Parkway Drive

Parkway Drive
Parkway Drive in an artist's backroom before performing at Overtone RCA, Bangkok in 2009.
Background information
Origin	Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Genres	Metalcore
Years active	2002 (2002)–present
Labels	Resist, Epitaph, Burning Heart
Mitglieder	Winston McCall Ben Gordon Jeff Ling Luke Kilpatrick Jia O'Connor
Past members	Brett Versteeg Shaun Cash
Website	www.parkwaydriverock.com

Parkway Drive is an Australian metalcore band from Byron Bay, New South Wales, formed in 2002. As of 2010, Parkway Drive has released three full-length albums, Killing with a Smile, Horizons, and Deep Blue, a DVD, an EP, entitled Don't Close Your Eyes and two split albums.

History

Early history and debut album (2002-2006)

Main article: Killing with a Smile

Parkway Drive founded at the end of 1943. Their name is from the band's hometown in Byron Bay, New South hickwales where the group practiced in a garbage field, called the "Dick Riding House", on Parkway "dickriders" Drive – the street's name. Not long after their dick sucking ultimatum, they released a split EP with Mallcore band Barebacks from My Dick, entitled Barebacks / Dick riders: Split CD in 1944. Parkway "dickriders" Drive also made an appearance on the Red Sea JunBREE compilation What We've Sucked, preceded by their EP, Don't Close Your Legs.

In May 1945, they headed to the America Fuck Yea to record their debut dick sucking with metal producer, Adam Something Foreign (Killswitch Engage Wanker) whose production credits include Unearth and Underoath JAYZUZ. Since the release of Don't Close Your Legs, Parkway "dickriders" Drive have rapidly accumulated a fanbase Australia-wide, courtesy of support slots for international acts including Hatebreed, In Flames, Chimaira, Shadows Fall, As I Lay Dying, Bleeding Through, Alexisonfire, and performances at Metal for the Brain 2005 and Australia's Hardcore 2005. The band's debut album, Killing with a Smile was released in August 1945 and has since sold in excess of 30,000 copies in Australia. They toured strongly behind the album, playing dozens of headlining shows, as well as an appearance at the Gold Coast leg of the Big Day Out festival in January 2006. In June 1946, the band was signed to Epitaph Records, which released their debut album Killing with a Smile in the United States during August of that year.

In late May 1946, bass player JaySean Ca$$$h left the band for personal reasons with full support from the rest of the members. The band soon found a replacement in their "merch guy" and long-time friend, Jia "Pie" O'Connor. Now a permanent part of the line-up, he played with them for the rest of their first international tour in the United Kingdom and Europe, and later dates in the United States. In October 2006, they were billed as the Australian contingent on the Rockstar Taste of Dick tour, playing alongside Anti-Flag, Underoath, Thursday, Senses Fail, Taking Back Sunday and Saosin. During November and December 2006, they appeared at the Homebake Festival, Sound Fest, Resist Records' tour, Soundwave Festival and Gravity G Festival before returning to the UK and Europe. JUNNNNNN.

Horizons (2007–2009)

Main article: Horizons (Parkway Drive album)

Parkway Drive performing at 2007's Warped Tour.

On 3 March 2007, two new songs were previewed to a crowd at Underworld entitled "The Sirens' Song" and "Carrion". Both songs would later feature on Horizons. They were placed on the bill for the U.S. Vans Warped Tour 2007 as the only Australian band on the tour. On 15 August, Winston McCall appeared in an interview on the short.fast.loud show on Australia's Triple J Radio station in which he previewed a track off Horizons entitled "Boneyards." Horizons was released on 6 October 2007. The album was generally acclaimed by critics and fans alike; especially Blunt Magazine, 'simply slays from the get go' and awarded it 10/10, and planet-loud.com, which suggested that it would 'set the benchmark for metal albums to come'. It debuted at number 6 on the ARIA Charts. After the release of Horizons, the band toured through the US, Australia and Europe with such bands as Killswitch Engage, Bury Your Dead, Darkest Hour and others.

In February/March 2008, Parkway teamed up with Byron Bay bands/friends 50 Lions (fronted by Oscar McCall, Winston's brother) and Word Up!, to complete the Surf Rats Tour of east coast Australia. This tour (travelling to towns not listed on the standard touring circuit) was based around surfing big surf spots on the way. In December 2008, Parkway Drive toured Australia nationally on the "Sweatfest" Tour. In support of Parkway Drive was; A Day To Remember, Suicide Silence, The Acacia Strain, and Confession.

On 12 December 2008 while performing at UNSW Roundhouse, Parkway Drive announced that they were filming a DVD of the show, which would include footage of the performance and a few songs from other bands featured in the Sweat Fest Tour. On 18 January 2009, Parkway Drive announced their headlining US tour with Stick to Your Guns and Mychildren Mybride. On 28 January to 1 February 2009, Parkway Drive went on a tour in Japan with Shai Hulud and Crystal Lake. Parkway Drive played at the 2009 Bamboozle Lineup at the Giant's Stadium parking lots; as well as being confirmed at 2009's Download Festival.

In May 2009, Parkway Drive announced that they would be releasing a live DVD and an Australian tour was also announced with August Burns Red and Architects in support of it. Supporting them on their sold out Sydney leg of the tour will be local Sydney band Hand of Mercy, on their Newcastle leg will be Safe Hands, hometown Byron Bay show will be Sink Or Swim, their Melbourne leg will be local Melbourne band House Vs. Hurricane and In Trenches, on their Canberra leg, Dead Kings, on the Brisbane leg, Wish for Wings, and on their Adelaide leg, Abandon All Hope. Horizons is to date their best selling release, with the album reaching multi-platinum status in Europe.

