Jackviper

Jackviper (often written as "JackViper" or "JACKVIPER") are a sleaze rock band that formed in London, UK in 2005. They have quickly risen to be one of the biggest unsigned bands on the UK's reviving sleaze rock scene. Jackviper have featured on several major national UK tours supporting successful well known artists such as Vixen, and both incarnations of L.A. Guns.

Jackviper are the first unsigned band in history to have a full song pre-loaded onto half a million Creative Zen V MP3 players (the idea of pre-loading music like this is new), and have recently landed an endorsement deal with Marshall Amplification. Jackviper have been featured twice in international metal magazine Metal Hammer who describe the band as having "The speed of Motörhead and the intensity of Guns N' Roses".

The band's influences include acts like Mötley Crüe (glam metal) and Guns N' Roses, the band who brought sleaze rock to public attention with their 1987 debut Appetite for Destruction. Other acts that have influenced the band include Nine Inch Nails, Love/Hate, Motörhead and Beautiful Creatures

History

Jackviper recorded their first EP, 'Sleazy Listening' within months of forming. Shortly after they were asked to provide the soundtrack to the Axl Rose DVD: "The Prettiest Star". Their second EP, 'Another Dirty Threesome' was well received, with the song MerryGoRound being announced as the 9th best song of 2005 on Sleazeroxx a well known website dedicated to sleaze rock and related genres. Artists like Alice Cooper released music in the same year.

Jackviper recorded their third EP, '[...] 1' early in 2006. One of their well known songs from their live set which featured on the '[...] 1' EP, 'Go [...] Yourself' was taken and featured on PureRawk's compilation 'Unsigned and Unleashed'. The EP was voted 'Best EP of 2006' by users of the website. In February 2006, Jackviper were invited to appear on US rock label Perris Records' 'Hollywood Hairspray 5' compilation.

Then Creative Zen approached Jackviper for material to use on their Zen 'V' MP3 players and so Jackviper recorded 'Spider to the Fly' which was subsequently pre-loaded onto 500,000 V MP3 players for the system's launch in Europe and Russia.

Jackviper's song 'Walk the line' was included on Perris Records' Worldwide Network CD. The CD also included work by members of Yes, Survivor, Dangerous Toys and Celtic Frost, and was released in late February 2007. They then began work for the soundtrack to the David A. Prior horror movie Zombie Wars, which will gain them their biggest exposure yet to the global music scene. Zombie Wars will be released in late 2007.

The band has toured while promoting the upcoming single release of 'Devil May Care' on 1st October 2007 (pre-orders were made available in advance in the hope of helping the single's chart positions). The band also plan to release a new EP entitled "Bullets for the Faithful" shortly after, including 'Devil May Care' on the track list.

Touring

Since progressing beyond small local shows, Jackviper have toured with numerous well known bands as an opening support act. These include one of the incarnations of the L.A. Guns in Germany, and with Robin Black, ex-Warrior Soul frontman Korey Clarke, Vixen and House of Lords all in the summer of 2006. In October 2006 Jackviper toured the UK with Abby Gennet's band Slunt and in January 2007, Jackviper completed a full UK national tour with Tracii Guns' L.A. Guns.

The band has been touring numerous regional music/entertainment festivals across the UK in the Summer of 2007, and has also travelled to Los Angeles for the annual Crüefest (a tribute festival to rock legends Mötley Crüe at the infamous Whisky a Go-Go on Sunset Strip). The band have also been invited out to New York in November to play the first ever New York Crüefest on November 11th.

Press Coverage

  • In April 2006, Metal Hammer, Europe's leading metal magazine ran a half-page article on Jackviper.
  • In October 2006, Metal Hammer placed Jackviper's song 'Spider to the Fly' on their covermount CD along with major bands such as Trivium and Wednesday 13 .

Band Members (2005-present)

Since formation, the lineup has remained the same.

  • Jay R - Lead Vocals
  • Eddie Shredder - Guitar
  • Mister Kiss (real name Davey Kiss) - Bass
  • Dan Ferlanger - Drums

Discography

So far the band has released a total of three EPs. Track listings are included.

Sleazy Listening EP (2005)

Released for free download on the band's website

  1. Whiskey Town
  2. Junkie Queen
  3. Dog Days

Another Dirty Threesome EP (2005)

  1. Crashed By You
  2. Tears of Pearl
  3. MerryGoRound

[...] 1 EP (2006)

"Go [...] Yourself" was released for free on the band website

  1. Go [...] Yourself
  2. Walk the Line
  3. Blown Away
  4. [...] City Blues

Bullets for the Faithful EP (2007)

  1. 0800 F*CKYOU
  2. Devil May Care
  3. Spider to the Fly
  4. Grab Some Brass
  5. Hit The Floor