PlanetRAWK
PlanetRAWK is an American rock band from Atlanta, GA, formed in 2009 when the band members were just 18 and 19. Consisting of Charles Ahanotu (vocals), Mikah Bahamut (drums), JT Thomas (bass), and Ashley Griffith (guitar and vocals). The band plays a mixture of alternative rock and heavy metal songs which incorporate elements of funk and hip hop. The fact that they are Black Americans playing variations of metal led critics to compare them to bands such as Living Colour and Bad Brains. After band tensions and being on the road constantly, the band broke up in 2016, releasing two albums within that lifespan, "Kids With Black Faces and RAWKzilla".
Band history
Early days and Independent Tours
In high school, Charles started a band called StereoTalk that was performing throughout the local Atlanta music scene. Mikah and Ashley were in a band called Tragedy Called Truth, and JT was in multiple bands. When StereoTalk disbanded, Charles decided to start PlanetRAWK as a solo project and began touring different states on his own. Wanting to have a bigger, more rock sound, he recruited Mikah, Ashley, and JT Thomas. Within one year, they earned a dedicated following in Atlanta, GA, due to their high-energy live performances.
In 2012, the band released their first album "Kids With Black Faces" and started touring non-stop around the country, opening up for Deftones, Flobots, HED PE, Stuck Mojo, Crazytown, Andrew Boss and The Boss Crew, Mindless Self Indulgence, and selling 8,000 copies of the release. In 2014, the band signed with Unable Records and began work on their second album, RAWKzilla. The band took on a heavier sound and released the single "The Storm" and headed out on two national tours in support of the album. RAWKzilla was #4 on Billboard Heatseekers, and the band saw more tours and more festivals.
Breakup and Solo Projects
In 2015, tension in the band started to build with the creation of their third album "The Bloodshed Of Innocent Kingz". JT left the band for a more steady life, arguing about how the sound of the third album should be, and the constant touring came to a boiling point, and everyone decided to part ways. Charles began working with Hopeless Records in their booking department and working on his solo album with Unable Records that was never released. Mikah and Ashley started the metal band Faytree, and JT joined local Atlanta band Vickisdream.
Discography
Studio albums
- Kids With Black Faces (2012)
- RAWKzilla (2014)
- The Bloodshed Of Innocent Kingz (Unreleased)
References
- ↑ Check, Sound (September 22, 2014). "feature: the "alternative dirty south rock fusion" of planetrawk". AFROPUNK.
- ↑ "Black Japan, Jack ex Rabbit, Rabidus, PlanetRAWK, Francis Wreck at The Throne Room". Do312.
- ↑ "PlanetRAWK".
- ↑ "PLANET ROCK Austin Shows on Do512". Do512.
- ↑ "PlanetRAWK". Bandsintown.
- ↑ "LIVE VIDEO: PlanetRAWK at Smith's Olde Bar in March 2014 (their last ATL show before moving to L.A.) + FREE downloads and more". May 27, 2014.
- ↑ "ATL's PlanetRAWK donation drive for their first National Tour opening for Outlaw Nation + free music from PlanetRAWK". May 8, 2012.
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