Tinfed
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Rey Osburn, Eric Stenman |
| Defunct | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Sacramento, California , United States |
| Products | Studio albums, remix albums, EPs |
Tinfed was an alternative rock group originating from Sacramento, California. The band's final roster consisted of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Rey Osburn, guitarist Eric Stenman, drummer Matt McCord, and bassist Rick Verrett. Their discography includes three studio albums: Synaptic Hardware (1993), Hypersonic Hyperphonic (1996), and Tried + True (2000).
Formation and independent releases (1992–2000)
Tinfed was established by Rey Osburn and Eric Stenman, who had previously collaborated in the band Elegy. Their musical style fused elements of punk rock, industrial rock, and indie rock. The group's first album, Synaptic Hardware, was launched in 1993 through Primitech Releases. After the departure of bassist Giovanni Mercado, Nick Frederick joined on bass alongside drummer Matt McCord, another former member of Elegy. Their sophomore album, Hypersonic Hyperphonic, was released on December 3, 1996, via the electro-industrial label Re-Constriction Records. This release positioned Tinfed among peers such as God Lives Underwater, Stabbing Westward, and Filter, catering to fans of the industrial/alternative crossover scene. In 2000, their song "Immune" appeared on the soundtrack for Mission: Impossible 2, broadening their reach into mainstream audiences.
Major label period and dissolution (2000–2003)
Upon signing with major label Hollywood Records, Tinfed replaced Nick Frederick with Rick Verrett on bass. Their major-label debut, Tried + True, was issued on August 22, 2000. Stanton Swihart from Allmusic offered a mixed critique, observing that the band’s sound bore resemblance to Britpop groups like Radiohead and Travis, while acknowledging potential: "Although Tinfed does not consistently achieve sonic innovation or success, it remains an engaging and highly promising effort from a band that could eventually establish a significant presence." Conversely, CMJ delivered a more favorable evaluation, describing the album as a "progressive rock record with notable commercial promise," characterized by "melodic guitar pop subtly enhanced by studio effects."
On March 4, 2003, Tinfed issued Designated Rivals, a compilation featuring remixes and previously unreleased material, through Attinuator Records. By July of that year, the band announced their disbandment to explore individual endeavors. Lead vocalist Rey Osburn went on to create Ghostride and Death Valley High—the latter also including Matt McCord. Rick Verrett became a member of Team Sleep in 2001 and participated in their self-titled debut released in 2005. Meanwhile, Eric Stenman pursued a career in production and engineering, collaborating with artists such as AWOLNATION, Saves The Day, Will Haven, Senses Fail, and Thrice.
Band members
Final lineup
- Matt McCord – drums (1996–2003)
- Rey Osburn – vocals and guitar (1992–2003)
- Eric Stenman – guitar (1992–2003), bass guitar (1992–1996, 2000–2003)
- Rick Verrett – bass guitar (2000–2003)
Previous members
- Nick Frederick – bass guitar (1996–2000)
- Eddie Jorgensen – drums (1991; departed to join other bands)
- Giovanni Mercado – drums (1992–1996)
- Timeline
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Colors =
id:Vocal value:red legend:Lead_vocals id:Guitar value:green legend:Lead_guitar id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums id:Lines value:black legend:Studio_albums
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ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1992 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1992
LineData =
at:01/01/1993 color:black layer:back at:12/03/1996 color:black layer:back at:08/22/2000 color:black layer:back
BarData =
bar:Rey text:"Rey Osburn" bar:Eric text:"Eric Stenman" bar:Nick text:"Nick Frederick" bar:Rick text:"Rick Verrett" bar:Giovanni text:"Giovanni Mercado" bar:Matt text:"Matt McCord"
PlotData=
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Rey from:01/01/1992 till:07/30/2003 color:Vocal bar:Rey from:01/01/1992 till:07/30/2003 color:Guitar width:3 bar:Eric from:01/01/1992 till:07/30/2003 color:Guitar bar:Eric from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/1996 color:Bass width:3 bar:Eric from:01/01/2000 till:07/30/2003 color:Bass width:3 bar:Matt from:01/01/1996 till:07/30/2003 color:Drums bar:Rick from:01/01/2000 till:07/30/2003 color:Bass bar:Giovanni from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/1996 color:Drums bar:Nick from:01/01/1996 till:01/01/2000 color:Bass
</timeline>
Discography
Studio Albums
- Synaptic Hardware (Primitech, 1993)
- Hypersonic Hyperphonic (Re-Constriction, 1996)
- Tried + True (Hollywood Records, 2000)
Remix Albums
- Designated Rivals (Attinuator, 2003)
EPs
- And Here Lies Love (Attinuator, 2010)