Super 8 (band)

The band started in Los Angeles during 1993 with singer Bob Khaleel, a former hip hop artist from the Bronx. Khaleel had been working in the Los Angeles punk-funk scene since 1990, and Super 8's formation was encouraged by his friends in the Red Hot Chili Peppers.[1] He hooked up with John O'Brien (guitars), and the two began writing, later rounding out the band with Heming Borthne (bass), Joel Shearer (guitars) and John Steward (drums)[1] In 1995, they signed to Disney's Hollywood Records.[2] A Super 8 cover of the song "Well, Well, Well" was included on the 1995 Hollywood Records compilation Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon.[3] Khaleel listed the Beatles as being one of his biggest influences.[4]

The band recorded their self-titled debut at Seattle's London Bridge Studios, with Rick Parashar of Pearl Jam fame.[5] Just prior to recording, guitarist Joel Shearer got invited to play on the Alanis Morissette album Jagged Little Pill.[6][7] Jagged Little Pill started gaining immense popularity by the time Super 8 had begun making their album in Seattle.[6] Super 8 was released in May 1996, and spawned the radio single "King of the World".[8] To support the album, Super 8 toured with AC/DC[9] and Deftones, an act Khaleel had helped discover through his manager Guy Oseary.[6]

From April 1997 to June 1997, the band opened for former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante on his Nuttstalk tour.[10][11][12] They ceased being active not long afterwards.[6][13]

Khaleel went on to record a solo album for Hollywood Records in 1998,[14] while Joel Shearer became a well-known session musician, following his success with Jagged Little Pill.[6]

According to AllMusic, the band's debut "falls somewhere between the soul-minded retro-rock of Lenny Kravitz and the Seattle grunge of Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots."[5] They also note "Though some of the songs are fairly psychedelia-influenced (especially "Railroad" and "Going Nowhere"), no one will mistake this CD for a late-'60s or early-'70s recording—Rick Parashar's production techniques are very '90s, and John O'Brien's guitar playing has '90s alternative rock written all over it."[5]

• Bob Khaleel – vocals (1993–1997)
• Joel Shearer – guitar (1993–1997)
• John O'Brien – guitar (1993–1997)
• Heming Borthne – bass (1993–1997)
• John Steward – drums (1993–1997)