IN THE BEGINNING …before Felony was officially united as a band in 1989, Tommy, Johnny, and Shawn met through the local Indy music scene and began to collaborate on writing original music, with the goal of creating an all-original songwriting band, and subsequently building an archive of original music suitable for soliciting a recording contract with a national record label. Following a few interim carnations with various local guitarists, they came across Dale during an audition for the band, and the resulting musical bond of the four secured the original lineup.
WELCOME TO HELLTOWN …the early months immediately following the band's inception were dedicated to intense songwriting sessions, long rehearsals, and general social anarchy as the members explored and developed the intense personal and musical chemistry resulting from the sum of their four diverse personality parts. In the months that followed, their original music repertoire quickly expanded as their songwriting style continued to meld and mature, drawing inspiration from both real-life experiences and dramatized adventures based on the early and mid 1900's glory-era of organized crime with a pure, no-frills heavy metal core. As the band's identity continued to develop, they began to gain recognition in the Indy music scene with showcases at major music venues and anywhere willing them the opportunity to showcase their hell-fueled song list and volatile live performances. To encompass the unbridled lifestyle of the band and its associates, the term "Helltown" was coined to represent not only the small, blighted urban house where Felony stationed themselves, but also as a general term to encompass the way of living and performing that became synonymous with all things that were Felony.
THE END RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING …as the band continued to strengthen itself, the time came to produce came to produce the first professional recording, a four-song EP recorded at Diehl Production Studios across the period of several days. Following completion of the EP, Felony continued to showcase their music and, with the assistance of local manager and Editor Doug Diamond, began to shop their product to recording labels. As interest in the band's music was building, they suffered a personal and internal setback, as Shawn resigned due to unavoidable personal obligations that precluded the time needed to continue on with the band. After a period of searching and auditioning, a new member was found in the very capable hands of Rich Grillo, a bass guitarist and multi-instrumentalist from the Chicago music scene. The resulting change in chemistry gravitated the band toward a heavier musical style as the song writing effort continued to push forward. The band was receiving increasing interest from prospective business partners, and decided to return to the studio where two additional songs were recorded at Hit City Recording to supplement the previous EP release. The band continued to grow its marketing status and, at what would seem to be the beginning of an intensely-escalating professional career with opportunities abound, prematurely disbanded as Dale succumbed to personal withdrawal resulting from a long battle with alcohol abuse and a devastating personal tragedy.
HELLTOWN REPRISED …as time passed, Tommy, Shawn, and Johnny once again played informally on weekends as they did prior to the start of the band, which eventually led to the search for a suitable guitar ensemble and solidified itself in the addition of Mike Smiley, a longtime musical companion of the three, and Jeff Parker, formerly of the Indy band Spoyld Bratt. Together, the quintet comprised the new band and, after much consideration, agreed to use the name Felony to continue the tradition started years before with a new and different approach to their musical style. The new Felony lineup concentrated on developing their songwriting with the new members, creating their identity, and toured hard and frequently for the next several years, supporting their original music and being proverbial torch-bearers of the Indy hard rock music scene, carrying their heavy, inspired sound loud and true while the new grunge style of music infectiously spread like a fad throughout the nation. Again, internal tragedy struck and again Felony disbanded, this time for good.
THE NOW …currently, the original members remain a close brotherhood, and plans for recording new Felony material are currently being discussed among Tommy, Dale, Shawn and Johnny, perhaps with special appearances by former members in the new material as well.
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