Vancouver, BC · post-grunge

Theory of a Deadman

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Radio rock that pivoted from swagger to piano ballads and kept the audience either way — Vancouver pragmatists with hooks to spare.

Theory of a Deadman formed in 1999 in North Delta, British Columbia, when guitarist and singer Tyler Connolly teamed up with bassist Dean Back. The pair became the first act signed to Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger's 604 Records imprint in 2001, after Connolly arranged for a demo tape to reach Kroeger. Kroeger co-produced the band's self-titled debut, released in 2002.

That album worked a Canadian post-grunge template of downtuned riffs, big choruses and plainspoken lyrics, and the band toured North America opening for Nickelback. It eventually went platinum in both Canada and the United States, giving Theory of a Deadman its early foothold on rock radio and setting the pattern the group would follow for the next decade.

The band became a fixture of that format with singles including 'Bad Girlfriend' and 'Lowlife', both taken from 2008's Scars & Souvenirs, an album that also produced a version of 'By the Way' featuring Chris Daughtry. Through the 2000s the group picked up added exposure through WWE pay-per-view themes, a Grey Cup halftime appearance, and tour support slots with Mötley Crüe.

Later in their career the group shifted towards a more polished, piano-led pop-rock approach, most noticeably on the single 'Rx (Medicate)', broadening their audience without abandoning the guitar-driven material that made their name.

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post-grunge