Gravity Kills
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | St. Louis, Missouri , United States |
| Products | Studio albums, singles |
Gravity Kills is a St. Louis, Missouri-based American industrial rock group that formed in 1994. After producing three studio albums, the band dissolved in 2003, though they reunited intermittently from 2005 through 2012 and once more in 2023.
Following a short period of local recognition, the band secured a contract with TVT Records toward the end of 1995. Their 1996 self-titled debut album brought them widespread exposure, highlighted by the hit single "Guilty". This track climbed to No. 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 79 on the UK Singles Chart. The album achieved sales nearing half a million copies. Their sophomore effort, Perversion released in 1998, experienced less commercial success, although the single "Falling" made an appearance on the US Mainstream Rock Chart. By their third release, Superstarved in 2002, Gravity Kills had transitioned to Sanctuary Records. The lead single "One Thing" attained No. 24 on the US Mainstream Rock Chart; however, due to insufficient label backing and internal challenges, the band disbanded in January 2003. They performed occasional shows between 2005 and 2012 before regrouping again in 2023.
Reviewers characterized their sound as a fusion of haunting industrial rock with catchy pop melodies and aggressive influences. Their tracks were featured in various film soundtracks such as Mortal Kombat, Se7en, Escape from L.A., and Kissing a Fool, as well as in video game titles including the Test Drive series. Throughout their initial tenure, Gravity Kills toured alongside acts like Sex Pistols, Sevendust, Local H, Flaw, Sister Machine Gun, and Pigface.
Formation, naming, and debut album (1994–1996)
In 1994, keyboardist Doug Firley coined the name Gravity Kills after misinterpreting an article headline. The original lineup consisted of Firley, drummer Kurt Kerns, and guitarist Matt Dudenhoeffer, who then invited vocalist Jeff Scheel—Kerns' cousin—to join them for recording a song intended for a contest hosted by St. Louis radio station KPNT. Their track "Guilty" quickly gained significant airplay and became the most requested song on that station.
Throughout 1995, the group continued composing and recording material. Gravity Kills made their live debut in November of that year at a sold-out venue in St. Louis and signed with TVT Records shortly thereafter. Their first album, Gravity Kills, was released in March 1996 and reached No. 89 on the Billboard 200, while topping the Billboard Heatseekers chart at No. 1. The single "Guilty" peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart and No. 86 on the overall Billboard Hot 100. Music videos were created for "Guilty," "Enough," and "Down," with "Enough" charting at No. 98 on the UK Singles Chart.
The band earned placements on notable movie soundtracks: "Guilty" appeared in Se7en, "Goodbye (Demo Version)" was included on Mortal Kombat, and a re-recorded version of "Blame" featured on Escape from L.A.. This last track was also released as a single.
In mid-1996, Gravity Kills toured with the legendary Sex Pistols, followed by their own headlining tour during autumn. Their early achievements established them as prominent figures within the industrial rock scene, gaining recognition across international markets including England, Germany, and France.
Manipulated, live performances, and Perversion (1997–2000)
In 1997, TVT Records issued Manipulated, a remix collection that reimagined songs from Gravity Kills' self-titled debut, including "Guilty" and "Blame". That same year, the band contributed the track "Poetry and Power" to the Gary Numan tribute compilation Random. Additionally, they briefly worked with Moby on the song "Suffocating" for the Spawn soundtrack; however, Moby ultimately withheld the release due to dissatisfaction with the track, which later appeared unofficially online.
On April 19, 1998, lead singer Scheel sustained whiplash during a warm-up show in San Antonio, Texas, forcing him to take several weeks off. This injury occurred just before a scheduled U.S. tour alongside British group Pitchshifter and Junkie XL.
June 1998 saw the release of Gravity Kills' sophomore album, Perversion. Although it did not achieve the commercial success of their debut, it reached No. 107 on the Billboard 200 chart. The single "Falling" climbed to No. 35 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart and was included in the 1998 racing game Test Drive 5, alongside tracks from Pitchshifter and KMFDM. Meanwhile, songs "Alive" and "Drown" were featured in Test Drive Off-Road 2.
During a July 1, 1998 performance at Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Scheel provoked the audience into chanting explicit language during a live broadcast on Lazer 103 FM, repeating a similar episode from the previous year.
In August 1999, drummer Kurt Kerns departed to prioritize family commitments and resume his career in architecture. He was first succeeded by Greg Miller of St. Louis-based band Radio Iodine, followed by Brad Booker—formerly of Stir—who joined in 2000.
Superstarved, Doug Firley's accident, and disbandment (2001–2003)
After Perversion, Gravity Kills spent June 1999 through August 2001 working on their third studio album. Despite completing a full tracklist, dissatisfaction with the initial mixes led them back to the studio for revisions. During this timeframe, they signed with Sanctuary Records. Early demo recordings from these sessions—including six unreleased tracks—were eventually leaked online by Jeff Scheel.
In March 2002, Sanctuary Records released their third album, Superstarved. The UK edition was distributed by Mayan Records, a Sanctuary subsidiary, while Victor Entertainment handled the Japanese release. The single "One Thing" achieved their highest chart position yet, reaching No. 24 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. To support the album launch, Gravity Kills co-headlined an April tour with American Head Charge.
On May 2, during a sold-out show in Allentown, Pennsylvania, keyboardist Doug Firley suffered a serious injury when a custom-built 300-pound spring-loaded steel keyboard fell onto his right ring finger, fracturing the bones. The band cut their tour short so Firley could receive medical care and sold off their studio equipment, suspending further performances. Firley underwent surgery to repair his hand.
