Transplants (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Transplants


Background = group_or_band
Origin = United States
Genre = Punk rock Rapcore
Years_active = 1999–2003 2004–present (on hiatus)
Label = Hellcat (2001–2003) La Salle (2004–2005)
Associated_acts = Expensive Taste Rancid Blink-182 +44
URL = [http://www.thetransplants.com/ Official Website]
Current_members = Tim Armstrong "Skinhead Rob" Aston Travis Barker
Past_members =

Transplants are an American punk rock/hip-hop supergroup. They formed in 1999 when Tim Armstrong of the band Rancid played his friend and roadie Rob Aston some beats he had made using Pro Tools and asked Rob if he would consider contributing lyrics. Initially, Tim played all the instruments himself but as the project grew, he invited musician friends such as Matt Freeman (Rancid), Lars Frederiksen (Rancid), and Vic Ruggiero (The Slackers) to add to the sound. Before long, Tim and Rob decided to officially form a band, but to make things complete, they wanted a drummer, so Travis Barker from Blink-182 was asked to join in 2002.

Tim first became inspired to work with loops and samples after being introduced to London's speed/garage scene by "Kerrang!" magazine writer Mörat in the mid-90s.

The group's music is a combination of hip hop, reggae, drum n bass, dub, and punk. Although many are used sparingly throughout the album, punk and rap remain as the most prominent styles. Lyrically, Rob Aston describes their songs as ranging from topics such as murder ("Quick Death") to the passing of a loved one ("Sad But True") to failed friendships ("We Trusted You").

After the release of their first album, The Transplants briefly disbanded in 2003, due to all members being involved in their own projects, including Rancid and blink-182. Then in 2004, they reunited to record their second album ("Haunted Cities") before going on hiatus again.

History

"Transplants"

Listen
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After two years of recording, Transplants released their debut album "Transplants" on Hellcat Records in October 2002. In the end, the album was recorded and mixed entirely in Tim's basement. Special guest vocalists included Eric Ozenne (The Nerve Agents), Davey Havok (AFI), Son Doobie (Funk Doobiest), Danny Diablo (Crown of Thornz, AKA Lord Ezec), Lars Frederiksen (Rancid) and Brody Dalle (The Distillers, ex-wife of Tim). Brody sings on the track "Weigh On My Mind", which Tim, at the time, described as "their song."

The singles "Diamonds and Guns" and "D.J. D.J." quickly became MTV favorites and earned the band critical and commercial success. "Diamonds and Guns" and its unmistakable piano hook played by co-producer Dave Carlock continues to win new fans through TV commercials for Garnier Fructis shampoo and Neutrogena. The song was also featured on the soundtrack for the movie "Bulletproof Monk" (2003). The band followed up the record's success by touring with the Foo Fighters.Fact|date=August 2007

By 2003, the band had temporarily disbanded, while Travis worked on the upcoming "Blink-182" album, and Tim worked on Rancid's "Indestructible."

"Haunted Cities"

In 2004, during an extensive Rancid hiatus, Armstrong decided to bring the Transplants back together. The band's second album, titled "Haunted Cities", was released in June 2005, just four months after Barker's former band blink-182 announced their hiatus.

The album's first and only single, "Gangsters and Thugs" was a hit and the band began touring on the 2005 Warped Tour. After the Warped Tour, Transplants started to plan a large North American tour with Pennywise and wanted to release a second single. The band had even shot a video for the upcoming single "What I Can't Describe." However, these plans were cut short due to Armstrong reportedly suffering from exhaustion. Break-up rumors began to swirl. A second single off the album was never (officially) released.

Amidst all the turmoil, the band released the Chopped and screwed version of "" on November 1 2005, a very first for a rock album.

Soon after the cancellation of the North American tour, two band members announced several more side projects that they would be embarking on during the Transplants break. Travis revealed that he would be starting a tour with DJ AM and also a new band with Rob and DJ Paul Wall which would become Expensive Taste. Rob Aston revealed that he was working on a solo album.

In an interview with Rob Aston and Paul Wall on January 16, 2006 about their project, Expensive Taste, Rob stated "The Warped Tour had just ended and Transplants had just broken up". [ [http://www.ballerstatus.net/features/read/id/78721097 BallerStatus.com | Hip-Hop, R&B & Urban Lifestyle Portal ] ]

Current status

Recently there has been some confusion over whether the band has officially broken up, or not. Despite the statement made by Aston about how the band had "broken up", frontman Tim Armstrong contradicted this statement on a recent MySpace bulletin. [ [http://www.epitaph.com/artists/album/500 Epitaph Records: Armstrong, Tim - A Poet's Life ] ] He stated: "In the upcoming years, I hope to make another Transplants album. I love recording with those guys".

As of 2008, the Transplants are "on hold", as all the members continue working on their own projects. Armstrong had been busy touring with Rancid and plans to begin recording their new album. He also recently released his first solo album, titled "A Poet's Life". Travis Barker is currently laid up in the intensive care unit of a burn center in Augusta, Ga. He had been recording the second album of his new project +44, who released their first album "When Your Heart Stops Beating" on November 14, 2006, and he also recently formed a new band called Expensive Taste, along with Aston.

Members

Official members

Touring members

* Dave Carlock - keyboards/samples
* Craig Fairbaugh (Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards, +44) - guitar
* Matt Freeman (Operation Ivy, Rancid) - bass guitar
* DJ Pone a.k.a. Travis Rimando (89 Skratch Gangstaz/Canned Beats) - turntables

Discography

Albums

ingles

From "Transplants":
*2003 "Diamonds and Guns" #27 UK, #19 Billboard Modern Rock [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=498142&model.vnuAlbumId=684705]
*2003 "D.J. D.J."
*2003 "Tall Cans in the Air"

From "Haunted Cities":
*2005 "Gangsters and Thugs" #35 UK, #25 Billboard Modern Rock [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=498142&model.vnuAlbumId=684705]

References

External links

* [http://www.thetransplants.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thetransplants Transplants MySpace]