The Forest Rangers (band)

Sons of Anarchy redefined how a TV series utilizes music as a powerful narrative element since music plays the role of a character.{{Cite web |last=elleL |date=Dec 6, 2012 |title=Exclusive Interview - Bob Thiele Jr: How the music of Sons Of Anarchy Takes Chances |url=https://www.yourentertainmentcorner.com/exclusive-interview-bob-thiele-jr-how-the-music-of-sons-of-anarchy-takes-chances/ |website=Your Entertainment Corner}}{{Cite web |publisher=FX Networks |date=Jan 17, 2015 |title=Sons Of Anarchy {{!}} Inside The Final Ride: The Soundtrack of Anarchy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqjFC1N1ivE |via=YouTube}}{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2013 |title=Kicking Off New Season of SOA, Katy Segal to Perform with The Forest Rangers |url=http://www.buzznews.net/in-concert/item/3459-kicking-off-new-season-of-soa-katy-segal-to-perform-with-the-forest-rangers.html |website=Buzz Center Stage}}{{Cite book |last=Fanetti |first=Susan |title=Bonds of BrotherHood in Sons of Anarchy, Essays on Masculinity in the FX series |publisher=McFarland & Company |date=February 16, 2018 |isbn=978-1476671918 |pages=103 |language=english}} The soundtrack fits so well because the songs feel exactly what the characters themselves would choose to listen to.{{Cite web |last=Kyriazis |first=Cassandra |date=January 26, 2014 |title=Synesthesia: "Sons of Anarchy" |url=https://www.34st.com/article/2014/01/synesthesia-sons-of-anarchy |website=TH34STREET}}{{Cite web |last=Leggett |first=Steve |title=Forest Rangers Biography by Steve Leggett |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/forest-rangers-mn0002830316/biography |website=Allmusic}} Following Kurt Sutter's vision,{{Cite book |last=Bennet |first=Tara |title=Sons of Anarchy: The Official Collector's Edition |publisher=TI Inc. Books |date=December 10, 2014 |isbn=978-1618931276}} Thiele Jr. shaped the series' unique music style which consists of a jambalaya of original music and covers from established artists but mostly from indie artists and bands.{{Cite web |last=elleL |date=November 29, 2011 |title=Exclusive Interview: Bob Thiele Jr. talks about the Upcoming SOA Soundtrack, the Show's distinctive sonic style and music for the Season 4 Finale |url=https://www.yourentertainmentcorner.com/exclusive-interview-bob-thiele-talks-about-the-upcoming-soa-soundtrack-the-shows-distinctive-sonic-style-and-music-for-the-season-4-finale/ |website=Your Entertainment Corner}} A lot of the music from the show comes from not just biker bands that existed around the time the MCs became an iconic American entity but also blues bands.

Because of the production's small budget for music, Bob Thiele Jr. went to independents in order to include "big-ticket copyrights".{{Cite magazine |last=Gallo |first=Phil |date=January 21, 2012 |title=Film/TV: FX's Sound Effects: "Justified", "Anarchy", "Horror Story' broaden network's musical palette |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RsAnJ7Zx_qgC&dq=music++sons+of+anarchy&pg=RA2-PA16 |magazine=Billboard |pages=16}} As a music supervisor, he knew how essential it is for artists and writers to get songs on TV shows for their exposure to the audience, for example The White Buffalo gained significant career traction and an Emmy nomination from his collaboration with Bob Thiele Jr. and The Forest Rangers.{{Cite web |last=Kimpel |first=Dan |date=August 31, 2015 |title=Songwriter Profile: Bob Thiele Jr. / The Forest Rangers Ride With Sons of Anarchy |url=https://www.musicconnection.com/songwriter-profile-bob-thiele-jr/ |website=Music Connection}} Haunting covers of well known songs by voices you couldn't recognize when they first aired compliment the hero's tragic journey along with original songs and enhance the audience's emotional journey to catharsis.

