Biography
The songwriting prowess of Jeff Tucker anchored the California alternative rock group Rock Kills Kid, which first assembled during the closing years of the 1990s. Fresh out of high school and grappling with a lack of direction plus pronounced social withdrawal, Tucker eventually summoned the resolve to connect with area punk outfits and start composing material. Alongside drummer Chris Poulson and bassist Kirk Huffman, he established Rock Kills Kid, cut a demo, and secured a contract with Fearless Records in 2000. The self-titled EP surfaced in early 2001 and met with favorable notice, yet the band undertook virtually no touring in support.
Penniless, Tucker soon took up residence as a squatter inside a Los Angeles recording facility. Throughout the ensuing years he maintained an intense writing regimen without venturing far from those unauthorized quarters, ultimately compiling nearly 150 songs by the close of 2003. Rock Kills Kid persisted nominally during this period, though an ever-shifting lineup prevented it from functioning as a cohesive unit. Tucker nevertheless assembled a stable configuration by enlisting bassist Shawn Dailey, keyboardist Reed Calhoun, drummer Ian Hendrickson, and guitarist Sean Stopnik. While tracking sessions were underway the group inked a deal with Reprise, and the resulting full-length debut, the emotionally charged Are You Nervous?, emerged in May 2006. Mark Trombino (blink-182, Jimmy Eat World) produced the post-punk-inflected album, which Tucker employed to process his extended period of self-isolation. The month of March was devoted to dates alongside Electric Six and Nightmare of You, with additional shows scheduled after the record appeared.
Penniless, Tucker soon took up residence as a squatter inside a Los Angeles recording facility. Throughout the ensuing years he maintained an intense writing regimen without venturing far from those unauthorized quarters, ultimately compiling nearly 150 songs by the close of 2003. Rock Kills Kid persisted nominally during this period, though an ever-shifting lineup prevented it from functioning as a cohesive unit. Tucker nevertheless assembled a stable configuration by enlisting bassist Shawn Dailey, keyboardist Reed Calhoun, drummer Ian Hendrickson, and guitarist Sean Stopnik. While tracking sessions were underway the group inked a deal with Reprise, and the resulting full-length debut, the emotionally charged Are You Nervous?, emerged in May 2006. Mark Trombino (blink-182, Jimmy Eat World) produced the post-punk-inflected album, which Tucker employed to process his extended period of self-isolation. The month of March was devoted to dates alongside Electric Six and Nightmare of You, with additional shows scheduled after the record appeared.
Albums
Singles