Stemm (band)

STEMM was formed in June 1998 by Joe Cafarella, Jimi Penque, Russ Martin and Louis Penque.{{cite web|title=STEMM AIMS AT FLOWERING MUSIC SCENE|author= |website=Niagarafallsreporter.com |date= |url=http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/stemm.html|accessdate=July 23, 2007}} All the members had come from various other local acts. By December the band recorded a two-song promo disc. Within four months' time, the album had sold well over 600 copies.{{cite web|url=http://stemmlife.tripod.com/bio.html|title=STEMM early bio|accessdate=July 28, 2007|date=|website=Stemmlife.tripod.com}} Initially STEMM incorporated a hybrid of hardcore with rapcore much like the band E.Town Concrete. These sounds were very prominent on their first EP, entitled Further Efforts and also on their first independently released debut, entitled Dead to Me which was released in 2002.{{cite web|title=STEMM – Dead To Me review|author= |website=Theprp.com|date= |url=http://www.theprp.com/reviews/stemm.shtml|accessdate=July 23, 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071016183238/http://theprp.com/reviews/stemm.shtml |archivedate = October 16, 2007}}{{cite web|title=STEMM music|author= |website= Emusic.com|date= |url=http://www.emusic.com/artist/Stemm-MP3-Download/11615177.html?cs=1|accessdate=July 28, 2007}} In July 2000, STEMM would announce the addition of second guitarist, Rich Spalla.

In 2002, STEMM also signed a licensing deal with the UFC.{{cite web|url=http://www.niagara-gazette.com/Music/gnnnightanddaymusic_story_314101312.html?keyword=secondarystory|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104084714/http://www.niagara-gazette.com/Music/gnnnightanddaymusic_story_314101312.html?keyword=secondarystory|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 4, 2013|title=For Stemm, it's family, friends and fun|access-date=July 23, 2007|date=|publisher=Niagara Gazette}} STEMM's music has been incorporated in UFC television and live events since August 2002. Songs to date used by the UFC include, "Out of Context", "Holding On", "Fallen", "Face the Pain" (which was used for the theme song and is featured on the UFC 2009 Undisputed soundtrack), which have been used on every UFC pay-per-view from 2002 until 2018 and The Ultimate Fighter.{{cite web|title=STEMM: FALLEN (played at all ufc events)|author=|website=Ufc.tv|date=|url=http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=MultiMedia.UFCMusicDetail&gid=1706|access-date=July 23, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811191229/http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=MultiMedia.UFCMusicDetail&gid=1706|archive-date=August 11, 2007}} "Face the Pain" was also featured on the UFC compilation CD UFC Ultimate Beatdowns Volume 1 alongside such bands as Fear Factory, Slayer and Shadows Fall.{{cite web|title=SLAYER, DAMAGEPLAN, SEPULTURA Featured On 'Ultimate Fighting Championship' CD|author=|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=23970|access-date=July 23, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930204329/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=23970|archive-date=September 30, 2007}} STEMM more recently also signed a licensing deal to feature their music on Canadian television station The Fight Network.

In late 2003 and through most of 2004, the band's lineup would change. Jimi Penque left STEMM, citing creative and musical differences. A few months later Louis Penque left STEMM due to family reasons. This provided the bridge for the merging of local Buffalo metal act, 5 Years Gone and STEMM. 5 Years Gone drummer Dan Nelligan and vocalist T.J. Frost of 5 Years Gone began filling in, while STEMM guitarists returned the favor by replacing the two guitarists that had recently departed 5 Years Gone. After bassist Russ Martin was fired, STEMM and 5 Years Gone would be combined as one. The combination saw the band take a different direction musically. Because of this, the band as a whole do not recognize the previous incarnation of the band and even contemplated changing the name of the band, but decided to keep on as STEMM due in large part to the UFC having already spent money on promoting the band.{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/shatterzero/interviews/13qwstemm.html|title=Hollow Dream Records' 13 Questions With STEMM|accessdate=August 4, 2007|date=|first= Peter|last= Failla|publisher=Hollow Dream Records|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20091026063004/http://www.geocities.com/shatterzero/interviews/13qwstemm.html|url-status=dead|archivedate=October 26, 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ecromper.com/interviews_detail.asp?ID=39|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040828054651/http://www.ecromper.com/interviews_detail.asp?ID=39|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 28, 2004|title=East Coast Romper Interview with STEMM|access-date=July 28, 2007|date=|publisher=East Coast Romper|first=Stephanie|last=Stevens}}