"I brought Bob into the process early to really try to figure out how to create a sound for the show since I just knew that Sons Of Anarchy was a somewhat bleak world and we were going to be dealing with somewhat dark and potentially heavy subject matter. It was really Bob's idea to create a unique sound for the show. Going back to the origins of the subculture and when and how it hit the media, what we needed to do is hit on what the sound in the subculture is–sort of that 60's California sound, which sort of became our touchstone"{{Cite web |last=Frieser |first=Mark |date=Jun 14, 2013 |title=Music and Narrative: An interview with Sons of Anarchy Creator Kurt Sutter and Music Producer Bob Thiele, Jr. |url=http://syncsummit.com/sonsof/ |website=SyncSummit}} Kurt Sutter

The music created by Bob Thiele Jr. and The Forest Rangers serves the story of SoA. Music doesn't underscores the scene but a lot of times it's leading it, forming a connection between the present and the past.{{Cite web |last=Fuse News |title=Where music lives: Behind the Music of FX's Hit Series "Sons of Anarchy" |url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bx4nx |website=Dailymotion|date=February 12, 2014 }} The Hamlet theme of Sons of Anarchy (Clay kills "JT", John Teller, Jax's father and then marries Jax's mother, Gemma; Jax discovers the murder, is in anguish and begins his slow plotting of revenge) is underlinded by the theme song of the series which keeps reminding us that we "Got to look this life in the eye" (This Life by Curtis Stigers, Dave Kushner and Bob Thiele Jr.) because "something is rotten in the state of Denmark" (Hamlet, Shakespeare).{{Cite book |last=Natoli |first=Joseph |title=Dark Affinities, Dark Imaginaries: A mind's Odyssey |publisher=State University of New York Press |date=July 2, 2017 |isbn=978-1438463506 |pages=219–222}}

"By the end of season one, it was like, 'Okay, we can really use music as a way to tell our story,' Music is a character on the show. Music is just one more aspect of storytelling. If I sat down and listened to all of the major montages, I'd probably leave five or six out because we do so many of them."{{Cite web |last=Christ |first=Shawn |date=Nov 12, 2014 |title=Bob Thiele Jr.'s Journey from the Record Biz to 'Sons of Anarchy', Music Supervisor Talks Family, Songwriting and Montages [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW] |url=https://www.musictimes.com/articles/15205/20141112/bob-thiele-jr-sons-anarchy-fx-music-supervisor.htm |website=Music Times Exclusives}} Bob Thiele Jr.

While all songs server their purpose the montage set to a cover of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" stands out for taking chances on a well known song. Bob Thiele Jr. started with a voice and an acoustic guitar but later a question was posed: "What if it's little kids singing it?" Three kids from The Center for Early Education sung a three-part harmony guided by their choral director Ellen who did the arrangement and helped building the haunting montage of the episode "Black Widower" by using a cover which combines rock, blues and traditional country with kids singing (Season 7, Episode 1).{{Cite magazine |last=Bierly |first=Mandi |date=September 10, 2014 |title='Sons of Anarchy' music supervisor breaks down killer Queen montage |url=https://ew.com/article/2014/09/10/sons-of-anarchy-premiere-queen/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}{{Cite web |last=Staff Writer |date=September 9, 2014 |title='Bohemian Rhapsody' Gets The Blues For 'Sons Of Anarchy' |url=https://themusic.com.au/news/bohemian-rhapsody-gets-the-blues-for-sons-of-anarchy/xRjW2djb2t0/09-09-14 |website=The Music}}

