Hed PE | |
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 Hed PE performing in 2008. Left to right: Mawk Young, Tiny Bubz, Jared Gomes, DJ Product © 1969 and Jaxon Benge. | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as |
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| Origin | Huntington Beach, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1994–present |
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| Members |
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| Past members |
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| Website | hedplanetearth |
Hed PE (standing forHigher Education Planet Earth/Planetary Evolution, typeset as(həd)p.e.,(hed) Planet Earth,(Hed)pe[12] or(Hed)PE[13]) is an Americannu metal band fromHuntington Beach, California. Formed in 1994, the band is known for its eclectic genre-crossing style, predominately in the fusion ofgangsta rap andpunk rock it has termed "G-punk", but also for itsreggae-fused music.
After releasing three albums onJive Records, Hed PE left the label to record independently. Hed PE was signed withSuburban Noize Records from 2006 until 2010. Since 2006, the band has become known for its involvement in the9/11 Truth movement, referencing it in many of their song lyrics and concerts, as well as the concept of the albumNew World Orphans. Since 2014, the band has been signed with Pavement Music.
To date, Hed PE has released fourteenstudio albums, onelive album and threecompilation albums, and has sold over 700,000 albums worldwide.[14]
The band was formed by vocalistJared Gomes, also known as "M.C.U.D." (MC Underdog),[15] and guitaristWes Geer, who became friends amidst theOrange Countyhardcore punk scene.[16] Gomes and Geer recruited guitarist Chizad, bassist Mawk, drummer B.C. Vaught and DJ Product © 1969. They named the group "Hed", which was based on a song written by Gomes called "Heavy Head".[17] The band built a following with their energetic performances at local venues,[16] and released the self-financedextended play,Church of Realities. Legal issues forced Hed to change their name, adding "PE", which stood for "Planetary Evolution (later changed to planet earth) ".[15][18]
Hed PE signed withJive Records, releasing theirself-titled debut album in 1997. In his review of the album,AllMusic's Steve Huey wrote "There are some slow and/or unfocused moments [...] but overall, its aggression will probably play well with late-'90s metal and punk fans."[19] Due to the label's contractual terms and the disappointing sales of the album, the band found themselves unable to repay the cash advances given to them by Jive. Gomes is quoted as saying "We had these romantic visions of the music industry, and we thought it would be cool to be a punk band on a rap label. So we fulfilled that dream, but it was also probably the worst thing that could have happened. [...] We've had offers fromSony and others that we can't take because we owe Jive so much money."[20]
On June 6, 2000, Hed PE appeared on thetribute albumNativity in Black II, coveringBlack Sabbath's "Sabbra Cadabra".[16] Hed PE released their second studio album,Broke on August 22, 2000. It peaked at No. 63 on theBillboard 200, while its first single, "Bartender", peaked at No. 23 on theBillboardMainstream Rock Tracks chart and at No. 27 on theModern Rock Tracks chart.[21] AllMusic's Jason D. Taylor wrote: "Broke may have not found as much success in the competitive mainstream market as some would have liked, and even despite its distinct departure from the group's debut, it is an album that shows more vision than other rap-tinged rock albums to come out in 2000."[22] The most negative response to the album came from critics who viewed its lyrics asmisogynistic.[23][24] Jared Gomes denied that he wassexist in a 2001Kerrang! magazine feature aboutsexism in rock music, saying that some of his lyrics were deliberately controversial in order to provoke a reaction from people.[25] He also noted that his lyrics offended other members in Hed PE, but they "live[d] with it".[25]
On October 27, 2000, Gomes was arrested for possession of marijuana while the band was performing inWaterbury, Connecticut. He was released on a US$1,500 bond.[26] In 2001, Hed PE performed on theOzzfest tour alongside bands such asKorn,Static-X, andSystem of a Down.[16] A music video for "Killing Time", the second single fromBroke, was produced in promotion of the film3000 Miles to Graceland, which featured the song on its soundtrack.[27]
Hed PE released their third studio album,Blackout, on March 18, 2003. It peaked at No. 33 on theBillboard 200, while its title track peaked at No. 21 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and at No. 32 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.[28] Allmusic's Johnny Loftus wrote that "While it expands on melodic elements that had previously played a supporting role in the band's sound,Blackout also delivers truckloads of crushing guitar and pounding rhythm. And whether or not it is the presence of a top-line producer, (hed) pe have figured out a way to imbue their aggressive mix of heavy rock and hip-hop with some serious hooks."[29] Guitarist Jaxon joined the band in early 2004. He is the fourth person to fill this position.[30]
Hed PE left Jive Records, releasing their fourth studio album,Only in Amerika, onKoch Records on October 19, 2004. It peaked at No. 20 on the Top Independent Albums chart and at No. 186 on theBillboard 200.[31] In his review of the album, Johnny Loftus wrote "It wants to be a confrontational megaphone in the ear of conservatives, but Jahred's torrential rhetoric is too messy and blatantly offensive to incite anything but superficial anger, and the music – though occasionally explosive – takes a backseat to the ranting."[32]
