Paw (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1990 in Lawrence, Kansas, United States |
| Founder | Mark Hennessy, Grant Fitch, Peter Fitch, Charles Bryan |
| Defunct | 2000 (brief reunion in 2008) |
| Headquarters | Lawrence , United States |
| Products | Studio albums: Dragline (1993), Death to Traitors (1995), Home Is a Strange Place (2000) |
| Website | pawband |
Paw was a rock group originating from Lawrence, Kansas, established in 1990. The founding members were vocalist Mark Hennessy, guitarist Grant Fitch, drummer Peter Fitch, and bassist Charles Bryan. After independently producing a demo, the band secured a deal with major label A&M Records and launched their debut album Dragline in 1993. Following the exit of Bryan, Paw continued as a trio to release their sophomore album Death to Traitors in 1995, later adding bassist Jason Magierowski. They parted ways with A&M in 1996 and collaborated with Koch Records to issue their final album Home Is a Strange Place in 2000. The band dissolved that same year but reunited briefly in 2008.
Origins and signing with a major label (1990–1992)
Paw came together in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1990 with brothers Grant Fitch on guitar and Peter Fitch on drums, alongside singer Mark Hennessy and bassist Charles Bryan. The group became known for combining elements of grunge, southern rock, and alternative metal. Early performances included opening slots for regional bands such as Nirvana, Urge Overkill, and Tad. They independently financed a demo recorded at Smart Studios with producer Doug Olson; at the same time, studio owner Butch Vig was working on Nirvana's Nevermind. Despite having played only around 20 live shows, this demo attracted significant major label attention, sparking a bidding contest that culminated in a contract with A&M Records. Paw chose A&M due to its artist-centric philosophy and track record with groups like Soundgarden and Therapy?. A&M adopted an unconventional promotional approach by releasing two promo singles ("Lolita" and "Sleeping Bag") in 1992 through the imprint Nasty Pope Records, utilizing demo tracks to generate interest among college radio and fanzines.
Dragline release and extensive touring (1992–1995)
In July 1992, Paw embarked on their first nationwide tour as support for Social Distortion. Their debut album, Dragline, was released in mid-1993. The lead single "Jessie" reached No. 82 on the UK Singles Chart and received moderate airplay on alternative rock and alternative metal stations across the US. Although Dragline did not enter the charts, it sold more than 200,000 copies globally within its first year. The band toured extensively, supporting acts such as Mind Over Four, Therapy?, Tool, and undertaking multiple European tours with Monster Magnet, accumulating nearly 14 months of continuous touring.
In 1994, Paw contributed a cover of "Surrender" to the soundtrack of the film S.F.W., releasing it as a single to promote the movie. That same year, three songs from Dragline ("Jessie", "Pansy", and "The Bridge") were featured in the racing video game Road Rash, which was notable for including licensed tracks from major label artists such as Paw, Monster Magnet, Soundgarden, and Therapy?. By late 1994, original bassist Bryan had left the ensemble.
Death to Traitors, label changes, final album, and breakup (1995–2000)
Paw's sophomore album, Death to Traitors, debuted in 1995. The recording process involved the band as a trio, with bassist Jason Magierowski joining them for live performances. Internal challenges within A&M Records caused delays in promotional efforts, which only commenced post-release. In late 1995, Paw led tours across Australia and New Zealand, followed by a U.S. tour alongside Tesla in early 1996. Due to disappointing sales and A&M's acquisition by Seagram, the band distanced themselves from the label by the end of 1996. That same year, Dan Hines replaced Magierowski on bass.
By 1997, Paw significantly scaled back their activities. They independently issued the compilation Keep the Last Bullet for Yourself in 1998 through their own Outlaw Records label, compiling b-sides and unreleased tracks. After a few intermittent live appearances and a brief discussion about continuing with vocalist Steve Tulipana, only a single show took place in 1999. The band reassembled in 2000 following a contract with Koch Records. This lineup featured Hennessy, Grant Fitch, Magierowski, and drummer Kyle Hudson (though Peter Fitch contributed to recordings without officially joining). Their final studio effort, Home Is a Strange Place, was released via Koch that year. Although plans for touring and additional albums were announced, they never came to fruition, and Paw ceased activity after a handful of regional performances later in 2000.
Brief reunion (2008)
In 2008, Hennessy and Grant Fitch reunited for a June 6 performance at the Revival Tent during the Wakarusa Festival held at Clinton Lake, Kansas. They were joined by former bassist Magierowski and substitute drummer Tyler Chiarelli. On October 4, they headlined a reunion concert at The Bottleneck in Lawrence. Despite several live shows that year, no new recordings emerged, and the band became inactive once more after 2008.
