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Born
1987
Active
1987 to Present...
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Most Loved Tracks3 users
The Urge - Jump Right In3 users
The Urge - Closer3 users
The Urge - All Washed Up3 users
The Urge - Brainless3 users
The Urge - Divide and Conquer
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The Urge is an alternative rock band based in St. Louis, Missouri. Their music combines several genres, including hardcore punk, heavy metal, ska, reggae, funk, rock, and rhythm and blues. Consistent touring throughout the 1990s earned the band a reputation for high-energy live performances.
The Urge was originally formed in 1987 by Webster Groves High School classmates Jeff Herschel (drums), Karl Grable (bass), and Pat Malecek (guitar). The band went through two singers before recruiting Steve Ewing for vocal duties in 1988. Their first album was released in 1989, the cassette-only Bust Me Dat Forty, followed a year later by the LP Puttin the Backbone Back, which featured the addition of saxophonist Jordan Chalden.
After trombonist Matt Kwiatkowski was recruited in 1992, the group released Magically Delicious, which also featured contributions from trumpeter Tony Albano. Chalden left the band shortly after to deal with substance abuse problems. Later that year, the group added saxophonist/keyboardist Bill Reiter and trombonist/keyboardist Todd Painter. In early 1993, the band released the LP Fat Babies in the Mix, a live concert album recorded at Mississippi Nights.
After Herschel and Malecek left the band in 1994 to pursue other career paths, guitarist Jerry Jost and drummer John Pessoni joined the lineup. Frequent touring with 311 increased the band's fan base.
In 1995 the band independently released Receiving The Gift of Flavor. Regional radio play of songs "Brainless", "All Washed Up", and "Violent Opposition", as well as successful album sales, brought the band to the attention of Epic's Immortal imprint, which reissued the LP in 1996.
After constant touring with the likes of labelmates KoЯn and Incubus, Master of Styles was released in 1998, containing the hit "Jump Right In" (featuring singer Nick Hexum of 311), as well as the singles "Closer" and "Straight to Hell". "Jump Right In" can be heard in an episode of MTV's Daria and MTV's The Real World.
Following the release of Too Much Stereo in mid-2000, the band toured for nearly a year before calling it quits. In summer 2001, the band went its separate ways due to musical differences.
The Urge played several reunion shows from 2003 to 2005. Frontman Steve Ewing has made several solo records under the name Stevie E. and is currently assisting several growing local St. Louis rock bands including Zamudio, The Dead End, and Lojic. Guitarist Jerry Jost was almost chosen as the replacement guitarist for Limp Bizkit after Wes Borland left the band in 2002. The other members still reside in St. Louis and are involved in several musical projects.
On July 15 2011, The Urge confirmed that they would be reforming to write new music. Their new single "Say Yeah" debuted immediately following the announcement at Pop's live on the radio. Their first show back together was Pointfest 29. During the live radio interview, the band discussed with Donny Fandango that the new music will be entirely new material, and will not be the abandoned album "Escape From Boys Town" from 2001 (which they currently have no plans of resurrecting). They also launched their new website TheUrge.net.
The band played 4 shows in November 2011 at the Pageant and recorded their live CD "All The Way Live" and DVD "Live and Direct" during these shows.
On August 17th, 2012, The Urge played the second stage at the inaugural Knotfest live music festival put on by Slipknot in Council Bluffs, Iowa at Mid-America Motorplex.
The Urge played 3 shows onboard the "2013 311 Cruise." Sailing on the Norwegian Pearl Cruise Ship, March 1st-5th, 2013.
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