Craig Owens (born August 26, 1984) is an American musician best known as the former lead vocalist of Chiodos. He has also had an involvement in various projects such as Cinematic Sunrise, The Sound of Animals Fighting, Isles & Glaciers, and Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows. He has recorded as a solo artist, is an established music producer, has written and recorded with the likes of Dr. Dre, and has also acted in the 2012 film K-11.
Craig Owens | |
|---|---|
 Craig Owens performing in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Craig Owens |
| Also known as | badXchannels |
| Born | August 26, 1984 |
| Origin | Flint, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock, electronic, Alternative R&B |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instrument(s) |
|
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Member of | Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows |
| Formerly of | |
He currently performs under the stage name badXchannels.
Music career edit
Chiodos edit
In 2001, Owens joined Bradley Bell, Pat McManaman, Jason Hale, Matt Goddard and Derrick Frost to form a band in Davison, Michigan.[1][2] Originally named "Chiodos Bros." in tribute to special effects trio the Chiodo Brothers, the band recorded its first demo in June 2002.[2] Following several years of national touring and independent recording, they were signed by Equal Vision Records in 2004 and, under the name Chiodos, released their first full-length album, All's Well That Ends Well in 2005. They continued thereafter, recording and touring.
Even after his separation from his first band, Owens continued to have an interest in working with them and, after being asked by his management about what project he most wanted to pursue, he made overtures about a possible return to Chiodos.[1] On April 26, 2012, Owens announced his return to Chiodos.[3] Subsequently, on April 27, the remaining members of D.R.U.G.S. revealed their intention to disband.[4] Chiodos' first live appearance after their reunion took place on August 9, 2012, in a sold-out performance at Flint Local 432 in Michigan.[1] As of that date, the members had tentative plans for a new album, on which they have been working separately but not yet begun to coordinate.
On November 1, 2016, in an interview with Billboard, vocalist Craig Owens stated in regards to Chiodos that, "It's done, it just couldn't stay afloat. There were just kind of, not necessarily bad vibes, but we came to the realization that we can't do it full-time. I think it just stopped becoming a passion for most of us so we said, 'Alright, let's stop." Thus bringing an end to Chiodos' fifteen-year career. Owens is now performing under the stage moniker badXchannels and is touring in support of his new solo album "WHYDFML" (what have you done for me lately).[5]
The Sound of Animals Fighting edit
Owens featured as vocalist in the supergroup, the Sound of Animals Fighting. Owens featured on the album Lover, the Lord Has Left Us.. released in 2006. The group consisted of project members of Circa Survive, Finch, Rx Bandits, Days Away each member of the group wore an animal mask to hide their personas to influence the groups creativeness, Owens is identified in the group as the Ram. Owens appeared in the groups live line up We Must Become the Change We Want to See in 2006 along with 11 other members.
Cinematic Sunrise edit
During this work with Chiodos, Owens and Bell formed the side project Cinematic Sunrise as a place to perform music that didn't fit Chiodos' style.[6] When the band signed with Equal Vision, in March 2008, its line-up had included Owens, Bell, Bryan Beeler, Marcus Vankirk and Dave Shapiro.[7] Cinematic Sunrise released an EP later that Spring, A Coloring Storybook and Long Playing Record.
Isles & Glaciers edit
In September 2008, Owens revealed to fans on his journal that in addition to several guest vocalist appearances, he was working on another side project with Jonny Craig of Emarosa/Dance Gavin Dance, Vic Fuentes of Pierce the Veil and Nick Martin of Cinematic Sunrise.[8] When the Isles & Glaciers supergroup was officially announced in December, it also included Owens' bandmate Matt Goddard, Fuentes' brother and bandmate Mike Fuentes and Brian Southall from the band TREOS.[9]
The supergroup premiered their first songs during a radio interview on January 18, 2009.[10] The band's EP, The Hearts of Lonely People, was released on March 9, 2010.[11]
Asked in March 2012 if Isles & Glaciers would consider further collaboration, Owens indicated that the possibility had been discussed among various members of the group but not established; "we've tossed the idea around to see if we could put it back together, but that was just to see if we could do anything...there's no set plans right now."[12]
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows edit
On September 15, 2009, Owens released a solo EP, "Με την αγάπη (With Love)", through Equal Vision Records.[13] Nine days later, on September 24, 2009, Chiodos announced that they had parted ways with Craig Owens, announcing that the decision to "let Craig Owens go as the singer of Chiodos...was a necessary one", but refusing to disclose details "[o]ut of respect for all of the hard work that we have put in together for all of these years".[14] For the next several months, Owens maintained a low profile, taking personal time and writing songs.[15]
In June 2010, at the time he discussed his upcoming project with Alternative Press, he had written or co-written 30 songs for a not-yet-completed supergroup signed to Decaydance featuring Nick Martin of Cinematic Sunrise and Aaron Stern of Matchbook Romance.[15] On August 17, Owens announced via Twitter that the new band would be named D.R.U.G.S. (Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows).[16] On February 21, 2011, with the completed band lineup including Matt Good of From First to Last and Adam Russell of Story of the Year and production by John Feldmann, D.R.U.G.S. released their eponymous debut.[17] The album reached No. 29 on Billboard 200 and higher on some of Billboard's specialized lists, including hitting No. 6 on Top Rock Albums, No. 5 on Modern Rock/Alternative Albums and No. 1 on Hard Rock Albums.[17] D.R.U.G.S. coheadlined the 2011 Alternative Press Tour.[3]
