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Sick Puppies

Even if you don’t know Sydney, Australia modern rock trio Sick Puppies, you’ve probably seen their groundbreaking “Free Hugs,” video, which has garnered more than 11 million views on YouTube.com since it started streaming on the site last year. The heartwarming clip chronicles the true life adventures of a man who walks around holding a billboard that reads “Free Hugs," the police who ban his humanitarian crusade, and the petition that earned him back the right to provide hugs to citizens in need. The “Free Hugs” video, which accompanied the band’s song “All The Same,” earned Sick Puppies exposure on Oprah, Jay Leno, “60 Minutes” and CNN, and inspired people around the world to begin their own free hugs campaigns. It also propelled “All the Same” into a top-requested single at commercial radio stations across North America. But while the “Free Hugs” video helped spread the music and message of Sick Puppies, the band is anything but an overnight success. Years before YouTube, Sick Puppies were winning prestigious commendations, including “Best Song” from Triple J Unearthed, and “Best Live Performance” from the Australian Live Music Awards. The Australian edition of Rolling Stone even called Sick Puppies “the most dynamic new band in the country.” The band’s North American debut, Dressed Up As Life, validates the praise with a heartfelt collection of exultant rhythms, propulsive beats and choruses that span miles. It’s the kind of record that captures the beauty, pain and endless possibilities of LIFE. The aching vocals, melancholy acoustics and triumphant guitar swaths of the renowned “All the Same” transcend even without the video. “My World” pinpoints the moment where epiphany turns regret into acceptance by juxtaposing layered instrumentation with bare, simple arrangements. “Pitiful,” combines start-stop blasts with brooding atmospherics, resulting in a song that’s both angry and undeniable. And, “Asshole Father” is even more sweeping and multidimensional, intermingling serene vistas with stabs of animosity. “The record is an honest reflection of what we were feeling and going through when we were making it,” says singer and guitarist Shimon Moore. “There were times when we were really depressed and then suddenly we were happy. So these songs capture that whole rollercoaster ride.” “The songs are a combination of all of our influences, from Rage Against the Machine to Green day, mixed in with our own style,” bassist Emma Anzai adds. The origin of Sick Puppies dates back to 1997, when Moore and Anzai met in their high school music room. Moore was bashing away on the drums and Anzai walked in looking for someone to jam with. “She stared at me and asked if I knew all these songs by different bands, and I was like, ‘Yeah,’ and, we just started rocking,” says Moore. “At the end of the week she said, ‘You wanna start a band?’ and we’ve been together ever since.” Moore stepped out from behind the kit and strapped on a guitar, and the two hired Chris Mileski to play drums. They started playing covers, then wrote their own material and booked local gigs. In 1999, Sick Puppies released their first Australian EP, Dog’s Breakfast, and two years later, their song “Nothing Really Matters” won Triple J’s Unearthed band competition. Their debut album, Welcome to the Real World came out later that year. After numerous tours across the country, Sick Puppies went on hiatus for a while so they could achieve their goal to record their North American debut. Anzai got a job in telemarketing and Moore carried a billboard of a lollipop sign advertising two-for-one shoes at an outdoor shopping mall. It was there that he met Juan Mann, who came to the mall every Thursday with his “Free Hugs” sign. “We started talking and became really good friends,” Moore recalls. “Then I asked if I could film him. But we never ended up doing anything with the footage until we came to Los Angeles.” Since Mileski was unable to come with them to the U.S., Sick puppies placed an advertisement on the Internet site Craig’s List, looking for a new drummer. Soon, they hooked up with Mark Goodwin, whose hard-hitting style perfectly complimented the band’s aggressive style. While they worked on the new album, Moore kept in touch with Mann, and during one of their phone calls, he learned that Mann’s grandmother had died unexpectedly. To help cheer him up, Moore pulled his old footage off the shelf and edited together the “Free Hugs” video and sent it to Mann. “It was meant just as a video get well card, and that’s the only reason it got made,” Moore says. “He saw it and said, ‘Why don’t you put it on YouTube.’ I still have no idea how it got as big as it did.” Upon arriving in Los Angeles, the band signed a new recording contract with indie label RMR Music Group run by Paul Palmer, co-founder of Trauma Records (Bush, No Doubt). The tremendous success of the video piqued the interest of numerous record distributors, including Virgin Records, which signed Sick Puppies to a deal in 2006, right as their new album neared completion. “It was far more difficult to make than we expected,” Anzai says. “It was a lot of hard work and it basically took us a year to finish. We spent a lot of time discussing the style of the music and the arrangements, and we reworked the songs over and over until they felt right. So, it was definitely grueling, but it was character building as well.” In addition to learning to write better rhythms and melodies, Moore flexed his lyrical muscles and tapped into a new level of emotional poignancy. He penned songs about his fear of abandonment (“My World”), a desperate effort to save a crumbling relationship (“All The Same”) and a freaky stalker (“Deliverance”). “I think the songwriters who really connect with people are the ones who are willing to release their deepest, darkest secrets,” Moore explains. “So, I decided to bare my soul regardless of how embarrassing or frightening it might be. And I think when you give in to that, it can be very liberating.” With infectious tunes, a jaw-dropping stage show and equal doses of hits and hugs, Sick Puppies are striking a blow against the horde of faceless modern rock bands that are virtually all the same.

