16

Southern California's "16" started in 1992 when founding members and longtime friends (since the age of 14,) guitarist Bobby Ferry, drummer Jason Corley and singer Cris Jerue (Cris Goebel at that time) needed a way to vent life's frustrations. Ray Barbee, world famous skateboarder, suggested that his friend Benji could play bass, so the 4 started jamming anywhere they could, trying to put songs together and have a good time. Practices were drunken weeded-out nights of figuring out how to write songs and work their equipment as none of them had ever been in a band before. They wrote 4 songs and longtime friend "O," (Olivelawn/Fluf,) suggested they record their songs and try and get some shows. Not knowing anything about recording they went into a studio in Santa Ana, CA and recorded a 4 song demo tape that was never released. The band at this time was named "Fifteen", chosen because Bobby, Cris and Jason all had 15 year old girlfriends while they themselves were in their early twenties. A few weeks later they learned from some punk magazine like "Flipside" or "Maximumrocknroll" that there was some shitty band already named "Fifteen," so they did the next logical thing and increased the number by one to "16". This was a great idea as Cris' girl just had a birthday. The band kicked out Benji as he just could not hang with Bobby, Jason and Cris' sarcasm, attitudes and large amount of chemical consumption. Another bass player, Greg Burkhart, was added and band recorded its first four songs that same year at Doubletime Studios and released the songs themselves as the "Doorprize" 2 X 7" with money Jason won in Las Vegas. Greg left the band as it was cutting into his attendance at speed-metal parties in Garden Grove and Mike Morris (Hunger Farm) was added to handle bass duties. "Doorprize" was met with positive reviews like "This is the band Helmet wish they were" and word of mouth leading to the band being contacted by world renowned artist Pushead (Metallica artwork fame) about recording and releasing a 7" for his Fan Club. After hearing the next recording session, Pushead wanted to release a full length record. Pushead started a new record label called "Bacteria Sour" on which "16" was the first band to release a record. The highly sought after "Crystal" 7", (named for the fact that is an entirely clear 7" with no labels in a clear sleeve with a clear "16" screened on it) was released through the Fan Club in 1992. The "Crystal" 7" preceded the 1993 release of "Curves That Kick" the band's first full length record on CD and 10" vinyl. "16'"s first record was released in the US and Japan with the Japanese version including 2 extra songs not available on the US version. With a long list of local shows, more recording and the addition of current bass player Tony Baumeister in 1993, "16" became stronger. "16" went on to release the Japanese only CD "Preoccupied," along with numerous 7" singles. In 1993 the band played shows in LA with Drive like Jehu, Love Battery, Big Chief, and Fu Manchu. "16" embarked on their first tour of Japan in June of 1994. Headlining a number of shows with many Japanese bands in Tokyo and Osaka, this was the first time "16" experienced sold-out shows and an entire club yelling Cris' lyrics. Back home in Los Angeles and Orange County when "16" played shows people didn't know what to think. While touring Japan "16" were recognized in the airport, train stations and on the streets by their Japanese fans. The Japanese shows were sold-out, energetic and angst filled nights that the band will never forget. Being treated well and having people understand their music on the other side of the world fueled the band like nothing else. Basically misunderstood by the "scene" in California "16" was happy to punish crowds with Bobby's drop-tuned mid-tempo riffs and Cris' depressing and cynical lyrics. Returning home from Japan it was back to some shit shows and some well attended celebrity filled shows at Jabberjaw in LA with bands Jawbeaker, Karp, Jawbox, God Head Silo, and opening for Slayer in Las Vegas and Fresno during the "Divine Intervention" tour. The Slayer shows were sold-out and the biggest shows "16" ever played up to that point. The line-up was only "16" and Slayer playing those nights and "16" held their own. Slayer's fans aren't the easiest ones to please. "16" recorded the critically acclaimed "Drop Out" record in mid 1994 at Doubletime Studios. Around this time, Mike Gitter (current Roadrunner Records big-wig) from Atlantic records was interested in signing "16" to Atlantic Records with having Rick Sales (Slayer) managing the band. Having no manager and being new to this game at the age of 23, Jason really had no business skills when it came to dealing with corporate machines. He had been the one booking all the bands shows and handling all business aspects of "16". After many conversations and meetings "16'"s unwillingness to compromise, or let's say "change" their music and vocals put an end to Atlantic's interest. This was in late 1994. Around this time Jason's alcohol and chemical consumption was reaching monumental proportions and it was beginning to show in every area of his life. In 1995, Bobby decided that he couldn't work with Jason anymore and let him go. Jason was crushed after being kicked-out of 16, as it was a huge part of his life. He joined a band from Norwalk, CA called "Pile-Up", who had played countless shows with "16" over the years and he continued on his dismal, self-destructive path. Shortly after, "16" decided to add a second guitarist, Phil Vera (Crom/Despise You) and slacker drummer, Andy Hassler. "16" tried to shop the finished, last album with Jason on drums to Atlantic and Roadrunner. "Drop Out" was their best record yet but the record industry had already labeled them "difficult to work with" and said they weren't interested in doing anything with "16". The band was forced to settle with the independent label, Theologian Records (Pennywise, etc.) and their new sub-division, Pessimiser Records, which was started by long-time friend of "16," Chris Elder. In 1996, just as Jason entered rehab for the first time, "Drop Out" was released and declared one of the best metal records of the year by Terrorizer Magazine, without any shows our touring to support the record. Instead, the new 5 piece "16" line-up concentrated on writing new songs and moving on as soon as possible. In 1997, Alex Newport (Fudge Tunnel) produced "16'"s fourth album "Blaze of Incompetence" which was met with mediocre reviews. The same year, Jason started another band, "Trenchant" while "16" toured the East Coast and the South in a 30 year-old Winnebago headlining small clubs to small crowds supported by sludge/doom legends Grief. Along the way, drummer Andy Hassler complained of being homesick and lonely which eventually led to him being kicked out when they got home so he could work at Sears. "16" would have to start over again in 1998 with another drummer, R.D. Davies (Visual Discrimination,) who was very talented, and enthusiastic about being the drummer in "16" since he had been a huge fan for years. There was a small problem though; he was a heroin addict, which didn't seem to be an issue as he was always on time for practice and easily learned the "16" discography. That line-up of "16" recorded only once, a cover of Bad Brains "Right Brigade" for the "Never Give In" compilation before R.D. overdosed on a friend's front lawn in 1999 and lived, after shows that year with Isis, Cave In, and Spaceboy. "16" were once again forced to start over, in 2001. This time, Mark Sanger was added as the new "16" drummer. Mark was a hard hitting dude who was taught to drum by Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers). "16" played shows that year with Neurosis, Botch, Plain Enemy, Gehenna, Eyehategod, Throwdown, and Atreyu. A rejuvenated "16" began writing songs for their fifth album "Zoloft Smile". Of course nothing goes smoothly in "16" and Bobby and Mark started having problems due to Mark's intense temper and Bobby's laid-back attitude. Bobby quit "16" in 2000 and moved to San Diego before "Zoloft Smile" was even released. Cris was so unhappy that his best friend was quitting "16" that during Bobby's final show with "16" Cris broke his hand, on purpose, by punching a monitor dozens of times. In 2000, 16" limped along as a four piece again playing shows with Grief, Phobia, Noothgrush, Spaceboy, Asunder, The Sabians, Totimoshi, Sourvein, Suplecs, and Blessing the Hogs. Tony quit in 2001 to play with Chris Spencer, (Unsane,) in his new band "Cutthroats 9". "16" threw around the idea of changing the name of the band and starting over or continue to try and make "16" work even though it seemed the band was cursed. They decided to go on as "16" and try out new bass players to fill Tony's empty slot. "16" settled for Nial McNaughty, a man who bathed himself with dishwashing liquid and neglected to rinse it off. After Trenchant ended and Bobby quit "16," he contacted Jason in 2001 and they started a band called "Maxmillion" with Bobby handling guitar/vocals and friend Chris Jones on bass. They played a handful of shows and released one record