The Jonbenét

The Jonbenét was an American noise rock band formed in Houston, Texas in summer 2003. The group was named after the murdered child JonBenét Ramsey, who was widely publicized during the mid to late nineties.

The band played their first show as Jonbenét on August 22, 2003, and after several self-released EPs and tours in the US and Canada, the band caught the attention of Pluto Records, an independent record label from Texas. The Plot Thickens was released on Pluto Records (2005). It was a re-mastered compilation of material from their self-released EPs and split 7-inch releases.

The band released their first full-length entitled Ugly/Heartless (2006). Emerald Moon Records and Pluto Records worked together on a four part vinyl series and only two were released. On August 10, 2009, the band announced a string of final shows, insinuating the band will no longer continue. The last show was played December 19, 2009, at Walter's in Houston, Texas and released Substances (2009).

The band formed originally in winter of 2001 under the name Central Park Jogger, the alias given to a then unidentified woman who was raped and beaten severely in 1989. In the spring of 2002, the band disbanded due to guitarist Dann Miller moving to California only to return a year later and reform the band. They had abandoned their previous name and due to their first show approaching, needed to decide on another one. The bassist at the time, Grant Miller, suggested the name Jonbenét, the first name of Jonbenét Ramsey, a young girl whose brutal murder was widely publicized during the mid to late nineties. The band was indifferent due to the obvious sensitive nature of the name, but decided to run with it. Their first show was on August 22, 2003 in Sugar Land, Texas. A logo the band often uses is a slightly-modified Imperial Sugar crown logo, a company which the town was named after.

On December 20, 2003, a 7-song demo was released entitled, Seven Short Stories by Mortimer T. Chimneytot. The demo was recorded by Chris Goodwin, who took the spot of bass player after Grant left to go to school in January 2004.^[1]

That May, Andrew Saleeba (drums) left the band and Drew Ireland took over on drums. The new members had completely different styles of playing which led to the re-writing of all the old material. Five of the re-arranged songs were hastily self-released on July 1, 2004, Five Stories Retold (pre-release). 100 copies were made and later re-released on August 3.^[2] The band's first tour was in July 2004 with another Houston band, The Phantom Pains. Upon returning home, the band wrote some new material and released 3 songs on a split with Houston band, The Kidnap Soundtrack. On January 1, 2005, the two bands toured in support of the self-released split.

In April 2005, the band parted ways with bass player Chris Goodwin, and Illinoisan Wil Spent of the Decatur band Secretary moved to Houston and joined the band. He packed his van, drove to Houston and moved in with Dann. As all of this was happening, the band had established contact with Pluto Records, an independent record label from Texas on June 16.^[3] Shortly after signing with the label, the band booked another tour with The Kidnap Soundtrack in July 2005. Days after returning, The Plot Thickens was released on July 26 via Pluto Records.^[4][5][6][7] It was a re-mastered compilation of the Five Stories Retold EP and their side of the split with The Kidnap Soundtrack. The album was named "Best Heavy Sh*t" by Free Press Houston.^[8][9] The Jonbenét was one of the contenders for Best Hardcore/Screamo Band in the Houston Press Music Awards.^[10] The band produced a music video for the track "Behold, The White Whore" on February 10, 2006.^[11][12] In March, Mike Murland injured his ankle and had to cut the tour short.^[13] In October, the band would reunite with The Phantom Pains for mini-tour to meet up in Cleveland, OH for a Halloween show with American Werewolves, Integrity, and Turmoil.^[14] Exclaim! reviewed The Plot Thickens on December 1, 2005.^[15]

In December 2005, the band finished writing their first full-length^[16] Ugly/Heartless that released on August 8, 2006.^[17][18][19] The album was recorded in January 2006 in Houston at Johnny Killed Rock N' Roll Studios. Immediately after recording, the band left for a tour with The Fall of Troy,^[20] With All Sincerity^[21] and At All Cost.^[22] The band toured for a lot of 2006 with bands such as The Number 12 Looks Like You, Fear Before The March Of Flames, HeavyHeavyLowLow,^[23] At All Cost, God's Temple Of Family Deliverance, The Fall of Troy, The American Black Lung, Fight Pretty, Blues^[24] and Fall River. The group started to make a name for themselves and appeared in Houston Press on July 20, 2006.^[25] The band appeared in Decibel Magazine issue #24 in October 2006^[26] and also appeared on SPIN on September 22, 2006.^[27] The band did an interview with Deaf Sparrow, where they talk about the band's history and the recording and writing process of their album,^[28] they also reviewed the album.^[29] The band's name attracted negative attention after John Mark Karr, who was alleged to have killed Ramsey (but was later acquitted), was arrested.^[30] The band produced a music video for "Why We're Dead" in fall 2006.^[31]

The band appeared on Lollipop Magazine where they reviewed the album on January 5, 2007.^[32] On January 15, 2007, it was announced that Emerald Moon Records and Pluto Records were working together to produce a four part 7” vinyl series with The Jonbenét called Devil Music. The first vinyl was released on April 17, 2007.^[33] The Stranger reviewed the album on January 18, 2007 where they described it as a "spastic, angular wall of post-hardcore noise".^[34] After a short tour with Turmoil,^[35] Wil Spent left the band due to complications with diabetes. Bryan Schutmaat has taken over on bass.

The second 7” vinyl was released sometime in summer 2008,^[36] but the other two parts were canceled. B. James left the band and Bryan Jackson has since replaced him. Side projects have formed including Black Congress featuring Bryan Jackson on vocals and Dann on bass with members of Fatal Flying Guilloteens and God's Temple of Family Deliverance. Michael has started an electronic project with his wife Marlen called Golden Snakes and occasionally releases songs under the name Hospital.

On August 10, 2009 the band announced a string of final shows, insinuating the band will no longer continue. the last show was played December 19, 2009 at Walter's in Houston, Texas.^[37][38] The band released an EP called Substances on December 19, 2009.

• Michael Murland - vocals
• Dann Miller - guitar
• J. Andrew Ireland - drums
• Bryan Schutmaat - bass
• Wil Spent - bass
• Chris Goodwin - bass
• Andrew Saleeba - drums
• Grant Miller - bass

• The Plot Thickens (2005)
• Ugly/Heartless (2006)

• Five Stories Retold (2004)
• The Kidnap Soundtrack / The Jonbenét split (2005)
• Devil Music Volume 1 (2007)
• Devil Music Volume 2 (2008)
• Substances (2009)

• The Jonbenét on BandCamp
• The Jonbenet on AllMusic