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http://twitvid.com/0EC7D - Back in LA for the holidays, mayhem.
06:43 PM December 23

Latest bulletin 12.18.09

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THQ AND EMI / CAPITOL MUSIC GROUP Recording Artist SICK PUPPI Dec 14
In Studio Apr 5
Join us on Twitter and Say Now !!! Feb 28

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Dec 14, 11:00 AM

THQ AND EMI / CAPITOL MUSIC GROUP Recording Artist SICK PUPPIES to host consumer gameplay session with WWE® SMACKDOWN® VS. RAW® 2010

Consumers to Compete Against Band Members in Latest Addition to Distinguished Fighting Video Game Franchise via Xbox LIVE® Online Entertainment Network.
AGOURA HILLS, Calif. December 14, 2009 THQ Inc. today announced the company has partnered with EMI / Capitol Music Group recording artist Sick Puppies to offer consumers the opportunity to connect with the band using WWE® SmackDown® vs. Raw® 2010, the critically acclaimed addition to the renowned fighting videogame franchise. On Friday, December 18 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT, Sick Puppies band members will log into the Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft to compete against fans using the Gamertag "SICKPUPPIESband." The consumer gameplay session is expected to last for approximately two hours.
"Through our continued partnership with EMI / Capitol Music Group, we are pleased to unite Sick Puppies with our unparalleled WWE SmackDown vs. Raw audience," said Victor Rodriguez, music director, THQ. "The band's impactful sound and relationship with WWE make for the perfect fit with the franchise."
"We can't wait to meet you guys online and play WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010," said Emma Anzai, bassist, Sick Puppies. "You're going down!"
"You're Going Down," the No. 1 single from the band's recent release, Tri-Polar, appears on the soundtrack to WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010. In addition, "You're Going Down" served as the official theme song for the WWE Extreme Rules pay-per-view in June 2009.
About WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 for the Xbox 360
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 introduces a new Create-a-Superstar Mode, including a fresh look, all-new 3-D parts and improved graphical quality, allowing players to create Superstars and Divas comparable in quality with their in-game WWE counterparts. A new Paint Tool enables detailed creation of tattoos, logos and other unique designs, while a franchise-first Superstar Threads feature lets players create alternate ring gear for Superstars and Divas by customizing the colors of shirts, pants, face paint, elbow pads, boots and more. The game's Create-a-Finisher Mode has been updated to let players create acrobatic and gravity-defying diving attacks from the top turnbuckle, move their creations to new heights by adjusting the trajectory and take advantage of new moves from the front grapple position. Taking creativity even further, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 marks the debut of WWE Story Designer. In this new mode, players can create and customize their own storylines and cut scenes, including selection of talent and scene locations, writing their own dialogue, adjusting camera angles, choosing from over 100 scene animations, assigning talent emotions and much more. Players may also construct each night's show card with matches, unique match stipulations, interference events and other story twists and turns.
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 empowers players with not only extensive creative freedom but the ability to share their gameplay experiences as well. For the first time in franchise history, the WWE Community Creations interface enables players to upload their creations online, including created Superstars and Divas, story designs, finishing moves, highlight reels and screenshots, and share them with others around the world. Players may also download created content via keyword search engine from other users for use both online and offline. In addition, players can tag their creations with search terms, as well as leave ratings, allowing for ease of use in searching the robust database for the most popular - or even the most obscure - created items. To date, more than 50,000 items have been uploaded to WWE Community Creations via Xbox LIVE.
In addition to its extensive creative and online offerings, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 includes a number of key updates. The WWE Training Facility provides a franchise-first in-game tutorial, making it simple for both long-time fans and newcomers to get helpful gameplay tips and practice moves with their favorite Superstars and Divas. The popular Road to WrestleMania story-based mode returns with interactive cut scenes and six new storylines based on a created Superstar, Mickie James, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels and Edge, as well as a "Brand Warfare" co-op storyline with Triple H and John Cena. In terms of match types, the Championship Scramble makes its WWE SmackDown vs. Raw franchise debut, while the renowned Royal Rumble delivers a revised presentation and more ways to eliminate opponents, including three elimination mini-games and match-specific finishing moves. In addition, a robust talent roster will include more than 60 playable Superstars and Divas, many of whom will make their videogame debut, as they represent the Raw, SmackDown and ECW® brands.
More information about WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 can be found at www.smackdownvsraw.com
About Sick Puppies
The band launched their world domination strategy with the album Dressed Up As Life, and the single, "All the Same," used in a video featuring fellow Aussie Juan Mann in his global "Free Hugs" campaign, attracted 49 million YouTube views and spawned a worldwide phenomenon. For their RMR/Virgin/EMI follow-up, Tri-Polar, the group has joined with Rock Mafia hitmakers Antonina Armato and Tim James to create a sound that reflects the band's past four whirlwind years in the rock and roll fast lane. The first single, "You're Going Down," was used as the theme song for the WWE's Extreme Rules pay-per-view broadcast. Sick Puppies can also be seen on theatre screens in Rock Prophecies, the award-winning documentary about legendary rock photographer Robert M. Knight, who famously took the band under his wing when they first came to the States.
More information about Sick Puppies can be found at www.sickpuppies.net
Apr 05, 04:38 PM

In Studio

Hey Guys,

How is everyone??!!

