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***CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE BITTER PILLS CD***
Bitter Pills is a short story with a long history. The band formed in Nashville, TN out of various song-writing projects of guitarist/vocalist Frank Harwell (The Times, Radio One, The Questionnaires). Founding members guitarist Jeff Cease (The Wayouts, Rumble Circus, The Black Crowes) and Harwell started the band in August 1994 and played the Nashville Club scene until disbandment in January 1996. The original Pills lineup included drummer Richard Ice (The Resistors, The Dayts, Walk the West) and bassist Todd McAlpine (The Bunnies, Committee For Public Safety). Tony Frost (Triple X, Snakehips,
Sunset AM) replaced McAlpine in January 1995 to complete the lineup. Once this process was completed with the addition of Frost, the All-Star cast of characters chemistry was a deadlock right from the start. The members former bands were some of the most recognizable names on the circuit at their respective times. To see all members of this long legacy come together on one stage was not only amazing that it occurred but bred remarkable results.
Jonathan Daniel (Candy,
Electric Angels, The Loveless) and Tom Littlefield (Basic Static,
The Questionnaires) contributed their gifted songwriting talents. Their mere presence alone showed what an incredible collaboration this project was.
Cease/Harwell began writing songs one year before Bitter Pills in 1993. Cease's writing style and thick melodic guitar riffs were a perfect match to Harwell's understated pop vocals and crunching Marshall rhythm, which both had developed in previous endeavors. With the help of songwriters Daniel and Littlefield, Harwell had taken his songwriting sensibilities from the past to another level and put the icing on the cake with seasoned guitarist/writer like Cease. Getting the Cease/Harwell combo together could have proved a moot point without the perfect accompaniment. Enter Richard Ice and Tony Frost. Ice had played in similar outfits and in a band that had already been through the major-label warfare. Ice had a reputation as a drummer who not only knew his licks, he played for the songs, not himself. This band could have accepted nothing less and Ice fit the bill perfectly.
Frost's extensive background with bands such as The Movement, John Hinckley and the Jrs., 69 Tribe, had positioned him as a premier bass player on the circuit and the total package of talent, experience and image. His style and approach mirrored the vision the band had in mind. Tony's brother, Andy Frost (drums/John Hinckley and the Jrs) also lent his live sound engineering talents.
BP had one goal in mind, which was to write & record great pop songs to pitch for a major-label record deal, succeed within 1 year or disband. Each member had extensive experience with the highs & lows of band life and had no interest in living out of a van on the road again without support of a major-label release.
All 15 songs were engineered and produced by Harwell and co-produced by Cease at West End Recording in Nashville. Additional musicians include Nashville drummer/vocalist Randy Ford (Radio One, In Color,
Sunset AM) performing his classic pop vocal harmonies on many of the songs and drummer Terry Thomas (Radio One,
Screaming Cheetah Wheelies).
Ford had taken an early interest in the band and became known to some as the 5th Pill and "pop consultant". With his love of the power pop invasion and sound this was "as close to heaven as it gets" stated Ford. He used that motivation and his experience in the music industry at a major label to lend his managerial skills to the project and try to keep the band going in the right direction.
So the story goes and what's left is one great recording, the self titled, Bitter Pills 1996 CD and yet another missed opportunity by the Nashville music insiders to recognize or accept a band without roots in country music. The band chose the name Bitter Pills, given to Harwell by Daniel as a testament to both their sentiments towards the Nashville music insiders and their reluctant acceptance as outsiders.
Sour grapes or bitter pills? Listen to the songs, and you decide. If you love guitar laden, melodic hooks with delivery and saw this band live then you know for a fact they delivered the goods. If this is your first opportunity to get acquainted with Bitter Pills through the use of this MySpace, then you are in for a real pop treat. Please visit frequently for additional song selections.
