8 Foot Sativa
887490
222254141
2008-06-28T10:22:39Z
Twsx
1964288
typo, cleanup, wikify using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]]
{{Infobox musical artist 2
|Name = 8 Foot Sativa
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: |Img = 8footsativa.jpg -->
|Img_capt =
|Background = group_or_band
|Birth_name =
|Alias =
|Born =
|Died =
|Origin = [[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]]
|Instrument =
|Genre = [[Death metal]]<ref name="RD">[http://www.rockdetector.com/artist,34592.sm 8 FOOT SATIVA | Rockdetector<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><br/>[[Thrash metal]]<ref name="RD"/><br />[[Hardcore punk|Hardcore]]<ref name="RD"/>
|Occupation =
|Years_active = [[1998 in music|1998]] - Present
|Label = [[Intergalactic Records]]<br /> [[Roadrunner Records]]<br />[[Black Mark Records]]
|Associated_acts = [[Sinate]]<br /> [[Ulcerate]]
|URL = [http://www.8footsativa.com/ www.8footsativa.com]
|Current_members = Ben Read <br />Gary Smith<br />Christian Humphreys<br />Jamie Saint Merat<br />Rommilly Smith
|Past_members = Brent Fox <br />Justin Niessen<br />Sam Sheppard<br />Matt Sheppard<br />Peter Young<br />Corey Friedlander<br />William Cleverdon<br /> Rom Lee
}}
'''8 Foot Sativa''' is a [[New Zealand]]-based [[heavy metal music|metal]] band formed in [[1998 in music|1998]]. Their most famous single is their self titled song, "8 Foot Sativa", which was number one on [[M2 (new zealand)|M2's]] top 12 list for 12 weeks, and stayed on the chart for seven months.<ref> "[http://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/512.html 8 Foot Sativa Biography]" ''Muzic.Net.Nz''. URL Accessed July 23, 2006.</ref> (M2 was a New Zealand late night Music Show.) The band has toured and released albums internationally, and have played alongside artists such as [[Soulfly]], [[Korn]], [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]], [[System of a Down]], [[Children of Bodom]], [[Disturbed]], [[Motörhead]], [[Pungent Stench]], [[Shihad]] and [[Corrosion of Conformity]].<ref>"[http://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/512.html Artist Biography: 8 Foot Sativa]" ''Muzic.net.nz''. URL Accessed November 28, 2006.</ref>
8 Foot Sativa have had many line-up changes with four in 2006, and one in 2007, claiming they've had "the line-up changes from hell".<ref>"[http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/article/pi_articleid/297 Legalised Metal: 8 Foot Sativa]" ''NZMusician.com''. URL Accessed July 16, 2006.</ref>
__TOC__{{-}}
==History==
===Early Days (1998-2002)===
{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="float: right; width: 350px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #E2E2E2;"
|+ <big>'''8 Foot Sativa Line Ups'''</big>
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" |Early Lineup #1<BR>
|
* Russel - [[Vocals]]
* Gary Smith - [[Guitar]]
* Brent Fox - Guitar
* Fat Dave - [[Bass Guitar]]
* Tim - [[Drums]]
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" |Early Line-up #2<BR>
|
* Ari - Vocals
* Gary Smith - Guitar
* Brent Fox - Bass Guitar
* Peter 'Speed' Young - Drums
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" |2002<BR>''[[Hate Made Me]]''<BR>
|
* Justin 'Jackhammer' Niessen - Vocals
* Gary Smith - Guitar
* Brent Fox - Bass Guitar
* Peter 'Speed' Young - Drums
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" |2003-2004<BR>''[[Season for Assault|Season For Assault]]''<BR>
|
* Justin 'Jackhammer' Niessen - Vocals
* Gary Smith - Guitar
* Brent Fox - Bass Guitar
* Sam Sheppard - Drums
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" |2005<BR>''[[Breed the Pain|Breed The Pain]]''<BR>
|
* Matt Sheppard - Vocals
* Gary Smith - Guitar
* Brent Fox - Bass Guitar
* Sam Sheppard - Drums
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" |September 2005<BR>
|
* Justin 'Jackhammer' Niessen - Vocals
* Gary Smith - Guitar
* William Cleverdon - Guitar
* Brent Fox - Bass Guitar
* Corey Friedlander - Drums
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" |Late 2005<BR>
|
* Ben Read - Vocals
* Gary Smith - Guitar
