Goldfinger Biography

It all started for Goldfinger in 1994 at a California shoe store at which guitarist/singer John Feldmann and bassist Simon Williams worked. After adding drummer Darrin Pfeiffer, the band found guitarist Charlie Paulson, who played a show with the band just six days into his tenure as a member of the group. Goldfinger capitalized on the ska-punk movement of the 1990s, using it to break onto the music scene. The band released a six-track demo tape in ‘95 that became a college radio favorite and eventually resulted in a record contract with Universal. Their 1996 self-titled major-label debut produced the single "Here in Your Bedroom," which, along with its music video, gained the band a substantial amount of popularity and a spot on the Warped Tour with acts like No Doubt, Reel Big Fish and the Sex Pistols. The bands fusion of ska and punk was, for the most part, a new sound and gained the group a large fan base.The band's follow-up effort, Hang-Ups, failed to equal the success experienced by Goldfinger, but the single "This Lonely Place" did garner them some attention and earn them their fair share of talk show appearances and video play. The band quickly followed it up with a cover of the Spiral Starecase song "More Today Than Yesterday" for the motion picture soundtrack for The Waterboy.After Williams left the group, citing musical differences, the band released an EP of all covers with their new lineup before churning out their third album, Stomping Ground, in 2000. Following tours in both the U.S. and Europe and Paulson's departure from the group, Goldfinger released 2002's Open Your Eyes. The group followed with 2005's Disconnection Notice and Paulson rejoined the band for 2008's Hello Destiny, which was heralded by the band's die-hard fans for its return to their punk roots.Despite blending punk and ska to create a sound that was immensely popular for a number of years, the band generally considers itself a pop band. They've toured with groups like Eve6, Bloodhound Gang and Mest. Much of Goldfinger's work reflects the activist in Feldmann, who is an avid animal rights advocate and has publicly criticized celebrities for hunting and releasing clothing lines that make use of fur. Feldmann has also produced music for other bands including Showoff, Mest, and The Used.