Treadmill Trackstar:
Angelo Gianni………..Vocals/Guitars/Keys Tony Lee………………Drums Heidi Carey………….Cello/Keys Mike Mills…………… Bass/VocalsTreadmill Trackstar’s combination of hotwired guitars, swirling cello and a powerful rhythm section creates a distinctive, hard to pin down, sound. The Detroit Free Press called their music “a colorful gush of grassroots pop [featuring] emotive vocals and bizarro lyrics,,” We think that about sums it up.
After a decade long break to ‘catch their breath,’ the band is back to finish what they started. And if not finish, at least add to a bit.
THEN…
From 1994 until 1998, Treadmill Trackstar held the distinction of being one of the hardest working touring bands by spending over 200 nights a year searching out and destroying each and every venue across the land that would have them. The band traveled from coast to coast garnishing a loyal grassroots fan base won by hard work, solid songs and a true belief in what they were doing. The touring came to a climax in the summer of 1997 when Treadmill was lucky enough to hit the summer festival circuit with the likes of Beck, Moby and Iggy Pop and had the chance to perform for crowds of thirty thousand plus.
Treadmill self-released an album titled ‘Excessive Use of the Passive Voice’ in 1994 which garnered regional radio play for the standout song ‘Shouldn’t I Take,’ unheard of for an unsigned band.
All this hard work paid off in 1997 when Treadmill Trackstar was signed to the Atlantic Records imprint label Breaking Records. After a valiant attempt at rock and roll fame, the band was dropped a year later by Atlantic sighting poor sales. As Angelo says, “If we’d thought of that Okay Go video back in ’97, everything would have been different…” The band attempted to go on, but the diligent work ethic that had worked so well for them also took a toll on band members who decided to jump off the Treadmill in 1998 to pursue other interests.
AND NOW…
Fast forward to 2007. A group of promoters contacted members of Treadmill Trackstar about getting back together to perform at a charity concert celebrating the legendary Columbia music venue, Rockafella’s. After much gnashing of teeth- Treadmill somehow made it onto the stage to perform to a sold out crowd. And that’s when things began to get interesting.
While Angelo, Tony and Heidi hadn’t played a note together in a decade, that first rehearsal felt like they’d never parted. They realized what it was they had loved so much about the band, and couldn’t think of a good enough reason not to bring it back to life. Treadmill has released their first album in 10 years – called i belong to me which marks a separation from the past and an entrance into the future for Treadmill. Full funding for this recording came directly from friends and fans.