* William Cleverdon - Guitar
* Brent Fox - Bass Guitar
* Corey Friedlander - Drums
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" |2006<BR>''[[Poison of Ages|Poison Of Ages]]''<BR>
|
* Ben Read - Vocals
* Gary Smith - Guitar
* William Cleverdon - Guitar
* Brent Fox - Bass Guitar
* Steven Westerberg - Drums
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" |Mid 2006<BR>
|
* Ben Read - Vocals
* Gary Smith - Guitar
* Brent Fox - Bass Guitar
* Corey Friedlander - Drums
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" |Late 2006<BR>
|
* Ben Read - Vocals
* Gary Smith - Guitar
* William Cleverdon - Guitar
* Brent Fox - Bass Guitar
* Jamie Saint Merat - Drums
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" |Late 2006 - Early 2007<BR>
|
* Ben Read - Vocals
* Gary Smith - Guitar
* William Cleverdon - Guitar
* Rommilly Smith - Bass Guitar
* Jamie Saint Merat - Drums
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" |Current<BR>
|
* Ben Read - Vocals
* Gary Smith - Guitar
* Christian Humphreys - Guitar
* Rommilly Smith - Bass Guitar
* Jamie Saint Merat - Drums
|-
|}
8 Foot Sativa started when Brent Fox and Gary Smith meet at [[Massey High School]] in [[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]].<ref>"[http://www.amplifier.co.nz/artist/1053/?full=1 Artist Biography: 8 Foot Sativa]" ''Amplifier.co.nz''. URL Accessed November 28, 2006.</ref> They both enjoyed metal music and started jamming together. Peter 'Speed' Young from [[Kelston Boys' High School]] joined the band as the drummer. 'Fat' Dave was on the bass guitar. In this lineup they were a cover band who would play covers by [[Pantera]], [[Iron Maiden]], [[Judas Priest]], [[Sepultura]], [[Metallica]] and [[Slayer]].
'Fat' Dave would often not turn up to practices, so Brent Fox moved from guitar to bass guitar. The band would meet their next vocalist Ari, at a music school they taught at where he was doing drums. Ari was the first vocalist to do original songs. He wrote the lyrics to the songs '' 'Fuel Set' '', '' 'Kick it all Away' '' and '' 'Engine' ''. All of which would later end up on the ''Hate Made Me'' album.
During this time the band meet Justin 'Jackhammer' Niessen at a mall. According to Gary Smith: "He used to sneak into the gigs and we'd sneak him beers".<ref> "[http://selector.soundsnz.com/TalentScout.asp?Talent=foot SoundsNZ talks to 8 Foot Sativa]" ''soundsnz.com''. URL Accessed November 23, 2006.</ref> Ari disappeared, not to be seen by the band for a few years. Niessen then became the new vocalist.
Niessen is famed by many 8 Foot Sativa fans, for occasionally performing his vocals to the point of collapsing. This happened once on NZ music show SPACE while performing 'Destined to be Dead'. NZMusician.com claims that these collapses were due to, "shortage of breath attributed to a lack of vocal training".<ref> "[http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/articledetail/pi_articleid/509 8 Foot Sativa: Switched on to Heavy metal]" ''NZMusician.com''. URL Accessed July 16, 2006.</ref>
===''Hate Made Me'' (2002)===
In 2002, 8 Foot Sativa released their debut album ''[[Hate Made Me]]'', and the album has since received gold status within New Zealand<ref>"[http://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/512.html Artist Biography: 8 Foot Sativa]" ''Muzic.net.nz''. URL Accessed November 28, 2006.</ref> (To receive gold status in New Zealand the band must sell more than 7,500 copies). Shortly after the release of ''Hate Made Me'', Young left the band reportedly citing 'musical differences'. He was replaced with [[Sinate]] drummer, Sam Sheppard.
This album features what is probably 8 Foot Sativa's most well-known song, the eponymous "8 Foot Sativa", which is a staple at their live shows. It also appeared in an episode of [[Monster Garage]].
===''Season For Assault'' (2003)===
In 2003, 8 Foot Sativa released their second album ''[[Season for Assault]]''. It is nearing gold status within New Zealand. The album features the songs "Chelsea Smile" - a particularly well known song - and "Season For Assault".
