GunSlingerMusic

In the months of May and June 2008, lead vocalist Cole Graham and lead guitarist Marcus Ott had met drummer Doug Jones while playing at a local open microphone night at Two Doors Down in Maryville, Tennessee. Some fun jam sessions at a local practice studio sparked interest in making a band, but they needed a bassist. Doug Jones contacted the bassist Hannah Leigh Scott, with whom he had jammed with in a band earlier in the year. The four musicians met at the local practice studio and the first jam session was tight and filled with energy. Having so much fun, more jam sessions were scheduled. After a month of jamming at the rented practice unit, they took the jam sessions to the Sunday night open microphone event at Two Doors Down. Their performance was just as tight and full of energy as it was in the practice studio, only this time it projected off the stage and drew in the crowd. Through the months of August and September 2008, the band only played at the open microphone event on Sundays, sometimes after a couple hours of practicing at the rented studio unit. They needed a band name, but did not commit to a permanent band name. In order to make it easier when new fans at Two Doors Down asked for the band name, they utilized the name Southern Komfort. It was not set in stone. Not satisfied with the name Southern Komfort, the bassist Hannah would bring up the name Gun Slinger, the fantasized name of the band that Cole and Marcus wanted to create. A ‘80s styled sleazy hair metal band that would cause sexually induced rock havoc wherever it played. Marcus had the name tattooed on his forearm, with a star to separate the two words. Hannah made a couple logos and showed them to the band. Upon seeing the logos, the band opted to use the name Gun Slinger. October 2008, Gun Slinger played their first official show at Two Doors Down. More shows started to be booked in the Knoxville area at venues, such as The Prince Sports Bar. During this time, the band still played loyally every Sunday at open microphone night at Two Doors Down. The months of January through March had the band booked almost every weekend as interest in the band and its high-energy stage show grew. Three original songs written by Cole Graham had become the bands signature sound and conversations about recording them professionally began to surface. During these months, the Two Doors Down owners retire the Sunday night open microphone jam sessions. April 2009, Doug fronts the money to record the three demos: “Heaven Ain’t Easy”, “Hellcat Woman”, and the band’s signature live song “Pick Ur Poison” at The Sound Lair. Meanwhile, the members of the band start feeling the repercussions of bad choices and mistakes as the push to market Gun Slinger shifts to a new level. The studio recordings uploaded onto the social website Myspace sees a new level of interest in the band as internet radio stations start offering to play the songs. May 2009, “Hellcat Woman” becomes a popular song for internet radio stations to air. The band is riding high on the shows that were booked, and pushing out their energetic performances. By the middle of the month, Doug Jones quits Gun Slinger. However, the band plays on. Cash Easlo, a lead vocalist and drummer with an awesome ‘80s touring background, fills in to help the band. Through June and July, the band begins to assess the damages of the choices and mistakes and start the repair. After one show in July, the band takes time off. August 2009, Blake Rider becomes the new permanent drummer of Gun Slinger. September 2009, the band starts gearing up. Many shoes are booked and Gun Slinger gets a few originals recorded before the band calls it quits in March 2010. However, the differences could not stop them from being apart too long and in the summer they get back together and continue work on "Dangerous Curves Ahead", the debut album. After a fun Summer's end and an Autumn beginning filled with media love, Gun Slinger started to make its impression on Nashville. However, lead singer Cole Graham quit to pursuit a personally inspiring path. In order to keep a booking, the band enlisted lead guitarist Marcus Ott's brother Daniel Ott to sing and friend Will Robbins to play rhythm guitar. Due to audience appreciation of the new singer, and the style of rock suddenly attainable, Gun Slinger designated Daniel Ott and Will Robbins permanent gunslingers. Currently, the band is performing locally. They have added more originals to their set and southern rock and a few outlaw country songs (rocked out Gun Slinger-style) to show their versatility.

Gun Slinger loves to play live shows. Got a venue? We are booking! Every show is a special moment. We pack it with high energy and attitude that you will tell your friends about.

'80s Hair Metal!

Jackson Guitars, Fender Amplification, Fender Bass Guitars, Carvin Amplification, Jim Dunlop, Digitech, DR Strings, Ibanez Bass and Guitar, Gallien-Krueger...