BIOGRAPHY

The Blackout Pact | BIOGRAPHY

Whatever happened to The Blackout Pact?

In 2005 the band released their critically lauded debut album Hello Sailor, and supported the record with an arduous two year touring spree. TBOP shows became the stuff of legends and Hello Sailor carved out a niche for itself as one of the most important punk records of the past few years. But in 2006, seemingly without warning, the band announced an indefinite hiatus and dropped out of sight. Fans and friends were confounded and disappointed; this was one of the best bands we've ever seen. So, what happened?

Over the past two years, the members of the band pursued various interests and activities, growing and changing as individuals. Vocalist Mike Herrera continued making amazing music in Denver, CO with the band Sleeperhorse. Guitarist Cory Trendler married a great girl and moved to Seattle to join the working-class. Guitarist Joe Ramirez moved to Canada to manage a skate shop. Bass player Billy Joe (BJ) Bailey joined the Merchant Marines went back to school, and drummer Wisam Alshaibi spent time traveling in his home land in the Middle East and all over Europe.

"I feel like these individual events have created amazing inspiration for us, and the only band that can release that energy is the pact..and we all know that.", says guitarist Cory Trendler, "Although we all went our seperate ways, we never completely lost touch with each other. We always managed to continue talking either through short visits here and there, or emails or phone calls, and amazingly we still maintained a solid foundation for our friendships regardless of some of our mistakes, and regardless of where everyone was in their own lives, so i think really after a while it became obvious that we were all still feeling like there was something more we needed to say...i think all of us sorta felt like we needed to wrap things up the right way before we run out of time. And deep down i know all of us feel that our magic together as the original line up could never be replaced...we had something so much more than just chemistry and no word or action could ever explain what we had together as a group of best friends."

Needless to say, the folks at Eyeball Records were thrilled when the band contacted them about recording and releasing a new EP to be called Wolves In The Lazarette. The band will begin recording in January, with an expected release date in spring of 2009. In addition, Cory Trendler's start-up indie label Tired Owl Records will be issuing an extremely limited special edition vinyl.

"The reason we are putting this record out is very simple." says TBOP drummer Wisam Alshaibi, "We owed it to our fans, the kids that drove a thousand miles to come see us, the kids that got inked for the rest of their lives with our lyrics, or anybody else that was a part of the pact. The other reason was to satisfy ourselves. Some of the songs on Hello Sailor are nearly 4-5 years old. We wanted to satisfy this feeling we all had .We wanted to once and for all show the world who was the absolute best at what we do. Drawing from our influences like Hot Water Music, Leatherface, Samiam, The Lawrence Arms, Farside, Small Brown Bike, Hum, Murder City Devils, we are going to put out simply the best possible music that we can, Cory, Mike, Joe, Wisam, and BJ have never been better songwriters than we are at this point and we are going to remind people about emotion, passion, and kicking fucking ass. We are looking ahead and not towards the past. TBOP has a lot of reputations, but the most important was that we were the band that you never forgot once you met us or heard us. We have been through the most absolutely insane journey, I honestly believe that no band has ever been through the things we have, whether it be eating out of dumpsters in NYC because the majors labels dragged us their, or touring the USA for 2 years without ever stopping for more than a week at a time. Our eyes have seen things that words can't describe. Only music can. TBOP is not broken up, is not together, is not in hiatus, is not pulling stunts. And one last thing, we needed to repair our relationships with each other, and the only way we know how to do that is through music. We are the "Wolves in the Lazarette".

TOUR DATES

RELEASES

The Blackout Pact | RELEASES

VIDEO

The Blackout Pact | VIDEO

We Drink So You Don't Have To

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