Projects and Partners

www.CrookedX.com

Surf the band's site for current activities, press, performing dates and history such as their completion of performing on the DISTURBED's Music As A Weapon Tour, sponsored by Samsung.

View Crooked X On Myspace (view site)
View 'Gone' Video (view video)
View 'Rock and Roll Dream' Video (view video)

Listen to songs from the MPM/EMI album: "CROOKED X" as well as the new single, CX's hard rockin' cover of the Pink Floyd classic: "Another Brick In The Wall"
Another Brick In The Wall (listen now)
Gone (listen now)
Time Is Now (listen now)
You Gotta Bleed (listen now)

Listen to Adrenaline and read the lyrics >>

Listen to Nightmare and read the lyrics >>

EPK Links:
Download URL: http://capi001.edgeboss.net/download/capi001/crookedx/sizzlereel/sizzlereel_ipod.mp4

“I hear you tellin’ me you think I'm too young / I got so many things I wanna get done / I can't slow down / It’s not my way / I see the whole world comin’ / Startin’ today” – Time Is Now

The lyrics are a prophetic understatement. The young Coweta, Oklahoma quartet known as Crooked X is on hyper-speed, musically and career-wise…and the world is indeed coming their way. Even before scoring their 2008 deal with EMI, the intense but melodic hard rockers were opening for KISS in Europe, touring with Ted Nugent and chronicling their lives on the MTV special “Rock N Roll Dream.” Crooked X’s 10-song debut for MPM/EMI/Capitol (out January 13, 2009) features such gems as the dark, riff-tastic “Nightmare” (featured in Rock Band™ ); the edgy and classic heavy modern rock tunes ‘Time Is Now’, ‘Gone’, ‘Adrenaline’, the powerful driver which is the subject of a Wayne Isham directed video made with Red Bull and MPM, plus the first single, ‘Rock & Roll Dream,” buoyed by an instantly memorable chorus and universal aspirational and inspirational lyrics.

Crooked X channeled their youthful agro-energy, confusion, hope and hormones into a 10-song debut rife with searing guitars, passionate vocals and ultra-intense, radio-ready heavy rock that’s inspired by the ‘70s, but sounds decidedly new millennium. It’s an organic sound honed over years--the members of Crooked X have been friends and playing music since fifth grade, going only by what their guts tell them is “cool.” In fact, Crooked X wrote their first-ever song, “Nightmare,” (track 8 on Crooked X) when they were only 11 years old.

If it seems odd to dwell on the long ago pre-teen days, the thing is…it wasn’t that long ago: The members of Crooked X are only 15. High school freshmen. A year from getting drivers licenses. Playing on the drum line in school band. Studying algebra. Playing laser tag. Kid stuff. Except for their music. Lead guitarist Jesse Cooper emphasizes: “We don’t want to be looked at for our age, because our music is good for any age. We want to be known for our music, not our ages. And YES, we do write our own songs!” Cooper’s wishes are already coming true. Urban Tulsa noted that Crooked X “melds the modern and classic, and prepares for the long haul. Although the band is young, and unwitting crowds initially view them as a novelty, by the fourth song of the evening, Crooked X has won the audience over and has them eating out of its hand. Credit that not only to the band's amazing musicianship, but also to a foundation in staples of the metal and classic rock canons.”

As the MTV reality-docu “Rock N Roll Dream” shows, music is their passion—thanks in part to failed elementary school football careers.

Enter media and music producer Proffer and industry veteran manager Doc McGhee, long time friends and partners in McGhee Proffer Media (MPM). They heard early garage recordings, then saw Crooked X when they nabbed second place on the televised CBS Early Show "Living Room…LIVE" talent competition. Proffer explains: “Doc and I are all about the team. I try to be a true coach to the kids, not make them what they’re not, but help get them to where they could go. One of my roles is to nurture their music and direction, help bring it out for fans of all ages. Some of the greatest rock artists of all time started young. Stevie Winwood was 15 when the Spencer Davis Group hit, and he’s still in great voice; Robert Plant was a teenager who has defied time...Jesse Cooper, who I consider a pure talent, in the spirit of a young Jeff Beck, told all of us recently, ‘Hey, in 30 years, I’ll only be 44.’ Talk about putting Crooked X into perspective!

Cooper has already been playing guitar for 11 years—“my dad bought me a miniature Kramer guitar with built-in amp when I was 3.” Now he’s moved up to a Jackson Mark Morton Dominion, an EVH 5150 amp, a Digitech whammy and Boss pedals to augment his bluesy, feel-dominated style which is the perfect contrast to French’s more precise shredwork. Boomer, true to his name, hits hard, locking in with McDowell for a lineup Ted Nugent exclaimed “put their hearts and souls into every performance. Amazing really!”

The parents are 100 percent behind the band—Cooper’s dad is a well-respected Tulsa musician and music teacher—driving the kids to a rehearsal space in a strip mall next to two churches and a video store, and accompanying their minors on the road as their guitar tech. Bill Simpson, drummer Boomer Simpson’s dad, is the band’s business manager, drum tech and runs things on the road for Crooked X. But they’re hardly overbearing stage parents, and, true teens that they are, Crooked X say as long as it’s cool, Crooked X are in.

