Thrice
Teppei Teranishi and Dustin Kensrue of Thrice performing at Indio, CA
Background information
Origin	Irvine, California, U.S.
Genre(s)	Post-hardcore Experimental rock Melodic hardcore (early material) Art rock (newer material)
Years active	1998—present
Label(s)	Sub City Hopeless Island Vagrant
Website	Thrice.net
Members
Dustin Kensrue Teppei Teranishi Eddie Breckenridge Riley Breckenridge

Thrice is an American band from Irvine, California. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Irvine ( is an incorporated city in Orange County California, United States The group was founded in 1998 by guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue and guitarist Teppei Teranishi while they were in high school. Dustin Michael Kensrue (KENZ-roo (born November 18, 1980) is a vocalist lyricist and rhythm guitarist in the Orange County California post-hardcore Teppei Teranishi (born September 13 1980) is the lead Guitarist and Keyboardist of the Post-hardcore band Thrice ^[1]

Early in their career, the band was known for their "powerful, driving beats and buzz-saw riffs,"^[2] mainly due to the release of their second LP, The Illusion of Safety (2002). Long play (LP record albums are 33⅓  Rpm vinyl Gramophone records (phonograph records generally either 10- or 12- Inches in diameter The Illusion of Safety is Thrice 's second full length album released in 2002 on Sub City Records Thrice released their third album The Artist in the Ambulance in 2003, showing off their musicianship by intricating music stylings such as complex time signatures as shown in "Silhouette. The Artist In The Ambulance is Thrice 's third album but their first on a major label The time signature (also known as " meter signature" is a notational convention used in Western Musical notation to specify how many beats "^[3] Their fourth album Vheissu (2005) was portrayed by many critics as being experimentally unique, using non-conventional Thrice elements in the process;^[4][5] it introduced a new sound to the band's post-hardcore roots. Vheissu is the fourth studio album by Thrice. It was released on October 18 2005 by Island Records and peaked at #15 on The Billboard Following this was The Alchemy Index (2007), which only furthered Thrice's reputation as illustrious musicians and songwriters. ^[6]

Throughout the band's career, they have been known to donate proceeds from album sales to charitable or non-profit organizations. ^[7][8]

History

First Impressions and Identity Crisis

Dustin Kensrue and Teppei Teranishi knew each other from school and had played in a band together, the name of which is unknown. Dustin Michael Kensrue (KENZ-roo (born November 18, 1980) is a vocalist lyricist and rhythm guitarist in the Orange County California post-hardcore Teppei Teranishi (born September 13 1980) is the lead Guitarist and Keyboardist of the Post-hardcore band Thrice Teppei recruited his skate park friend Eddie Breckenridge to play bass, who then brought his brother Riley on as a drummer. Eddie Breckenridge (born Edward Carrington Breckenridge on November 15th 1979) is the Bass guitarist of the Post-hardcore band Thrice. James Riley Breckenridge (born January 5, 1975) is the Drummer for experimental rock band Thrice. ^[9] In 2006, Thrice announced to participants at Power Chord Academy that they had come up with the name Thrice out of desperation and an inside joke;^[10] when a friend had told Dustin that he had beaten the Game Boy video game Frogger twice, Dustin replied he had beaten it "thrice. The is a handheld video game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. Frogger is an Arcade game introduced in 1981. It was developed by Konami, and licensed for worldwide distribution by Sega / "

