for recognition. Formed in 1994-though the band members had known each other for years before that, having attended the same high school in Toronto-the band soon began focusing on writing material that reflected their shared feelings of frustration, anger and loss. While such topics may have served as little more than a depressant release for some groups, for these guys such as Quicksand, Shudder, and Above served as a magical elixir that cleansed their spirits and empowered the group's hard rock attack. From the moment they started writing and performing together, it was clear to the members of this quintent that there was something very special about Finger Eleven.

"First off, let's clear up the story about our name," Scott Anderson said. "It actually comes from an earlier version of the song Thin Spirits. When everything is pushing you in one direction and your instinct drives you in another, that's Finger Eleven. But it's the songs that should make people notice us-not the name. When it comes to writing, I like to deal with a lot of questions that are sort of raging within me. I try to figure out what's going on inside my head and confront that. When the songs were being written, I kept trying to figure out my relationships and asked myself, 'What do I want? Do I want you in or out of my life?' That's a recurring theme, and I try to let it come out as naturally as possible."

Introspective. . . emotive. . . reflective. . . all words that aptly describe the music contained on Tip. But somehow, in the hands of these Canadian rockers, rather than coming across as self-indulgent, their music seems filled with an unmistakable aura of positivity. That's a reaction evidently shared by Finger Eleven's fast-growing contingent of followers, many of whom have come to check out the band's live show as they've toured North America with the likes of Creed and Fuel. On stage, the group's passion-tinged brand of heavy rock seems to take on an even more emotive quality, bringing to life the various themes of lost love and piercing pain that fill each of their songs with Finger Eleven's unique musical perspectives.

"Getting on the road to support this album has been very exciting," Black said. "I think at first a lot of the fans don't know who we are, but by the time we leave the stage we can sense that they've really gotten behind us. We like to form a bond with the fans-a way for us to communicate our feelings directly to them. When we're able to do that, we know it's been a good show."

Modern Drummer

Rich Beddoe is on the road with Finger Eleven in support of their debut album, Tip.

Kerrang

Guitar World

Canada's loss is America's gain. At least when it comes to Finger 11.

The band was unceremoniously dropped by their Canadian label, Mercury Records, after their debut album, Tip--a gloomy bit of hard melodic rock that sounds like a cross between Tool and Creed--failed to attract the attention of Canadian radio.

"The record had a shelf life of about a month and a half before we got dropped," says guitarist Rick Jackett. "The fans really took to it, and there was a good underground following, but we were just too heavy for Canadian radio. There was a reshuffling at the record label, and the new president, who was more into the soft, modern-rock thing, said he didn't see a future for this record. But it was actually a blessing in disguise."

Getting dumped in their home country allowed the band to seek their fortune in the more hard music-friendly confines of America, where their singles, "Quicksand" and "Above," have been receiving enthusiastic radio response. So what's Canada got to say about all this?

"Now that the stations in America started picking it up," Jackett chuckles, "all of a sudden the stations in Canada that wouldn't play it before started playing it."

Concerning the band's heavy approach, Jackett and guitarist James Black's philosophy is quite simple: go for the beef and forget the flash. "Both of us have always been fans of good, heavy guitar," says Jackett. "We both love good riffs. You know, those Black Sabbath-y type riffs--something that'll hit you in the gut. Neither one of us are real big fans of guitar solos. Even back when I grew up playing guitar to Metallica, and Kirk Hammett would blast into a solo, I had no interest in that. I liked what was going on underneath the groove and the thickness. So neither one of us has felt the need to show our capabilities as guitarists in that way. I think it comes across in our riffs."

 Axology

Guitars (Jackett) Paul Reed Smith Swamp Ash Model; (Black) 1993 Telecaster Plus

Amps (Jackett) Peavey 5150; (Black) Bogner Ecstasy

Currently Listening To (Jackett) Dilate--Ani Difranco, King for a Day--Faith No More, Life on a Plate--Millencolin; (Black) 1965--Afghan Whigs

All-Time Favorite Albums (Jackett) Electric Ladyland--Jimi Hendrix; (Black) The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway--Genesis

Chart

After more than a year of solid touring in America, Burlington, Ontario's finger eleven have come home for a few weeks of rehearsals and laundry. Their outstanding album Tip has just been re-released by Sony Music Canada, and the guys have assembled in a cold, dark warehouse in Toronto's West end to shoot a video for the new single, "Above".

