hard rock

Adelitas Way

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Las Vegas-formed hard rock outfit built around Rick DeJesus, a fixture of active-rock radio since the late 2000s — riff-first post-grunge with no apologies for it.

Adelitas Way formed in Las Vegas in 2006 around singer Rick DeJesus, who has remained the group's constant member through a long series of lineup changes. Early members included drummer Trevor Stafford and guitarist Chris iOrio, later joined by bassist Derek Johnston and guitarist Keith Wallen to complete the original lineup that recorded the band's debut.

Their sound sits in the post-grunge and alternative-metal lane: mid-tempo, heavily distorted guitar riffs, big sung choruses and production aimed squarely at rock radio. That debut, tracked at Groovemaster Studios in Chicago with producer Johnny K, arrived in 2009 after the band signed with Virgin Records.

The self-titled album produced the singles 'Invincible' and 'Sick'. 'Invincible' became the theme for WWE Superstars and turned up in the Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 video game and the CSI: Miami finale, while a separate track, 'It's a New Day', served as entrance music for WWE's Legacy stable. 'Sick', from 2011's Home School Valedictorian, and the later single 'Criticize' both reached number one on the active rock chart.

Through the early 2010s the band lost several members: Wallen departed for Breaking Benjamin, iOrio for Foundry, and Johnston left the lineup entirely. A reconstituted group worked with producer Nick Raskulinecz on 2014's Stuck, led by the single 'Dog on a Leash', keeping to the same riff-driven formula.

The band has spent much of its career touring the US club and theatre circuit, sharing bills with acts including Guns N' Roses, Godsmack, Shinedown, Halestorm and Three Days Grace.

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hard rock