In 1999, the band self-released an EP titled First Impressions which was the product of a two-day recording session at A-Room Studios with Brian Tochilin. An extended play ( EP) is a Vinyl record, CD, or Music download which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify First Impressions is the first release by Thrice. It was released independently by the band and is now long out of print and considered extremely rare ^[11] Only 1,000 copies were made and the band members sold them out of their cars. ^[11] Working with Death by Stereo's Paul Miner, the quartet recorded 12 tracks, and by April 2000, the group had released Identity Crisis on Greenflag Records. Death by Stereo (also referred to as D B S) is a Thrash/metal band formed in Orange County, California circa 1996 by frontman Paul Miner (born December 4, 1976) is the bassist for Death by Stereo, who left the band early 2005 (right before the band's fourth album Death for Identity Crisis is the first album by the band Thrice, originally released on Green Flag Records in 2000 then re-released in 2001 by Sub City A portion of the album's proceeds were donated to a local charity called Crittenton Services for Children and Families. ^[12] More support gigs and local buzz followed, and Thrice sparked the interest of Hopeless/Sub City's Louis Posen. Hopeless Records is an Independent record label located in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. Sub City Records is a Record label which was created by Hopeless Records to raise funding and awareness for non-profit organizations ^[13] In 2001, Posen signed with the band, reissued Identity Crisis, and sent the group out on tour with Samiam. Identity Crisis is the first album by the band Thrice, originally released on Green Flag Records in 2000 then re-released in 2001 by Sub City Samiam is a band from El Sobrante California formed in 1988 after the breakup of the Gilman club mainstay Isocracy. Tours with Midtown and Hot Rod Circuit followed. Midtown was an American Pop-punk band from New Brunswick, New Jersey formed in November 1998 by three Rutgers University Hot Rod Circuit was a rock band from New Haven Connecticut established in 1997. ^[1]

The Illusion of Safety

Thrice re-entered the studio with producer Brian McTernan to record its Hopeless/Sub City debut, The Illusion of Safety. Brian McTernan is a record producer who has worked with many independent rock bands The Illusion of Safety is Thrice 's second full length album released in 2002 on Sub City Records The album was released in February 2002 and the band toured extensively to support it, opening for Further Seems Forever and Face to Face before embarking on its first headlining tour later that year. Further Seems Forever was an American rock band formed in 1998 in Pompano Beach Florida and disbanded in 2006 The band again donated a portion of the album's proceeds, this time choosing a non-profit youth shelter in South Central Los Angeles, A Place Called Home. The band's donations were matched by their label. ^[14]

The album received generally positive reviews and garnered the attention of several major labels. The band eventually signed with Island Records, who had agreed to match Thrice's charitable donations in the same manner that Hopeless/Sub City had. Island Records is a Record label that was founded by British record producers in Jamaica. ^[14] That fall, the band toured with Hot Water Music and Coheed and Cambria before returning to the studio. Hot Water Music is a punk band from Gainesville, Florida. The members of the band are Chuck Ragan, Chris Wollard, Jason Black Coheed and Cambria is an American Progressive metal band formed in New York. ^[1]

The Artist in the Ambulance

In 2003, the band released its Island Records debut, The Artist in the Ambulance. The Artist In The Ambulance is Thrice 's third album but their first on a major label The album's title is in reference to Burn Collector by Al Burian and is meant to reflect the band's desire to do more than make music and contribute to society through their charitable donations. Burn Collector is a Perzine written and published by Chicago based writer and musician Al Burian. ^[8] A portion of the album's proceeds were this time donated to the Syrentha Savio Endowment, a financial aid organization for breast cancer patients. First pressings of the album were packaged in a digipak-style case with postcards containing lyrics and notes from the band. Digipak is a patented style of Compact disc or DVD packaging and is a registered Trademark of AGI Media a MeadWestvaco Inc ^[15]

The album spawned two singles, "All That's Left" and "Stare at the Sun. For the band formerly known as All That's Left see Name Taken " All That's Left " is a single from Thrice from the album " Stare at the Sun " is Thrice 's third single from the album The Artist in the Ambulance. " Both songs, and their accompanying videos, received modest airplay and the band found themselves playing at larger venues as the year progressed. A co-headlining fall tour with labelmates Thursday and opener Coheed and Cambria sold out across the United States,^[16] as well as a stint on the Honda Civic Tour with Dashboard Confessional, The Get Up Kids, and Hot Water Music. Thursday is a Post-hardcore band from New Brunswick New Jersey that has released four full-length albums. Coheed and Cambria is an American Progressive metal band formed in New York. Dashboard Confessional is an American rock band from Boca Raton Florida, led by Singer-songwriter Chris Carrabba. The Get Up Kids were an American indie rock band Forming in Kansas City Missouri in 1995 the band opened for bands such as Green Day and Weezer Hot Water Music is a punk band from Gainesville, Florida. The members of the band are Chuck Ragan, Chris Wollard, Jason Black ^[17]

