Potent Like a Street Rod

You may know Chevelle from their Ozzfest success or their hit single "The Red," which took radio and television waves by storm in the fall of 2002. You may also know them for their second album, Wonder What's Next, which recently went gold. However, what you may not know is that this recent success comes to a band that has spent literally their entire lives playing together.

Joe, Pete, and Sam Loeffler are Chevelle, a band of brothers whose name reflects their hobby of building street rods with their father. This Windy City trio consists of three of seven siblings who are all "talented and have musical potential," according to Joe. While the other four Loefflers have chosen paths other than music, the rock world sure is grateful for the three it has received. Having composed tunes since childhood, Chevelle started off playing in their parents' basement, and by their early teens were already being booked to play major Chicago clubs.

With influences ranging from Helmet and Tool to Sinéad O'Connor and Cat Stevens, Chevelle has its own eclectic and powerful sound. "Every band you listen to influences you," stated Joe. But make no mistake, Chevelle is a hard rock band. While they have been compared to A Perfect Circle or Tool in the Lateralus stage, Chevelle has demonstrated a unique style and sound. Both their debut album, Point #1, and Wonder What's Next exhibit driving rhythms, compelling lyrics, and emotive, dynamic vocals that meld together with extraordinary and consistent intensity. Moreover, this intensity is best displayed during their live performances. Perhaps it's because they're brothers, or maybe it's because they've been together so long, but on stage the men of Chevelle move and perform as one. With impeccable performances that are seamless and genuinely passionate, Chevelle can make any crowd lose control, even back in the days of early morning, second-stage Ozzfest performances.

While reviews have generally been consistent with this sentiment, one subject that has been up for debate is the role of religion in the band's music. According to sources such as VH1.com and Christianity Today, Chevelle is categorized as a "Christian rock" band. When asked directly if there is any truth to these reports, Joe Loeffler said, "Definitely not," adding, "We are Christians, but it's not in our music. We are not Christian rock."

Having paid their dues and remained united along the way, Chevelle has now officially arrived. They have stuck together as brothers, bandmates, and friends, and climbed their way to the top. They've moved from playing in their basement to opening on major rock tours. With a second album under their belt and their success on the Music as a Weapon 2 Tour, Chevelle have made themselves a household name. Their next gig will be as a headlining band at Ozzfest 2003. With all of their achievements and fast-growing popularity, I cannot help but "wonder what's next."