The set is a curious scene, anchored by an enormous plexiglass cube filled with grotesque, life sized sculptures of deformed man/machine mongrels. It turns out they're the creation of James Black, f11's guitarist/chief songwriter; "James did 'em," drummer Rich Beddoe says proudly. "We looked at a treatment for the video, then Jay drew these wicked little guys and showed them to everyone."

James picks up the story, confessing that he doodles almost constantly when the tour can hurtles down the highway. "I get on a kick where I draw stuff in a certain theme, and I was doing a lot of stuff like these guys when we saw the video proposal. I just went and drew some more, and now we've got awesome props to take on the road when we finish here." The whole band breaks into laughter as guitarist Rick Jackett suggests that finger eleven now have their very own Eddies, referring to Iron Maiden's venerable and instantly recognizable mascot.

The shoot involves several elaborate lighting effects, and a jarring camera trick that will make you feel like your TV is reacting to the band's movements on stage. "Playing in front of the crew is weird, " James offers, "but once the kids get in here, it's easier."

He's referring to the 100-odd extras who've been plopped onto the set and instructed to go crazy. They seem tentative at first, but when the band completes a rehearsal of "Above" just prior to filming, they respond with a very serious and enthusiastic round of applause. The band are moved by such an honest reaction, considering most of this audience may never have heard of finger eleven, let alone know their stuff well.

There's a long delay while some repairs are done to the platform the band is punishing as they leap around. "we did one rehearsal and three-quarters of a take, then we broke the stage," laughs singer Scott Anderson. He and brother Sean (bass) both mention how much they're looking forward to April, when f11 return to Canada for a tour with I Mother Earth.

Hit Parader

What is it that motivates some bands to believe in the quasi-misguided notion that it's somehow cool to spell their names in lower-case letters, print their song names in lower-case letters, and list their accomplishments in lower-case letters? Is it a reflection of our computer-crazed, internet-driven times, where the difference between upper case and lower case lettering has become totally inconsequential? Is it the pervading influence of bands like nine inch nails who seem to use their bizarre lettering practices as a statement of semi-nihilistic purpose? Or is it merely yet another attempt by new bands to garner just a little extra recognition? Perhaps we should ask the band called finger eleven.

"We just spell it that way," said band vocalist Scott Anderson. "No one should read more into it than it's our name. It's not some sort of statement-of-purpose or anything like that. We're finger eleven...spell it however you like."

Despite our apparent--and many might say unfounded--annoyance over finger eleven's lower-case predilections, the fact is that it hasn't taken this unit long to begin making their presence felt in the rock and roll world. In the six months that have now transpired since the group's debut disc, tip, made it's appearance, Anderson, guitarist James Black, bassist Sean Anderson, guitarist Rick Jackett and drummer Rich Beddoe have crisscrossed the face of the North American continent more often than United Airlines flight #17. They've toured with Creed...and with Days of the New...and with, oh, you get the idea. Quite simply, finger eleven has hitched their rock and roll wagon to just about any headliner willing to pull them along. But the best part for these Toronto-based rockers is that in recent days they've begun to more than pull their own weight on any tour lucky enough to have them.

"It's been really exciting to see the way things have begun to develop for us," Anderson said. "When you're a young band with a new album out, you're at the mercy of everyone else--the radio programmers, the MTV executives and the concert promoters. All you can do is hope for the best and take advantage of every opportunity that might come your way. I like to think that;s exactly what we've done."

With their first single, quicksand, beginning to score some major listener points on radio, and their tour attracting attention from both the local media and their fast-growing fan base, it would seem as if finger eleven is well on their way towards making the most of the opportunities handed to them. Already more than two dozen fan websites devoted to these Toronto rockers dot the internet, while the group's official site is enjoying a steady of "hits"...often numbering upwards of 2,000 a day! It would certainly seem as if the emotive, engrossing and energetic sounds that fill tip have now clearly marked this Canadian unit as potentially a major force-on-the-rise in the late 90's hard rock circles. Yes indeed, these boys seem to have quickly developed a special sense for writing and delivering poignant and powerful rock messages that manage to simultaneously tug at the heart strings and uplift the soul. And with their music now beginning to receive attention from all corners of the contemporary music world, the members of finger eleven have started to believe that their long held dreams of success may finally be coming true.

