 Shoving
a fist in the face of tradition has been Filter's
modus operandi since the release of their
self-produced debut album, Short Bus. The album's
rough-around-the-edges production consisted of
inebriated answering machine samples, lavish bass
lines, and jagged guitars set to a backdrop of
drum machines punctuated by the unfurling of
Richard Patrick's vocal prowess and signature
roar. Patrick, Filter's magnetic, profoundly
intelligent nucleus and frontman jubilantly
admits that his creative process is unorthodox,
whether he's staring down and conquering new
technology or coalescing with new bandmate and
co-conspirator Jonny Radtke on Filter's current
release, The Sun Comes Out Tonight.Patrick believes in adapting and improvising in the name of achieving results, fully aware of what he's rebelling against. He addresses his unconventional methods with utmost conviction in his voice, "Let's break the rules, let's put a finger up to the establishment and do something wrong. If William Shakespeare was alive today, he'd be using a word processor. He'd be copying and pasting. Does that change things? Yeah, but at the same time, it's flexible and different. It has to be done." This perspective is evident on The Sun Comes Out Tonight's lead single, "What Do You Say," an explosive track featuring Patrick's rousing howl, hypnotic synthesizers, smoldering guitars, biting lyrics, and the triumphant resurrection of the pulsating drum machines that cemented Filter's reputation for delivering a distinctive sound unlike any other band in existence. Patrick laughs, "It's all drum machine, just like Short Bus! I like that we're getting away with something that's wrong. There's almost this notion that someone like Skrillex is less of a talent because his music centers around making a computer do incredible things. Music is an interpretive art form." "The Only Way (Is The Wrong Way)" isn't merely a stand-out track from 2002 release The Amalgamut, it's an integral component of the career Patrick has fabricated with Filter as a truly capable multi-instrumentalist and vocalist hell-bent on releasing top-notch material and delivering electrifying, intense live performances. Patrick's many collaborations and side-projects have transcended the boundaries between rock, industrial, and electronic music by utilizing the talents of musicians Trent Reznor, Robert and Dean DeLeo, Ray Luzier, Josh Freese, John 5, The Crystal Method, Danny Lohner, Clayton Worbeck and Wes Borland. The Trouble With Angels, Filter's inaugural venture with producer Bob Marlette culminated in Patrick cleaning the slate and solidifying a new live band line-up before embarking on tour across North America and Europe in support of the album. Filter's affiliation with the organization Stars For Stripes allowed the band the honor of entertaining US troops on military bases in Kuwait, Iraq and Cuba's Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. Patrick, a fervent supporter of the men and women serving the United States, takes immense pleasure in meeting and performing for deployed fans; he and his bandmates gained deeper insight into the lifestyle those serving face on a regular basis when the band survived rocket attacks in Kirkuk, Iraq. The Sun Comes Out Tonight heralds the return of Marlette in the roles of producer and co-writer, and marks the introduction of Filter's newest addition, co-writer, and guitarist, Jonny Radtke. Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, Radtke's rapturous vocals and elegantly furious guitar playing mesh expertly with Filter's ambiance. "Jonny is the little brother-slash-guitar player I never had, he's just incredibly talented," Patrick affectionately admits. "Because of his talent and my connection with him, it was such a joy to make this album, it's a very inspired record. The chemistry was there. I really can't say enough about Jonny." Radtke's own predilection for rebellion and versatility are hallmarks of his own one-man musical project, the ethereal Polar Moon. Prior to joining Filter, Radtke's guitar stylings were best known for gracing the stage with his previous band, Kill Hannah, and the live incarnation of Ashes Divide, led by Billy Howerdel of A Perfect Circle. Patrick proclaims, "It's a new guitar player, a new label - we're so grateful we signed with Wind-up Records, [label co-owner and Chief Creative Officer] Gregg Wattenberg is so supportive, the label is amazing; it's a whole new idea. It was so easy to be angry on this record, there are songs about betrayal and pure evil, there's so much