Season For Assault sees 'Sativa lift their game to a whole new level with far more complex [[riffs]] and more insightful lyrics than on "Hate...".
Niessen resigned from the band two weeks before they were set to fly to Sweden to record their third album (Breed The Pain). The band was only singer-less for two days. Sam Sheppard's brother, and fellow Sinate member, Matt Sheppard became 8 Foot Sativa's new vocalist.
===''Breed The Pain'' (2005)===
With a new vocalist, 8 Foot Sativa released their third album ''[[Breed the Pain]]'' in 2005. It was recorded at Studio Underground in [[Sweden]]. New vocalist Matt Sheppard wrote or co-wrote six of the songs on the album, and his girlfriend did the art-work.
Matt Sheppard and Sam Sheppard left 8 Foot Sativa after the Breed the Pain tour. They reformed their previous band, Sinate. They joined forces with 8 Foot Sativa's guitar technician Sean Parkinson and Antony "Colonel" Folwell from the band Reprobate.
Justin 'Jackhammer' Niessen toured with the band temporarily from [[September 9]] until [[September 17]] playing a four concert tour around New Zealand. This tour also saw new-comers William Cleverdon, and Corey Friedlander join the band. Justin 'Jackhammer' Niessen and the band pulled out songs mainly from ''Hate Made Me'' and ''Season for Assault'', the albums which Niessen was in the band for.
===''Poison Of Ages'' (2007)===
Ben Read, from New Zealand Death metal band Ulcerate and formerly of premiere hardcore band Kill Me Quickly, joined the band as the new vocalist. 8 Foot Sativa, went over to Studio Underground in Sweden again to record their new album titled ''[[Poison of Ages]]''. However Corey Friedlander had injured himself so could not do the drum work on the album. Steven Westerberg, the drummer from [[Carnal Forge]], did the session work for this album. William Cleverdon left the band shortly after this album was recorded.
In Mid 2006, William Cleverdon rejoined the band on second guitar. Corey Friedlander left due to personal reasons, and decided to primarily focus on his other band ''"Final Eve"''. Jamie Saint Merat, from Ben Read's other band ''Ulcerate'', joined to replace Friedlander.
In October 2006 Brent Fox, an 8 Foot Sativa original, decided to leave the band because he wasn't enjoying it anymore. This leaves 8 Foot Sativa with only one original member in the lineup, Gary Smith. Fox was replaced by Rom Lee.
In January 2007 guitarist William Cleverdon went to a specialist about a nagging pain in his left wrist. The result was that one of his bones in his forearm was significantly shorter than the other one. This condition requires a lot of surgery and rehabilitation so Cleverdon had to leave the band. Christian Humphreys, a member of Rom Smith's other band, ''NewWayHome'', replaced Cleverdon<ref>"[http://www.intergalacticrecords.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7305#7305 Post by Ben Read on Official Forums]" ''IntergalacticRecords.com''. Message Board Post from Vocalist Ben Read Accessed April 7, 2007.</ref>
The album was originally meant to be released on [[May 8]], [[2006]], however it was postponed due to a [[breach of contract|breached contract]]. Ben Read stated on the official forums's that the album would not be released until the band could put together $20,000 [[New Zealand Dollars|NZD]].<ref>"[http://intergalacticrecords.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7319#7319 Official 8 Foot Sativa's Forums] ''Intergalacticrecords.com''</ref> The album finally got released on [[May 21]], [[2007]].
The album features much heavier vocals than on previous 'Sativa works, with all or most of the lyrics written by Ben Read and Gary. As well as this, the music takes on a heavier note, sliding into the realms of [[Black metal]] at some points.