The Forest Rangers are mostly known for their covers of well known songs and their original songs for the soundtrack of the FX TV series Sons of Anarchy.{{Cite web |title=Browse Sons of Anarchy Songs by Season |url=https://www.tunefind.com/show/sons-of-anarchy |website=tunefind}}{{Cite web |last=Christ |first=Shawn |date=December 9, 2014 |title='Sons of Anarchy' Finale: 6 Best Musical Moments by The Forest Rangers, Curtis Stigers and Paul Brady |url=https://www.musictimes.com/articles/19287/20141209/sons-anarchy-finale-6-best-musical-moments-forest-rangers-curtis-stigers-paul-brady-listen.htm |website=Music Times}} They have been successful and have continued to release songs as EPs, studio albums, and singles.{{Cite magazine |last=Muse |first=Heather |date=December 6, 2011 |title='Sons of Anarchy' Releases Indie Soundtrack. Show's music supervisor says 'the songs become the narrative' on 'Songs of Anarchy' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sons-of-anarchy-releases-indie-soundtrack-246544/ |magazine=Rolling Stone}}{{Cite web |last=Bambino |first=Samantha |date=Aug 13, 2022 |title=Sons Of Anarchy Fans Have Some Strong Opinions On The Show's Soundtrack |url=https://www.looper.com/959754/sons-of-anarchy-fans-have-some-strong-opinions-on-the-shows-soundtrack/ |website=Looper}}{{Cite web |last=Papadopoulos |first=Thanasis |date=December 18, 2016 |title=Sons of Anarchy: 10 best covers of famous songs / Sons of Anarchy: Οι δέκα καλύτερες διασκευές γνωστών τραγουδιών |url=https://frapress.gr/2016/12/sons-of-anarchy-deka-kaliteres-diaskeves/ |website=Frapress.gr}}{{Cite web |last=Zarkadoula |first=George |date=November 8, 2012 |title="10": Sons Of Anarchy {{!}} The Music Behind The Scenes |url=https://www.rocking.gr/10/10_Sons_Of_Anarchy_%7C_The_Music_Behind_The_Scenes/14427 |website=Rocking.gr}}

"The music, to a larger extent, had to come from a similar place than the characters, that there was an authenticity, a rawness... that you got a sense of authenticity from the characters and the music had to match that. That's why music resonates on so many levels, across age groups. It's something that people can go into and say "Wow, this is authentic."{{Cite web |last=ellleL |date=Nov 29, 2011 |title=Exclusive Interview: Bob Thiele Jr. talks about the upcoming SOA Soundtrack, the show's distinctive sonic style and music for the season 4 finale |url=https://www.yourentertainmentcorner.com/exclusive-interview-bob-thiele-talks-about-the-upcoming-soa-soundtrack-the-shows-distinctive-sonic-style-and-music-for-the-season-4-finale/ |website=YourEntertainmentCorner}} Bob Thiele Jr.

The Forest Rangers released 4 volumes of songs as soundtrack albums (Songs of Anarchy: Music from Sons of Anarchy Seasons 1–4,{{Cite web |last=Sierra |first=Gabrielle |date=November 11, 2011 |title=Columbia Records Releases Songs of Anarchy: Music from Sons of Anarchy |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Columbia-Records-Releases-Songs-of-Anarchy-Music-from-Sons-of-Anarchy-20111111 |website=Broadway World}}{{Cite web |title=Soundtrack - Songs of Anarchy - Music from Sons of Anarchy Seasons 1-4 (Album) |url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Soundtrack&titel=Songs+Of+Anarchy+%2D+Music+From+Sons+Of+Anarchy+Seasons+1%2D4&cat=a |website=New Zealand Charts}} Sons of Anarchy: Songs of Anarchy Vol. 2,{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2012 |title=Columbia Records, FX And Twentieth Century Fox Television Partner To Present Music From FX's Highest Rated Series "Sons of Anarchy" |url=https://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=83649 |website=Top40-Charts.com}} Sons of Anarchy: Songs of Anarchy Vol. 3, Sons of Anarchy: Songs of Anarchy Vol. 4 ),{{Cite web |title=Soundtrack - Songs of Anarchy: Vol. 4 (Album) |url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Soundtrack&titel=Songs+Of+Anarchy%3A+Vol%2E+4&cat=a |website=New Zealand Charts}} 3 EPs (The first five-song EP, entitled Sons of Anarchy: North Country – EP, was released on September 8, 2009, and featured the full version of the Emmy Award nominated theme song "This Life". A second five-song EP, entitled Sons of Anarchy: Shelter – EP, was released on November 24, 2009, while a third six-song EP, entitled Sons of Anarchy: The King is Gone - EP, was released on November 23, 2010) and numerous singles.{{Cite web |title=The Forest Rangers |url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The+Forest+Rangers |website=Charts New Zealand}}

The band released its debut album, Land Ho! (2015) after launching a successful PledgeMusic campaign for its recording. The album is co-produced by Bob Thiele Jr. and producer/engineer Dave Way. Besides the regular band members (Davey Faragher/bass, John Philip Shenale/keyboards, Greg Leisz/pedal steel guitar, Matt Chamberlain/drums, Gia Ciambotti/background vocals), guest vocals included Alison Mosshart, Amos Lee, Joshua James, The White Buffalo, Billy Valentine, Audra Mae and Justin Warfield. The 11 songs on Land Ho! span a range of genres from Americana to bluesy roots rock to epic soulful ballads.