"For us the bottom line is always the music," Anderson said "This is rock and roll, and we keep the perspective on things. This isn't about trying to reinvent the wheel and cure cancer--it's about writing good songs and then playing them to the best of your abilities."

For Finger Eleven, their budding success in early 1999 serves as the culmination of a five-year long battle for recognition. While the group's members had known each other from their shared days in a Toronto high school, it wasn't until after they had escaped school's restrictive grasp in 1994 that the soon-to-be-band began focusing on writing material that reflected their shared feelings of anger, aggression and animosity. While this quintet now smiles ever-so-slightly as they look back on the latent hostilities housed within their early work, those sessions produced such tunes as quicksand, shudder and above--each of which served it's anointed purpose of cleansing the band's collective spirit while empowering the group's highly potent attack. All that was left for the unit to do was find a name that reflected their unique perspectives on life and music.

"I'd like to clear up the story about our name," Anderson said. "It actually comes from an earlier version of the song thin spirits. When everything is pushing you in one direction and your instinct drives you in another, that's finger eleven. But it's the songs that should make people notice us--not the name. When it comes to writing, I like to deal with a lot of questions that are sort of raging within me. I try to figure out what's going on inside my head and confront that. When the songs were being written, I kept trying to figure out my relationships and asked myself, 'What do I want? Do I want you in or out of my life?' That's a recurring theme, and I try to let it come out as naturally as possible."

So while their fondness for lower-case lettering may begin to trod on the patience of some unsuspecting souls (including that of this lowly scribe), theundeniable fact is that these finger eleven guys certainly have some interesting things to say in their music--as well as a fascinating way of saying it. Their work is clearly introspective and highly reflective, but in the hands of these Canadian rockers, rather than coming across as self indulgent, their music seems filled with an unmistakable aura of positivity. That's a reaction evidently shared by finger eleven's ever-expanding contingent of followers, some of whom seem willing to follow the band around to their various and varied tour stops. On stage, the group's passion-tinged brand of heavy rock seems to take on an even more emotive quality, bringing to life the various emotive quality, bringing to life the carious themes of lost love and piercing pain that fill each of their songs with finger eleven's unique musical perspectives.

"It's incredible to see the way the fans have begun to respond to us," Anderson said. "At the start of tour, I'm sure a vast majority of the people in the hall didn't know who we were. They were there to see Creed. But over time, we could hear our songs getting more and more of a reaction--and more and more people were showing up to see us play."

Chart

Now that you've seen finger eleven live this summer, the nagging question that's probably buggin you is. "What's the deal with that crazy guitar guy?" That crazy guitar guy is one James Black, and if you only got to see him in one piece of funky headgrear, you're missing out. See, it turns out Black has a neat little collection of gas masks and weird face-altering stuff. There's the Desert Storm gas mask, the Blade Runner gas mask, the freaky bankrobber pantyhose head and the Road Warrior face-paint look. Chart caught up with him to find out more about his toys.

I found the first one awhile ago when we were in Orlando. We were touring with this band Virgos Merlot.

They're, like, $12 to $15. The expensive ones are up to $40. I don't want to pay that much.

Probably white, really pale and with cold eyes.

No, that's what they're made for. The problem with gas masks is you can't sing in them.

No. I just hope it grabs attention. It keeps me interested in the performance.

No. But I wish it did. The one mask I left at home makes me look like a Tusken Raider

Beware that your hair does get pulled out...And you can't talk through them either.

Edgefest Program Guide

If you're not a finger eleven fan chances are you will be by the time they finish their set at Edgefest. After a year of non-stop touring in America, the band have developed a blistering live show that's winning converts at every performance.

"A lot of people seem to be saying that sometimes it [the live show] can be even better than the album," says singer Scott Anderson.

Already, finger eleven are pleased with the progress they've made with their independent label, Wind-Up Records (home of Creed). The band's hard, dark and precise rock has earned solid rotation on MuchMusic and at radio for the songs/videos from their current album, tip. They recently toured Canada (for the first time in awhile) with I Mother Earth.