heavy stuff [on this record] but there's moments of light, songs about happiness and love. It's our analysis of the human condition." Tracks "What Do You Say", "This Finger's For You" and "We Hate It When You Get What You Want" seethe with vicious guitar riffs, blasting beats, Radtke's lilting background vocals, Patrick's gruff delivery, and captivating choruses that were made to sing along to. "With our first single, 'What Do You Say,' it's about all the noise - noise from the media, people talking and having so much to say but not really listening," Patrick thoughtfully states. One of the album's brightest moments of light comes courtesy of the shimmering, euphoric "Surprise," a track reminiscent of the delicate song structure that made runaway hit "Take A Picture" one of Filter's most beloved offerings. The whimsical "First You Break It" draws you in with lush guitars and surging harmonies. The lyrics for "Watch The Sun Comes Out Tonight" paint an intimate portrait of Patrick's adventures at age 22 wandering around under the influence of psilocybin in the chill of Cleveland, Ohio late at night. "We'd search for things to look at, something that would trigger a profound thought of some kind," Patrick recalls, "I love writing about those times; I was young and angry but optimistic at the same time. Gregg Wattenberg took all of what he loved about early Filter and reminded me of it, he was like, 'you need to get back there and do what you do!', I've always been about pressing forward and stretching my audience's imagination but there's got to be a point of reflection." The Sun Comes Out Tonight's synthesis of tools from the band's past and brand new attributes facilitate the stereophonic assault that only Filter circa 2013 can deliver.
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Originally
from Queens, New York, FILTER bassist, Phil
Buckman arrived in Los Angeles (by way of
Baltimore, MD. and Boston, MA) as a
teenager, and quickly made a name for
himself in the L.A. music scene as the
bassist for the dynamic TRIBAL SEX CULT.
Upon the demise of T.S.C., Phil kept busy
with a wide variety of projects including
TEXTURE (Vital Recordings), HELICOPTER
HELICOPTER (Initial Records), FINE (Flip
Records) ONESIDEZERO (Maverick), THE
IMPOSTERS (Interscope), KILL THE COMPLEX,
THE SNOW (Northern Lights), vOLUMe,
(ConCrete), and GO BETTY GO (sideonedummy),
as well as contributing to various film and
TV soundtracks. Phil also holds down the low
end for the Tom Petty/Johnny Cash tribute
band, PETTY CASH (featuring members of
Juliette & The Licks, H20, The Offspring,
and AGES).
Jonny
Radtke is a guitarist/multi-instrumentalist,
originally from Chicago, Illinois. From
2000-2009, he was the lead guitarist for the
alternative rock group, Kill Hannah. During
his time with the band, he made two albums
for Atlantic Records (For Never & Ever-
2003 release, Until There's
Nothing Left of Us- 2006 release);
a worldwide re-release of Until There's
Nothing Left of Us for Roadrunner Records
(2008); appeared on their 2009 Universal
Records release, Wake Up the Sleepers; and
toured extensively, both domestically and
internationally, playing festivals,
headlining tours, and opening for other
popular acts such as 30 Seconds to
Mars, H.I.M, Smashing Pumpkins, Velvet
Revolver, Alice in Chains, Papa Roach,
Angels & Airwaves, and Lost
Prophets. In 2009, Jonny moved to
Los Angeles, and began working as the
guitarist for ASHES dIVIDE - A
Perfect Circle founder Billy
Howerdel's solo project, as well as focusing
on his solo project, POLAR MOON,
(which several tracks from the upcoming
album have already been successfully
licensed through MUSIC DEALERS,
and featured on several hit
Bunim-Murray Productions tv shows,
including: Keeping Up With the
Kardashians, Married to Rock, The Real
World, and Road Rules).
Currently, Jonny is the guitarist for the
platinum selling rock band, FILTER,
and has recently co-written their new album,
"The Sun Comes Out Tonight" (which is being
released through Windup Records in June of
2013), with frontman and founder, Richard
Patrick.
It
all started on the Eastern tip of the North
fork of Long Island in a very small town
called Mattituck. Jeff Fabb started playing
drums in the basement of his family home
eagerly anticipating his weekly lessons from
musician and teacher, Mark Larossa. The
lessons turned into jam sessions and the jam
sessions turned into a local band and his
passion became his life. I have played for:
Tripface , InThis Moment, The Dirty
Apostles, James Durbin, Black Label Society,
and now Filter.
