Biography
Drawn to the aggressive industrial metal sound of Ministry and KMFDM, the American rock group Gravity Kills pursued a similar route of intense, abrasive attacks yet failed to match their forebears’ staying power. Their first full-length album arrived in 1996 under the title Gravity Kills and produced the radio success “Guilty,” briefly elevating the quartet to peak popularity. Riding that momentum, the band delivered both a collection of remixes and a follow-up studio album within the next two years. A third effort, Superstarved, appeared in 2002, but roughly twelve months afterward the members effectively called it quits, limiting future activity to scattered reunion performances while occasionally hinting at a possible studio return.
Formed in St. Louis, guitarist Matt Dudenhoffer, keyboardist Douglas Firley, and bassist/drummer Kurt Kerns had played in various local acts since the mid-1980s until an opportunity to contribute to a KPNT-FM compilation prompted them to record together. Lacking a singer, Kerns contacted his cousin Jeff Scheel in Dallas in 1994. Stylistically echoing Filter and Nine Inch Nails, the newly assembled lineup tracked the original song “Guilty” in three days, adopted the name Gravity Kills, and secured a slot on the station’s release. The track quickly became the outlet’s most-played request and spread to stations across the United States and Canada, resulting in a contract with Wax Trax!/TVT. Exposure widened when the song appeared on the soundtracks for Mortal Kombat and Seven; in March 1996 the four-piece issued its self-titled debut and promoted it by opening for the Sex Pistols on their American reunion tour.
The following year brought the remix album Manipulated, containing reworkings by Al Jourgensen, Lords of Acid, Martin Atkins, P.M. Dawn, Juno Reactor, and others. In 1998 the band released its second studio album, Perversion, which yielded the modest hit “Falling.” After several quiet years that sparked breakup speculation, Kurt Kerns departed, yet the rumors proved unfounded. Signing with Sanctuary Records, Gravity Kills returned in March 2002 with Superstarved, which included a cover of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus” and the track “One Thing,” their strongest Mainstream Rock chart entry. Shortly thereafter the group announced the end of operations, though they continued occasional one-off shows and repeatedly faced speculation about further recordings.
Formed in St. Louis, guitarist Matt Dudenhoffer, keyboardist Douglas Firley, and bassist/drummer Kurt Kerns had played in various local acts since the mid-1980s until an opportunity to contribute to a KPNT-FM compilation prompted them to record together. Lacking a singer, Kerns contacted his cousin Jeff Scheel in Dallas in 1994. Stylistically echoing Filter and Nine Inch Nails, the newly assembled lineup tracked the original song “Guilty” in three days, adopted the name Gravity Kills, and secured a slot on the station’s release. The track quickly became the outlet’s most-played request and spread to stations across the United States and Canada, resulting in a contract with Wax Trax!/TVT. Exposure widened when the song appeared on the soundtracks for Mortal Kombat and Seven; in March 1996 the four-piece issued its self-titled debut and promoted it by opening for the Sex Pistols on their American reunion tour.
The following year brought the remix album Manipulated, containing reworkings by Al Jourgensen, Lords of Acid, Martin Atkins, P.M. Dawn, Juno Reactor, and others. In 1998 the band released its second studio album, Perversion, which yielded the modest hit “Falling.” After several quiet years that sparked breakup speculation, Kurt Kerns departed, yet the rumors proved unfounded. Signing with Sanctuary Records, Gravity Kills returned in March 2002 with Superstarved, which included a cover of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus” and the track “One Thing,” their strongest Mainstream Rock chart entry. Shortly thereafter the group announced the end of operations, though they continued occasional one-off shows and repeatedly faced speculation about further recordings.
Albums
