James Bergstrom

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James Bergstrom
Birth nameJames Bergstrom
GenresHard rock, grunge
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsDrums
Years active1985–present
LabelsRed Rocket, Capitol, Timestyle
Associated actsSleze, Alice N' Chains, Second Coming

James Bergstrom is an American musician best known as the drummer for the band Second Coming.[1][2][3] Before that, he played drums for the band Sleze (later renamed Alice N' Chains), which also featured future Alice in Chains vocalist Layne Staley.[4]

Biography[]

Sleze and Alice N' Chains[]

Main articles: Sleze and Alice N' Chains

In 1984, Bergstrom co-founded a garage band called Sleze whose jam room was set up in his parents' basement.[4][5] At the suggestion of his friend Ken Elmer, Bergstrom and his bandmates recruited Elmer's stepbrother Layne Staley, who back then also went by the surname Elmer, as vocalist.[4][5] They performed live at various high schools, playing Slayer and Armored Saint covers. This band went through several lineup changes before changing their name to Alice N' Chains.[6] The group continued to tour throughout the Seattle area and recorded two demos before they broke up around 1987, which was the year that Bergstrom graduated from Shorewood High. Staley went on to form the band Alice in Chains whose 1990 debut album Facelift lists Bergstrom as one of the people they wished to thank.[7] Nick Pollock, another former member of Sleze/Alice N' Chains, became lead singer of the band My Sister's Machine, which also thanked Bergstrom within the liner notes of their 1992 debut album Diva.[8]

Second Coming[]

Main article: Second Coming (band)

Meanwhile, Bergstrom co-founded the band Second Coming sometime in the early 1990s and was eventually joined by his childhood friend Johnny Bacolas, who had also been a member of Sleze/Alice N' Chains. This band also went through several lineup changes throughout its history with Bergstrom as the sole constant member before breaking up in 2008. Their catalog consists of three studio albums and one acoustic EP, all of which feature both Bergstrom and Bacolas.

In 1994, they independently released their debut album L.O.V.Evil, which features a guest appearance by Layne Staley on the track "It's Coming After". Four years later, they signed on to Capitol Records and released their eponymous second album Second Coming. This album produced two singles titled "Soft" and "Vintage Eyes", the latter of which had a music video. Another track titled "Unknown Rider" was included on the soundtrack for the blockbuster film The Sixth Sense. The band split from Capitol Records in 2001 after the departure of Gary Gersh, the president who signed them to the label.[3] Following the split, they independently released an EP titled Acoustic and third studio album 13.

Second Coming were purportedly working on a fourth album that was due to be released in 2007.[1] However, the band has since broken up. While the other members of Second Coming have continued to record and perform with other acts, Bergstrom has largely focused on family life but he still keeps in touch with his former bandmates.

Discography[]

Year Album details Band
1994 L.O.V.Evil
  • Released: June 16, 1994
  • Label: Red Rocket
 Second Coming
1998 Second Coming
  • Released: September 22, 1998
  • Label: Capitol
2002 Acoustic
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: Timestyle
2003 13
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Timestyle

References[]

  1. ^ a b Prato, Greg. "Allmusic overview". Allmusic.com. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  2. ^ Gargano, Paul. "Second Coming Maximum Ink". Maximum Ink. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Stav, Steve The Second Coming of Second Coming, "Intermittent Signals" September 1, 2001. Retrieved on June 8, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c David de Sola (April 5, 2012). "How Alice in Chains Found the Most Memorable Voice in Grunge". The Atlantic. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Prato, Greg. "Grunge is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music." p. 214. April 2009.
  6. ^ Prato, Greg (April 2009). Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music. pp. 215–216.
  7. ^ Facelift (liner notes). Alice in Chains. Columbia Records. 1990. 46075.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Diva (liner notes). My Sister's Machine. Caroline Records. 1992. 1714-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

External links[]

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