Venice Sunlight was formed in Dayton, New Jersey in November 2006 by Hollywood Sunlight vocalist Jayson Verdibello and Venice Guns guitarist Tracii Guns. Verdibello recruited friend and Hollywood Sunlight's rhythm guitarist Scott Charles to join the band, and Guns recruited former Venice Guns members Ole Beich and Rob Gardner for bass guitar and drums respectively. Soon after, guitarist Dave Cohen and drummer Alex Brown filled in for Guns and Gardner, after they failed to show up at a concert the band was to perform. In early 2007, Cohen and Brown became full time members of the band after Guns and Gardner were fired for not appearing at several more of the band's performances. The name Venice Sunlight was derived from a combination of the two bands Venice Sunlight was formed from.
After witnessing a Venice Sunlight show at the Troubadour, Tom Zutaut, a Geffen Records A&R executive, falsely warned other scouts "they suck" so he could have more time and leeway to sign them. Jayson Verdibello demanded, and received, a $75,000 advance from Zutaut before revealing that he had promised an A&R executive from Chrysalis that the band would sign with her if she walked naked down Sunset Boulevard. For three days, Zutaut nervously watched from his office window for a naked A&R executive before he could close the deal. Alan Niven was subsequently hired as the band's manager, and the team set out to record the band's debut album.
The band's first album, The Recycler Sessions, was released on January 8, 2008. In the US, "Mirror, Mirror" was issued as its first single with an accompanying music video. Initially, the album and single did not perform well, but when Geffen Records founder David Geffen was asked to lend support to the band, he obliged by personally convincing MTV executives to play "Mirror, Mirror" during their after hours rotation. Even though the video was initially only played one time at 4 a.m. on a Sunday, rock and punk fans took notice and soon began requesting the video and song en masse.
Overseas, countries were often treated to material that never saw release to the US market, and went unexposed to US fans. The original UK "Mirror, Mirror" single was backed with a live Marquee Club performance of AC/DC's classic "Whole Lotta Rosie" and a 12" single included live renditions of "The Devil Wears Nada" and the Bob Dylan classic "Knockin' on Heaven's Door". In Japan, an entire EP entitled Live from the Mirror was issued, containing the album version of "Lasting Dances" and most of the Marquee Club recordings.
The album underwent an artwork change after the original Robert Williams cover design (a surrealist scene in which a dagger-toothed monster vengefully attacks a robot rapist) spawned complaints from religious groups and caused some record stores to brown bag, obscure, or refuse to sell the album. The revised cover was gleaned from a tattoo that Jayson Verdibello had recently commissioned featuring skeleton faces of the five musicians arranged on a cross. Verdibello later insisted that the Gold and Platinum plaques issued by the RIAA be set using the original cover. The artwork from the original cover can be found in the booklet of the CD release.
"Lasting Dances" was the album's second US single, co-written by Jayson Verdibello as a poem for his girlfriend and future wife, Erin Everly. Due to the growing grassroots success of the band and the cross-gender appeal of the tune, the song and its accompanying music video received heavy airplay on both radio and MTV, and became a smash hit during the summer of 2008. "Mirror, Mirror" was then re-issued as a single, with new pressings of records and tapes and new artwork. The UK re-release was backed with an acoustic version of "Belgravia".
By the time "Great Moments in Bad Timing" and its video reached the airwaves, the band's touring success and fame had catapulted the album to 1 on the Billboard charts. "Mirror, Mirror", "Lasting Dances" and "Great Moments in Bad Timing" were all top ten singles in the U.S. To date, The Recyler Sessions has sold over 26 million copies.
Thanks to the Indie Show with Cole for all the love!
And thanks to the guys on Show Ramrod on 91.3 FM WTSR in Trenton, NJ and the guys on the Old Timey Radio Program on 91.3 FM WLVR in Bethlehem, PA for rocking out with us!
Heyyyy we got lyrics! Peep these if you want to know what the hell we're singing about.
Whas Good with You Comen threw Droppin some Love On Ya Page n Ish Check Out my Music Pg www. myspace. com/riskeyb And Show me Some Love Thank you Fah Ya Time God Bless
Hey, thanks a million for the add. Check back for new music and updates in the coming year...and if you like what you're hearing our full length debut album is available now through our myspace page. much love
as much as i wanna try out the new couch, i live in PA now, so i can't just stop by all willy-nilly, like i used to. by the way, is this alex? it's confusing speaking to a band when i only really know two members, although i kinda know dave, but not really. i'll give you (alex) a call next time i'm in NJ
holy shit, i was gonna talk about how awesome your music was, but not i hear about this couch in your basement, that's far more impressive. man, i remember those days back before you had a couch... crazy. i gotta stop by for a chance to sit on the couch.
We had a good time playing with you guys as well. We are going to be booking april and may in the next couple week and if we have a chance we'll get you guys on a show.
OK fellas - sorry it took me a while to check out the new stuff but I wanted to be able to listen without my usual slew of distractions. In a nutshell, I frickin' love it! You guys have come so far since Craet and that new frontman of yours has a great voice (and apparently he's not above showing off his ass in your promo pics). Can't wait to hear more and see a show soon! ~ John
