Lifer

     Lifer is an American rock band from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The group originally formed as Strangers with Candy in 1999 performing a mix of original material as well as covers by acts like Rage Against the Machine, Deftones, and Tool. In 2000, they won MTV's Ultimate Cover Band Contest, and quickly became a fan-favorite. Strangers with Candy then entered the studio and released the EP titled ‚”No Need”. The MTV exposure helped gain fans worldwide and also caught the attention of several major record labels, the group ultimately signing with Republic/Universal Records.  The band went on to change their name to Lifer after complications with the Comedy Central series of the same name.  
      

In late 2000, Lifer went into the studio with Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, who produced the band’s eponymously titled full length debut. They then hit the road opening for numerous acts such as Godsmack, Nickelback, Staind, Cold, Saliva, and many others. Their first single, "Boring" was one of the most added modern-rock songs on active rock radio.  In 2002, X-box unveiled their “NHL 2002" video game featuring "Parade”, and the song "Breathless" appeared on the "Scorpion King" soundtrack, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Album Chart and was certified gold.  
      

By early 2002, guitarist and bassist Aaron Fink and Mark Klepaski left the band and joined the Hollywood Records rock act Breaking Benjamin, one of the most successful rock acts of the past decade with 7 top 10 singles, including a #1. That group selling more than 7 million records in the US alone.  
      

Nick Coyle has since gone on to form several bands, such as The Drama Club, Stardog Champion (which also featured Fink and Klepaski), Death Valley Dreams, and is currently the guitarist for the platinum selling band Cold.  
      

In the summer of 2018 Lifer reunited with a new lineup featuring original members Nick Coyle, Aaron Fink, Tony Kruszka (originally the DJ now drumming), along with new bassist Mike Morgan (The Drama Club, Panacea).