Chevelleapalooza

            When one thinks of the word Chevelle, many images come to mind.  Power.  Drive.  Visionary.  Unique.  A force to be reckoned with.  Here, I am merely referencing the Chevy muscle car that became an American tradition.  The same tradition that characterized our need for power, speed, and performance.  How fitting that one of this generation’s most heavy-hitting rock bands continues to carry on this legacy into the new millennium.

            The founding members of Chevelle were raised in the Midwestern suburbs of Chicago.  Sam and Pete were born into a large family (seven children total).  Although they themselves have never characterized their family as being particularly musical, it was with their younger brother, Joe, that they formed the band we all know today. 

At a young age, the eldest brother of the Loeffler clan, Sam, received his first drum set.  Around that same time, younger brother of two years, Pete, picked up a guitar and began making music with his older brother.  The brothers excelled at their respective instruments, and after a time they sought to make a band of their own.  Insert bassist Matt Scott.  Unfortunately for Matt, he was not a lasting ingredient in the band.  Who would they bring in to fill as a permanent bassist?  The answer appeared in the form of their younger brother, Joe.  Chevelle, now poised as a family affair, geared up and readied for greatness.  No show was too small nor was it turned down.  They played every rock venue downtown Chicago had to offer, and they traveled to neighboring states to promote their music, as well. 

In the late nineties, the brothers signed to the Christian music label, Squint.  For their first album they had the privilege to work with famed producer, Steve Albini.  What resulted was the band’s first album, Point # 1.  It was the materialization of all their hard work and perseverance.  It paid off.  While it was not as great a commercial success as some of their later work, Point #1 garnered the brothers a steady fan following and produced such hits as Point #1 and Mia.  Both singles were translated into music videos.

Following the success of their first album, the brothers encountered a major setback in the release of their sophomore album.  Their label folded and the band was caught up in a legal mess.  Despite this obvious and grueling setback, Sam and Pete refused to let this matter get the better of their dreams they had set for their band.  Every day they continued work on their new record.  A little dab of patience and a few lawyers later, the legal strife ended and the band was signed to the major record label, Epic.  The merger proved to be healthy and profitable.  Soon after signing, Chevelle released their much anticipated follow up album, Wonder What’s Next.  Their new album ushered in a new wave of success the brothers had not yet known.  Their first single, The Red, reached the number three spot on the rock charts.  Closure and Send the Pain Below were also released; the latter single reached the number one position on both mainstream and modern rock charts.  Wonder What’s Next went platinum.

For their third album, the brothers evolved from aspiring musicians into established songwriters and co-producers, and a true force to be reckoned with in the music industry.  This Type of Thinking (Could Do Us In) was another major success.  They dropped their tuning, and focused on providing hard, driving melodies.  Unfortunately for one member, that’s not all they dropped.  Toward the end of their headlining tour, trouble arose during their Kansas City show.  Disagreements and squabbling ensued.  When the band returned home to Chicago, it became clear that Sam and Pete would continue on, and Joe would stay behind.  As is the case in every situation, there are two sides of the story. 

"After three years of non-stop touring and recording, Joe is taking a break to be home with family. We'll miss having him on the road with us, but as his brothers and band mates we respect his decision and are looking forward to getting out there and playing for the fans. See you on tour."

In retaliation to the released statement made by Sam and Pete, Joe maintained that such was not the case and that he had been fired by his brothers.

“First off, very typical. This is exactly what I expected from them. Try and make it look like I didn't want to be in the band. I was fired plain and simple, in fact there wasn't even a discussion about it they just dropped it on me. I told them I would never quit and they would have to fire me. They were trying to get me to quit and told my managers that I did. I called Sam and said 'Why are you doing this?' and he said we don't want you to come back. I said I will not quit. The next day Pete called for the first time and said 'Did (our managers) call you and tell you your out?' I said 'No, were they supposed to?' he eventually said in that short conversation 'you’re fired'. I am insulted by the message on the front page of the site, (by the way, that's the first change to the site I've seen in at least a year!) it is completely false and out of line. I made no decision and am not taking a break. I will be working on getting a new job immediately. A break also means there's a chance to come back, and nothing could be farther from reality. I was fired and they have not said a word to me since. I would never ask to be back in (why would I want to after this?) and I never did in the past when I quit. 'We'll miss having him on the road with us'... Right.”

Whatever position you believe, it can be said that whatever decisions implemented, were not made lightly.  It can also be said that it took courage and tenacity to forge ahead after the loss that the band had sustained.  Regardless, Sam and Pete continued the tour with former Filter bassist, Geno Lenardo.  Despite the fill-in, Geno was just that, a fill-in.  The two remaining brothers were keeping their eyes peeled for a more suitable permanent band member.  That suitable band member?  Their brother-in-law, Dean Bernardini. 

Dean had been a childhood friend before he became a part of the Loeffler family.  Sam affectionately refers to him as the “brother from another mother”.  Dean can be classified as the older brother Sam never had.  Long before Dean picked up a bass, he was an accomplished drummer, an inspiration and a tutor for Sam. 

Dean’s addition to Chevelle is still relatively new when compared to the long-run the band has had.  However, his presence has only added to the horse power behind Chevelle.  The band’s fourth studio release, Vena Sera, has proven not only to critics, but to fans everywhere that despite drama, Chevelle will continue to deliver a heavy rock sound with driving and powerful lyrics.

Like the powerful muscle car it was named after, the band continues onward with plenty of momentum behind it.  Chevelle fans everywhere continue to lend their love and support, and continue to hope that the band will not meet the same short-lived reign as the Chevy.