Gravity Kills officially dissolved on January 4, 2003. Their website released a statement citing multiple undisclosed reasons for the split and expressed appreciation for their supporters. After disbanding, members pursued various paths: Matt Dudenhoeffer returned to engineering outside of music; Doug Firley toured as a keyboard technician for Alicia Keys before co-founding production outfit Shock City Productions; Brad Booker joined Apartment 26 as drummer and later reunited with Stir; Jeff Scheel became an agent at Box Talent Agency while leading his new band Star 13.
Reunion, live shows, and shelved fourth album (2005–2012)
On October 28, 2005, Gravity Kills came back together to headline their own Halloween-themed festival in St. Louis, Missouri, named The Killoween Freakshow. This gathering was intended as an annual tradition, with the second edition held on October 28, 2006, at Pop's Nightclub and Bar. In 2007, scheduling issues prompted a rebranding of the event to The Nightmare Before Thanksgiving, which took place on November 21. On October 20, 2009, the band officially announced they were creating new material after years of speculation.
They appeared live at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa on May 7, 2010, followed by a benefit concert at St. Louis' Roberts Orpheum Theater on June 25, 2010. Throughout this period, the group maintained an online journal documenting their progress on a follow-up album, disclosing a tentative track title: "Again."
Vinyl re-release and upcoming activities (2018–present)
On December 13, 2018, Gravity Kills shared via their official Facebook page that their most recent live show had been on November 23, 2012, at The Pageant in St. Louis. While remaining on hiatus since then, in November 2022 they teased a vinyl reissue of their debut album featuring provisional artwork but without a confirmed release date. The vinyl edition of Gravity Kills was ultimately issued on May 19, 2023. Soon afterward, the band revealed plans for a reunion concert scheduled for November 11, 2023, marking their first live appearance in over a decade.
Band members
- Jeff Scheel – lead vocals, occasional guitar (1994–2003, 2005–2012, 2023)
- Matt Dudenhoeffer – guitar (1994–2003, 2005–2012, 2023)
- Doug Firley – bass guitar, keyboards, programming (1994–2003, 2005–2012, 2023)
- Kurt Kerns – drums, vocals, bass guitar, guitar (1994–1999, 2005–2012, 2023)
Former members
- Greg Miller – drums (1999–2000)
- Brad Booker – drums (2000–2003)
Studio albums
| Year | Album Title |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Gravity Kills |
| 1998 | Perversion |
| 2002 | Superstarved |
Remix albums and singles
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Guilty (Remix Single) |
| 1997 | Manipulated |
Albums
- 1996 Gravity Kills reached No. 1 on Top Heatseekers
- 1996 Gravity Kills peaked at No. 89 on The Billboard 200
- 1998 Perversion attained No. 107 on The Billboard 200
- 2002 Superstarved climbed to No. 62 on CMJ Retail Chart
Singles
| Year | Song | Modern Rock |
Mainstream Rock |
The Billboard 100 |
UK charts | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Guilty" | 24 | 39 | 86 | 77 | Gravity Kills |
| "Enough" | – | – | – | 98 | ||
| "Down" | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Blame (L.A. Remix)" | – | – | – | – | Escape From L.A. (soundtrack) | |
| 1998 | "Alive" | – | – | – | – | Perversion |
| "Falling" | – | 35 | – | – | ||
| 2002 | "One Thing" | – | "24" | "–" | "–" | "Superstarved" |
| "Love, Sex, and Money" | "–" | "–" | "–" | "–" | "Superstarved" | |
| "Personal Jesus" | "–" | "–" | "–" | "–" | "Superstarved" |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Guilty" | Rocky Morton |
| 1996 | "Blame (L.A. Remix)" | Peter Christopherson |
| "Enough" | Rocky Morton & Annabel Jankel | |
| 1997 | "Down" | – |
| 2002 | "Love, Sex, and Money" | Marc Romero |
Other appearances
| Year | Song | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Guilty" | Featured in the Se7en motion picture |
| 1995 | "Goodbye (Demo Version)" | Included on the soundtrack of the Mortal Kombat film |
| 1996 | "Blame (L.A. Remix)" | Part of the soundtrack for the movie Escape from L.A. |
| 1997 | "Enough (Extrinsic Remix)" | Used in the film Hoax IV Brass Monkeys |
| 1997 | "Blame" | Featured in the video game Test Drive: Off-Road |
| 1997 | "Enough" | Included in Test Drive: Off-Road |
| 1997 | "Guilty" | Part of the Test Drive: Off-Road game soundtrack |
| 1997 | "Enough" | Appeared in the film Airbag |
| 1997 | "Suffocating" Feat. Moby | Outtake from the soundtrack of Spawn |
| 1998 | "Last" | Used in the movie Kissing a Fool |
| 1998 | "Guilty (Juno Reactor Remix)" | Included in the video game NHL '99 |
| 1998 | "Falling" | Featured on the soundtrack for Test Drive 5 |
| 1998 | "Alive" | Part of the music for Test Drive: Off-Road 2 |
| 1998 | "Drown" | Also included in Test Drive Off-Road 2 |
| 1999 | "Guilty (Juno Reactor Remix)" | Appeared in the film Beowulf |
| 2000 | "Guilty" | Featured in the video game Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption |
| 2000 | "If" | Included in MTV Sports: Pure Ride video game |
| 2002 | "Guilty" | Presented in Matt Spease’s film Evil on Queen Street |
| 2012 | "Guilty" | 'Used in promotional material for season 5 of the TV series True Blood |
| "Enough" | 'Played during closing credits of an episode of the TV series Treadstone |