For the past 20 years, they have gone through what would destroy most bands a hundred times - major label deals gone south, a manager's death, divorce, drugs, depression, band member departures and more - but when faced with the worst, FOUR-piece Athens, Ga.-based rock outfit FIVE EIGHT has always managed to survive. Now, with their new album, as yet still untitled will prove they have not only survived but have managed to thrive like never
before.
Mixed by the masterful Daniel Collins of athens own PIG PEN Studios and produced byPatrick Feguson who also funded and recorded the Album giving away his time freely to finally make the record that had alway elluded the band. Bringing in Athens friends to sing and play on the record as well William Tonks, Sean Arington, Patrick's own twin brother David Ferguson as well as Geoff Melkonian (of the Josh Joplin Group), the 15-song recording will be the band's seventh album release, but for
band members MIKE MANTIONE (guitar, vocals, lyrics), DAN HOROWITZ (bass), SEAN DUNN (Lead Guitar, co writer) and PATRICK FERGUSON (Drums), this is the first real FIVE EIGHT album ever.
Five-Eight is known for their energetic live shows, but has recorded six Compact Discs since 1992. They have toured with REM (fall 2004) and have performed with Cheap Trick, The Ramones, Cracker, and Seven Mary Three. The group is fairly prominent in the Athens/Atlanta market, and headlines an annual mental health benefit concert in Athens.
The band came together in 1988 in Athens, GA when The Reasonable Men disbanded. Before settling on the name Five Eight, at least one show was played under the name The Helgrammites.
The original three members of the band were Mike Mantione- vocals and guitar, Dan Horowitz- bass guitar, and Mike Palmatier- drums. In 1989, Palmatier' right leg was crushed in a work-related accident at the Armstrong and Dobbs lumberyard in Athens. His temporary replacement was Patrick Ferguson, the drummer for the LaBrea Stompers and Angle Lake, a band which also included Vic Chesnutt. Palmatier eventually became disillusioned and relocated to the Boston area.
Ferguson rejoined the band and was Five Eight's full-time drummer until 1998. After the release of 'I Learned Shut Up' guitarist Sean Dunn joined the band and was a full-time member after the recording of 'The Angriest Man' EP. During the years between 1992 and 1998, Five Eight toured extensively as a four-piece in the United States and Canada and often played as many as 200 live shows a year, exceeding that number for the years 1995-1997. Ferguson left the band in 1998 and was soon followed by Dunn. Ferguson was briefly replaced by former Bughummer, Little Red Rocket and The Runs drummer Scott Sosebee.
Mike Rizzi joined the band as drummer in 1999 and left the band in mid-2007. The band went on hiatus as Rizzi moved to Southern California to join Ghost Hounds. Ferguson rejoined the band to play "a few shows," in late 2007. He is now officially the full-time drummer for the group. Five Eight is currently writing a new album in Ferguson's recording studio in Athens. Their website has confirmed that a new album, entitled "What Can One Man Change?" will be coming out in 2009. for this album Sean Dunn has rejoined the group. And has helped spear head what is another come back in their long history.
Discography
• 1989 'Passive-Aggressive'
* you never look in my eyes
* the ape
* she was in this city
* she's dropping the bomb
* ghost in this town
* ralph newman
* lemon love drops
* lifer
* looking up
• 1991 'Inflatable Sense of Self'
* missing link
* my sister is so strange
* the ape
* she's dropping the bomb
* suit of sin
* nowhere in a circle
* ralph newman
* shaking through the night
* the only one
* looking up
• 1992 'I Learned Shut Up'
* looking up
* god damn it paul
* missing link
* i can't stand it
* she's dropping the bomb
* desperate tonight
* lemon love drops
* suit of sin
* the ape
* dawn of son melody
* destroy this world
• 1993 'The Angriest Man' EP
* my syster
* not zeppelin
* ralph newman
* lifer
* depressed
* needle
* pent up
• 1994 'Weirdo'
* mystery james
* karaoke
* behead myself
* fall asleep
* what they did
* you never look in my eyes
* stars
* tense it up
* hurt you
* weirdo
* shouldn't be here
• 1997 'Gasolina'
* stanley
* engine
* comet
* shaken
* shut me off
* connect the dots
* doubter
* hold me up
* right to drive
* summer vacation
* dumb ass
* take aim
• 2000 'The Good Nurse'
* she's sleeping
* rose's dream
* off season
* the one who does better
* terminals
* requiem
* take what you want
* alexander graham bell
* oh surgery
* all my patients
* orlando
* a close approximation
* florence
• 2004 'Five Eight'
* criminal
* i'm still around
* magnetic fields
* the liquor
* square peg
* do it anyway
* i don't give a damn
* bad juices
* guitar
* lousy decision
* a man is a pent up thing
* bad for us
• 2010 Untiteld
