Parts of this Dallas, Texas -based quintet have been making music together for nearly 15 years and their tight interpersonal bond is reflected in their multi-faceted, intensely textured sound. Inspired by an eclectic variety of old-school rock & soul and modern rock with grooves, RadioKing have dedicated themselves to the art of songwriting and sonic experimentation. Tracks like "Whither", “Goodbye” and the driving powerhouse rocker "Follow Me" boast a passionate melodic thrust and an inventive rhythmic approach which points to the band's goal of guiding the music they love towards the new era.
Cue wavy lines and flashback to the mid 80’s, as three members of RadioKing first became friends while attending High School. Bassist John Cruz bonded with Mark Stroface over a mutual interest in rock 'n' roll, and after bringing in fellow schoolmate Scott Crawford on the drums and another friend, Robert Babina to sing, the four teens decided to form a band.
Like most teens at the time, the young musicians were obsessed with the aggressive and progressive sounds of bands like Motley Crue, Rush, Megadeth and other late 80’s and early 90's metal bands. Several years later after doing numerous gigs playing originals and cover songs, singer Babina eventually lost his battle with Leukemia. After a year of soul searching the band then hooked up with another local guitarist, Jimmy Adcock. Along with a singer, James Arnett who had been in a previous band with Jimmy, the bands voracious appetite for new sounds and a wide variety of influences had proven a major inspiration, leading them to an appreciation of the entire musical spectrum, from rock to blues, disco to funk.
The band continued to work at developing their own unique sound and vision. They played gigs around their hometown in the Dallas club hot spot known as Deep Ellum and other Dallas suburbs and eventually ventured as far Oklahoma and Arkansas and all throughout Texas.
"We basically learned how to play through being in a band," says Stroface. "When we started we wanted to be different, so instead of writing real songs, we wrote like a million different parts. Our 'songs' were like six and seven minutes long!"
The five band-mates' undying love of the Beatles and other catchy pop bands drove them to reconsider the songwriting process, moving from their initial scattershot approach to an understanding and appreciation of hooks and harmonies, moods and melodies. Having grown confident in the quality of their sound and songs, in 1999 the band recorded "Rubber America." The CD - independently produced under the band's original moniker, Seventh Veil- went on to sell well, just at local gigs and via the Internet and also landed them a spot on the Nations Top 40 Up & Coming Charts with their independently released single, “How I Feel” which received considerable airplay on over twenty stations through-out the US.
Over the next two years, the band continued to refine their craft, rehearsing, writing and relentlessly touring the tri-state area. Each member grew more confident in their talents - from Arnett’s impassioned vocal dynamics, to Adcock’s and Stroface’s increasingly intricate and inventive guitar work, to the supple and syncopated interplay of the Crawford/Cruz rhythm section.
Unfortunately, at the beginning of 2002, the band realized they were at a crossroads. Knowing they needed to branch out more and make a stronger push for mass appeal, it became obvious that a change needed to be made at the front-man position. Being that James lived over two hours away from the other members, it was getting harder and harder to not only do consistent gigs but nearly impossible to get any new material written or recorded.
Sensing the possibility of big things in their future, the band took the usual steps of tracking down a replacement that not only could match what James brought to the band but take it a step further.
Now, offically known as RadioKing...the group has found THE GUY in young rookie Lex Jamison and is in the process of writing and recording new material and taking the band back to where it belongs...On Stage and Kicking Ass.
To Be Continued.....
