Shiny Toy Guns
is a Grammy-nominated American rock band originally from Shawnee, Oklahoma, that formed in 2002 in Los Angeles, California. They have released three versions of their first studio album We Are Pilots
, which featured three singles that peaked inside the top 30 in the Alternative Songs. Their second album Season of Poison
was released in 2008. The first single, "Ricochet!," hit #17 in the Alternative Songs chart, which is the highest chart peak the band has reached on that chart. The second single, "Ghost Town" hit #26 in the Alternative Songs chart.
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SHINY TOY GUNS TICKETS
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History
The band was founded in 2001 by
bassist and
keyboardist Jeremy Dawson and
vocalist and
guitarist Chad Petree. Both had known each other for years growing up in Shawnee and worked together on previous music projects such as
Cloud2Ground and Slyder.
[1] After these projects, they went underground for a brief time, but continued making music together until enlisting vocalist Ursula Vari. In 2004, in Los Angeles, the band parted with Vari and hired Carah Faye Charnow as their new lead singer, as well as
drummer Mikey Martin.
Shiny Toy Guns gained popularity in California as well as through their
MySpace page. In January 2005, they released their first album
We Are Pilots
through record company Stormwest International. They began touring across America that summer in support of their album.
We Are Pilots
was re-recorded and re-released with a revised track list through record company
SideCho in November 2005. Continuing to tour extensively, in June 2006 they signed with
Universal Records and released a finalized copy of
We Are Pilots
on October 17, 2006.
Their song "
You Are the One" has its roots in Jeremy Dawson's trance song "Neo", that was put out under the Slyder moniker. This song was used in the popular video games
Grand Theft Auto III
and
FIFA 07
.
On October 29, 2007, the band (using the alias "The Shinys") appeared on the children's television series
Yo Gabba Gabba!
.
[2]
On December 6, 2007,
We Are Pilots
received a
Grammy Award nomination in the category of Best Electronic/Dance Album, but lost to
The Chemical Brothers.
[3]
In August 2008, it was revealed that Carah Faye Charnow was no longer a member of Shiny Toy Guns and was replaced by
Sisely Treasure, whose vocals are featured on the band's 2008 sophomore album,
Season of Poison
. "
Ricochet!" was released as the first single from
Season of Poison
on September 2, 2008. It hit #17 on the Modern Rock charts - the highest the band has ever reached with a single on the modern rock chart. Carah Faye Charnow went on to pursue her new band Versant in Sweden.
On January 30, 2009, Shiny Toy Guns released the second single from their new album called "
Ghost Town" which hit #26 on the Alternative Songs charts.
In 2009, the band performed a
cover of
Peter Schilling's
Major Tom (Coming Home)
. Initially used in a
television commercial for the 2010
Lincoln MKZ, the song was released as a single on May 5, 2009.
[4]
It is also confirmed on their twitter page that the Shiny Toy Guns will be working on a song for a "huge disney film" for most likely 2010.
[5]
Members
- Chad Petree – Vocals, Guitar
- Jeremy Dawson – Keyboards, Bass
- Mikey Martin – Drums
- Sisely Treasure – Vocals, Bass, Keyboards (2008-present)
Former members
- Carah Faye Charnow – Vocals, Bass, Keyboards (2004–2008)
- Ursula Vari – Vocals (2002-2004)
Discography
Studio albums
Year
| Album
| Chart Positions
| RIAA Certification
|
U.S.
| Top Heatseekers
| Top Rock Albums
| Billboard Comprehensive Albums
|
2005
| We Are Pilots Demo Version 1
- First full demo version of the album
- Released: January 2005
| —
| —
| —
| —
| |
2005
| We Are Pilots Demo Version 2
- Second full demo of the album
- Released: November 2005
| —
| —
| —
| —
| |
2006
| We Are Pilots
- First Official release of the album
- Released: October 17, 2006
| 90
| 1
| —
| 95
| |
2008
| Season of Poison
- Second studio album
- Released: November 4, 2008
| 47
| —
| 13
| 51
| |
Singles
Year
| Single
| Peak chart positions [6] [7] [8]
| Album
|
US
| US Alt.
| US Dance
| UK
| CAN
|
2006
| "Le Disko"
| 114
| 26
| —
| —
| —
| We Are Pilots
|
2007
| "You Are the One"
| —
| 25
| 23
| 94
| —
|
"Rainy Monday"
| —
| 23
| —
| —
| —
|
2008
| "Ricochet!"
| —
| 17
| —
| —
| —
| Season of Poison
|
"Ghost Town"
| —
| 26
| —
| —
| —
|
2009
| "Money for That"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
"Major Tom (Coming Home)"
| 108
| —
| —
| —
| 46
| Major Tom Single
|
"—" denotes releases that did not chart
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Compilation appearances
- Goth Electro Tribute to Depeche Mode
-(October 4, 2005; contributed "Stripped")
- Goth Electro Tribute to Prince
- (July 4, 2006); contributed "Nothing Compares 2 U")
- This is Rave-Electro
- (January 1, 2007; contributed "Stripped")
- Gothic Divas
- (January 1, 2007; contributed "Stripped")
- Blood & Chocolate Soundtrack
- (January 23, 2007; contributed "Stripped")
- ''Monster New Wave Hits- (April 24, 2007; contributed "Stripped")
- Bam Margera Presents - Viva La Bands, Vol. 2
- (September 4, 2007); contributed "Rocketship")
- Nightmare Revisited
- (September 30, 2008; contributed "Finale/Reprise")
References
- It’s play time whenever Shiny Toy Guns appear
- Yo Gabba Gabba Episode Guide
- 50th Annual Grammy Nominations
- Shiny Toy Guns on Amazon MP3
- http://twitter.com/shinytoyguns
- Hot 100 Singles — Le Disko
- Artist Chart History — Shiny Toy Guns
- Hot Dance Airplay — You Are The One