The Urge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Urge is also the title of an album by bassist Stuart Hamm.
The Urge was also the name of a punk rock band from Basingstoke Hampshire, England
The Urge

Background information
Origin St. Louis, MO, USA
Genre(s) Funk/Reggae/Rock
Years active 1987 - 2005
Label(s) Epic/Immortal
Members
Steve Ewing
Jerry Jost
John Pessoni
Karl Grable
Todd Painter
Matt Kwiatkowski
Bill Reiter

The Urge is a St. Louis rock band formed in 1987 by drummer Jeff Herschel, bassist Karl Grable, guitarist Pat Malecek, and singer Steve Ewing. Their music combined multiple styles of music including ska, hardcore punk, thrash metal, funk, reggae, and hip hop.

Contents

[edit] History

The original Urge lineup debuted in 1989 with the cassette-only "Bust Me Dat Forty", followed a year later by the LP Puttin the Backbone Back. After the addition of trombonist Matt Kwiatkowski, the group released 1992's Magically Delicious. Later the group added trombonist/keyboardist Todd Painter and saxophonist/keyboardist Bill Reiter, and in 1993 recorded the live LP Fat Babies in the Mix. After Herschel and Malecek left the band in 1994, guitarist Jerry Jost and drummer John Pessoni joined the lineup, and subsequent touring with 311 helped The Urge win a number of new fans. The 1995 release of Receiving The Gift of Flavor was so successful that it brought the band to the attention of Epic's Immortal imprint, which reissued the LP in 1996.

After constant touring with the likes of labelmates KoЯn and Incubus, Master of Styles was released in 1998, containing the hit "Jump Right In" which featured singer Nick Hexum of 311.

Following the release of Too Much Stereo in mid-2000, the band toured for nearly a year before calling it quits. In summer 2001, the band went its separate ways due to musical differences.

Since breaking up, the band has played several reunion shows. Frontman Steve Ewing has made several solo records under the name Stevie E. and is currently assisting several growing local St. Louis rock bands including Zamudio, The Dead End, and Lojic. Guitarist Jerry Jost was almost chosen as the replacement guitarist for Limp Bizkit after Wes Borland left the band in 2002. The other members still reside in St. Louis and are involved in several musical projects.

Their hit Jump Right In can be heard in an episode of MTV's Daria.

[edit] Band members

  • Steve Ewing — Lead Vocals
  • Karl Grable — Bass Guitar
  • Jerry Jost — Guitar
  • Matt Kwiatkowski — Trombone
  • Todd Painter — Trombone/Keyboards
  • John Pessoni — Drums
  • Bill Reiter — Keyboards/Saxophone

[edit] Discography

Year Title Label Info Units Sold Singles
1989 Bust Me Dat Forty Neat Guy DNC  ? No Official Singles
1990 Putting the Backbone Back Neat Guy DNC  ? No Official Singles
1992 Magically Delicious Neat Guy DNC  ? No Official Singles
1993 Fat Babies in the Mix Neat Guy DNC Unknown No Official Singles
1996 Receiving The Gift of Flavor Immortal Records DNC 150,000 copies sold "All Washed Up," "Brainless," "It's Gettin' Hectic"
1998 Master of Styles Immortal Records #134 US 250,000 copies sold "Straight to Hell," "Jump Right In" (#10 US Modern Rock), "Closer"
2000 Too Much Stereo Immortal Records #200 US 125,000 copies sold "Too Much Stereo" (#20 US Modern Rock), "Four Letters and Two Words"
2000 Live and Unreleased E.P. Immortal Records DNC  ? No Official Singles
2000 Rare and Out of Print E.P. Immortal Records DNC  ? No Official Singles

[edit] Compilation Contributions

  • Mashin' Up The Nation! Best Of American Ska Vol. I & II - Track 14, "Dark Age" (1992)
  • Pointessential Volume 1 - Track 12, "Violent Opposition (Demo Version)" (1994)
  • River of Sound '94 - Track 5, "Bad Neighborhood" (1994)
  • KLZR 105.9 The Lazer: Big Sandwich - Track 1, "Take Away" (1996)
  • Korn Life Is Peachy Tour Sampler (Version 1) - Track 2, "All Washed Up (Live)" (1996)
  • Korn Life Is Peachy Tour Sampler (Version 2) - Track 3, "Damn That Shit Is Good (Live)" (1996)
  • Made In The Middle - Disc 2, Track 1, "Brainless" (1996)
  • 7" US Immortal Sampler- Side A, Track 1, "Brainless" (1996)
  • Grunt - Track 15, "It's Getting Hectic" (1996)
  • Sounds of 97 Vol. 4 - Track 18, "Brainless" (1997)
  • Immortal Sampler '97 - Track 3, "Take Away" (1997)
  • Immortal Sampler '98 - Track 6, "Jump Right In", Track 7, "Straight To Hell" (1998)
  • Korn Family Values Extra Value CD - Track 9, "Straight To Hell" (1998)
  • The Ozzfest '98 - Disc 2, Track 13, "Closer" (1998)
  • Ozzfest Doggy Bag - Track 3, "Gene Machine" (1998)
  • No Monthly Fee - Track 6, "Jump Right In" (1998)
  • The Snow-Core Compilation - Track 9, "Brainless" (1998)
  • The Urge/Incubus Sampler - Track 1, "Brainless" (1998)
  • The Immortal 7 - Track 4, "Closer" (1998)
  • This One Goes To 12 (Epic Records Sampler For Ozzfest) - Track 6, "All Washed Up" (1998)
  • Kickn Mix - Track 6, "Identity Crisis"
  • Pop/Rock Picks, Vol. 41 (Karaoke) - Track 7, "Jump Right In" (1998)
  • Burning London: The Clash Tribute - Track 2, "This Is Radio Clash" (1999)
  • Immortal Sampler 2000 - Track 3, "4 Letters & 2 Words (No Horns Version)", Track 4, "Too Much Stereo" (2000)
  • Titan A.E. Soundtrack - Track 5, "It's My Turn To Fly" (2000)

[edit] Other Notable Songs

[edit] See also

[edit] External links