American Head Charge

American Head Charge (often referred to as Head Charge or abbreviated AHC) are an industrial metal band from Minneapolis, Minnesota USA, earning nominations at the prestigious Kerrang! Awards on two occasions.

The band's raw, cacophonous sound has often been described as an intense hybrid of the US Chicagoan industrial band Ministry and Iowan metallers Slipknot; they contributed a cover of "Irresponsible Hate Anthem" for "Anthems of Rust and Decay: A Tribute to Marilyn Manson" as well as "Filth Pig" to "Devilswork: A Tribute to Ministry", while they supported the masked nine-piece on the Pledge of Allegiance festival tour in 2001.

Formation

Heacock / Hanks' First Meeting

The band was formed in 1996, the genealogical birthchild of a richly fortunate meeting (from a fan's perspective) through a rehabilitation center in Plymouth, Minnesota between founding members Cameron Heacock and Chad Hanks. Bassist Chad Hanks (in an interview with PRP) recalls; "In order to graduate the program, my counsellor made me write a song (I hadn't done it sober in years.) and perform it for everybody. I asked Martin if he could sing and he was like: 'Sure, I guess...'".

The Genesis of the Band Name

Formative incarnations of the band sported the curious monikers Flux and Gestapo Pussy Ranch, though these were shortlived. The name Flux was already adopted by another band and so was dropped due to fear from libel, while the title Gestapo Pussy Ranch was abandoned within a period of six months so as not to fatally alienate prospective label interest. Warsaw Ghetto Pussy was another name consideration jettisoned ."I'm a fan of 3-word names", Hanks (in a December 2001 Livewire interview) reflected. In reference to the current band moniker, he confessed; "It means nothing. No meaning by it. Pretty much that purpose right there."

Trepanation

The Release of Trepanation

Under their current name American Head Charge, they graced the underground fringes of the industrial metal scene with their 1999 debut, "Trepanation". The collective personnel on this specific recording saw Heacock and Hanks (respectively rechristened Martin Cock and Mr. H. C. Banks III) joined by guitarist David Rogers, Christopher Emery on keyboards and samples and Peter Harmon on drums.

Further exposure came through two track offerings to Dwell Records tribute albums, namely in homage to industrial bands Ministry and Marilyn Manson respectively.

Second guitarist Wayne Kile and keyboard player Aaron Zilch joined the quintets ranks during mid/late 1999.

Signing with American Recordings

American Head Charge's fortunes ascended, culminating in a lucrative performance at a support showcase with US / Armenian band System of a Down in Des Moines, Iowa during August 1999. This lured favourable interest from renowned label American Recordings, resulting in their first record contract.

The War of Art

Recording Information

The renowned Rick Rubin, famous for his work on such seminal metal albums as "Reign in Blood" by thrash metallers Slayer and "Californication" by funk rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers, helmed production duties upon their 2001 sophomore effort. The War of Art sold in the region of 12, 000 copies in the United States during its first week of release in late August of that year.

Tour

American Head Charge, commencing a gruelling live schedule in support of their major label debut, clutched a coveted slot upon the "Pledge of Allegiance" festival tour package. This was headlined by such favoured metal luminaries as Iowan nine-piece Slipknot, alternative metallers Mudvayne and Californian (then) labelmates System of a Down. Guitarist Dave Rogers marked their concluding show of this tour in New Jersey by wholly playing the concert performance naked - he was duly arrested afterwards for this display. A remnant of these tour gigs is preserved in the shape of a live take of "Seamless", subsequently appearing on the live compilation album, "Pledge of Allegiance Tour : Live Concert Recordings".

In December 2001, the band co-supported thrash titans Slayer alongside Ohio Metalcore/Groove Metal band Chimaira for a handful of American gig dates. The initial activities of 2002 proved little different, appearing at shows headlined by such acts as Canadian female metallers Kittie, hardcore metallers Biohazard, and Texan stoner rockers Speedealer, preceding Scandinavian, European and Japanese dates with Slipknot assuming the main bill.

Guitarist Wayne Kile departed from the industrial outfit in early April 2002, paving the way for the swift induction of former Black Flood Diesel axeman Bryan Ottoson to undertake the neglected position. Ottoson duly marked his inclusion with a guest appearance in the band's music video "Just So You Know", recorded in aid of their debut single of the same name.

The Feeding

After a two year hiatus, drugs had taken control of much of the band. According to AHC's MySpace article, three members of the band had become chemically dependent, with two of them going back into rehab. Guitarist Bryan Ottoson even stated that the band looked so doomed that he was almost checked into a mental institution for fear of suicide.

The remains of the band, with a couple new faces, pulled together and started writing and recording. During the demo process, producer Rick Rubin passed on the material. The band asked Rubin to release them from American Recordings so they could do their own thing, and Rubin respected their wishes without any legal squables. The band's producer on the album was The War of Art's engineer Greg Fidelman. AHC recorded for four months, feeling this was by far their most disciplined record to date. The Feeding was released on February 15, 2005. Despite being a much more concentrated effort than The War of Art, The Feeding only spawned one radio and video single: "Loyalty". The album did do quite well in independent album sales.

