Slave to the System

In 2000, the band Queensrÿche went on a break after finishing a 6-month tour in support of Q2K. Drummer Scott Rockenfield and guitarist Kelly Gray, who played in Queensrÿche at that time, were discussing what to do.^[3] Gray had worked with Brother Cane on a project, and remained close to singer and guitarist Damon Johnson and bassist Roman Glick.^[4][5] He called Johnson in the summer of 2000,^[6] and suggested he give Rockenfield a call.^[5] Rockenfield knew of the band, but had never met them.^[3]

The name "Slave to the System" describes the effect of corporate minds on an artist's music,^[7] and hints at the band members' dissatisfaction with the record industry,^[5] as Rockenfield describes: "Every one of us was getting tired of being a 'slave' to the corporate system".^[8] The name was coined by Gray even before the band members first met.^[7]

Slave to the System independently released their album Slave to the System in 2002.^[2] The band played one show in Tennessee and another Seattle after this release.^[2][9] In February 2004,^[10] Heard left for undisclosed reasons, and they continued as a four-piece.^[2]

"Stigmata" (2002/2006)

Sample of "Stigmata", the first single from Slave to the System.

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In 2005, Slave to the System were signed to Spitfire Records, who had the album remixed and remastered, and released it on February 21, 2006.^[2][4] In 2006, Johnson said the band's second album was already completed, but to date, it has remained unreleased.^[2] "Stigmata" was released as a single, and peaked at 33 in both the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and Mainstream Rock categories.^[5] In support of the release, the band performed 19 shows in the American South and Midwest between February and April of that year.^[2][9][11] Due to prior commitments with other bands, other musicians filled in for Glick and Rockenfield on some of the shows.^[9]

In 2008, the band released two new songs via MySpace, titled "Freak" and "Who I Am Today". They have been on hiatus since.

• Damon Johnson – lead vocals, guitar^[9]
• Kelly Gray – guitar, vocals
• Roman Glick – bass
• Scott Rockenfield – drums

Former members

• Scott Heard – guitar, vocals (2001–2004)

Touring

• Allen Park – bass (April 2006)^[9]
• Billy Wilkes – drums (April 18–27, 2006)^[9]

• Slave to the System (2002/2006)