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In 2006, Hed PE signed withSuburban Noize Records, recording their fifth studio album,Back 2 Base X. The album was intended as a return to the basics of rock music, and did not rely as heavily on studio enhancement as previous releases.[33] The album was released on June 6, 2006, the same day asThe Best of (həd) Planet Earth, a compilation album produced by Jive Records without the band's authorization or consent.[33]Back 2 Base X peaked at No. 12 on the Independent Albums chart, and at No. 154 on theBillboard 200.[34] Allmusic's Rob Theakston wrote that "Back 2 Base X suffers from the same problems asAmerika: it tries to be conceptual in thought à laTool and vicious in its political commentary à laFugazi or System of a Down, but somehow falls short by sounding like an angry stoner on a soapbox. It won't win any new fans, but existing fans of (hed) pe's work won't be turning their backs away from the band in anger anytime soon, either."[35]
On June 26, 2007, the band released their sixth studio album,Insomnia. It peaked at No. 16 on the Independent Albums chart, and at No. 138 on theBillboard 200.[36] The album's lead single, "Suffa", became one of the most requested tracks atSirius Satellite Radio's Hard Attack, while the song's music video was voted one of the Top 10 of 2007 onMTV'sHeadbangers Ball.[37] Hed PE released their first live album,The D.I.Y. Guys, in 2008.[37] On December 20, 2008, Hed PE released their new single "Renegade" with the drummer Christopher Hendrich who appeared in the music video as well.[38] On January 13, 2009, they released their seventh studio album,New World Orphans. It was released in three different versions; each contains a different set of bonus tracks.[39] In 2009, drummer Trauma joined the band. He is the sixth person to fill this position.[30] The band's eighth studio album,Truth Rising, was released on October 26, 2010, to mixed reviews.[40] It would be the last album the band recorded for Suburban Noize, which Gomes described as having "imploded on itself" approximately around 2010, leaving the band without a label for the next four years.[7]
Hed PE subsequently signed with Pavement Music.[7] In a 2012 interview, frontman Jared Gomes stated that their album for 2013 titledAscension would be released within the first half of 2014.[41] Towards the end of 2013, DJ Product mysteriously left the band with no explanation and no comment from the other members. On January 1, 2014, Gomes stated on the band's official Facebook that the new upcoming (hed) PE album will be named "Evolution" and to be released within the year.[42]
On May 13, 2014, On the band's official Facebook page, they released the official announcement of when the band's new albumEvolution will hit stores. The album is set for release July 22, 2014.[43] They also released a teaser of the tone of the new album on their Facebook page and soon after, the track "One More Body".[44]
In 2015, it was confirmed that 12-year guitarist Jaxon Benge and original bassist Mark Young had left the band. They were replaced by guitarist Greg "Gregzilla" Harrison and bassist Kurt "Kid Bass" Blankenship, leaving vocalistJared Gomes as the group's only remaining original member.
On June 21, 2019, the band released a new 10-track album titledStampede!,[45] which was noted for taking a departure from the style of their previous albums through the inclusion ofauto-tune on many of the tracks. In August 2020, Hed PE released the albumClass of 2020 which was described as a return to the original G-punk sound of the band.[citation needed] The record saw a reunion with original guitarist Chad "Chizad" Benekos for the first time in nearly two decades, who performed in the song "Greedy Girl". Original member DJ Product © 1969 also returned to play on the album as well as create the artwork for the record which was a throwback to their albumBroke to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its release.[citation needed] On May 7, 2021, the band announced the extended playSandmine, which was released on July 23, 2021.[46] On October 22 of the same year, the band announced the studio albumCalifas Worldwide, which was released on December 17, 2021.[47] For the 20th anniversary of Broke, on April 8, 2022, the band released "Bartenders", a remake of "Bartender" featuringDropout Kings andDJ Lethal.[48] On October 14, 2022, the band released a rerecorded version of their song "Let's Ride" withMadchild for a deluxe edition of their album "Back 2 Base X".[49] On February 5, 2023, the band released a cover of theRamones song "I Wanna Be Sedated".[50] During that same year, Hed PE released three singles, "Detox", "Too Late" and "Waiting", from their next studio albumDetox, due on December 15, 2023.[51][52][53][54]
Hed PE performs a style of music which they have referred to as "G-punk",[15][20] a phrase inspired by the term "G-funk".[2] Hed PE has also described its music as "schizophrenic".[55] Hed PE's music is a fusion of styles ranging fromhip hop,reggae, andska tohard rock,punk, andheavy metal.[39][56][57] Jared Gomes' vocal style ranges from melodic singing torapping,screaming, anddeath growls.[40][58] The band's lyrics draw on a number of subjects, includingsocial justice,[59] the existence ofextraterrestrial life,[60] criticism oforganized religion,[60] the9/11 Truth movement,[40]cannabis use[32] andsexual intercourse.
Gomes, in addition to the 9/11 Truth movement, has expressed support forsocial liberal politicians such asNancy Pelosi and presidentBarack Obama.[61][62][63][64] However, Gomes' 2004 lyrics forOnly in Amerika supported Americannationalism,[32] and called for brutal retaliation againstAl Qaeda for the9/11 terrorist attacks.
The band's influences includeBeastie Boys,[30]Black Sabbath,[18]Bob Marley,[65]Led Zeppelin,[18]Nine Inch Nails,[30]Notorious B.I.G.[66] andRage Against the Machine.[18]
Hed PE's second album,Broke, incorporatedclassic rock andworld music influences,[16] whileBack 2 Base X was influenced by classic punk bands such as theSex Pistols andThe Clash,Insomnia was influenced bythrash metal bands such asSlayer,[67] andNew World Orphans was influenced bySuicidal Tendencies andMinor Threat.[68] Guitarist Jaxon has been credited for encouraging a heavier, hardcore punk-influenced musical style.[30]
Studio albums
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