on now-defunct label Retribute Records. The chemical issues that had consumed Jason's life previously followed him into his new project with Bobby and he found life at that point just too much to handle. Jason disappeared to get his head together and his life straightened out. In 2002, "16" (Cris Jerue, Phil Vera, Nial McNaughty, and Mark Sanger) were invited to England to play 2 benefit shows with Eyehategod for the late Johnny Morrow of Iron Monkey. "16" and Eyehategod were two of Johnny's favorite bands and "16" was honored to be invited. That trip fell apart due to promoters promising a number of smaller shows in the UK to surround the benefit shows. "16" wound up playing the UK shows to bartenders and doormen, filling their time with continuous Absinthe abuse resulting in Cris breaking 2 bones in his other hand, on purpose, again in the same way during a show with Eyehategod. Returning home completely disappointed, "16" tried to recreate the magic by adding another second guitarist. That failed miserably and the guy was in the band for such a short time no one remembers his name. "Zoloft Smile" was released in late 2002 on "At a Loss Recordings" and things started to brighten up when they were invited to tour Japan again, this time supporting Unsane as well as a full US tour in 2003. But once again "16" were doomed. In January of 2003, after a long day of abusing prescription drugs and alcohol, Cris lost control at home and was confronted with either getting sober or losing custody of his kids. He chose to try and get clean and quit the band he'd fronted for 11 years and enter rehab. Phil Vera, now playing guitar and handling vocals, another new bass player, Rafa (Black Cobra), and Mark Sanger had to follow through with the tour plans previously booked. "16" toured with Hope and Suicide and Sofa King Killer. The band went to Japan, playing as a three piece, supporting Unsane. In May of 2004, "16" was laid to rest. From 2003 to 2007 Jason had been keeping "16'"s spirit alive by enlisting legendary recording engineer and guitarist Billy Anderson to remix all the "16" songs Jason had played on with the intention of releasing all the recordings as some sort of box-set called "The Corley Years". Jason kept in contact with "16" fans all over the world by mail, email, and creating the "16" MySpace page, making and selling "16" merchandise in his spare time. In the summer of 2007, Jason bumped into Tony at A Rwake show where Tony told him that "Cutthroats 9" had ended. The two talked and reminisced about the "16" days. A few days later Jason had the idea that it would be cool to get "16" back together with the "Drop Out" line-up and play a few shows to coincide with Billy Anderson completing the remixing of "Drop Out". In August of 2007, some random email and phone conversations led Bobby, Jason, Cris and Tony to pick up the pieces of "16" and vent again. The band started practicing the songs from "Drop Out". Everything was going so well that it just seemed natural to write some new songs and see how it went. "16" played a few local shows in LA and the energy that existed in 1994 was back in full force. A few months later, "16" were approached by Relapse Records, worked out a deal and joined the Relapse family. 2008 marks the "16" year anniversary for "16" and the original members of "16" are currently recording their first record in 12 years (scheduled for an early 2009 release) at Doubletime Studios and preparing for extensive touring. The entire "16" catalog is being re-released in 2009. Relapse Records is releasing "Curves That Kick," "Drop Out'" (remixed and re-mastered by Billy Anderson), "Blaze of Incompetence," (with extra tracks), and a CD of rare 7's and B-Sides. "Zoloft Smile'" is being released by At a Loss and will feature 3 unreleased songs recorded during the original "Zoloft Smile" recording session. In addition, vinyl versions of the records will be available with all new artwork and packaging. "16" has endured line-up changes, rehabs, breakdowns, incarcerations, psych. wards, overdoses, lessons learned, mistakes repeated, grinding poverty, insanity, divorce, suicide, redemption, and relapse, all while being consumed by the drive to create more music that is not diluted by any perceived payoff or approval from the outside world, other than the old cliché of making music that they want to hear. Once again, "16" has arisen from defeat to assault the eardrums of the world. http://www.a16discog.com/ http://www.myspace.com/16 http://www.facebook.com/16band http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16_(band)