Chris Stapleton leaves The SteelDrivers
Thursday, April 1, 2010 – The SteelDrivers' lead singer Chris Stapleton has left the band, Rounder Records President Ken Irwin confirmed Thursday.
"Chris has left the band to focus more on writing and family," Irwin said in an email.
Stapleton, also known, for his songwriting skills, was the vocalist for the driving quintet, which put out one very well received CD in January 2008.
"There will be an announcement of a replacement shortly after an appreciation of Chris," Irwin said.
"(The) SteelDrivers are very happy with new lead singer....he is a new singer and not a replacement for Chris.....good guitar player too," said Irwin, who added that he had not seen the new band yet.
The band continues with Richard Bailey - Banjo, Mike Fleming - Bass/Vocals, Mike Henderson - Mandolin/Vocals and and Tammy Rogers - Fiddle/Vocals
More news for The SteelDrivers
- 06/16/15: SteelDrivers, Cash/Dylan out today
- 04/21/15: SteelDrivers head to "Muscle Shoals"
- 10/13/10: SteelDrivers play Mountain Stage
- 06/15/10: SteelDrivers return with disc in September
- 04/02/10: Gary Nichols named SteelDrivers' new singer
- 12/19/08: The SteelDrivers go number one on iTunes
- 07/07/08: The SteelDrivers play Mountain Stage
- 06/08/08: The SteelDrivers schedule Conan O'Brien appearance
CD reviews for The SteelDrivers
Throughout their existence of now more than a dozen years The SteelDrivers have been notable for their willingness to be a bluegrass band that ventures into a sort of musical "Twilight Zone," reaching across the void to draw a fervent following - "SteelHeads" - whose musical tastes and sensibilities often are more grounded in sounds ranging from hard-edged classic Delta blues to the iconic Southern rock of bands like the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. ...
The SteelDrivers are a dynamic, driving bluegrass band, a five-piece with a sound and an approach completely their own. "The Muscle Shoals Recordings" is their fourth album and second featuring expressive lead vocalist Gary Nichols and mandolinist Brent Truitt alongside group founders Tammy Rodgers (fiddle), Richard Bailey (five-string banjo), and Mike Fleming (bass).
Given Nichols' roots in the Alabama community, it is hardly a surprise that The SteelDrivers chose to record at ...
While you wouldn't know it from reading their press, there are many bluegrass bands with as good a back-story as The SteelDrivers, and as advanced songwriting and musicianship prowess, while having deeper professional bluegrass roots and longer track records with more significant lineup alterations over a relatively brief period of time.
Not to begrudge The SteelDrivers notice they receive, sometimes it feels a bit over the top. But darn it, they know how to produce a mighty inspiring bluegrass album. ...
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