Chevelle

Chevelle Artistfacts

  • 1995-
    Pete LoefflerVocals, guitar
    Sam LoefflerDrums
    Joe LoefflerBass, vocals1995-2005
    Dean BernardiniBass, vocals2005-2019
  • Chevelle was formed in 1995 in Grayslake, Illinois by brothers Pete, Sam, and Joe Loeffler. All three members of the band loved fast cars, so they named the band after one of their dad's favorite cars, the Chevrolet Chevelle. The band's first shows took place in and around Chicago while bassist Joe Loeffler was just 14 years old.
  • Before he became a well-known name on Saturday Night Live, comedian Fred Armisen appeared on Chevelle's first demo, 1999's Point #1. The record was produced by Nirvana and Pixies producer, Steve Albini, who works in Chicago near Chevelle's hometown of Grayslake, Illinois.
  • Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Geoff Blum used Chevelle's "The Red" as his intro song when coming up to bat. Blum was a member of the 2005 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox. He is best known for ending the longest game in World Series history by hitting a tie-breaking home run in the bottom of the 14th inning.
  • In 2005, Chevelle bassist Joe Loeffler quit the band. At the time, his brothers and band mates claimed it wasn't the first time he had quit but this time it was permanent. Loeffler countered by claiming that his brothers forced him out and that he would be focusing on his family rather than music going forward.
  • In 2007, a trailer containing all of Chevelle's equipment was stolen from outside of a hotel in Fort Worth, Texas. The band posted a note on their website asking fans to keep a lookout for gear for sale marked "Chevelle." Of the 14 guitars that were stolen, 2 of them were eventually returned. The band also got their P.A. system and a few amplifiers back, but most of the gear was never found.
  • Chevelle's song "Face to the Floor" was inspired by the victims of Bernie Madoff's elaborate Ponzi scheme. The band added "it's for Kevin Bacon," since the actor was among the people Madoff had swindled.
  • The members of Chevelle are Christian, but they don't think of their band as a "Christian band." Drummer Sam Loeffler believes part of the reason why people have labeled them as such is because their first album appeared in some Christian bookstores. Their first record deal was with a company that was backed by Word, a Christian label that represented John Tesh and Amy Grant. Loeffler said seeing Chevelle's first album Point #1 in Christian bookstores was "an accidental thing."
  • In May 2008, Chevelle bassist Dean Bernardini injured his left hand very badly, forcing the band to cancel 8 shows with Nickelback and Hoobastank.

    Bernardini learned to play bass by playing along with some of his favorite records. The first album he learned to play start to finish was Muse's Absolution.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New York

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New YorkSong Writing

Our chat with Barney Hoskyns, who covers the wild years of Woodstock - the town, not the festival - in his book Small Town Talk.

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the Song

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.

Pete Anderson

Pete AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Pete produced Dwight Yoakam, Michelle Shocked, Meat Puppets, and a very memorable track for Roy Orbison.

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.