Throughout 2004, the band continued to tour in support of The Artist in the Ambulance. Island Records issued a promotional disc (that features an alternate version of "The Artist in the Ambulance") in early 2004 that would become the basis for If We Could Only See Us Now, a CD/DVD package outlining the group's career. If We Could Only See Us Now is the first complete retrospective of the band Thrice, and has been certified Gold by the RIAA. ^[18] Named after a lyric from "So Strange I Remember You," the CD portion contained live tracks from a performance at the Apple Store and various B-sides. The Apple Store is a chain of retail stores owned and operated by Apple Inc A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of 7 inch Vinyl records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s A slot to promote the CD/DVD came on the 2004 Vans Warped Tour. The Warped Tour' is a touring music and Extreme sports festival

Vheissu

Teppei Teranishi (right) and Dustin Kensrue (left) of Thrice performing at a Fopp instore signing in Southampton, UK.

Thrice spent much of the first half of 2005 working with producer Steve Osborne on the follow-up to The Artist in the Ambulance. Steve Osborne is a Dance music producer. He has worked with many bands and musicians such as New Order. Thrice released Vheissu in October 2005 with "Image of the Invisible" as the first single. Vheissu is the fourth studio album by Thrice. It was released on October 18 2005 by Island Records and peaked at #15 on The Billboard The album's title was taken from the Thomas Pynchon novel V.,^[19] and featured a wider variety of instrumentation than used in the band's previous albums, including the use of strings, electronics, and a Rhodes Piano. Thomas Ruggles Pynchon Jr (born May 8 1937 is an American writer based in New York City, noted for his dense and complex works of Fiction. V is the debut Novel of Thomas Pynchon, published in 1963. It describes the exploits of a discharged U A Rhodes piano is an electromechanical Musical instrument, a brand of Electric piano. ^[20] Many of the album's lyrics also feature biblical, spiritual, and abstract themes. For Vheissu, the band chose a tutorial program for underprivileged children called 826 Valencia to receive proceeds from the album sales. ^[19]

The band toured extensively in support of the album, including headlining the 2006 Taste of Chaos tour and performing "Image of the Invisible" on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The Rockstar Taste Of Chaos Tour (or "TOC" is a Post-hardcore tour that was started in the winter of 2005 by Kevin Lyman, the creator of the successful " Image of the Invisible " is Thrice 's first single from the album Vheissu. Jimmy Kimmel Live! is an American late-night Talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and broadcast on ABC. ^[19] In April 2006, the band released "Red Sky" as the second single from the album. Red Sky EP is the companion CD to Vheissu (2005 by Thrice. It was released on April 11 2006. ^[21] The accompanying video was directed by Tim Hope, who had previously directed videos for Coldplay and Jimmy Eat World. Coldplay TalkColdplay#Is_or_Are_dispute_again Jimmy Eat World is an American Alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, formed in 1993. ^[22] Instead of releasing just a single, Thrice opted to release the Red Sky EP in support of the single, which included two previously unreleased tracks and four live tracks. Red Sky EP is the companion CD to Vheissu (2005 by Thrice. It was released on April 11 2006. ^[21]

The Alchemy Index

In September 2006, the band announced plans for a new album (later titled The Alchemy Index) on its official website. The album was conceived as a series of 4 EPs, each of which represents an element of nature: earth, air, fire, and water. Many ancient philosophies used a set of archetypal classical "elements" to explain patterns in Nature. The band maintained a studio blog titled Alchemy Index throughout the recording process. ^[23]

During the recording process, the band announced that it was leaving Island Records, citing a difference of opinion on the band's future direction as the reason for the split. ^[24] The band joined Vagrant Records on August 9, 2007. Vagrant Records is an independent record label founded by Face to Face manager Rich Egan and friend Jon Cohen in 1996. Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[25]