Related projects
From the early 2000s onward, fan-operated sites such as PawBand.com along with the band's Facebook community have preserved archival materials and memorabilia, maintaining interest among supporters.
In December 2005, Hennessy released a poetry collection titled Cue the Bedlam (More Desperate with Longing Than Want of Air). Between 2006 and 2007, he served as vocalist for The Diamond Heart Club, which later evolved into 1950 D.A., producing the EP Low Like Planes plus other tracks available online. Beginning in 2012, Hennessy fronted Godzillionaire, issuing demos and full-length albums before temporarily taking down related websites in late 2017 amid copyright disputes with Godzilla's rights holders. This legal matter was resolved by early 2018, enabling continued creative output.
In 2018, Hennessy performed the entire Dragline album live at The First Annual Corn King Music and Arts Festival alongside guitarist Dan Duncan Jr. and members of Godzillionaire.
Grant Fitch continued his musical pursuits by founding The New Franklin Panthers in Lawrence, releasing multiple EPs on Bandcamp as well as solo material. He also collaborated with Atlanta-based group Guilty Birds and transitioned into production management for film and television through his company Electrical Odyssey.
Following his departure from Paw in 1994, Bryan left the music scene to pursue professional skydiving, at one point achieving a free fall speed record of 321 mph.
Reception and legacy
Paw's first album, Dragline, was met with favorable critiques and continues to be a subject of interest in evaluations of the grunge movement. The magazine Rolling Stone included it in their list of the "50 Greatest Grunge Albums," emphasizing its combination of powerful guitar work and melodic elements. Goldmine ranked Dragline among the top 20 grunge records, describing it as a neglected gem that merits greater acclaim. Various online music platforms also acknowledge it as a significant grunge release from 1993.
In hindsight, critics often group Paw with early '90s bands signed by major labels in the wake of Nirvana's breakthrough, with Dragline frequently cited as the band’s signature album.
Members
- Mark Hennessy – vocals (1990–2000, 2008)
- Grant Fitch – guitar (1990–2000, 2008)
- Peter Fitch – drums (1990–1999)
- Charles Bryan – bass (1990–1994)
- Jason Magierowski – bass (1995–1996, 2000, 2008)
- Dan Hines – bass (1996–1998)
- Kyle Hudson – drums (2000)
- Tyler Chiarelli – drums (2008)
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Dragline | A&M Records | Cherry Red Records reissued it in 2015 featuring additional tracks |
| 1995 | Death to Traitors | A&M Records | — |
| 2000 | Home Is a Strange Place | Koch Records | The band's final studio release |
Compilation albums
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Keep the Last Bullet for Yourself | Koch Records | Collection of B-sides and previously unreleased material |
B-sides
Issued on singles through A&M Records:
- During the Dragline period: includes cover versions such as "Imaginary Lover" (originally by Atlanta Rhythm Section) and "Surrender" (from Cheap Trick) featured on the S.F.W. soundtrack (1994), alongside original tracks like "Suicide Shift," "Slow Burn," and acoustic live renditions.
- From the Death To Traitors era: features covers including "School" (a Nirvana song), plus originals like "Kid Cotton" and "Cowpoke."
Rare tracks
- Demos from Nasty Pope Records sessions (all songs later re-recorded for their debut)
- An unplugged session at WERS radio showcasing an acoustic B-side of "Jessie" and songs from forthcoming album recordings
- Demos from the complete Death to Traitors session bootleg containing outtakes such as "30 Days," "Remora," "Kitchen" (also known as "The Kitchen Is No Place for a Man"), "Texas" (with alternate lead vocals), along with four unnamed tracks
- The Twisted Sister cover "Street Justice," an outtake from the Strangeland soundtrack sessions, released on the 1998 compilation Keep the Last Bullet for Yourself
- Fleetwood Mac’s "Gold Dust Woman," which was used to introduce the track "Lolita" during several live performances
- An alternate version of "Pansy" and a distinctive Pink Floyd tribute jam performed in Kansas in 1998, featuring improvised lyrics and an instrumental section due to vocal strain
- Tracks titled "Innocuous" and "Filled Up," performed once in 1999 at CBGB's with guest vocalist Steve Tulipana; "Innocuous" was subsequently rerecorded by Betty & Mike
- Lynyrd Skynyrd’s "Simple Man" from their final concert in 2000
- Demos for Home Is a Strange Place included on the Cross the Tracks bootleg; two songs, "St. Jude" (an early iteration of Palomar’s "Substance of the Saints") and "Two Brothers," were excluded from the album because of budget limitations
External links
- PawBand.com – a fan-operated collection archive
- Paw profile on AllMusic
- Paw entry at Discogs
- Paw artist page on MusicBrainz
- Grant Franklin Fitch available on Bandcamp