Paw (band)

Paw was formed in 1990 in Lawrence,[1] alongside Kill Creek and Stick. Their work from this era can best be characterized as aggressive rock with melodic undertones, or 'Southern rock' as Hennessy explained in an MTV interview. They were frequently cited by industry insiders as potentially "the next Nirvana",[1] and a bidding war erupted to sign them.[2][3][4] The band signed a three-album deal with A&M Records during the height of the grunge wave, and released their first album, Dragline, in 1993.[1] Their most well-known songs are from this period which received moderate rotation on the radio and on Headbangers Ball, MTV's hard rock/heavy metal showcase. Music videos were made for the hits "Jessie",[5] "Couldn't Know"[6] and "Sleeping Bag".[7] Paw toured the UK in 1993 supporting Tool[1] with Headswim (months after Tool's UK support slot with Rage Against the Machine), introducing the band to an audience outside of America. The band recorded two sessions for BBC Radio 1's rock show in 1993 (during which they played the Reading Festival). Their songs "Jessie", "Pansy" and "The Bridge" (plus an alternate version of the video of the first[8]) were used in the 3DO, PC, Sega Saturn and PlayStation versions of the video game Road Rash.

In 1995, the band released its second album, Death To Traitors, on A&M Records, recorded as a three-piece following the departure of bass player Charles Bryan;[1] guitarist Grant Fitch doubled up on bass for the recording (with the help of two additional sessionist). During this period, the band evolved by adding more instrumental and country elements to soften their hard rock edge. The band toured Europe and the UK in early 1995, as well as touring Australia in October 1995. While the album received favorable reviews from the press, sales were less successful, and Paw was dropped by A&M in 1996, before their contract was fulfilled.

In 1998, Grant Fitch, Peter Fitch and Dan Hines formed the band Palomar and released the album World Without Horses under their label Outlaw Records. A reviewer described Palomar as "a gentler and more melodic sound than Paw."[9] Paw also released a full-length compilation of B-sides and rarities entitled Keep The Last Bullet For Yourself under said label. Paw still played together during this period, and both World Without Horses and Keep The Last Bullet For Yourself were released on these shows. Around this time Mark left the band briefly and was replaced by Steve Tulipana (of Season to Risk fame).

In 2000, founding members Hennessy and Fitch signed Paw with Koch Records and released the mini-album Home Is A Strange Place the same year. The new album incorporated a more pronounced southern rock element. After that they split.

Former bassist Charles Bryan, who left Paw in 1994, retired from the music industry altogether to be a professional skydiver.[10]

Hennessy's book of poetry, Cue the Bedlam (More Desperate with Longing Than Want of Air), was published in December 2005 by Unholy Day Press.[11] He joined on vocals The Diamond Heart Club (in Lawrence) from 2006-2007, who then reformed under the name 1950 D.A.[12] and made a 6-song EP called Low Like Planes among other MySpace songs.[13]

In 2008, after being scheduled on the same bill between their post-Paw bands, Hennessy and Fitch returned and played together on June 6, 2008, at the Revival Tent at the Wakarusa Festival in Clinton Lake, Kansas.[14] The band played its first headlining reunion show in Lawrence on Saturday, October 4, 2008, at The Bottleneck.[15][16]

Grant Fitch and Jason Jones formed The New Franklin Panthers, in Lawrence[17][18] and released on Bandcamp a couple of EPs [19] (where Grant also released several own songs[20]). Grant is currently occupied as a Production Manager on a number of productions, including the television series The Inspectors, and the 2018 thriller Faceless, and runs a production company, Electrical Odyssey.[21]

In 2014, Mark Hennessy started the stoner rock outfit Godzillionaire. After releasing some demos[22][23] and a couple of albums,[24][25] in November and December 2017 they took offline their sites while on legal litigation with the lawyers of the Godzilla's copyright owners. On January 5 the band announced the litigation was over[26] and continued to release music.[27]

Mark Hennessy announced he would perform the whole Dragline album at The First Annual Corn King Music and Arts Festival in September.[28][29] Although it was not a Paw reunion (as it was misunderstooded by fans) but a tribute by Godzillionaire[30] this is the actual first time he performed Paw songs since he formed Godzillionaire (and since the last Paw reunion).

• Mark Hennessy – vocals (1990–1998, 2000, 2008)
• Grant Fitch – guitar (1990–2000, 2008)
• Peter Fitch – drums (1990–1998)
• Charles "Chuck The Truck" Bryan – bass (1990–1994)
• Jason Magierowski – bass (1995–1996, 2000, 2008)
• Dan Hines – bass (1996–1998)
• Steve Tulipana – vocals (1999)

Session members

• Barry "Carfish" Osbourne – guitar on the Imaginary Lover b-side, additional guitar on World Without Horses
• Paul Boblett & John "Speck" Licardello – additional bass on Death to Traitors
• Steve Henry – additional guitar on Home Is a Strange Place
• J. Hall – additional drums on Home Is a Strange Place

Timeline

• Paw's official website
• Paw at AllMusic