STNNNG | |
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Also known as | The Stunning |
Origin | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States |
Genres | Post-punk, Noise Rock |
Years active | 2003–present |
Labels | Modern Radio |
Members |
Chris Besinger Adam Burt Jesse Kwakenat Nathan Nelson Ben Ivascu |
Past members | J. Michael Ward |
STNNNG (pronounced 'Stunning') is an American noise rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Formed in 2003, they have played over 400 live shows in the United States, England, France, and Belgium. STNNNG have released four full-length albums on the Twin Cities-based Modern Radio Record Label.
For their first two years as a band, STNNNG performed as a quartet that featured two guitars, drums and vocals. Their first releases, 2004's split 7" with Chicago's The Means and 2005's debut full-length CD/LP, Dignified Sissy, were recorded with this lineup. The original lineup consisted of Chris Besinger (vocals), Adam Burt (guitar), Nathan Nelson (guitar), and J. Michael Ward (drums). The cover of Dignified Sissy features "Bear Attack", a painting by historical artist Mort Kunstler.
STNNNG's second LP, Fake Fake, was the first to feature Jesse Kwakenat (also of Heroine Sheiks) on bass. In similar fashion to their first record, Fake Fake was recorded and engineered by Mike Lust at Lust Manor in Chicago, Illinois and later mastered by Dave Gardner at Magneto Mastering in Minneapolis, MN.
STNNNG's 3rd full-length LP, The Smoke of My Will, was released in October 2010. The album was the band's first after the departure of original drummer J. Michael Ward in August 2009. He was replaced by Ben Ivascu (also known for playing drums in Poliça, Marijuana Death Squads, and Signal to Trust) as a permanent member.
In February 2013, STNNNG released Empire Inward, an eight-song LP recorded at Electrical Audio studio in Chicago, Illinois. The album was engineered and mixed by Steve Albini. The vinyl version of Empire Inward was mastered direct to metal by Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios in London, England, while the digital master was completed by Dave Gardner at Magneto Mastering in Minneapolis, MN.