Finger Eleven

Finger Eleven is a Canadian alternative rock band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 1990. They have released seven studio albums (six as Finger Eleven and one as Rainbow Butt Monkeys), with their album The Greyest of Blue Skies bringing them into the mainstream. Their 2003 self-titled album achieved Gold status in the United States and Platinum in Canada, largely from the success of the single "One Thing", which marked the band's first placing on the US Hot 100 Chart at number 16. Their 2007 album, Them vs. You vs. Me launched the single "Paralyzer", which went on to top the Canadian Hot 100 and both US rock charts, as well as reaching No. 6 on the US Hot 100 and No. 12 on the Australian Singles Chart. They won the Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year in 2008.[5] The same album was later certified gold in the US and multi-platinum in Canada. They released their sixth studio album, Life Turns Electric, on October 5, 2010; it was nominated for a Juno Award for Best Rock Album of the Year. The first single off the album, "Living in a Dream", added elements of funk rock and dance rock, just like their hit song "Paralyzer". Five Crooked Lines, their 7th studio album, was released in 2015. Between 1995 and 2016, Finger Eleven was among the top 75 best-selling Canadian artists in Canada and among the top 25 best-selling Canadian bands in Canada.[6]

Finger Eleven
Finger Eleven performing at the Hamilton Festival of Friends in 2017
Background information
Also known asRainbow Butt Monkeys (1990–1996, 2018)
OriginBurlington, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Years active1990–present
Labels
Websitewww.fingereleven.com
Members
  • Scott Anderson
  • James Black
  • Rick Jackett
  • Sean Anderson
  • Steve Molella
Past members
  • Rob Gommerman
  • Rich Beddoe

History

Letters from Chutney (1990–96)

Finger Eleven first formed at Lester B. Pearson High School[7] in Burlington, Ontario as "Rainbow Butt Monkeys." One of their first shows was at a school Christmas concert in 1990. They released the album Letters from Chutney (1995) with money won from a rock band search contest on 97.7 CHTZ (Hits) HTZ FM's "Rocksearch" competition.[8]

Tip, and Rob Gommerman's departure (1997–99)

The group got signed by Coalition Entertainment in 1996, and changed their name to "Finger Eleven" in March, 1997. The name Finger Eleven came from a demo of their song "Thin Spirits".

The band's debut album, Tip, was released on Mercury Records in 1997 and re-released by Windup Records the following year.[9] Tip was produced by Arnold Lanni (Our Lady Peace). Some of the band's first performances were as opening acts for Creed and Fuel.

Following the release of Tip, drummer Rob Gommerman left the band. He was replaced by Rich Beddoe, whom James Black had met at an Alice in Chains concert several years earlier in Toronto.

The Greyest of Blue Skies (2000–02)

In 2000, Finger Eleven released The Greyest of Blue Skies, again produced by Arnold Lanni.[10] The album was commercially successful in Canada, and was certified gold.

In 2002, they covered and remixed the entrance theme song for the wrestler Kane, a song they called "Slow Chemical", which he used from 2002 to 2008. It was recorded and mixed at Metalworks Studios in Mississauga, Ontario and was re-released on future wrestling compilations as well as on the soundtrack for 2004's film The Punisher.

Finger Eleven (2003–06)

The band's 2003 self-titled album Finger Eleven was produced by Johnny K. This album, characterized by screamed vocals over repetitive rock guitar rhythms,[11] included the hit single "One Thing", which earned them their first US Gold and Canadian Platinum albums. "One Thing" reached No.16 on the U.S charts,[12] and received exposure on TV shows such as Scrubs, Smallville, and Third Watch. It was later used on World Wrestling Entertainment's 2007 edition of Raw during a tribute video for Chris Benoit, who had killed himself and his family in a murder-suicide on June 25. A duet version with Amy Lee of Evanescence was also recorded that year.

The band followed this success with a tour of North America,[13] Europe, and Australia, from 2003 to 2005. They won a MuchMusic Video Award for "One Thing" during that time period.

It was around this time that Cartoonist Todd Kauffman asked them to perform the theme tune for his adaptation of Sid and Marty Krofft's H.R. Pufnstuf but the series was never made

Them vs. You vs. Me (2007–09)
Scott Anderson performing with Finger Eleven in 2007.

Finger Eleven's fifth studio album, Them vs. You vs. Me, was released on March 6, 2007, with Johnny K returning as producer. The style on the album was more mellow than some of their previous work.[14] The lead single "Paralyzer" became the band's biggest hit; it reached No. 6 on the U.S. Hot 100 in November 2007,[15] as well as attaining the No. 1 spot in Canada and on U.S. rock charts. The album also featured the singles "Falling On", "I'll Keep Your Memory Vague", and "Talking to the Walls".

In December 2007, the DVD Us-vs-Then-vs-Now was released, with footage spanning the band's career up to that point.

Them vs. You vs. Me was certified Gold in the U.S. in March 2008. The album also won the 2008 Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year. The band performed live on national television with the Calgary Youth Orchestra at the ceremony.

Finger Eleven had planned a summer European tour, including a slot at Download Festival 2008, at Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park. However, the tour was canceled after Anderson sprained his neck.

In December 2008, the band returned to touring, opening for Kid Rock in Europe.

Life Turns Electric (2010–12)

In early 2010, the band entered the studio to begin work on their sixth studio album.[16] The album, titled Life Turns Electric, was released in October 2010. The first single from the album, "Living in a Dream", was released on iTunes in July that year. A music video for the second single, "Whatever Doesn't Kill Me", was released in January, 2011.[17] The video was directed by Alon Isocianu and Rachelle Scarfo acted as art director. The remaining singles "Stone Soul" and "Pieces Fit" were released without music videos.