Death of Guitarist Bryan Ottoson

An early 2005 tour conducted in tow with the bands Mudvayne, Life of Agony and Bloodsimple was to prove a dark, gloomy time in the unfortunate, cataclysmic form of guitarist's Bryan Ottoson's death. The musician's corpse was tragically found lying on a sleeping bunk on the controversial band's tour bus in North Charleston, South Carolina, where the group was scheduled to perform at the Plex club.

According to North Charleston, South Carolina police documents, scene investigators concluded the guitarist's death to be the sad result of an accidental prescription drug overdose. Police discovered a pill bottle comprised of "numerous amounts of prescription medicine" in the man's bunk. Ottoson had been battling severe strep throat , for which he was prescribed penicillin, and also was given an unnamed pain medication.

Band members informed police they last saw Ottoson alive around 4a.m. on the morning of April 18, 2005, just as the band vacated Jessup, Maryland in pursuit of Charleston, North Carolina. Ottoson had consumed "a large amount of alcohol at a bar" in Jessup that particular evening, according to police documents. Police were called to the scene around 6.30 p.m. Tuesday evening; Ottoson was deceased by this time. Hanks and Cheema remarked to police that "Ottoson was a "heavy sleeper, and it was not uncommon for him to sleep late before a concert."

Firing of Christopher Emery

Drummer Christopher Emery was fired from American Head Charge onstage on February 11th, with reasons by the band being cited as "major irresponsibility", "decreased drumming ability" and "an inflated sense of entitlement". In a joint statement via their official website, bassist/co-founder Mr. H. C. Banks III and singer/co-founder Martin Cock revealingly stated:

"It turns out Chris was thinking of leaving anyway, although we only just found out by his posting on our website. Before the show, I pulled our guitar tech into the hallway and said 'Mark my words. If he quits, he'll blame it on the bands drug use and his inability to deal with his own drug use.' Everyone knows our addiction history. Hell, it's part of our bio. And it's common knowledge we're no angels. But Chris was one of those guys that felt like he had to go to rehab every 9 months. We're no worse than when we met him. Drugs aren't the problem. The problem is that his brain and heart were no longer in it, his responsibility level became non-exsistant, and his playing became so drastically inconsistent that I had to fire him onstage at our last show of "The Feeding" touring cycle. I had made a sign in advance that said "I'M FIRED" and held it up to him halfway through the set when I got sick of how godawful his playing and professionalism were that night. It was embarrassing and our fans didn't deserve it. He was a major factor in our pulling the last seven songs out of our set. It made me furious, and I'm glad we won't have to deal with it anymore." Chad Hanks spoke candidly about this incident on All Knowing Force.

Chad Hanks spoke candidly with Andrew and Jay Rock of All Knowing Force in regards to the firing of Christopher Emery on February 21, 2006. Listen here.

Recording a new album

On their official website, AHC stated in February that they are currently writing for their new album in Minneapolis.

Personnel

Current members

Cameron Heacock - vocals (1996-)
Benji Helberg - guitar
Chad Hanks - bass (1996-)
Justin Fouler - keyboard

Former Band members

Chris Emery - drums ( - February 11th, 2006)
Karma Singh Cheema - guitar (Early 2004 - April 2005)
Bryan Ottoson - guitar (April 2002 - April 19, 2005 deceased)
Jamie White - Keyboard
Aaron Zilch - Keyboard (Mid / Late 1999 - January 2003)
Dave Rogers - Guitar
Peter Harmon - Drums
Wayne Kile - Guitar (Mid / Late 1999 - April 2002)

Discography

Albums

Album cover	Date of release	Album	Label	U. S. Billboard 200	U. S. Top Heatseekers	U. S. Top Independent Albums	UK Album Charts	Additional Information
July 18, 1999	Trepanation	Independent
August 21, 2001	The War of Art	American Recordings	118	11
February 15, 2005	The Feeding	DRT Entertainment / Nitrus			15

Singles

Single cover	Date of release	Song Title	Label	U. S. Mainstream Rock Tracks	U. S. Modern Rock Tracks	U. S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play	UK Album Charts	Album
May 27, 2002	Just So You Know	American Recordings					The War of Art

Music Videography

Video Still	Release Date	Song	Director	Album	Label	Additional Information
	Just So You Know	Kevin Kerslake	"The War of Art"	American Recordings	American Head Charge's first official music video.
	All Wrapped Up	Tomas Migone	"The War of Art"	American Recordings	Banned due to visceral images within video.
	Loyalty	Mike Sloat	"The Feeding"	DRT Entertainment/Nitrus	First official music video release taken from "The Feeding".

Compilation Appearances

Album cover	Date of release	Song	Album	Label	Additional Information
January 25, 2000	Filth Pig	Devilswork: A Tribute to Ministry	Dwell	Ministry cover
June 6, 2000	Irresponsible Hate Anthem	Anthems of Rust and Decay: A Tribute to Marilyn Manson	Dwell	Marilyn Manson cover
March 26, 2002	Seamless (Live)	Pledge of Allegiance Tour: Live Concert Recording	Columbia
August 25, 2002	Reach and Touch (Live)	Ozzfest 2001: Second Millennium	Columbia
August 24, 2004	Cowards	UFC: Ultimate Beat downs, Vol. 1	DRT Entertainment	First taste of "The Feeding"

External links

Minnesota musical groups | Industrial music groups

American Head Charge | American Head Charge

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