And followers have been chanting that name for years in the Tulsa area. In fact, predating Crooked X, the band’s debut album, is Fall 2008’s ‘Til We Bleed, a digital-only EP for the rabid fans who have been asking to buy Crooked X music since “Nightmare” appeared in Rock Band™. The gaming world is only one of many that have embraced Crooked X’s prodigious talent and possibility. The band and their music are closely involved with AST Dew Tour dates, Red Bull events, PBR shows, music featured for lots of action sports on ESPN, Mixed Martial Arts, and Wrestle mania broadcasts.

Crooked X’s goal is simply to rock like heroes Shinedown, Black Label Society and Pantera, explaining: “We want people to hear our music, decide what they think, and THEN find out, ‘wow, they’re 14.’ Instead of , ‘they’re 14, wow, they’re good for their age.’ We’re not a gimmick, we’re a band.” As for where they see themselves in five years—besides being 19 years old!—they conclude, “as long as we’re jamming, having fun and together, we don’t care.”

Crooked X Heads Straight to the Top
Heralded 15-something hard rockers release debut album in January ’09

Let’s get this straight—Crooked X rocks hard.

There’s a lot happening with the Coweta, Okla.-based hard-rock quartet these days, from the January 2009 release of their major-label debut album, to the fall 2008 download-only release of EP ’Til We Bleed (to satisfy those who heard the band’s “Nightmare” in the Rock Band™ video game), to upcoming MTV special Rock N Roll Dream, to all the innumerable concert, special event, television and radio appearances over the past few years.

Not bad for a group of guys still in their mid-teens.

Yep, you heard right—the Crooked X guys are all currently hovering somewhere around age 15. And even at that, the band has already been together for a few years, which means they pretty much went from Big Wheels and juice boxes straight to spotlights and soundcheck.

Although the members of Crooked X are still at an in-school age, their influences are decidedly old-school, the boys having eagerly soaked up the work of Metallica, Zep, Pantera and AC/DC while all the other kids were at the playground.

The band has played hundreds of appearances since mid-2005, and their heavy sound and tender age landed them the runner-up spot in 2007 on the CBS Early Show “Living Room Live” talent competition. That brought them to the attention of music and media produce Spencer Proffer and his management partner, the legendary Doc McGhee (Kiss, Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi), who lent their expertise and guidance to ensuring that Crooked X becomes the next real career long-term rock act.

“This band has no expiration date,” Proffer said. “They’re pure rock ‘n’ roll. Crooked X writes melodic, timeless powerful rock with elements of Zeppelin, Metallica and AC/DC. But it’s fresh and (created) from their perspective for today’s generation.”

Several important breaks ensued for the still-very-youthful band: Crooked X toured with classic rock acts such as Kiss, Ted Nugent and Alice Cooper, as well as hot new bands such as Black Stone Cherry and others; became one of the first unreleased bands to have a song (“Nightmare”) included in Rock Band™; are the subject of their first MTV reality special, Rock N Roll Dream (see air times and stations below); joined forces with the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation; and penned a key song, “Adrenaline,” which Proffer, MTV’s Jeff Yapp and Red Bull produced at the recent Red Bull world cup event.

Further, Crooked X inked a marketing and distribution deal through McGhee Proffer Media with EMI Records that will result in the January 2009 release of eponymous ten-song debut album, Crooked X. All before the guys even have their driver’s licenses. Not bad.

The Crooked X album is an auspicious debut, full of youthful energy, molten guitar work, Brian Johnson/Robert Plant-worthy vocals and leaden rhythm section work. Cooper’s bluesy guitar style complements French’s precise shredding, and Simpson hits hard for a kid his age, locking in solidly with McDowell. And to hear them put it, Crooked X is more about solid chops and good songwriting rather than an age gimmick.

“We don’t want to be looked at for our age, because our music is good for any age,” Cooper said. “We want to be known for our music, not our ages. And yes, we do write our own songs!”

Significantly, their parents are very supportive and in several cases have become a big part of the effort without being overbearing stage parents. Simpson’s father is the band’s business manager, road manager and drum tech. Cooper’s father is a respected Tulsa musician and music teacher who drives the boys to rehearsals and accompanies them on the road as guitar tech. Tulsa World even reported that “Their moms help pick out their set lists.”

CX's Nexus to Action Sports

- Crooked X live and their music is one of the best custom fits in the music side of the action sports area in years. It is a real sweet spot for the band and its targeted demo.

- Crooked X has headlined 5 NBC/AST dates, playing 4 Red Bull gigs in 2008, worked closely with Red Bull to co-produce our Wayne Isham-directed Adrenaline video which is playing on many sports team's JumboTrons as well as at Red Bull events where Crooked X has performed.

- Additionally, we have licensed 4 Crooked X tracks to ESPN to use against NASCAR footage on air; and on December 13, 2008, Crooked X was invited to play halftime at Texas Stadium for the Cowboys last game there. The Dallas cheerleaders choreographed a halftime routine to Crooked X's "You Gotta Bleed"