Finger Eleven toured in support of the album throughout 2011 and 2012.[18]

Rich Beddoe's departure and Five Crooked Lines (2013–2016)

At the end of 2013, drummer Rich Beddoe left the band. Steve Mollela joined the following year as his replacement. Finger Eleven recorded an album in November 2014 with Chris Powell on drums, with production in early 2015.

The band toured during the summer of 2015 with Three Days Grace.[19] In April, 2015, Finger Eleven announced an open casting call for the filming of a video for the new album's first single.[20]

The band issued their seventh album, Five Crooked Lines, on July 31, 2015, and released the lead single "Wolves and Doors" to Canadian radio. They set out on their cross-Canada Fall of the Hammer Tour in support of the release; they also teamed up with radio stations and media partners to launch a contest to allow local bands to enter for the chance to perform as the opening act in their hometown.[21] Finger Eleven most recently released a video for "Not Going to be Afraid" off the Five Crooked Lines album. They also performed at the 2016 CASBY Awards on October 20 in Toronto.[22]

20th anniversary of Tip and Rainbow Butt Monkeys' reunion (2017–present)

Finger Eleven scheduled three shows in southern Ontario to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Canadian release of Tip, on March 23 in Burlington, March 24 in St. Catharines, and March 31 in Toronto. All three of these shows had a similar format: There was an exclusively acoustic set, with Q&A before the show; for the main event, the band played Tip in its entirety; this was followed by an encore of 'Best Of The Rest', which was a selection of band favorites from their other albums.

On June 9, 2018, the band performed as "Rainbow Butt Monkeys" for the first time since 1997. They played at the Sound of Music Festival in Burlington, showcasing the songs from their debut album Letters From Chutney.[23]

Members

Current members[24]

  • Scott Anderson – lead vocals (1990–present)
  • James Black – lead guitar, backing vocals (1990–present)
  • Rick Jackett – rhythm guitar (1990–present)
  • Sean Anderson – bass (1990–present)
  • Steve Molella – drums (2014–present)

Session musicians

  • Chris Powell – drums (2014)

Former members

  • Rob Gommerman – drums (1990–1998)
  • Rich Beddoe – drums (1998–2013)


Timeline

Discography
Main article: Finger Eleven discography
Studio albums

Awards and nominations
YearNominatedAwardCategoryresult
1996Finger ElevenJuno AwardsBreakout Group of the YearNominated
2001The Greyest of Blue SkiesJuno AwardsRock Album of the YearNominated
2004Finger ElevenJuno AwardsGroup of the YearNominated
2005"One Thing"Juno AwardsSingle of the YearNominated
2006Finger ElevenSOCAN AwardsInternational Achievement AwardWon
2008Finger ElevenJuno AwardsGroup of the YearNominated
2008"Paralyzer"Juno AwardsSingle of the YearNominated
2008Them vs. You vs. MeJuno AwardsRock Album of the YearWon
2011Life Turns ElectricJuno AwardsRock Album of the YearNominated

See also

References
  1. Blanford, Roxanne. "Finger Eleven". Allmusic. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  2. Steininger, Adam (August 23, 2013). "The 10 Worst Post-Grunge Bands". LA Weekly. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  3. "Royalty Discussions To The Fore At CMW". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  4. Rayner, Ben (29 April 2007). "Loved by radio, hated by critics, Finger Eleven just can't get any respect". Toronto Star. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  6. "NIELSEN MUSIC & BILLBOARD PRESENT CANADA 150 CHARTS" (PDF). bdsradio.com. p. 28. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  7. "Famous Burlingtonians". Tourismburlington.com. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  8. "B&E: Finger Eleven, Funeral For A Friend.". Billboard, 8/4/2004
  9. "FINGER ELEVEN: TAKING THEIR OWN TIP TO THE CROWDS". Chart Attack, May 18, 1999 by James Hayashi-Tennant
  10. "Finger Eleven The Greyest of Blue Skies". AllMusic, Review by David Reamer
  11. "Finger Eleven - Good Times (Wind-Up)", Manchester Evening News, BySimon Donohue, 12 AUG 2004
  12. "Finger Eleven Returns with Hit Song 'Paralyzer'". VOA News, November 01, 2009
  13. "Photo coverage of Finger Eleven concert". Soo Today, Jul 6, 2004. David Helwig
  14. "Screaming gives way to ranting for Finger Eleven". Georgia Straight, by Gregory Adams on May 9th, 2007
  15. "Finger Eleven not Paralyzed by success". Hamilton Spectator, Dec 18, 2007
  16. "Finger Eleven Hit The Studio For New Album |". Rawkpit.com. January 27, 2010. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  17. "Reactive Pictures |". Reactivpictures.com. April 22, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  18. "CONCERT REVIEW: Finger Eleven". Regina Leader-Post, Jeff DeDekker, August 2, 2012
  19. "We Apologize – Pollstar". pollstar.com. Archived from the original on 2015-08-04.
  20. "Mandy's Film and TV Production Directory". mandy.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
  21. Gonda, Christopher. "FINGER ELEVEN Announces Fall 2015 "Fall of the Hammer" Canadian Tour « News « PureGrainAudio.com". puregrainaudio.com.
  22. "The 2016 Edge CASBY Music Awards @ The Phoenix Concert Theatre | 102.…". archive.is. November 22, 2016. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  23. "Rainbow Butt Monkeys delivers a dose of nostalgia at Burlington Sound of Music Festival". InsideHalton.com. June 11, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  24. "Interview with Finger Eleven co-headlining Rock on the River in Timmins". Theseeker.ca. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
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