 |
|
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California |
| Genre(s) | Pop punk punk rock ska punk |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Label(s) | Universal, Mojo, Jive, Maverick, Side One Dummy |
| Website | Goldfinger official site |
| Members | |
| John Feldmann Kelly LeMieux Darrin Pfeiffer Charlie Paulson |
|
| Former members | |
| Simon Williams Brian Arthur |
|
Goldfinger is a punk rock/ska punk band that formed in 1994. They support the imprisoned 'SHAC 7' animal rights activists,[1][2] and John Feldmann, lead singer, is an advocate and supporter of the Animal Liberation Front.[3]
Contents |
History
Goldfinger was formed by John Feldmann on vocals and guitar, Simon Williams on bass, Darrin Pfeiffer on drums, and Charlie Paulson on guitar. Before they were signed to a major label, they released an EP titled Richter. Many of the songs on Richter are demo versions of songs on their full length debut, Goldfinger, which was released in 1996. Though their second album, Hang-Ups, was less successful, the band still maintained a devoted fanbase in the hardcore community. Their third studio LP was Stomping Ground, which sold poorly in the US but was a modest hit in some European countries, thanks to their cover of Nena's "99 Luftballons" sung partly in German. Their next album, Open Your Eyes (2002), was the first for their new record label, Jive/Zomba. Frontman John Feldmann has produced records for Mest, The Used (whose vocalist Bert McCracken sang some guest vocals on 'Open Your Eyes' and 'Ocean Size') and Story of the Year. He also produced Good Charlotte's single "The Anthem" (whose guitarist Benji Madden provides guest vocals on 'January', which was originally named "Oracle of Elcaro". He also signed the band Unloco with Maverick Records. Since the band began, Feldmann has become a vegan and animal rights supporter, as can be seen briefly in the music video for "Open Your Eyes". They also donated the song "What Gives You The Right" to the Southern Animal Rights Coalition benefit CD, "Until Every Cage Is Empty",[4] as well as writing the song "Free Kevin Kjonaas", an animal rights prisoner, known as the most involved individual in the SHAC 7 case.[5][6] He also advocates and supports the Animal Liberation Front.[3] In early 2005, they released their first album for their new label, Maverick Records, titled "Disconnection Notice". It featured the single "Wasted". The CD was less well received compared to former Goldfinger albums. Former band members include founding bassist Simon Williams, who left the band following Hang-Ups, and former Unloco guitarist Brian Arthur, who was fired by John Feldmann after returning home from a 2005 European Tour because frontman John Feldmann "did not want to work with him anymore". "99 Red Balloons" also featured in Not Another Teen Movie along with Eurotrip, and their cover of The Spiral Starecase's "More Today Than Yesterday" plays during the ending credits of The Waterboy. "Superman" was also featured in the comedy Kingpin and the first Tony Hawk Pro Skater video game. Scuba Dice from Rte's You're A Star sang 99 Red Balloons for the songs from films night. Goldfinger's song "I Want" from Disconnection Notice is featured in Burnout Revenge on the Playstation 2, Xbox, and Xbox 360, and the song "My Everything" is featured on "SSX On Tour" also by EA games. The single, Spokesman, is featured on Activision's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4. 2006 saw Alternative Press Magazine list the self titled Goldfinger CD as one "10 albums that shaped 1996" along side No Doubt, Weezer and others. After lead guitarist Brian Arthur was fired by John Feldmann, Goldfinger announced that their old guitarist Charlie Paulson would return. An article is posted on their MySpace page, and they have returned to their old logo. A new album is being recorded (which Paulson states will sound like "old school Goldfinger") but due to tour-related knee injuries and possible cancer in his son Julian, Feldmann will be unable to tour for this album until 2008. As such, the release will not occur until then. The new record will be released on the independent record label Side One Dummy. To tide fans over until the full-length release, Goldfinger is recording a live EP featuring two new songs, to be released on iTunes.
Discography
Studio albums
| Date of Release | Title | Label | Billboard 200 | US sales |
| February 21, 1996 | Goldfinger | Universal Records | 110 | - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 26, 1997 | Hang-Ups | Universal Records | 85 | - |
| March 26, 2000 | Stomping Ground | Mojo Records | 109 | - |
| February 21, 2002 | Open Your Eyes | Mojo Records, Jive Records | 136 | - |
| February 21, 2005 | Disconnection Notice | Maverick Records | - | - |
| March 26, 2005 | The Best Of Goldfinger | Mojo Records, Jive Records | - | - |
| April 29, 2008 | (Untitled new album) | Sideonedummy | - | - |
Live albums
| Date of Release | Title | Label | Billboard 200 | US sales |
| November 9, 1999 | Darrin's Coconut Ass: Live from Omaha | Universal Records | - | - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Mojo Records | - | - | |
| March 23, 2004 | Live at the House of Blues | Kung Fu Records | - | - |
Singles
- Here In Your Bedroom
- Mable
- This Lonely Place
- Counting the Days
- 99 Red Balloons
- Open Your Eyes
- Wasted
- Spokesman
- If Only
- San Simeon
- Tell Me
- Just Like Heaven the Cure Cover
- Miles Away
- The Innocent featured Benjie from Good charlotte and Tony Lovato from Mest
- Vintage Queen
- Hopeless New
- SuperMan
- Rio
Video game appearances
| Song | Game | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Superman | Tony Hawk's Pro Skater | Sony PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast |
| 99 Red Balloons | Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec | Playstation 2 |
| 99 Red Balloons (cover) | Donkey Konga | Gamecube |
| I'm Down | Andy McDonald's Skateboarding | Sony PlayStation |
| Spokesman | Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 | Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Gamecube, Microsoft Xbox, Windows PC, Mac |
| I Want | Burnout Revenge | Playstation 2, Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360 |
| I Want | Burnout Legends | PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS |
| I'm Down | ESPN X-Games Snowboarding | Playstation 2 |
| My Everything | SSX On Tour | Microsoft Xbox,Playstation 2, Nintendo Gamecube, Playstation Portable |
Samples
-
"Margaret Ann" from "Stomping Ground" Image:MargaretAnn.ogg Margaret Ann, this track was recorded for the Goldfinger Album "Stomping Ground" - Problems playing the files? See media help.
External links
References
- ^ http://www.supportkevin.com/
- ^ http://www.myspace.com/goldfinger4kevin
- ^ a b Keith, Shannon. Behind the Mask, Uncaged Films, 2006.
- ^ http://www.animalrightsmerchandise.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=9
- ^ http://www.supportkevin.com/
- ^ http://www.myspace.com/goldfinger4kevin
| Goldfinger |
|---|
| John Feldmann | Kelly LeMieux | Darrin Pfeiffer | Charlie Paulson |
| Simon Williams | Brian Arthur |
| Discography |
| Albums: Goldfinger | Hang-Ups | Stomping Ground | Open Your Eyes | Disconnection Notice | The Best Of Goldfinger |
| Live Albums: Darrin's Coconut Ass: Live from Omaha | Foot in Mouth: Live | Live at the House of Blues |
| Labels |
| Universal Records | Mojo Records | Jive Records | Maverick Records |
