OPM (band)
| OPM | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Reggae, rock, hip hop, pop |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Atlantic, Suburban Noize, MNO |
| Website | www |
| Members | John E. Necro Geoff Turney Jonathan Williams Carlos Perez |
| Past members |
Matthew Meschery Big B Gary P. Dean Etienne Franc Billy Flynn Robert Bradley Matt Rowe Shane Mayo |
OPM is an American band based in Los Angeles, California. OPM has a distinctive sound, combining hip hop, rock music, and pop with laid-back reggae.
Originally called "Stash", the name OPM, according to the band's frontman John E. Necro, is an abbreviation of the phrase "Open People's Minds" (originally "Other People's Money"). This was stated during an interview with MarijuanaRadio.com. The name also sounds like the drug opium. The band's original members were John E. Necro, Matthew Meschery and Geoff Turney, with Gary Dean and Etienne Franc later appointed permanent members in 2001. John E. and Geoff aka Casper first met on a bus ride through 2 girls they were dating in 1996. At the time John E. was a label scout at Island Records and Geoff was in a band called "Alpha Jerk". In 1997 John E. invited Geoff to do some recordings with him and his then brother-in-law Matthew Meschery. After 2 years they finally managed to start writing songs and sent a 3 track demo to Atlantic Records, leading them to get signed despite having never played live together. OPM released their debut album, Menace to Sobriety, in August 2000 on Atlantic Records. Their debut single "Heaven Is a Halfpipe" charted worldwide and won the Kerrang! Award for Best Single. They performed their hit single on Top of the Pops on July 20, 2001.
After the Menace to Sobriety tour, Matthew Meschery decided to leave the band. John E. Necro stated "that was the biggest blow of anyone" and "I don't think Matthew thought it through. It seemed like a really good idea when we got started, but it was more than he bargained for" during an interview in 2009. In the October 2015 edition of Rock Sound magazine, Matthew revealed he would "often get stage fright" when performing live and "The idea of touring another record for two years felt pretty daunting. I was done." Matthew along with Etienne Franc and Gary Dean then formed a band by the name of "The Free Agency" in 2003 after they all departed OPM. As of 2007, Matthew has been working for ITVS.
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