In 2018, The Forest Rangers contributed to the Mayans M.C. soundtrack with the song "Black is Black".{{Cite web |year=2018 |title=Soundtrack Information: Mayans MC: Black is Black (Single) |url=https://www.soundtrack.net/album/mayans-mc-black-is-black-single/ |website=Soundtrack.Net}}

{{track listing

| headline = Sons of Anarchy: North Country – EP

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = This Life

| writer1 = Curtis Stigers, Dave Kushner, Bob Thiele Jr., Kurt Sutter

| extra1 = Curtis Stigers & The Forest Rangers

| length1 = 2:22

| title2 = Slip Kid

| writer2 = Pete Townshend

| extra2 = Anvil and Franky Perez

| length2 = 3:49

| title3 = John the Revelator

| writer3 = Traditional

| extra3 = Curtis Stigers & The Forest Rangers

| length3 = 5:34

| title4 = Forever Young

| writer4 = Bob Dylan

| extra4 = Audra Mae & The Forest Rangers

| length4 = 3:13

| title5 = Girl from the North Country

| writer5 = Dylan

| extra5 = Lions

| length5 = 4:11

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Sons of Anarchy: Shelter – EP

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = Ruby Tuesday

| writer1 = Jagger/Richards

| extra1 = Katey Sagal

| length1 = 3:23

| title2 = Fortunate Son

| writer2 = John Fogerty

| extra2 = Lyle Workman & The Forest Rangers

| length2 = 3:26

| title3 = Someday Never Comes

| writer3 = Fogerty

| extra3 = Billy Valentine & The Forest Rangers

| length3 = 4:06

| title4 = Burn This Town

| writer4 = Matt Drenik

| extra4 = Battleme

| length4 = 3:13

| title5 = Gimme Shelter

| writer5 = Jagger/Richards

| extra5 = Paul Brady & The Forest Rangers

| length5 = 4:53

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Sons of Anarchy: The King is Gone - EP

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = No Milk Today

| writer1 = Graham Gouldman

| extra1 = Joshua James & The Forest Rangers

| length1 = 4:01

| title2 = Bird on the Wire

| writer2 = Leonard Cohen

| extra2 = Katey Sagal & The Forest Rangers

| length2 = 5:05

| title3 = Travelin' Band

| writer3 = Fogerty

| extra3 = Curtis Stigers & The Forest Rangers

| length3 = 2:18

| title4 = Miles Away

| writer4 = Paul Taylor

| extra4 = The Forest Rangers feat. Battleme & Slash

| length4 = 4:49

| title5 = Hey Hey, My My

| writer5 = Neil Young, Jeff Blackburn

| extra5 = Battleme

| length5 = 2:52

| title6 = This Life

| note6 = Celtic Remix

| writer6 = Stigers, Kushner, Thiele Jr., Sutter

| extra6 = Curtis Stigers & The Forest Rangers

| length6 = 0:39

}}

• "Trying to Believe" (2015) is from Bob Thiele Jr. and The Forest Rangers' album Land Ho!. It was shot in Los Angeles by director Kenneth Cappelo and features Sons of Anarchy cast members Mark Boone, Jr. (Bobby Munson), Niko Nicotera (Ratboy), Dayton Callie (Wayne Unser), Michael Ornstein (Chucky) alongside Bob Thiele, Jr. and Alison Mosshart.{{Cite web |date=June 22, 2015 |title=The Kills' Alison Mosshart and 'Sons of Anarchy' Cast Star in 'Trying to Believe' Video From Bob Thiele and the Forest Rangers |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/60048-the-kills-alison-mosshart-and-sons-of-anarchy-cast-star-in-trying-to-believe-video-from-bob-thiele-and-the-forest-rangers/ |website=Pitchfork}}
• "I'm Alive" (2015). Lyric video directed by Shelby Duncan.