After reconfiguring the lineup, STEMM signed to Chimaira guitarist Rob Arnold's management label, Triple M Management. With Arnold's help, the band recorded a 5-song EP entitled 5 in early 2004. On the song "13 Years", Chimaira vocalist Mark Hunter did a guest appearance.{{cite web|url=http://undizcovered.com/bands/stemm.htm|title=STEMM Interviewed by Undizcovered magazine|accessdate=July 28, 2007|date=|website=Undizcovered.com |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070705093656/http://undizcovered.com/bands/stemm.htm |archivedate = July 5, 2007}} The EP went on to sell over 1,000 copies in only a couple of months time. The band did local shows in support of the demo, opening for acts such as Sevendust and touring nationwide with Chimaira and Trivium.{{cite web|title=CHIMAIRA: Hometown Release Party And Columbus In-Store Signing Announced|author=|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=67349|access-date=July 23, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930223311/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=67349|archive-date=September 30, 2007}}{{cite web|title=Chimaira Tour Dates|author= Chimaira.com |publisher= Metal Underground|date= |url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=12167|accessdate=July 23, 2007}} STEMM would be the openers for Damageplan's final concert, as the next day, Dimebag Darrell was murdered while onstage.{{cite web|title=Buffalo DAMAGEPLAN Fans Stunned By DIMEBAG's Murder A Day After Local Show|author=|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=30286|access-date=July 28, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930225214/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=30286|archive-date=September 30, 2007}} They also opened for Nuclear Blast artist Bleed The Sky at the legendary Whisky a Go Go.{{cite web|title=Bleed the Sky CD Release Party|author= Nuclear Blast |publisher= Metal Underground|date= |url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=12588|accessdate=July 23, 2007}} T.J. Frost along with Joe Cafarella would provide guest vocals on the Bleed the Sky track "Division" as well. The band then participated in the 2005 installment of the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival with other notable acts such as Soilwork, Danzig, Dark Tranquillity and Mnemic.{{cite web|title=NEW ENGLAND METAL AND HARDCORE FESTIVAL: More Than 40 Bands Confirmed|author=|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=23970|access-date=July 23, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930204329/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=23970|archive-date=September 30, 2007}} In November 2005, the band released their second album, entitled Songs for the Incurable Heart independently. The album included four tracks from the previous demo, plus all new material, including a song that is a tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks, which vocalist T.J. Frost survived entitled "The Day the Earth Stood Still" which clocks in at 9:11, in homage.

In August 2006, the band announced on their MySpace page that they had officially signed a record deal with I Scream Records to re-release their second album Songs for the Incurable Heart.{{cite web|title=Stemm Sign with I Scream Records|author= Stemm.net |publisher= Metal Underground|date= |url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=21432|accessdate=July 23, 2007}} Though the contract was only to re-release Songs for the Incurable Heart. STEMM continued for the next year opening for bands such as Godsmack and Stone Sour. On July 30, 2007, STEMM announced that vocalist T.J. Frost had departed the band due to personal issues. With his departure, back up vocalist and guitarist Joe Cafarella changed to full-time vocal duty, while guitarist Alex Scouten formerly of 3 Minutes of Hate began filling in as a session member. Alex had previously worked with STEMM, when then vocalist T.J. Frost was injured in 2006 and also was the original guitar player for STEMM when they reformed with a different lineup in 2003.{{cite web|title=STEMM Vocalist Leaves band|author= Myspace |publisher= Metal Underground|date= |url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=27852|accessdate=August 2, 2007}}

Later on Scouten replaced former guitarist Rich Spalla.

