Cupcakes were a

Power pop Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, an energetic performance, and ch ...

band from

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

who were signed to the

DreamWorks DreamWorks may refer to: * DreamWorks Pictures, an American film production company of Amblin ** DreamWorks Television, an American television production company and division of the film studio ** DreamWorks Records, an American record label and f ...

record label and released one self-titled album in 2000. The band's drummer, Matt Walker, had previously played with

the Smashing Pumpkins The Smashing Pumpkins (also referred to as simply Smashing Pumpkins) are an American alternative rock band from Chicago. Formed in 1988 by frontman and guitarist Billy Corgan, bassist D'arcy Wretzky, guitarist James Iha and drummer Jimmy Chamb ...

and

Filter Filter, filtering or filters may refer to: Science and technology Computing * Filter (higher-order function), in functional programming * Filter (software), a computer program to process a data stream * Filter (video), a software component tha ...

and would go on to play with

Garbage Garbage, trash, rubbish, or refuse is waste material that is discarded by humans, usually due to a perceived lack of utility. The term generally does not encompass bodily waste products, purely liquid or gaseous wastes, or toxic waste produc ...

and

Morrissey Steven Patrick Morrissey (; born 22 May 1959), known professionally as Morrissey, is an English singer and songwriter. He came to prominence as the frontman and lyricist of rock band the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 1987. Since then ...

. Guitarist Greg Suran would go on to tour with the

Goo Goo Dolls The Goo Goo Dolls are an American rock band formed in 1986 in Buffalo, New York, by guitarist/vocalist John Rzeznik, bassist/vocalist Robby Takac, and drummer George Tutuska. After starting off as a cover band and then developing a punk sound, ...

and

the B-52's The B-52's, also styled as The B-52s, are an American new wave band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1976. The original lineup consisted of Fred Schneider (vocals, percussion), Kate Pierson (vocals, keyboards, synth bass), Cindy Wilson (vocals, p ...

History

Prior to forming the Cupcakes, Matt Walker, Solomon Snyder and Preston Graves had previously played together in a band called Tribal Opera. Following the break-up of Tribal Opera, Graves started working with Greg Suran, and by 1996 both Walker and Snyder had joined. They started performing as the Cupcakes. By 1997 they were signed by DreamWorks and they flew to London to record with notable producer,

Stephen Street Stephen Brian Street (born 29 March 1960 in Hackney, London) is an English music producer best known for his work with The Smiths, The Cranberries and Blur. Street collaborated with Morrissey on his debut album ''Viva Hate'' following the spl ...

(

The Smiths The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. They comprised the singer Morrissey, the guitarist Johnny Marr, the bassist Andy Rourke and the drummer Mike Joyce. They are regarded as one of the most important acts to emerg ...

, Blur,

the Cranberries The Cranberries were an Irish rock band formed in Limerick, Ireland. Originally named the Cranberry Saw Us, the band were formed in 1989 by lead singer Niall Quinn, guitarist Noel Hogan, bassist Mike Hogan and drummer Fergal Lawler. Quinn was ...

). However, the label dropped the band shortly after their self-titled album was released in 2000. Following the end of Tribal Opera, Walker had been touring with

when he was recruited by

to replace

Jimmy Chamberlin James Joseph Chamberlin (born June 10, 1964) is an American drummer and record producer. He is best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. Following the 2000 breakup of the band, Chamberlin joined Pumpkins fro ...

. He joined the Smashing Pumpkins, but left when Cupcakes got signed by DreamWorks.

After Cupcakes

In December 2012, Graves and Walker formed a new band called Stuttgart, with Scott Tallarida, Thomas Walker and Michael Sinclair rounding out the line-up.

Reception

* "Alternating arena roar with moments of fey, falsetto fragility, and threading android synthesizers through power-chord anthems, the Cupcakes' debut is a big, bombastic dare." (

Greg Kot Greg Kot (born March 3, 1957) is an American music journalist and author. From 1990 until 2020, Kot was the rock music critic at the ''Chicago Tribune'', where he covered popular music and reported on music-related social, political and busines ...

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...

) * "Ably propelled by former Smashing Pumpkins and Filter drummer Matt Walker and produced by Stephen Street (Blur, the Smiths, the Cranberries), these 13 tracks court wretched excess with walls of snarling guitars and chirping keyboards" (

Jim DeRogatis James Peter DeRogatis (born September 2, 1964) is an American music critic and co-host of ''Sound Opinions''. DeRogatis has written articles for magazines such as ''Rolling Stone'', '' Spin'', ''Guitar World'' and ''Modern Drummer'', and for 15 ...

Chicago Sun-Times The ''Chicago Sun-Times'' is a daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Since 2022, it is the flagship paper of Chicago Public Media, and has the second largest circulation among Chicago newspapers, after the ''Chicago T ...

)

Members

* Preston Graves — vocals *

Greg Suran Greg Suran is the lead guitarist in the B-52s, a role he has performed since 2013. He replaced Keith Strickland on the road after Strickland announced in December 2012 that he would no longer be touring with the B-52s but would continue as a me ...

— guitar, vocals * Solomon Snyder — bass * Matt Walker — drums

Discography

Albums

* ''Cupcakes'' 2000 DreamWorks

Compilation appearances

* "Vidiots" - ''Back to School Domestic Sampler'' 1999 DreamWorks * "Exaggerator" - ''8 Trax Plus 2'' 1999 DreamWorks

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cupcakes, The Alternative rock groups from Chicago Musical groups from Illinois Musical groups established in 1996 Musical groups disestablished in 2000 Musical quartets