On October 12, 2007, Thrice released the first two songs from the Alchemy Index in their entirety through the band's Myspace page. Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[26] Most comments from fans were positive ahead of the album's release. The Alchemy Index Vols. I & II was released on October 16, 2007 and sold 28,000 copies in its first week. The Alchemy Index is Thrice 's fifth studio recording a four-disc concept album that was split between two releases the first in October 2007 and the second Events 456 - Magister militum Ricimer defeats the Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and becomes master of the western Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. It debuted at number 24 on the Billboard 200 chart,^[27] and it topped at number five on the iTunes top-selling albums. The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard ^[28] To promote the new album, Thrice toured with the bands mewithoutYou and Brand New, and followed with a series of Canadian shows with bands Say Anything and Attack In Black. MewithoutYou (stylised as mewithoutYou, where the capitalized "You" refers to God is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -based experimental rock band Brand New is an Alternative rock band based in the United States. The second half of the project, The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IV - Earth & Air, was officially released on April 15, 2008, but was leaked onto the internet on April 9, 2008. The Alchemy Index is Thrice 's fifth studio recording a four-disc concept album that was split between two releases the first in October 2007 and the second Thrice are currently on their Spring 2008 tour with Circa Survive and Pelican. Circa Survive is a rock band consisting of vocalist Anthony Green and members of the now-defunct This Day Forward. Pelican is a four-piece Instrumental band from Chicago, Illinois who have since relocated to Los Angeles. ^[29] The May 28th, 2008 show at the House of Blues in Anaheim was filmed for a live DVD.

The final song on each disc is written in the form of a sonnet, depicting the relationship of man with each of the particular elements. The sonnet is one of the poetic forms that can be found in Lyric poetry from Europe. Each of these songs is in iambic pentameter, with a concluding rhyming couplet. Iambic pentameter is a type of meter that is used in Poetry and Drama. A couplet is a pair of lines of verse. It usually consists of two lines that rhyme and have the same meter These final couplets also contain the same vocal melody and chord progression as each other, although they are in different keys.

Discography

Full-length albums

EPs

Singles

Note: All singles have a music video except for "The Artist in the Ambulance. The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard The Billboard charts are music sales airplay and digital ranking reports distributed to the general public by Billboard magazine The Billboard charts are music sales airplay and digital ranking reports distributed to the general public by Billboard magazine Top Heatseekers is a weekly albums chart introduced by Billboard in 1993 whose purpose is to highlight sales by new and developing musical recording artists Identity Crisis is the first album by the band Thrice, originally released on Green Flag Records in 2000 then re-released in 2001 by Sub City Sub City Records is a Record label which was created by Hopeless Records to raise funding and awareness for non-profit organizations The Illusion of Safety is Thrice 's second full length album released in 2002 on Sub City Records The Artist In The Ambulance is Thrice 's third album but their first on a major label Island Records is a Record label that was founded by British record producers in Jamaica. Vheissu is the fourth studio album by Thrice. It was released on October 18 2005 by Island Records and peaked at #15 on The Billboard The Alchemy Index is Thrice 's fifth studio recording a four-disc concept album that was split between two releases the first in October 2007 and the second Vagrant Records is an independent record label founded by Face to Face manager Rich Egan and friend Jon Cohen in 1996. The Alchemy Index is Thrice 's fifth studio recording a four-disc concept album that was split between two releases the first in October 2007 and the second First Impressions is the first release by Thrice. It was released independently by the band and is now long out of print and considered extremely rare Live from the SoHo & Santa Monica Stores is a split EP by Post-hardcore bands Thrice and Thursday. iTunes is a proprietary digital media player application introduced by Apple Inc If We Could Only See Us Now is the first complete retrospective of the band Thrice, and has been certified Gold by the RIAA. Island Records is a Record label that was founded by British record producers in Jamaica. Red Sky EP is the companion CD to Vheissu (2005 by Thrice. It was released on April 11 2006. Come All You Weary is the first single released off of the Earth disc from The Alchemy Index Vols Vagrant Records is an independent record label founded by Face to Face manager Rich Egan and friend Jon Cohen in 1996. iTunes is a proprietary digital media player application introduced by Apple Inc Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks (originally called Mainstream Rock Tracks) is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on Mainstream rock Hot Modern Rock Tracks (originally called Modern Rock Tracks) is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in ''Billboard'' magazine since September " Deadbolt " is the second single and fifth track from Thrice 's second full-length release The Illusion of Safety. For the band formerly known as All That's Left see Name Taken " All That's Left " is a single from Thrice from the album " The Artist in the Ambulance " is the second single from the album The Artist in the Ambulance by Thrice. " Stare at the Sun " is Thrice 's third single from the album The Artist in the Ambulance. " Image of the Invisible " is Thrice 's first single from the album Vheissu. Red Sky EP is the companion CD to Vheissu (2005 by Thrice. It was released on April 11 2006. " Digital Sea " is Thrice 's first single off of their album The Alchemy Index Vols Come All You Weary is the first single released off of the Earth disc from The Alchemy Index Vols "

