Billy Talent, Death from Above 1979, and Hollerado

Formed of high school friends Ben Kowalewicz (vocalist), Ian D’Sa (guitarist), Jon Gallant (bassist), and Aaron Solowoniuk (drummer), Billy Talent had previously performed under the moniker Pezz. Featuring a punk-revivalist sound the band made their debut recording “Demoluca” in D’Sa’s basement in 1994. After a subsequent demo “Dudebox” the band started to gain more exposure in and around Toronto aided by their debut full-length “Watoosh”. The independently-released album, produced by Brad Nelson, introduced the band’s new new pop punk delivery with Kowalewicz singing in melody with D’Sa. After pressure from American punk band Pezz, the band became Billy Talent and began wiggling their way towards a recording contract. After a useful connection with Jen Hirst, who was later hired by Warner Music Canada, led to meeting their producer Gavin Brown, the band singed a co-agreement with Atlantic Records and Warner Music Canada in 2002.

Billy Talent’s major-label debut “Billy Talent” was released in the Autumn of 2003 and earned positive reviews from the musical press. Noted for its singles “Try Honesty”, “The Ex”, “River Below” and “Nothing to Lose”, the album peaked at No 6 on the Canadian Albums chart and went on to be certified 3x platinum. The release also led to receiving two Juno Awards for Best Album of the Year, and Best Band of the Year, and was promoted with an extensive tour of Canada, the U.S., and parts of Europe.

Recorded in Vancouver, British Columbia, “Billy Talent II” was issued in June 2006 and topped the album chart in Canada. Having developed from the un-focused, profanity-rich thrust of their debut, “Billy Talent II” represents a more mature band who continue to develop their sound. Once again Billy Talent supported the album with a 18-month worldwide tour including small shows in the likes of Finland and Belgium, as well as arena shows alongside Rise Against, Anti-Flag, and Moneen.

The album “Billy Talent III” appeared in 2009 following appearances at Coachella festival, the UK’s Download and Reading & Leeds Festivals, and Australia’s Soundwave Festival. The band’s third full-length, like its predecessor, topped the Canadian Albums Chart, spawning the singles “Turn Your Back”, “Rusted from the Rain”, and “Devil on My Shoulder”. Ahead of their fourth album Billy Talent released the singles “Viking Death March” and “Surprise Surprise”. The album, “Dead Silence”, arrived in September 2012 and earned much stronger reviews than its predecessor for its ambitious change of style.

The duo apparently met at a Sonic Youth concert, but sometimes fabricate the details of how they met. Their name originally started as just "Death from Above' but had to be changed for legal reasons with DFA Records.

They started in 2001, despite having 1979 in their name, which is actually Sebastien Grainger's birthdate. They released their first full length album - "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine' in 2004 with Last Gang Records.

Their video "Blood On Our Hands" won a VideoFACT award at the MuchMusic Video Awards in 2005. They also played their song "Romantic Nights" on the "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" show.

In 2006 the band decided to officially split, Grainger claimed it was because of some musical differences in style and taste.

Sebastien Grainger was also in a band around that time called "Bad Tits" strangely enough, which was also a duo that began playing shows early on in 2010. Later on Grainger announced that the band's name had changed to "Deserts".

But in 2011 Death from Above 1979 announced that they were reforming. On September in 2012 they announced a Canadian tour where they planned to play new material. In July 2014, the duo released a new single called "Trainwreck 1979" and announced their new album "The Physical World" that would include new songs and a tour to support it.