Bear vs. Shark
Origin Ferndale, Michigan
Genre(s) Post-Hardcore
Years active 2001 - 2005
Label(s) Equal Vision Records

Bear vs. Shark




Bear vs. Shark was a post-hardcore band hailing from Highland, Michigan.

The members of the group have known each other all their lives with some members forming friendships as early as pre-school. The band actually formed during their college years when the members were playing in separate projects. The group's original drummer Brandon Moss left the group and was replaced by Ashley Horak. The group has cited classic rock & punk as well as The Clash, Fugazi, and Motown as influences to the group's unique sound.

The group initially sent a demo to Equal Vision Records and a representative from the label flew out immediately to sign the group. Since the release of Right Now You're in the Best of Hands... the band has toured the United States extensively headlining & opening for other major acts such as Coheed and Cambria. The group quickly gained attention from fans and fellow musicians as well. The group is also known for their high-energy stage show most notably by Marc Paffi (Vocals), who is known to move around the stage frantically during performances. Most of the band members also switched playing instruments during their sets, which was a regular occasion. The group's name has no real significant meaning other than the fact that the members believed that it would be very memorable, though it has been circulated that the band's name comes from the shape of Michigan; colloquially, it is said to look like a bear fighting a shark.

Contents

  • 1 Break-up
  • 2 Post Bear vs. Shark
  • 3 Members
    • 3.1 Former Members
  • 4 Discography
  • 5 Trivia
  • 6 External links

Break-up

On December 21, 2005 the band posted on their website that they decided to call it quits [1]. Although the band didn't cite any specific reason for the break up John Gaviglio (Guitar, Bass) was featured in the December issue of Alternative Press where he did an op-ed piece on the hardships of touring extensively. The band has also been very vocal that they didn't like their touring conditions.

Post Bear vs. Shark

Mike Muldoon & John Gaviglio together with help of Mark Maynard have started a new band project called Cannons, centralized in Brooklyn. [2]

"Right Now, You're in the Best of Hands. And If Something Isn't Quite Right, Your Doctor Will Know in a Hurry" and "Terrorhawk" were released on vinyl by Friction Records, the former included two previously unreleased tracks, "California Hot Seat"(originally heard on the "1653" demo.) and "June 7th". Also, a special picture disc version of "Terrorhawk" was released, with artwork by Jeff VandenBerg. [3]

Marc Paffi recorded vocals for the song 1999 on the band If He Dies, He Dies Friction Records release Conquistador.

Marc Paffi, Mike Muldoon, and Brandon Moss have started a new band together called Champions of History. [4]

Brandon Moss is also a member of the band Wildcatting. [5]

Members

  • Marc Paffi - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
  • Derek Kiesgen - Guitar, Bass
  • Mike Muldoon - Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
  • John Gaviglio - Guitar, Bass, Vocals
  • Ashley Horak - Drums

Former Members

  • Brandon Moss - Drums

Discography

Title Release Date Label
1653 (EP) 2001 Self-Released
Right Now, You're in the Best of Hands... July 22, 2003 Equal Vision Records
Terrorhawk June 14, 2005 Equal Vision Records

Trivia

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The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
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Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2008)
  • The band's name is unrelated to the novel Bear v. Shark by Chris Bachelder.
  • Marc Paffi has painted all the album artwork himself and designed t-shirts for the group and as well as other groups such as Circa Survive. He is an artist and earned a degree in Fine Arts also from the school Eastern Michigan University.
  • John was a double major in German and Economics at the University of Michigan.
  • Derek is approximately one class away from receiving his degree in English from Michigan State.
  • Mike has a degree in English from Eastern Michigan University .
  • Their alternative band name was Dr. Dracula.
  • Experimental band The Sound of Animals Fighting got their name from a conversation that Rich Bailing had with his girlfriend about Bear vs. Shark.
  • The song "5, 6 Kids" (from Terrorhawk) was featured on the Saints Row soundtrack.



 
   

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