Soundtracks and other contributions

• "The Arsonist" is featured as a downloadable track for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
• "All That's Left" is featured in EA's Madden NFL 2004. Madden NFL 2004 is the 14th installment of the Madden NFL series of American football Video games.
• "Stare at the Sun" is featured in the soundtrack for SSX 3. SSX 3 is a Snowboarding video game published by Electronic Arts and developed by EA Sports BIG, which was released in late 2003.
• "Image of the Invisible" is featured in the soundtrack for Tony Hawk's American Wasteland. Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, also known as THAW (and unofficially as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 7) is a Video game that Thrice also covered the songs "Seeing Red" and "Screaming at a Wall" (both originally by Minor Threat) for the soundtrack. Minor Threat was an American Hardcore punk band that formed in Washington D However, they combined the two songs to create one song ("Seeing Red/Screaming at a Wall").
• "Lullaby" is featured in the soundtrack for Burnout Revenge. Burnout Revenge is the fourth Video game in the Burnout series of racing games released for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox
• "Under a Killing Moon" is featured in the soundtrack for the movie Resident Evil: Apocalypse.
• "Stare at the Sun" was featured in an episode of MTV's Next.
• "Under a Killing Moon" was featured in the Playstation 2 game Gretzky NHL 2005.
• "The Artist in the Ambulance" was featured in the video game MTX Mototrax". MTX Mototrax is a Motocross videogame made by Activision for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2004
• "The Artist in the Ambulance" was featured in the Playstation 2 game Driven to Destruction. Test Drive Eve of Destruction is a video game that was developed by Monster Games in 2004 and published by Atari.
• A cover of "Send Me an Angel" by Real Life was included in the compilation album Punk Goes Pop. Real Life was a Melbourne -based Australian New Wave band that had hits with its debut single, "Send Me an Angel" Punk Goes Pop is a Compilation album which is part of the Punk Goes
• A cover of "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles was included in the compilation album Because We Care. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960
• "Carol of the Bells" was part of another Christmas compilation cd, Have a Cool Yule from Island's own Christmas compilation.
• In the 2005 Comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, a Thrice sticker can be seen inside the main character's bar, "Paddy's Pub". It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is an American television sitcom created by Rob McElhenney and developed by McElhenney and Glenn Howerton One can be seen near the bar on a support beam, another can be seen inside of the bathroom on the stall in episode 4, "Charlie has Cancer".
• "Hideous Strength" is featured on the Hopelessly Devoted to You IV Compilation, released by Hopeless Records. Hopeless Records is an Independent record label located in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California.
• "See You in the Shallows" was featured on the MTV Road Rules compilation.
• During an episode of "Wife Swap USA" Thrice appear performing live in the background when one family forced their "mother for the week" to go to a heavy rock show. The mother was set strongly against this and complained that it was against her religion as a Christian to listen to rock music. Ironically Dustin Kensrue is a Christian and the band are fairly well known as having lyrics focused heavily upon this.

Side Projects

• Dustin Kensrue released a solo album on Equal Vision Records on January 23, 2007, titled Please Come Home. Equal Vision Records is a Record label based in Albany New York, which has a focus in hardcore or punk-based rock genres Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Please Come Home is Dustin Kensrue 's long-anticipated debut solo acoustic album The album opened at 142 on the Billboard 200 with 5,800 copies sold. ^[32]
• Teppei Teranishi is in a side project with Chris Jones called Black Unicorn. Chris Jones also played drums and electric guitar on Dustin's solo album.

References

External links

• Thrice's page @ Vagrant Records
• Thrice.net
• Thrice at MySpace
• Thrice Fan Site
• Thrice Concert Photos from Alchemy Index Tour w/ Circa Survive 2008