Coal Chamber was an American nu metal band from Los Angeles, California. The band formed in 1994 and disbanded in 2003. Former vocalist Dez Fafara and Meegs Rascon started She's In Pain in 1992. The two deicided to create Coal Chamber in 1994. Their first drummer John Thor was eventually replaced by Mike Cox (who beat his older brother for the spot). Then bassist Rayna Foss joined, completing the Coal Chamber lineup.
In late 1994, Dino Cazares of Fear Factory championed a demo tape by Coal Chamber, causing a huge local stir with gigs at The Roxy Theatre and Whisky A Go Go, eventually leading Coal Chamber to an offer to sign with Roadrunner Records.
Fafara dropped out of the band quite suddenly due to disagreements with his wife about the band. In the spring of 1995, Dez reunited with Coal Chamber, ending his marriage but revitalizing the band. With a renewed sense of energy, Coal Chamber was able to regain their deal with Roadrunner by the end of 1995.
In 1997 their debut self-titled album Coal Chamber was released. Though they toured very heavily supporting this album, its mix of nu metal and goth rock imagery was not very successful.
Chamber Music followed two years later. Between the two releases bassist Rayna Foss had gotten married and become pregnant necessitating another bass player on tour; a role happily filled by Nadja Peulen.
Nadja continued playing bass for the recording of Coal Chamber's third album as Rayna chose to leave the band to raise Kayla Moray Rose. Dark Days was released in the spring of 2002.
The band gained a large following early in their career arguably because they were the first "darker" themed nu metal band with an image that had more in common with the goth subculture than hip hop culture. Prior to Coal Chamber Dez Fafara and Meegs Rascón formed the band She's in Pain in 1992.
Coal Chamber played in the first Ozzfest, signed to Roadrunner Records, acquired Mike "Bug" Cox who beat out his older brother for the spot and recorded their first album (all in 1996) for their self-titled debut Coal Chamber in 1997. They got Nathan "Karma" Cox to direct their first video, Loco.
Chamber Music was released in late 1999 and took a step away from the nu metal image egendered in their prior release having instead a more Gothic metal inspired feel. With the bit of commercial success Coal Chamber received after Chamber Music the band toured on headlining and festival tours. The band managed to catch the attention of Ozzy Osbourne's wife Sharon Osbourne who became their manager. Coal Chamber later parted ways with Sharon over personal and creative differences, a theme which continued within the band causing them to take a break from touring and resulting in their non-participation in the Tattoo the Earth tour in 2000.
The band followed up with their third album Dark Days in early 2002 to mixed reviews. Bassist Rayna Foss had left the band to raise her daughter shortly after the album was recorded; she was replaced by Nadja Peulen who had taken Foss-Rose's place during her pregnancy between the first two albums. Rayna had a falling out with frontman Dez Fafara saying that she and her husband had "found Christ" and would be leaving Coal Chamber for good.
In May 2002, it was announced that Coal Chamber had broken up after an on-stage altercation between Dez and Meegs during a show in Lubbock, Texas. They had been fighting verbally before the show and continued to fight on-stage with Meegs hitting Dez in the head with the headstock of his guitar. Dez announced "This is the last Coal Chamber show ever!" and stormed offstage. The band attempted to continue the show with Meegs singing vocals but soon stopped the show altogether. Mikey demolished his drumkit before storming offstage. The band managed to patch things up long enough for an appearance on "Last Call With Carson Daly" and a summer tour with American Head Charge, Lollipop Lust Kill, and Medication. These would be the last shows the band would ever play.
In October 2002, Mikey "Bug" Cox was fired after several personal disputes with both Fafara and guitarist Meegs Rascón. The official release on the Coal Chamber website stated that the band was looking for a new drummer, although all band activities had come to a standstill.
Late summer 2003 saw the release of a compilation album titled Giving the Devil His Due which included several demo tracks submitted by the band prior to their signing with Roadrunner Records in 1997 along with several alternate studio recordings and remixes of various tracks from their previous releases. Coal Chamber officially called it a day in 2003 shortly after lead vocalist Dez Fafara continued with his new band (formerly known as) Deathride (but eventually adopting the moniker) DevilDriver.
In 2004 The Best Of Coal Chamber was released.
In June 2005 Fafara stated that Coal Chamber's hiatus is permanent and will not be reforming at any time in the future. He has also described a Coal Chamber reformation as "like repeating the 4th Grade again".
In September 2007 Rascon stated that "you never know what the future brings".
On October 24 2008 Dez and Meegs settled differences and played "Loco" with Meegs on stage with DevilDriver at the Glasshouse in Pomona. Dez said that they had settled their disputes over sake.
Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:06 am
