James Bergstrom is an American musician best known as the drummer for the rock band Second Coming.[1] Before that, he played drums for the band Sleze (later renamed Alice N' Chains), which also featured future Alice in Chains vocalist Layne Staley.[2]
James Bergstrom | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bergstrom in 1987 as part of Alice N' Chains | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | Alternative rock, alternative metal, post-grunge, hard rock, glam metal (early) |
| Occupation | Drummer |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Formerly of | Sleze, Alice N' Chains, Second Coming |
Career
editSleze and Alice N' Chains
editIn 1984, Bergstrom co-founded a garage band called Sleze, whose jam room was set up in his parents' basement.[2][3] At the suggestion of his friend Ken Elmer, Bergstrom and his bandmates recruited Elmer's stepbrother Layne Staley, who back then also went by the surname Elmer, as vocalist.[2][3] They performed live at various high schools, playing Slayer and Armored Saint covers. This band went through several lineup changes before changing their name to Alice N' Chains.[4] The group continued to tour throughout the Seattle area and recorded two demos before they broke up around 1987, which was the year that Bergstrom graduated from Shorewood High. Staley went on to form the band Alice in Chains whose 1990 debut album Facelift lists Bergstrom as one of the people they wished to thank.[5] Nick Pollock, another former member of Sleze/Alice N' Chains, became lead singer of the band My Sister's Machine, which also thanked Bergstrom within the liner notes of their 1992 debut album Diva.[6]
Second Coming
editMeanwhile, Bergstrom co-founded the band Second Coming sometime in the early 1990s and was eventually joined by his childhood friend Johnny Bacolas, who had also been a member of Sleze/Alice N' Chains. This band also went through several lineup changes throughout its history with Bergstrom as the sole constant member before breaking up in 2008. Their catalog consists of three studio albums and one acoustic EP, all of which feature both Bergstrom and Bacolas.
In 1994, they independently released their debut album L.O.V.Evil, which features a guest appearance by Layne Staley on the track "It's Coming After". Four years later, they signed on to Capitol Records and released their eponymous second album Second Coming. This album produced two singles titled "Soft" and "Vintage Eyes", the latter of which had a music video. Another track titled "Unknown Rider" was included on the soundtrack for the blockbuster film The Sixth Sense. The band split from Capitol Records in 2001 after the departure of Gary Gersh, the president who signed them to the label.[7] Following the split, they independently released an EP titled Acoustic and third studio album 13.
Second Coming were purportedly working on a fourth album that was due to be released in 2007.[8] However, the band has since broken up. While the other members of Second Coming have continued to record and perform with other acts, Bergstrom has largely focused on family life but he still keeps in touch with his former bandmates.
Discography
edit| Year | Album details | Band |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | L.O.V.Evil
|
Second Coming |
| 1998 | Second Coming
| |
| 2002 | Acoustic
| |
| 2003 | 13
|
References
edit- ^ Gargano, Paul. "Second Coming Maximum Ink". Maximum Ink. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c David de Sola (April 5, 2012). "How Alice in Chains Found the Most Memorable Voice in Grunge". The Atlantic. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
- ^ a b Prato, Greg. "Grunge is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music." p. 214. April 2009.
- ^ Prato, Greg (April 2009). Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music. pp. 215–216.
- ^ Facelift (liner notes). Alice in Chains. Columbia Records. 1990. 46075.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Diva (liner notes). My Sister's Machine. Caroline Records. 1992. 1714-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Stav, Steve The Second Coming of Second Coming, "Intermittent Signals" September 1, 2001. Retrieved on June 8, 2011.
- ^ Prato, Greg. "Allmusic overview". Allmusic.com. Retrieved December 11, 2011.