After securing a solid lineup the band began working on new material for their third album Blood Scent. The song "Poopmouth" which was later renamed "Broken Face Masterpiece" for the album was featured in the May edition of Metal Edge Magazine on a CD sampler that accompanied the magazine. In early July it was announced the new album was completed, but it wouldn't be until mid-October before the track listing and artwork for the new album, Blood Scent was confirmed. In the same news, the band also revealed that they had signed with Catch 22 Records, a subsidiary of MVD Entertainment and that they would handle the release of the album. In the words of vocalist Joe Cafarella, the new album is their Vulgar Display of Power. Comparing the album itself not as a clone of the album, but as the way it represents them as a whole, saying "We just wanted to make a CD that would not pigeon hole us into a certain cliché sound. Let's face it, Pantera made it on their live performances. While MTV was playing 'Walk' and 'This Love' us metal heads were cranking Fucking Hostile and Mouth for War."{{Cite web |url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=39905 |title=Stemm Discusses New Album, UFC to Use New Song - in Metal News ( Metal Underground.com ) |access-date=October 30, 2008 |archive-date=March 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302042231/http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=39905 |url-status=dead }} Blood Scent was released on November 11, 2008. In a press release by the UFC, the company stated that the song, "House of Cards" from Blood Scent would be used as the theme song for UFC Wired.{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120911224101/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=107898|url-status=dead|title=STEMM To Release 'Blood Scent' in November – Oct. 29, 2008|website=Blabbermouth.net|archivedate=September 11, 2012|access-date=November 19, 2020}} The first single, "Awake" is accompanied by a video that was shot by GDM Video Production company.

In late 2008 STEMM finally found a booking agency who was able to get them outside a regional market.{{Cite web|url=https://myspace.com/cincytransfusion|title=Trans-Fusion Entertainment (cincytransfusion) on Myspace|website=Myspace.com|accessdate=November 19, 2020}} STEMM has been touring the United States in support of Blood Scent as the headlining act.

In June 2009, STEMM announced they would headlining the Ride Or Die Tour{{Cite web|url=https://myspace.com/rideordietour|title=JAGERMEISTER PRESENTS: Ride or Die Tour 2009 | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos|website=Myspace.com|accessdate=November 19, 2020}} with bands His Name Was Yesterday and Adakain.

On December 1, 2012, STEMM performed their last show. The concert was located at Town Ballroom in Buffalo, NY. They performed with His Name Was Yesterday and Whiskey Reverb. Former members Louis, TJ, and Stephen played with them according to the eras they were with the band (e.g. Louis performed songs from Further Efforts and Dead to Me). They all came together for Face the Pain and finally Monster.

After disbandment, Joe and Danny started working in music publishing for Sonoton and APM.

The band became active again in 2019. They released a new single "Don't Act Surprised" on YouTube on October 13, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjVqGP72fpY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/bjVqGP72fpY| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|title=STEMM – Don't Act Surprised (Lyric Video)|date=October 13, 2019 |publisher=YouTube|accessdate=November 19, 2020}}{{cbignore}}

• Joe Cafarella – vocals, guitar (1998–present)
• Dan Nelligan – drums (2003–2012, 2018–present)
• Alex Scouten – guitar (1998–1999, 2007–2012, 2018–present)
• Joe Scouten – bass (2018–present)
• Louis Penque – vocals (1998-2003, 2018–present)
• Fred Blackwell – guitar (1999-2000, 2018–present)

• Stephen Crowl – bass, backing vocals (2003-2011, 2018-2022)
• Russ Martin – bass (1998–2003)
• Jimi Penque – drums (1998–2003)
• T.J. Frost – vocals (2003–2007)
• Rich Spalla – guitar (2000–2007)
• Mario Nobilio – bass, backing vocals (2011–2012)

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Category:Heavy metal musical groups from New York (state)

Category:American groove metal musical groups

Category:American nu metal musical groups

Category:Metalcore musical groups from New York (state)

Category:Musical groups established in 1998

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2012