The Black Maria

Lore & Background

The Black Maria formed in November 2002 and independently released their self-titled EP in 2003. Original members included vocalist Chris Gray, guitarists Alan Nacinovic and Kyle Bishop, keyboardist and bassist Mike De Eyre, and drummer Derek Petrella. Gray and De Eyre had previously played together in the band Montgomery 21. The band's first show was in Toronto in 2003.

In 2004, they signed with Victory Records and recorded their debut album 'Lead Us to Reason' at Signal To Noise Studios with producer Mike Green. Released on January 25, 2005, the album sold upwards of 50,000 copies and opened doors to tours with Aiden, Alexisonfire, and Eighteen Visions. During the tour, tensions led to Bishop's departure; he was temporarily replaced by ex-Damn 13 guitarist Mike Charette, then permanently by Scott Swain.

The band won Yahoo! Music's 'Who's Next?' at LAUNCHcast. Drummer Adam Veselisin played on the Who's Next video and filled in during April 2005 after Petrella broke his arm, allowing the band to play shows with Zao, The Juliana Theory, Rise Against, and Alexisonfire. Petrella later left and was replaced by Theo McKibbon. In September 2006, the band released 'A Shared History of Tragedy', written and produced by Swain and McKibbon, with artwork by Oliver Nacinovic. The album sold slightly less than its predecessor but was received warmly by critics. The Black Maria announced their break-up in mid-2007.

Reader's Guide

The Black Maria's significance lies in their brief but impactful presence in the mid-2000s Canadian rock scene, particularly through their Victory Records releases. Their debut album 'Lead Us to Reason' achieved commercial success with over 50,000 copies sold, enabling them to tour with prominent bands such as Queens of the Stone Age, Rise Against, and Evanescence. The band's ability to secure a slot on Evanescence's January 2007 tour in Ottawa highlights their reach. Their legacy is also marked by internal instability, with multiple lineup changes during their active years. The band's name, derived from police vans, adds a distinctive historical reference. Despite their breakup in 2007, their music remains a footnote in the Victory Records catalog, and a later unrelated band of the same name from New Mexico has no connection to the original Toronto group.

Did You Know?

• The band was named after early 20th-century police vans used to transport prisoners, commonly called paddywagons.
• Vocalist Chris Gray and keyboardist/bassist Mike De Eyre previously played together in the band Montgomery 21.
• The Black Maria won Yahoo! Music's 'Who's Next?' at LAUNCHcast.
• A later, unrelated band of the same name formed in New Mexico.