The Official OBKrew

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FROM OF BROKEN'S OFFICIAL MYSPACE...
Their Story... Collaborating to create the quintessential rock sound of the day with their first full-length album "The Panic," Of Broken merges vibrant vocals and catchy lyrics with fist pumping guitar riffs and head nodding beats. Consisting of Jason Peltzer (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Adam Rhoades (Drums), Mykal Drexler (Guitar/Back-Up Vocals) and Boyitz (Bass/Back-Up Vocals), this group of musicians have their aims set high which is evident when you get to see them perform. George Marino of Sterling Sound, who has worked with such names as Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Coldplay, and now Of Broken, has said while mastering The Panic, "This album flows very nicely from beginning to end. You don't see that a lot anymore. This is different. You are trying new stuff, but it's working… I think the record's great. I really, really do."Though the album has been highly praised, Of Broken's live performance is just as appealing. Mimicking the feel and flow of their album, Of Broken brings a rock show full of raw emotion, head-turning sound, and pure musicianship. Front man Jason Peltzer knows how to bring in a crowd and make them truly feel a part of the show... and the rest of the band is experienced at their instruments, as well, making the talent level in Of Broken ready for the 'big time'.Having a sound compared to Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, and Finger Eleven, Of Broken seems to touch various sub-genres of mainstream rock, which explains why their music and fan base have begun to spread up and down the east coast and well into the Midwest. If you were to look at their online fan base, you would see it touches all corners of the WORLD. Of Broken's largest loyal fan base is in their hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, and it has allowed them the honor of having tracks off of "The Panic" spun at every Baltimore Orioles home game. On top of that, Of Broken's recent music video for "The Panic" made it to the Top 5 for MTV's Best Filmmaker on Campus Awards earning them numerous plays on MTV's website (www.mtv.com) and most importantly, new fans. Just recently, OF BROKEN were chosen in the top 30 out of over 8,000 bands in the nation, all vying for the coveted spot to open Motley Crue's upcoming 2009 tour.Of Broken has already gratefully rocked the stage with such bands as Papa Roach, Saving Abel, The Ataris, Hollywood Undead, City Sleeps, Red, TrustCO, The Exies, Jimmie's Chicken Shack and Naughty by Nature [None of which were festivals]. As they enter the mainstream, Of Broken will be a name you will hear and never forget.

[above biography copied from the official myspace of OBK] [below interview taken from fredericknewspost.com]

A salesman, a middle-school English teacher, a federal cop and a pizza delivery guy were in an psychiatric ward in southern Maryland a month ago, playing music. They call themselves Of Broken.

"We're all living a dual life," said Jason Peltzer, lead singer and guitarist for the rock band. "I sell water heaters." They consider their average-Joe approach part of their charm. "We're like everybody else," Peltzer said. "A teacher, a cop, a salesman ... We're not tattooed, not trying to be something crazy." "We go for middle America," guitarist Tim Wallace reiterated. "We feel like we can get mistaken for anyone else on the street. And we do."

They shot their first music video, "The Panic," in high definition inside the abandoned psychiatric hospital, which was no easy matter. They knew they wanted the abandoned ward as their backdrop; it was just a matter of finding one. And they did it legally -- went to the state, checked out safety issues (like asbestos), gathered insurance information -- and they got their wish. They recorded at the hospital, which was an extremely creepy experience. The shoot took longer than they'd thought, and they were using flashlights by the end of it. (The exact location and institution cannot be disclosed.) "The point was, he's trapped in a scary place in his head," Peltzer explained about the video. In the video, Peltzer is both the singer and the personified panic.

Peltzer also writes all the songs. "And I revise them," bassist Heath Brown added. "They're all about heart break and panic attacks," Wallace said. Peltzer couldn't deny it but added that his material also covers bad relationships and day-to-day stresses. "I have O.C.D., panic attacks, and neuroses," the 25-year-old said. "And I have a degree in psychology."

"You're marketable," Wallace said.
If a song isn't written in one practice, they scrap it. "As an artist, Jason has the opportunity to interpret it any way he wants," Wallace said about songs he sometimes brings to the table. "That's what's beautiful about writing music. We don't step on each other's toes. It's a process: four individuals come together to make one thing."

Like the day jobs they hold, each member's musical taste and background is strikingly different -- psychedelia, punk, '80s pop, gospel ... Their drummer, Adam Rhoades, brings an element of hip-hop to every song. People appreciate Peltzer's voice, Wallace said. "He's bringing singing back." The other members nodded their heads. Peltzer's not a screamer. His voice is solid. Even their parents' like it.

Peltzer has been practicing in his parents' basement for more than a decade as the nucleus of a band that has continually changed members. "It only took me 12 years to get this line-up," he cracked. All members, except Hampstead-born-and-raised Peltzer, grew up in Middletown. In addition to pushing water heaters, Peltzer spends an incredible amount of time responding to MySpace messages and comments. He diligently responds to every one of them, as they come in. They have 690 pages of messages in their inbox. "He's really hands-on," Wallace said. "I'm a fan, too," Peltzer explained. "When I write to bands that never respond, that bums me out." Their album "The Panic" will be released April 1. "We're all perfectionists -- and we're proud of the album," Brown said. "We're all, in our own ways, control freaks," Wallace added, mentioning they had total creative control of their work when they recorded in New York City. (Their album was mastered by George Marino of Sterling Sound.)

Manager Chris Rhoades admitted he has no musical talent, but he dances a lot. He has kept the band organized, lining up gigs, photo shoots and meetings. The band members, who all claim to have A.D.A., said he is a necessary component. They've played at Fletcher's, the 9:30 Club, Ram's Head, and other spots in the Baltimore-D.C.-Northern Virginia area. They played at the New Years Eve DC 101 Downtown Countdown -- right next to Naughty By Nature and Patty McGee. And they opened for Papa Roach -- one of their favorite bands -- in Charleston, S.C. The band's goal is to get into mainstream radio -- 98 Rock, DC101, something like that -- though Peltzer is the only member who listens to the radio (he keeps it tuned at 106.5). "Failure's not an option," Peltzer said. "I don't think we could fail," Wallace said. "We've already succeeded." They mentioned their gig opening for Papa Roach, one of their idols, and remembered watching the band load a massive amount of Heineken, milk and paper towels onto their tour bus. "That's when we'll know we really made it," Wallace clarified. "When it dawns on us what the milk was for."