Chronic Future was an American rap rock band from Scottsdale, Arizona. The band was formed in 1995, when their average age was 14. They achieved a short period of mainstream success with the 2004 album Lines in My Face, as well as the album's hit single, "Time and Time Again". The band consisted of vocalist Mike Busse, guitarist Ben Collins, bassist Brandon Lee and drummer Barry Collins, who are all founding members.
After finding mainstream success, the band then went on to operate under their own independent label, Modern Art Records, and released the Modern Art EP online under this new label. The band worked very independently after their departure from Interscope Records, rarely playing live and releasing albums independently as well as releasing online demos and purchasable songs. The band featured three vocalists: Mike Busse, Ben Collins and Brandon Lee.
History
Formation and early history: 1995–2000
Chronic Future began their musical career in the summer of 1995, and a year or so later, they released their first self-titled album when the band members were at an average age of 14.
Mainstream success: 2000–2004
From 2000 to 2004, the band signed their first major label deal with Interscope Records, and their third full-length was soon to follow in mid-2004. The band released a promotional EP called the Lines in My Face EP, featuring four songs from the album, as well as two rare songs. Soon after, the band released the album Lines in My Face, which reached No. 18 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. The album's single "Time and Time Again" saw airplay on MTV and MTV2 and reached No. 40 on the Billboard Modern Rock charts, as well as being featured in the video game Burnout 3: Takedown and MVP Baseball 2004.
Independent work: 2006–2009
Chronic Future left Interscope Records for an unknown reason in 2006. Several CF members also collaborate with Back Ted N-Ted, although it now appears that Brandon Lee is pulling double duty as a live member of Ryan Breen's solo project Back Ted N-Ted. At around this time, Mike Busse started a solo, hip-hop oriented side project with Charlie Brand of Miniature Tigers called The Future Lords. On October 1, 2006, Ben Collins officially launching Modern Art Records in partnership with Epic Records, but have now denounced their partnership with Epic Records. Collins signed Back Ted N-Ted, as well as the Miniature Tigers, Brothers Backward, Foxglove Hunt, Gospel Claws and The Future Lords.
The band released a limited edition album, This and of That, in late 2006 for online purchase through their now inactive official website. The band had made a sudden change from their rap rock style to an electronica/alternative/hip-hop crossover style by changing their guitar sounds from the traditional rock sound to an electronic sound. Chronic Future had actually previously experimented with this style and uploaded demos of some of the songs from This and of That to their official website, as well as other unreleased demos. The album was limited to merely 1000 copies. The album featured Ryan Breen, the band's former rhythm guitarist, doing programming.
The band recruited Lawrence Hearn AKA "Daggrr" (live guitarist for Back Ted N-Ted & principle songwriter for The Broadcast Royalties) in 2007 to play rhythm guitar for several shows, though he left shortly in 2008 to support both Miniature Tigers and Back Ted N-Ted's live shows. Chronic Future performed at the West Coast show of The Bamboozle in Irvine, California on April 6, 2008.
Just before the release of the Modern Art EP, the following statement on their Myspace page appeared on October 29, 2008:
Hiatus: 2009–2014
Chronic Future stopped updating their official Myspace page and no information on the band is available on their previous record label's official website. No band activity on their profile has taken place since the July 21, 2009, post about Chronic Future merchandise on their official Myspace page. However, a personal email from guitarist Ben Collins explained that the band members have all moved to New York City and that the Chronic Future project "isn't over yet". According to Ben Collins' personal Facebook page, he had left the band as of January 2010.
Reunion: 2015
The band played their final show in Phoenix, Arizona at the Rebel Lounge on December 26, 2015.
Members
Final lineup
Mike Busse – lead vocals, backing vocals (1995–2009, 2015) Brandon Lee – lead vocals (2004–2009, 2015), bass guitar, backing vocals (1995–2009, 2015) Barry Collins – drums, percussion (1995–2009, 2015) Ben Collins – lead vocals (1995–2006, 2015), guitar, backing vocals (1995–2009, 2015)