Bullet For My Valentine Biography

Bullet for My Valentine is a metalcore band from Bridgend, Wales in the United Kingdom, by guitarist/vocalist Matthew Tuck, guitarist Michael Paget, drummer Michael Thomas and bassist Nick Crandle, who was later replaced by Jason James. Their biggest influences are Metallica, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Megadeth and Machine Head, among others.

The Beginning:
Formed in 1998 under the name Jeff Killed John, they originally played Metallica and Nirvana covers. They initially struggled to find success, and tensions arose when other Welsh bands such as Lostprophets and Funeral for a Friend were getting noticed and becoming more popular. When it came to the band recording a demo, things didn’t go as well as planned and the original bass player, Nick Crandle, quit the band a week before they were due to record. The band couldn’t get it together to record a demo, and subsequently split up. But despite this, they did get back together and found a new bassist in the shape of Jason James (formerly of NuKe). They changed their name from “Jeff Killed John” first to “Opportunity in Chicago”, then to the now familar “Bullet for My Valentine”. The band later signed a deal with Sony Records via Visible Noise in October 2004.

Their Rise To Fame:
They released their first 5 track EP (Later titled “Hand of Blood”) on November 15, 2004, on UK label Visible Noise. The mini-album was later released in the US on Trustkill records including an extra track - “4 Words (To Choke Upon)” - as well as the 5 songs on the UK album. The band also released “4 Words (To Choke Upon)” on March 28, 2005. The Vinyl was limited to 1000 copies. The CD/Vinyl was deleted on day of release, so no new copies are available. Their debut album ‘The Poison’ was released October 3, 2005. The first single from “The Poison”, “Suffocating Under Words Of Sorrow” was released on September 19, 2005.They have recently been on a tour of the United Kingdom supporting another Welsh alternative metal act, Funeral for a Friend.They recently won the Kerrang! award for ‘Best British Newcomer’, and decided to accept an offer from Kerrang! to headline their 25th anniversary tour of the UK. The song “4 Words (To Choke Upon)” is used in NHL 06 and Madden NFL 06 by EA Sports and “Hand of Blood” is used in Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Burnout Revenge. Trustkill Records (the US label for the band) released The Poison in the United States on February 14, 2006.The band recently completed a headline run on the Kerrang XXV tour at which on the final night in Brixton Academy they filmed footage for their new DVD. Bullet played the main stage at the Download Festival in Donington Park (North West Leicestershire, UK) on the 11th of June 2006, playing alongside hugely popular bands including Metallica, Avenged Sevenfold, Trivium, KoЯn, Tool, Funeral for a Friend and Guns ‘N Roses.

They have now released their latest album, titled ‘Scream, Aim & Fire’ taking a new musical direction, and partially changing both the band’s sound and fan base. With the new album, Bullet for My Valentine are clearly trying to change their style from metalcore to also encorporate elements of a more modern heavy metal sound, keeping the basic elements old-time fans love about Bullet, but at the same time diverging into a new and interesting sound.