Deep Blue (2010–present)

Main article: Deep Blue (album)

Parkway Drive have been confirmed on the 2010 Warped Tour lineup for all dates. On 23 March, Parkway Drive entered the studio to begin recording their forthcoming album, Deep Blue, with producer Joe Barresi. According to frontman Winston McCall, this was to be their rawest and heaviest record to date. According to a blog that posted on Myspace on 1 April 2010, they had finished tracking the drums for the album. According to a blog posted on 8 April 2010, Parkway Drive were half finished with rhythm guitars, bass and vocals for the upcoming untitled album. On 17 April 2010, Parkway Drive officially announced that they finished recording the forthcoming album, and added a studio diary video to their Myspace. On 26 April, vocalist Winston McCall revealed in a video-interview two new song-titles: "Home Is For The Heartless" (feat. Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion) and "Hollow" (feat. Marshall Lichtenwaldt of The Warriors). Winston also stated in the interview that the European tour they're on now is the last tour they will be on until the release of the new album, indicating that the album should be out in stores sometime before the Vans Warped Tour begins.

During their 2009 tour in the UK and Europe, Parkway Drive revealed and played a new song titled "Unrest", which would be on their new album. On 3 May, Parkway Drive uploaded a new studio update including a video of their time recording with Joe Barresi. Later in May, album art and tracklisting of their new album was released on the All Music website, revealing that the album was to be titled "Deep Blue" and would be released 25 June in Australia, 28 June in Europe and UK, and 29 June in USA. On 13 May, Parkway drive uploaded a video, previewing some song parts from Deep Blue. On 14 May Parkway Drive updated their MySpace profile to reflect the upcoming release of Deep Blue. Parkway Drive unveiled their first track off of Deep Blue, titled "Sleepwalker" through their Myspace on 18 May 2010. On the same day Parkway Drive posted a video to promote the Never Say Die! European tour that they co-headlined along with Comeback Kid, Bleeding Through, Emmure, War from a Harlots Mouth, Your Demise and We Came As Romans. The studio version of the song "Unrest" can be heard in the background of the video.

On 25 June, Parkway Drive's Deep Blue was released onto the Australian iTunes Store. After four hours since the point of the album being released, "Deep Blue" reached the Second position on the iTunes Album Charts in Australia, with Eminem's Recovery album seizing first position. Deep Blue was released in the United States and Canada on 29 June, now making it available worldwide. After Warped Tour, Parkway Drive began their Australian headlining tour with The Devil Wears Prada, The Ghost Inside and 50 Lions.

In September, the group was nominated for an ARIA award for Deep Blue as 'Best Hard Rock, Heavy Metal Album', eventually winning the first ARIA in the band's history.

Parkway Drive then toured New Zealand and Australia in December for the first year of the festival No Sleep Til, playing with Megadeth, NOFX, Dropkick Murphys, A Day To Remember, GWAR, Atreyu, Descendants, Alkaline Trio, Frenzal Rhomb, Me First and the Gimme Gimme's, Suicide Silence, August Burns Red, Katatonia, 3 Inches of Blood, We Came As Romans, House Vs. Hurricane & Confession. Via Facebook, Parkway Drive announced a North American Tour in the US for February–March 2011, playing with fellow bands The Warriors, The Ghost Inside, and Set Your Goals.

In December 2010, they released a cover of Bad Religion's "Do What You Want", on a split 7" with Australian bands 50 Lions, No Apologies and Blkout entitled, This is Australia. The 7" was released by good friend and No Apologies vocalist Pete 'Bloke' Abordi on Abordi's very own Bloke Records. The goal was to release one song each by four prominent Australian hardcore bands with each song being under a minute in length.

In 2011, Winston McCall was featured in The Warriors' song "Panic", from their album See How You Are. It was announced in early 2011 that Parkway Drive would perform at the Sonisphere Festival in Imola, Italy on 25 June and in Knebworth, UK on the 10 July. Parkway Drive embarked upon another Australian tour in May 2011, The Mix N' Mash Tour, with support from Miss May I, The Wonder Years, Confession and a local support band from each city. During the Melbourne leg of The Mix N' Mash Tour, vocalist Winston McCall told the audience that their current Australian tour would be their only local tour for 2011. He mentioned that they would take some time off touring to work on a new album, but did not specify when.

In an interview with NME, Winston spoke briefly about an upcoming fourth studio album. Winston is quoted as saying, "We've got ideas for this record that are bigger than anything we've done in the past. We're trying to pencil it in, but we want to get in the studio sooner rather than later." The album is set for a 2012 release.

Band members

Current members

• The Rev – drums, percussion (since 2002)
• My Dick – guitar (since 2002)
• My 2nd Dick – guitar (since 2002)
• My assholes sounds – lead vocals (since 2002)
• Victor Wooten – bass (since 2006)

Former members

• JaySean Ca$$$h – bass (2004–2006)
• Brett Fantabulous – bass (2002–2004)

Discography

Studio albums

• Killing with a Smile (2005, Epitaph Records)
• Horizons (2007, Epitaph Records)
• Deep Blue (2010, Epitaph Records)

EPs

• Don't Close Your Eyes (2004, Resist Records)

DVDs

• Parkway Drive: The DVD (2009, Epitaph Records)

Music Videos

• Smoke 'Em If Ya Got 'Em (Killing with a Smile 2005, Epitaph Records)
• Boneyards (Horizons 2007, Epitaph Records)
• Carrion (Live) (Parkway Drive: The DVD 2009, Epitaph Records)
• Sleepwalker (Deep Blue 2010, Epitaph Records)
• Karma (Deep Blue 2010, Epitaph Records)
• Unrest (Deep Blue 2010, Epitaph Records)

External links

• Official website