Not just a Foo Fighter, not just a Gimme Gimme, and not just a good-for-an-amateur boxer, Chris Shiflett has begun a world takeover with his new band, JACKSON UNITED.
He's played in thousands of bands since age 14 - including the worlds greatest rock band THE FOO FIGHTERS, the world's greatest punk rock band NO USE FOR A NAME and the world's greatest covers band ME FIRST & THE GIMME GIMME's... late last year CHRIS SHIFLETT began a world wide takeover with his band Jackson. Now, thanks to a minor copyright issue (and a letter from Michael Jackson's attorney), they're called JACKSON UNITED and are set to release their debut album "WESTERN BALLADS" on May 24th via Australian indie label Shiny Records. Not just a move from the right of the stage to the left JACKSON UNITED marks Chris' debut as a lead singer/frontman. With Chris' brother Scott (Face to Face/ Viva Death) on bass and long time buddy Pete Parada (Face to Face/Saves The Day) on drums, Jackson released their self titled EP and set out in power trio mode on the 2003 Warped tour followed up by a quick trip to London to play the Reading Festival.
In between Foo's tours, winning a grammy, other band commitments and babies being born JACKSON enlisted the help of producer Chad Blinman (Face to Face, Get Up Kids) and recorded 21 "a little bit rock, a little bit punk" tracks from the thousands Chris had written that he couldn't convince anyone else to sing. Seventeen of those are on "Western Ballads".
Confessing a love for "way down in kokomo" era Beach Boys ahead of the oft cited and trendier "Pet Sounds", Shiflett says "....it's guitar pop. Not as heavy as Foo Fighters stuff. And there's some stuff that's pretty mellow and vibey". We prefer to think of it as flawless.
Six months later the release of "Western Ballads" marks not only a new name, but new band mates too! Enter Cary Lascala (also of Vue) - not only taking over drums from Pete Parada but also title of "cutest band member". Cary's other gig must be "musician placement" 'cause he got his pal, Doug Sangalang (ex 'Screw 32' and 'Limp' both of whom had toured a bunch with Chris's old band No Use For A Name), the gig of second guitarist which means Chris can now concentrate on singing the right notes...and also managed to find a new home for buddy Omen Starr to replace Scott on bass.