In 2013 The Forest Rangers launched their first music tour with Katey Sagal. The live show featured several of the SOA songs among others and in addition to the musical aspect of the touring show, it included a moderated panel conversation with Sagal (Gemma) and cast members Theo Rossi (Juice) and Ryan Hurst (Opie).{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Brian |date=March 15, 2013 |title=Katey Sagal Launches Sons of Anarchy Music Tour |url=https://movieweb.com/katey-sagal-launches-sons-of-anarchy-music-tour/ |website=MovieWeb}} The band went on touring in 2014 with only a handful of appearances because of Sons of Anarchy's filming.{{Cite web |title=Katey Sagal & The Forest Rangers Concert Setlists & Tour Dates |url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/katey-sagal-and-the-forest-rangers-3bd34024.html |website=Setlist.fm}}

The core musicians behind "The Forest Rangers" formed a band named "The Reluctant Apostles" with Katey Sagal as their lead singer.{{Cite web |last=Balancia |first=Donna |date=March 14, 2019 |title=Katey Sagal and The Reluctant Apostles to Bring "Anarchy" to The Mint May 1 and May 2 |url=https://usrockermusic.com/2019/03/14/katey-sagal-and-the-reluctant-apostles-to-bring-anarchy-to-the-mint-may-1-and-may-2/ |website=USRockerMusic}}{{Cite web |last=Luppi |first=Kathleen |date=January 20, 2017 |title=Katey Sagal plans to rock the house at Don the Beachcomber |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/tn-wknd-et-0122-katey-sagal-20170121-story.html |website=Daily Pilot}}{{Cite magazine |date=September 12, 2013 |title=Backstage With Katey Sagal & the Forest Rangers |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/backstage-with-katey-sagal-the-forest-rangers-11952/silent-moment-223606/ |magazine=Rolling Stone}}

In 2014 the swan song of the series, Come Join The Murder debuted at No. 9 on Billboard's Hot Rock Songs Chart. This Life started at No. 93 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{Cite web |date=December 18, 2014 |title=Billboard "Sons of Anarchy" Finale Song Debuts on Rock Chart |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/news/sons-anarchy-finale-song-debuts-rock-chart-050007548.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAFD4lu0Q1gYbbnigGZH_TmuBhgVXt16J7upVkuGr64HPUMUzr3ueUUuAX7zmSQA1DSRZpoymSL9TxC_7KnNetyVC7GZlk5T3laA0XM2E5SGNaXcHhO542-j-ELcrYjIHGVtXyZF-XlgukdGCH1vVq_DsZFaGreOAjjrtKUYCpHr |website=Yahoo!}}

In 2015 The Forest Rangers released "Come Join The Murder" with John Doe. They donated their profit to the Pablove Foundation honoring Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.{{Cite web |last=The Forest Rangers |date=September 30, 2015 |title=The Forest Rangers - John Doe, Benefiting The Pablove Foundation |url=https://www.facebook.com/theforestrangers/photos/a.10150194961553766/10153647005593766 |website=Official Facebook Account: The Forest Rangers}}

In 2015 The SAMCRO Festival was organised in Greece. Greek bands covered songs from Sons of Anarchy playing one after the other for 7 hours.{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2015 |title=Το SAMCRO Festival έγραψε ιστορία / SAMCRO Festival made history |url=https://www.rocking.gr/news/To-Samcro-Festival-egrapse-istoria/26073 |website=Rocking.gr}}

Bob Thiele Jr.'s father, Bob Thiele co-wrote the song What a Wonderful World; it became a well known song after it appeared on Good Morning Vietnam. The song appeared in Season 4, Episode 1. Out in a montage which showed 10 murder with a cover of the song by The Forest Rangers and Alison Mosshart.{{Cite web |last=Christ |first=Shawn |date=November 12, 2014 |title=Bob Thiele Jr.'s Journey from the Record Biz to 'Sons of Anarchy', Music Supervisor Talks Family, Songwriting and Montages [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW] |url=https://www.musictimes.com/articles/15205/20141112/bob-thiele-jr-sons-anarchy-fx-music-supervisor.htm |website=Music Times Exclusives}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.theforestrangers.com/}}

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Category:Sons of Anarchy

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Category:Roots rock music groups

Category:Musical groups with year of establishment missing