Chimaira
Chimaira was formed in 1998 by rhythm guitarist Jason Hager, and vocalist Mark Hunter. The pair recruited Jason Genaro on drums and Andrew Ermlick on bass to complete the line-up.After a few practice sessions, the band decided it needed a thicker guitar sound, and was recommended by Ermlick to Rob Arnold, whom he had previously played in a band together called Common Thread, and whose current band called Sanctum had recently split. Rob joined the band soon after.
The band recorded its first demo in January 1999, and during the recording, Rob recommended to Mark and "Hager" that they replace Genaro with Rob's former drummer Andols Herrick in the band Sanctum. After hearing a tape recording featuring Herrick, the band agreed to drop Genaro in favor of Herrick. Herrick came in and recorded the drums for the demo the very next day.
The band spent much of 1999 doing various live shows around America, and during that year Andrew Ermlick left the band to concentrate on his college studies, and was replaced by Rob Lesniak.
The band recorded a second demo during that year, and it began to receive widespread airplay on several college radio stations around the area. After landing a spot performing "Dead Inside" on the short lived USA Network show Farmclub.com, Chimaira was signed to Roadrunner Records.
Discography
- '99 Demo (1998-1999)
- This Present Darkness (EP) (2000)
- Pass Out Of Existence (2001)
- The Impossibility of Reason (2003)
- Chimaira (2005)
- Ressurection (2007)
- The Infection (2009)
Members
Current Members
- Mark Hunter – vocals (1998–present)
- Matt DeVries – rhythm guitar (2001–present)
- Rob Arnold – lead guitar (1998–present)
- Jim LaMarca – bass (2000–present)
- Andols Herrick – drums (1999–2003, 2006–present)
- Chris Spicuzza – keyboards, samples, backing vocals (2000–present)
- Kevin Talley – drums (2004–2006)
- Richard Evensand – drums (2003–2004)
- Jason Hagar – rhythm guitar (1998–2001)
- Rob Lesniak – bass (2000)
- Ben Schigel – keyboard, electronics, backing vocals (2000)
- Andrew Ermlick – bass (1998–2000)
- Jason Genaro – drums (1998) (early on, never played live or recorded)
