Biography
Lovedrug, the Canton, Ohio rock band fronted by singer and guitarist Michael Shepard, has appeared live with acts spanning the Killers, Robert Plant, Switchfoot, Sam Phillips, Creeper Lagoon, Eisley, and Matchbook Romance. Formed in June 2002, the group went through several lineup shifts, among them the addition of drummer Matthew Putman of Ester Drang and Unwed Sailor. Soon after assembling, Lovedrug cut a five-song EP and then issued the Rocknroll EP in summer 2003. Drawing interest from multiple labels, the band signed with the Militia Group, which released Pretend You're Alive in 2004. Strong sales prompted a year of touring in support alongside the Juliana Theory and Copeland. An upstream move to Columbia Records followed, yet changes among key executives led the group to exit the deal and return to Militia. Their sophomore album, Everything Starts Where It Ends, arrived in early 2007 and entered the Billboard Top 200. The Sucker Punch Show appeared in 2008, recorded with producer Michael Beinhorn, before the band returned in 2012 with its fourth album, Wild Blood.