== Discography ==
===Albums===
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
!align="center" valign="top"|Date
!align="center" valign="top"|Title
!align="center" valign="top"|Label
!align="center" valign="top"|Charted
!align="center" valign="top"|Country
|-
|align="left" valign="center"|[[March 3]], [[2002]]
|align="left" valign="center"|''[[Hate Made Me]]''
|align="left" valign="center"|[[Intergalactic Records]]
|align="left" valign="center"|<nowiki>#</nowiki>43
|align="left" valign="center"|New Zealand
|-
|align="left" valign="center"|[[July 14]], [[2003]]
|align="left" valign="center"|''[[Season for Assault]]''
|align="left" valign="center"|Intergalactic Records
|align="left" valign="center"|<nowiki>#</nowiki>6
|align="left" valign="center"|New Zealand
|-
|align="left" valign="center"|[[April 12]], [[2004]]
|align="left" valign="center"|''Season for Assault''
|align="left" valign="center"|[[Roadrunner Records]]
|align="left" valign="center"|
|align="left" valign="center"|[[Australia]]
|-
|align="left" valign="center"|[[September 13]], [[2004]]
|align="left" valign="center"|''Season for Assault''
|align="left" valign="center"|[[Black Mark Records]]
|align="left" valign="center"|
|align="left" valign="center"|Worldwide
|-
|align="left" valign="center"|[[October 18]], [[2004]]
|align="left" valign="center"|''Hate Made Me''
|align="left" valign="center"|Black Mark Records
|align="left" valign="center"|
|align="left" valign="center"|Worldwide
|-
|align="left" valign="center"|[[January 11]], [[2005]]
|align="left" valign="center"|''[[Breed the Pain]]''
|align="left" valign="center"|Intergalactic Records
|align="left" valign="center"|
|align="left" valign="center"|New Zealand
|-
|align="left" valign="center"|[[March 7]], [[2005]]
|align="left" valign="center"|''Breed the Pain''
|align="left" valign="center"|Black Mark Records
|align="left" valign="center"|
|align="left" valign="center"|Worldwide
|-
|align="left" valign="center"|[[April 18]], [[2005]]
|align="left" valign="center"|''Breed the Pain''
|align="left" valign="center"|Roadrunner Records
|align="left" valign="center"|
|align="left" valign="center"|Australia
|-
|align="left" valign="center"|[[May 21]] [[2007]]
|align="left" valign="center"|''[[Poison of Ages]]''
|align="left" valign="center"|Black Mark Records
|align="left" valign="center"|
|align="left" valign="center"|Worldwide
|}
===Tracks on various Compilations===
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
!align="center" valign="top"|Date
!align="center" valign="top"|Title
!align="center" valign="top"|Label
!align="center" valign="top"|Track(s) Featured
|-
|align="left" valign="center"|[[2003 in music|2003]]
|align="left" valign="center"|'''Red Surf: Godzone Surfer's Soundtrack'''
|align="left" valign="center"|
|align="left" valign="center"|''Fuel Set'' from '''''Hate Made Me'''''
|-
|align="left" valign="center"|[[October 9]], [[2003]]
|align="left" valign="center"|'''The Locals Soundtrack'''
|align="left" valign="center"|Locals Films
|align="left" valign="center"|''Believer'' from '''''Hate Made Me'''''
|-
|align="left" valign="center"|[[February 3]], [[2005]]
|align="left" valign="center"|'''The Axe Attack Volume 1'''
|align="left" valign="center"|Intergalactic Records
|align="left" valign="center"|''Chelsea Smile'' from '''''Season For Assault'''''
|-
|align="left" valign="center"|[[May 2]], [[2005]]
|align="left" valign="center"|'''Crusty Demons X: A Decade of Dirt'''
|align="left" valign="center"|[[Collision Records]]
|align="left" valign="center"|''I Live My Death'' from '''''Breed The Pain'''''
|-
|}
==See also==
* [[Sinate]] - The band ''Sam Shepphard'' & ''Matt Shepphard'' recreated, when they left 8 Foot Sativa.
* [[Ulcerate]] - Vocalist ''Ben Read'' & Drummer ''Jamie St. Merat's'' other band.
==References==
<references/>
==External links==
* [http://www.8footsativa.com/ 8 Foot Sativa's Official Website]
* [http://intergalacticrecords.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=2/ 8 Foot Sativa's Official Forums]
* [http://www.myspace.com/8770104 8 Foot Sativa's myspace.com Profile]
* [http://www.rockdetector.com/artist,34592.sm 8 Foot Sativa Rockdetector biography]
[[Category:New Zealand death metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Thrash metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1998]]
[[Category:1990s music groups]]
[[Category:2000s music groups]]
[[de:8 Foot Sativa]]
[[it:8 Foot Sativa]]
[[pt:8 Foot Sativa]]
[[fi:8 Foot Sativa]]