U.P.O.

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = U.P.O.

| image =

| caption =

| alias =

| origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| years_active = 1997–2004

| label = {{flatlist|

Epic
DRT

}}

| associated_acts =

| website =

| current_members =

| past_members =

Shawn Albro
Chris Weber
Ben Shirley
Tommy Holt
Zoltan Bathory
Philippe Mathys

}}

U.P.O. was an American rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1997. The band's line-up originally included Shawn Albro (lead vocals), Chris Weber (guitar), Ben Shirley (bass) and Tommy Holt (drums). Shirley and Holt left and were replaced by Zoltan Bathory (now in Five Finger Death Punch) and Philippe Mathys shortly before the band's breakup in 2004.

U.P.O. released two studio albums – No Pleasantries (2000) and The Heavy (2004).

History

Both frontman Shawn Albro and guitarist Chris Weber began their careers as a part of the mid-1980s glam metal scene. Weber was actually a founding member of the band Hollywood Rose, which served as the precursor to the legendary band Guns N' Roses, while Albro sang lead for the band Wicked Teaze.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEKZyrUAsaM Wicked Teaze- "Lady on My Mind" (feat. Shawn Albro on lead vocals) @YouTube.com] Retrieved February 8, 2014.

{{cite web | url=https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Wicked_Teaze/Wicked_Teaze/178450 | title=Wicked Teaze - Wicked Teaze - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives }}

=Formation and ''No Pleasantries'' (1997–2001)=

After meeting in the mid '90s,{{cite web | last = Phares | first = Heather | title = U.P.O. Biography | publisher = Allmusic | access-date = September 15, 2010 | url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p433731|pure_url=yes}}}} at the Reading Festival in England, Weber and singer Shawn Albro began working on material that eventually gained some major label interest. They recruited bassist Ben Shirley and drummer Tommy Holt, forming U.P.O., and going on to sign a record deal with Epic Records. They released their debut album, titled No Pleasantries, in 2000, produced by Rick Parashar,{{cite AV media notes | title = No Pleasantries | title-link= No Pleasantries | others = U.P.O. | year = 2000 | publisher = Epic Records | type = booklet}} with the album peaking at number 19 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart{{cite web | title = U.P.O. Album Charts | publisher = Allmusic | access-date = September 15, 2010 | url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p433731|pure_url=yes}}}} while the singles "Godless" and "Feel Alive" peaked at number 6{{cite web | title = U.P.O. Singles Charts | publisher = Allmusic | access-date = September 15, 2010 | url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p433731|pure_url=yes}}}} and 25 on the Mainstream Rock Chart respectively. "Feel Alive" appeared on the soundtrack to the film Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2{{cite web | last = Basham | first = David | title = Manson Covers "Suicide Is Painless" For "Blair Witch 2" | publisher = MTV | date = October 6, 2000 | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1431680/20001006/marilyn_manson.jhtml| archive-url = https://archive.today/20120904075342/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1431680/20001006/marilyn_manson.jhtml| url-status = dead| archive-date = September 4, 2012}} while the group toured with the likes of Slipknot, Slayer, Mudvayne and Sepultura as part of the Tattoo The Earth tour with the song "Dust" being included on the live album Tattoo The Earth: The First Crusade.{{cite web | last = Mancini | first = Robert | title = Slipknot, Sevendust, Slayer Churn Out "Tattoo" Live CD | publisher = MTV | date = September 21, 2000 | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1433943/20000921/sevendust.jhtml| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20011210185919/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1433943/20000921/sevendust.jhtml| url-status = dead| archive-date = December 10, 2001}} After further touring in support of the album, the group went on hiatus with Albro auditioning for "The Project" (later known as Velvet Revolver) during this time.{{cite web | title = Canadian Singer Confirms Audition With Ex-GUNS N' ROSES Members | publisher = Blabbermouth.net | date = January 4, 2003 | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=8641}}

=''The Heavy'' and Hiatus (2004–present)=

The group returned in 2004, recording and releasing The Heavy, working again with producer Rick Parashar,{{cite AV media notes | title = The Heavy (album) | title-link= The Heavy (album) | others = U.P.O. | year = 2004 | publisher = DRT Entertainment | type = booklet}} the same year through DRT Entertainment/Nitrus Records. Following this, a second guitarist, Logan, joined the band, and Shirley and Holt left due to creative differences and were replaced by Zoltan Bathory and Philippe Mathys respectively. The group toured in support of the album, however, after an October concert later that year, Weber suffered a seizure before being rushed to a hospital.{{cite web | title = U.P.O. Guitarist Diagnosed With Brain Tumor | publisher = Blabbermouth.net | date = November 16, 2004 | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=29268 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070318223237/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=29268 | archive-date = March 18, 2007 }} It was soon revealed that he had a meningioma brain tumor for which Weber underwent successful surgery on November 17, 2004.{{cite web | title = U.P.O./Ex-HOLLYWOOD ROSE Guitarist Undergoes Brain Surgery | publisher = Blabbermouth.net | date = November 20, 2004 | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=29436 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060421031208/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=29436 | archive-date = April 21, 2006 }} The group disbanded soon afterwards with Bathory{{cite web | title = U.P.O. Bassist: DIMEBAG Was 'Somebody Who Inspired All Of Us' | publisher = Blabbermouth.net | date = December 10, 2004 | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=30240 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120913174533/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=30240 | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 13, 2012 }}{{cite web | last = Christopher Monger | first = James | title = Five Finger Death Punch Biography | publisher = Allmusic | access-date = September 15, 2010 | url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p848811|pure_url=yes}}}} going on to form Five Finger Death Punch and Mathys joining Hydrovibe.