Burning Brides
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1999 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Founder | Dimitri Coats, Melanie Coats |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia , United States |
| Products | Music albums |
Burning Brides was a hard rock group from the United States, recognized for their energetic stage presence and having opened for prominent bands such as The White Stripes in 2000, Audioslave in 2003, and A Perfect Circle in 2004. Their extensive touring résumé also features support slots for Queens of the Stone Age, Mastodon, and Eagles of Death Metal, which helped solidify their position within the rock scene. Originating from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, they attracted interest from both independent and major record companies.
History
Established in Philadelphia in 1999 by Dimitri Coats and Melanie Coats—who brought experience in acting and contemporary dance respectively—the band quickly gained a dedicated local fan base through their vigorous live performances. After adding drummer Mike Ambs to the lineup, they secured a contract with independent label File Thirteen Records and embarked on national tours alongside acts like The White Stripes and J. Mascis.
Their first album, Fall of the Plastic Empire (2001), was met with critical praise and sparked competition among major labels following a standout performance at SXSW in 2002. Subsequent lineup adjustments introduced drummer Jason Kourkounis, and Burning Brides signed with V2 Records, which re-released their debut album internationally, significantly raising their visibility. The single "Arctic Snow" gained considerable attention, including a televised appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, while their touring itinerary expanded to include the 2003 Lollapalooza festival.
The band's second release, Leave No Ashes (2004), produced by George Drakoulias, featured the track "Heart Full of Black", which enjoyed radio rotation and was incorporated into popular video games such as Guitar Hero and Burnout 3: Takedown. They continued to tour extensively with notable acts like A Perfect Circle and Mastodon.
After the collapse of V2 Records, Burning Brides moved to Los Angeles and independently issued their third album, Hang Love (2007), which Dimitri Coats produced alongside engineer Mathias Schneeberger. During this time, Pete Beeman joined as drummer.
Dimitri and Melanie married in 2006; Dimitri also contributed guitar parts to Chris Cornell's 2007 album Carry On. Their fourth studio effort, Anhedonia (2008), was self-released with production helmed by Dimitri Coats. Several tracks from this album were featured in the 2009 film Suck, where Dimitri portrayed the lead antagonist. He further pursued acting with a role in the indie film Passenger Side.
In late 2008, the couple celebrated the birth of their first child, Veronica Coats. The following year, Burning Brides supported the Canadian launch of Anhedonia with tours that included appearances at North by Northeast. In 2009, Dimitri formed the hardcore punk group Off! alongside Keith Morris and other musicians.
Their second child, Charles Coats, was born in early 2010. The band ultimately disbanded after Dimitri and Melanie separated in 2014.
Former members
- Dimitri Coats – vocals, guitar (1999–2014)
- Melanie Coats – bass guitar (1999–2014)
- Mike Ambs – drums (1999–2002)
- Jason Kourkounis – drums (2002–2005)
- Pete Beeman – drums (2005–2008)
Discography
- Fall of the Plastic Empire (2001)
- Leave No Ashes (2004)
- Hang Love (2007)
- Anhedonia (2008)
Singles
| Title | Year | Highest chart position | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Rock | |||
| "Heart Full of Black" | 2004 | 32 | Leave No Ashes |
External links
- Articles with short description
- Rock music groups from Philadelphia
- Hard rock musical groups from Pennsylvania
- V2 Records artists
- Musical groups established in 1999
- Musical groups disbanded in 2014
- 1999 establishments in Pennsylvania
- 2014 disestablishments in Pennsylvania
- Musical groups disestablished in 2014