Bea5t edit
In February 2016, Craig released a short grindcore EP entitled Empathy Is A Gift under the moniker of Bea5t, downloadable from his bandcamp page.[18]
badXchannels edit
After the end of Chiodos, Craig began releasing music under the moniker badXchannels.[19] An extended play was released at the end of 2016 with two more stand-alone songs released in early 2017. These songs were later grouped into an EP known as Transmissions, freely available to subscribers of his mailing list.[20]
Discography edit
Albums edit
Studio albums edit
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2009 | With Love
|
| 2016 | Las Vegas Sessions
|
Featured albums edit
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Punk Goes Pop 5
|
Singles edit
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "Bibles and Badges" | Non-album single |
| 2015 | "Fragile" (featuring Brad Bell) | Non-album single |
Featured appearances edit
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Un'aria" (The Sound of Animals Fighting featuring Craig Owens) | Lover, the Lord Has Left Us... |
| "Horses in the Sky" (The Sound of Animals Fighting featuring Craig Owens) | ||
| "Un'aria Ancora" (The Sound of Animals Fighting featuring Craig Owens) | ||
| 2007 | "You Can't Spell Crap Without 'C'" (The Devil Wears Prada featuring Craig Owens) | Plagues |
| 2008 | "Bitter Sweet Symphony" (Ace Enders featuring Mark Hoppus, Aaron Marsh, Craig Owens, Alex Gaskarth, Bryce Avary, Kenny Vasoli, Matt Thiessen, and Duane Okun) |
Non-album single |
| 2009 | "The Road to Hell is Paved With Good Intentions" (In Fear and Faith featuring Craig Owens) |
Your World on Fire |
| "Same Thing We Do Everyday Pinky" (Broadway featuring Craig Owens) | Kingdoms | |
| "Fallen Angel" (MxPx featuring Craig Owens and Stephen Egerton) | On the Cover II | |
| 2011 | "The Road to Hell is Paved With Good Intentions" (In Fear and Faith featuring Craig Owens) |
Symphonies (EP) |
| "Everything" (Jon Connor featuring Craig Owens and Josh Holleman) | While You Were Sleeping | |
| 2012 | "Standing In The Sun" (Jon Connor featuring Craig Owens and Lia Mack) | Season 2 |
| 2014 | "Developing Negative" (The Color Morale featuring Craig Owens) | Hold On Pain Ends |
| 2015 | "The Heart Wants What It Wants" (Selena Gomez cover) (Our Last Night featuring Craig Owens) | The Heart Wants What It Wants - Single |
| "One Shot One Kill" (Dr. Dre Jon Connor featuring Snoop Dogg and Craig Owens) | Compton The Soundtrack | |
| 2019 | "Life Long After Death"[21] (Adventure Club and Quix featuring BadXchannels) | — |
| 2020 | "Hand Crushed by a Mallet" (100 gecs featuring Fall Out Boy, Craig Owens, and Nicole Dollanganger) | 1000 Gecs and the Tree of Clues |
References edit
- ^ a b c Fuoco Karasinski, Christina (August 8, 2012). "Chiodos to make first appearance since reunion at Flint Local 432". MLive. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ a b Apar, Corey. "Chiodos". Allmusic. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ a b Yancy, Bryne (April 26, 2012). "Breaking news: Chiodos to reunite with Craig Owens". Alternative Press. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ Ramirez, Carlos (April 27, 2012). "Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows Break Up After Singer Returns to Chiodos". noisecreep.com. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ "Craig Owens Leaves Chiodos Behind, Previews New Sound With BXC's 'One Car Funeral': Exclusive Premiere". Billboard.com. November 1, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ Fulton, Katherine. "Cinematic Sunrise". AllMusic. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ Jacobson, Bryce (March 19, 2008). "Equal Vision signs Cinematic Sunrise". Drivenfaroff.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ Owens, Craig (September 4, 2008). "5 records for September". Archived from the original on October 15, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ Schnell, Brennan (December 15, 2008). "Isles & Glaciers – new Craig Owens side project!". EastScene. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ "Isles & Glaciers to debut new songs tonight". AltPress. January 18, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ Heaney, Gregory. "The Hears of Lonely People". AllMusic. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ Common, Tyler (March 11, 2012). "Craig Owens discusses possibility of new music from Isles & Glaciers". AltPress. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ "With Love". Equal Vision Records. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ Reid, Sean (September 24, 2009). "Craig Owens and Chiodos Part Ways". alterthepress.com. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ a b Shea, Mike (June 30, 2010). "Q&A: Craig Owens opens up about life after Chiodos". AltPress. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ Owens, Craig (August 17, 2010). "Untitled". Twitter. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ a b Heaney, Gregory. "Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows, D.R.U.G.S." AllMusic. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ Redrup, Zach (February 1, 2016). "NEWS: Craig Owens (Chiodos) releases grindcore EP!". Deadpress.co.uk.
- ^ Dickman, Maggie (November 2, 2016). "Craig Owens says Chiodos is done, premieres new project". Altpress.co.uk.
- ^ "NEWS: badXchannels (Craig Owens) gives away two free songs, 'BB' and 'RXRX'!". Deadpress.co.uk. January 27, 2017.
- ^ Sweeney, Farrell (July 15, 2019). "Adventure Club and QUIX leave listeners wanting for naught with 'Life Long After Death', featuring badXchannels". Dancing Astronaut. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
External links edit
