KillLoveJoy

KillLoveJoy was an American alternative punk rock band that formed in Charlotte, NC in 1994. The band's continual members were singer/guitarist Ben Williamson and drummer Josh Kneeland. Since they were teenagers throughout the band's career, they were never able to achieve the success they were capable of. Adolescence also played a role in the group's dismiss.

History

Formation

Ben Williamson and Josh Kneeland attended Carmel Middle School in Charlotte, NC. They only met because they both had the same Blind Melon t-shirt, despite the fact that neither of them were a fan of the band. They quickly became good friends and jammed every day. The early material was either Nirvana cover songs, or songs that sounded like Nirvana.

Influences

Into 1995 they became influenced by more hardcore acts such as The Melvins, The Jesus Lizard, and indie bands like Sebadoh, and Archers of Loaf. Ben and Josh felt a need to allow other people to experience different types of music. Kids listened to too much mainstream pop at the time, so they added songs to their setlists by Social Distortion, The Wipers, Joy Division, The Grifters, The Deftones and AFI.

Bands

Concerts

Since the group dissolved before any of the members were 18, they never got a chance to play any clubs in Charlotte. The first show was at Carmel Middle School, under the name Amputate Acrobatics. The following year they kept the school trend going, and put on 'Strobe Fest' at Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte. They also played numerous high school parties, mostly because they had become known as a loud band that knew how to have a good time. They finally thought they were getting on the right track when they booked a gig at a local record store, The Record Exchange. Little did they know, it would be their last show.

Breakup

Early in 1997, Josh's family had decided to more from North Carolina to Florida. It seemed that this would put an end to band, and to the friendship of Josh and Ben. In an attempt to keep the music going, they enlisted Ian McConnell to replace Josh as the drummer. Over the next few months, Josh and Ian would trade off the drumming duties, as Josh experimented with guitar. After the gig at The Record Exchange, Ben went away for the summer and Josh distanced himself from music. By the end of the summer, Josh's family remained in Charlotte, while Ben was sent to boarding school in Maine.

Today

Ben spent some time in the northeast before moving to Florida. In 2007 he moved out to California and is currently working as a production assistant in LA. He has played in numerous bands over the years.

Josh stayed in North Carolina, moving to Wilmington, NC in 2001. He played guitar with a few bands, most notably After Eve. He also released solo CD in 2005. He now has a sales position for a corporation.

Travis Jeppesen moved to New York City at the age of 17, and then to Europe in 2001 where he has become a successful writer. His latest novel, Wolf at the Door was published in 2007.

Ian McConnell graduated from the University of North Carolina and currently lives in New York City. He works for a real estate investment bank, but also continues to play music.

Nate VanDerVeer went to Auburn University, and now coaches high school lacrosse in Mississippi.

ca:KillLoveJoy de:KillLoveJoy (Band) es:KillLoveJoy fr:KillLoveJoy gl:KillLoveJoy it:KillLoveJoy nl:KillLoveJoy (band) ja:KillLoveJoy no:KillLoveJoy pl:KillLoveJoy pt:KillLoveJoy ru:KillLoveJoy (группа) sv:KillLoveJoy (band)