We are well, we're actually finishing up our new album as we speak and are extremely stoked about you guys hearing it!!
Not only that we're super keen to get out on the road and tour it.
Don't forget to follow us on twitter and call us on SAY NOW, we're waiting to hear from you guys!
Other than that we're rehearsing the new songs up and are looking forward to playing Rock On The Range and Pointfest coming up... STOKED :)
See you soon
Xo
Emma -
Feb 28, 10:52 PM

Join us on Twitter and Say Now !!!

Hi Guys,

We are pleased to invite you to join us on Twitter and SayNow.

For our Twitter page just go to www.twitter.com/sickpuppies and join our network and add our widget to your page.

Also with SayNow call us on 310.220.0607 and leave a message and we will call you back and leave you messages with what we are up to and get you all the latest updates that will only be available through SayNow. Go to www.saynow.com/sickpuppies and join our community.
So lets stay in touch though Twitter and SayNow, it rocks! We'll send text, pictures, voice messages and give you a call sometime.

Rock on,
Sick Puppies
Feb 21, 12:15 PM

Rock On The Range 2009

Hey Guys,
We are playing Rock On The Range in May in Columbus Ohio, lineup includes - Motley Crue, Alice In Chains, Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, Buckcherry, Shindedown, The Used Flyleaf and many more!
See you there!!
SP
Feb 17, 08:56 PM

Sick Puppies new song on iTunes today!

We are excited to announce that Sick Puppies' new song featured in the Street Fighter IV video game commercial is available on iTunes today!

Sick Puppies have been in the studio recording their second album and one of the first tracks released will be "Street Fighter (WAR)" as heard on the Street Fighter 4 commercial. Check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC-QBh8TH-4
"Street Fighter (WAR)" will be available on iTunes from today so check it out! The direct link is:
http://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewAlbum%253Fi%253D305607930%2526id%253D305607907%2526s%253D143441%2526partnerId%253D30%2526partnerId%253D30%2526siteID%253Dl7nGunCJbc0-Dv1Sd48EfDqqm9fIluQZ6g
Stay tuned for the upcoming album! Hope you like the track.
SP
www.sickpuppies.net
Feb 13, 04:26 PM

Sick Puppies song on Street Fighter IV video game commercial

We are excited to announce that Sick Puppies have a new song in the Street Fighter IV video game commercial!
Sick Puppies have been in the studio recording their second album and one of the first tracks released will be "Street Fighter (WAR)" as heard on the Street Fighter IV commercial. Check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC-QBh8TH-4
"Street Fighter (WAR)" will be available on iTunes on 2/17/09 so check it out!
Stay tuned for the upcoming album!
www.streetfighter.com
www.sickpuppies.net
SP
Feb 12, 01:49 PM

Photo Contest Entries TOP TEN

Hey Guys,
We are so impressed with all the amazing entries for our photo contest! It was really difficult to narrow it down to our favorites. Before we announce the winner, we thought we'd share our top ten and see what you think.
You can find those entries here:
http://s377.photobucket.com/albums/oo216/theotheraccount_sp/<http://s377.photobucket.com/albums/oo216/theotheraccount_sp/gt;
SP
Jan 28, 05:09 PM

Photo Contest Almost over!

Hey guys,
The Sick Puppies World Crew's photo contest is ALMOST over. You have until January 31, 2009 to submit your photos.

All you have to do is take a picture of the Pup's Dressed Up As Life cd in unique and interesting places and then email the pictures to SickPuppiesWorldCrew@gmail.com.

The winner of the photo contest will win a band AUTOGRAPHED cd and BONUS surprise.

Check out the complete rules here:
http://sickpuppiesworldcrew.net/contests.php
We're looking forward to seeing your pictures!
**
SP
Dec 24 2008, 08:36 PM

Rockin' Season Greetings for Sick Puppies

Hi Guys,
We just wanted to wish you all a safe and Merry Christmas and all the best for the holiday season for you and your families.
Thank you all for your support and we look forward to rockin out with you in 2009 once we finish our new record (getting close).
Photo by Nigel Skeet taken at San Bernardino X1039 Very Merry Christmas show on 12.20.08.
Best wishes,
Sick Puppies
Emma, Shim & Mark

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