Axium

Axium
Axium
Also known as	Red Eye
Origin	Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Genres	Hard rock, post-grunge
Years active	1999–2006
Past members	David Cook; Bobby Kerr; Jeff Shrout; Travis Grogan; Nathan Russell; Keith Crawford; Ryan Butler; Jerron Nichols; Matt McLaughlin; Drew Foss; Anthony Mazzarella

Axium was a Missouri-based band once headed by American Idol season 7 winner David Cook. Their sound was described as Alice in Chains meets Tantric.^[1]

History

David Cook formed Axium in his junior year of high school alongside drummer Bobby Kerr.^[2] The band was originally called Red Eye, but they changed it because it sounded too much like Pink Eye. The first performance as Axium (actually spelled Axiom at the time) consisted of Cook, Kerr, as well as Matt McLaughlin on guitar and Drew Foss on bass. Foss was soon replaced by Anthony Mazzarella, and this lineup recorded an unnamed 5 song demo.^[3] Cook and Kerr then went through a few bass players in search of the perfect band,^[4] but these two always stuck together. It was in May 2001 that Cook and Kerr finally found Jeff Shrout. In June 2004 they recruited Travis Grogan on bass in support of their final studio album, The Story Thus Far. Since then, Bobby Kerr left the band in 2005, followed by David Cook a little over a year later when Axium mutually disbanded in 2006.^[1] They performed their last show in Kansas City.^[2]

Today, Jeff Shrout is playing lead guitar and writing songs for his band, Sleep Another Year.^[5] On bass guitar, is Travis Grogan (former bassist for Axium.) They recently released the EP "We Won't Ask." Bobby Kerr has recorded two Rat Pack inspired albums since 2006. Currently, Bobby is singing lead and playing guitar in the KISS tribute band, Almost KISS. His character is Paul Stanley's "Starchild."

Success

Axium played with notable acts like 8Stops7, Caroline's Spine, Maroon 5, Fountains of Wayne, and Smash Mouth.^[6]

One of the band's songs, "Hold," was picked up by AMC Theatres Movie Tunes and was played before previews on over 20,000 screens nationwide. Axium was also named one of the top 15 independent bands in the country in the "Got Milk?" independent band contest, and it was chosen as the best band in Kansas City in 2004.^[7]

Discography

Studio albums

Matter of Time (2002)
Blindsided (2003)
The Story Thus Far (2004)

Live albums

Alive in Tulsa (2004)
Cain's Ballroom Recordings (2003)

Personnel: David Cook (vocals, guitar); Bobby Kerr (drums); Jerron Nichols (bass); Jeff Shrout (guitar); guest vocals on ‘Feed Your Ego’ – remix by: Lyrycyst and Godz Disciple

Track list