"We're five friends who get the chance to travel and experience shit," says guitarist Rick Jackett of his bandmates, which include guitarist James Black, bassist Sean Anderson and drummer Rich Beddoe. "It's sort of hard not to enjoy what you're doing."

And to pass that enjoyment along to audiences. Just like The Age of Electric in 1997, or Econoline Crush in '98, finger are poised to become one of the most-discovered bands on Edgefest '99.

JAMES: Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Word of Mouth Parade by Gus

SCOTT: Another Green World by Brian Eno, Signs of a Vacant Soul by Virgos Merlot (They spell it Vergas in the magazine lol)

RICK: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sofa King Cool by Diesel Boys

RICH: Human Beings by Seal, Album of the Year by Faith No More

SEAN: Animals by Pink Floyd, Master of Puppets by Metallica

JAMES: Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins

SCOTT: Watership Down by Richard Adams

RICK: Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

RICH: It by Stephen King

SEAN: East of Eden by John Steinbeck

tip (1999, re-release[remixed/remastered], Wind-Up/Sony)

tip (1997, Mercury/Polydor)

as Rainbow Butt Monkeys

Letters from Chutney (1995, Mercury/Polydor)

Chart

O.k., all of you, single file. Everyone file up and get ready to enter the Ontario Science Centre. Roll Call: guitarist James Black (action figure collector), singer Scott Anderson (the video game junkie), drummer Rob Gommerman (quiet guy), bassist Sean Anderson (smart guy gone rock star) and other guitarist Rick Jackett (the wacky one with dreads). Everyone got their name tags? Lunches? Good, let's proceed.

The Ontario Science Centre might be the least likely place to interview Burlington, Ontario quintet Finger Eleven (formerly known as Rainbow Butt Monkeys). Yet it's full of mystery and fascination, and over the next few hours the members of finger eleven will indulge themselves in numerous experiments of the sporty, recreational and scientific kind.

"I think we all came to this Science Centre when we were in school," says Scott, "not to say we all had a good time, but we did come." Adds guitarist Rick Jackett, "I have never been here. I was supposed to come one day with class, but I was absent that day." He grins.

On the subject of field trips, the rather calm (yet stylin') Black recalls a journey to a Maple Syrup farm. "We were riding in a wagon of sorts. I wanted to sit in the back of the wagon and couldn't. Finally, after making a fuss over it they allowed me in back. Once they started I got thrown from the vehicle and had to race after the wagon."

My own field trip memories being far more entertaining, I share with the Fingers a tale from my life in Mexico. At a soda pop manufacturing plant, we all got free samples. I explain how one girl in my class opened one of the cans and the top half of a finger popped out--a severing which happened on the assembly line. The Fingers are suitably grossed out, so I change the subject to science fairs.

"I think science fairs were a great way for kids and their parents to work together," chuckles Jackett. "C'mon, the kid woould be working on it all day and night and go to sleep and the parent would finish it off so it would be ready for the next day."

Scott adds, "I never got into any of that. I was just never good at science and chemistry. I just didn't get it. I was always asking everyone else about things."

Nevertheless, Finger Eleven is eager to investigate these halls of science and technology. "I wanna check out the nature and animal area," notes Rick.

"I just want to check out a lot of the cool things here," says Rob. "I want to find that electric ball with the static and put my hand on it to show people here how bald I really am." Chuckles from everyone. We finish lunch and start our expedition.

We begin at the awesome LEGO^tm exhibit, which is about the time Black goes missing for over an hour after finding out that he has "low social skills" in a self-psychological study. At least we are led to believe that is the reason for his disappearance. Apparently, he left the pack to go play steel drums and learn about space exploration on his own before rejoining the group.

Sans Black, the Fingers discover a lot of cool things, like how to land like a cat (you had to be there) and the importance and use of contraceptives (they are in a rock band, so it's something they should know). They even have a try driving amoon vehicle (I can't believe some of them have driver's licenses). I lose count keeping track of how many times they take turns pitching in the baseball pen in the sports section and powering a light bulb with water by bike pedaling. The fun just never stops. But did anyone learn anything?

"Yeah!" mutters a sweaty and exhausted Rob, who, along with the rest of the Fingers spent the last half hour running around like a kid in the sports section. "That we are all pretty out of shape."

Next field trip: Bally's Total Fitness.