Bio:

Early Days and I Know You: 2006-2008
Many years ago in suburban Sacramento, California there were two friends. Their names were Matt Collins, and Vin Peters. Vin played guitar and Matt played bass. Throughout high school they played in a few bands none of which did much of anything. Immediately after graduating they started Reported Failure first with Matt supplying vocals. They went through a couple of drummers before Adam Rocklin was able to join them. One night Reported failure was playing at somewhere where Billie Beckett was playing a solo act. Billie's vocal abilities amazed Matt, Vin, and Adam, and in a week Billie had joined the band and Matt moved to backing vocals.

The band built up a reputation locally and were able to record a four song demo CD. They got attention from some small labels and were eventually signed for two albums. Immediately they began touring the west coast and soon were recording their first album. Their debut album "I Know You" was released in 2008 and was full of catchy pop punk songs and melodic ballads. It won them underground acclaim around the globe.

Flux of the Run: 2009-2010
In 2009 Reported Failure got together to record their second full length. They took four months to finish all of the recording and it was released later in that year. It was a more artsy and dark album. It was accepted among Reported failure's fans and although it did not give them much of a breakthrough they did become a much larger band. The album never charted in a spectacular place, but it stayed in the charts for a long time and as a result Reported Failure began to get a lot of attention.

The album came along with a world tour with the likes of The Walls, and much attention from major labels.

Nomad Records, Disarm, and mainstream success: 2010
After the record cycle for Flux of the Run was over Reported Failure had a decision to make. They were being approached by a number of major labels who wanted to make them the next massive band. They talked seriously with a few of them, but felt that there were considerable gaps between where they saw themselves and where labels saw them going. In the end Vin Peters founded his own label, Nomad Records, and Reported Failure signed to it.

Their next album Disarm was released in June of 2010. Along with it came singles like "Testimony" and "Disarm" which charted inside the top 20. THe album itself was met with a debut at #5 on the album chart. The album was a doomsday epic that was Reported Failure's first concept album.

The album launched Reported Failure into the public spotlight. For summer 2010 they were the kings of punk rock headlining a tour with support from Mind, Miles in Minutes, and Heroes and Cons.

Hiatus: 2010-2011
After releasing another album full of live tracks from The Disarmed Tour Reported Failure announced that they were going to take an indefinite break from making music together. THe reason was mostly that Billie Beckett was going to record and release his own solo album. The album titled "Oped Waters" was released in September of 2010.

Vin continued work at Nomad Records. Eventually he found himself simply aimlessly driving around California. He had too little money to do much of anything but live out of his car. Finally Vin ran into Matt, and the two of them ran into Billie in Seattle. Adam decided not to rejoin them, but Reported Failure got back together with Robert Edwards (Formerly of Mind) on drums.

Post-Grunge Catastrophe and RF & Friends: 2011
Their fourth album Post-Grunge Catastrophe was released on April 26th 2011. It was in some ways a diary of their experiences over the past year. The album was a reflection on the music scene and Reported Failure's place in it. The album went platinum after five months and also featured top 10 charting singles "Manufactured Radio", and "The Cure to Growing Older". The album resulted in a solo tour around the west coast where most Reported Failure fans live, and appearances at several big festivals. The album was also nominated for best Album at the Fans Choice Awards (top 3) and the Chaos Awards III where Reported Failure also picked up nominations for Best Band and Best Live Artist.

Reported Failure then went in to record their best of album which would include guest appearances from Electrodeath, Riot! in the Boulevard, Firecracker 47, Gears of Bremen, and Lily. It was a double disc that superfans would have to have and people not familiar with Reported Failure's past work would also enjoy to pick up. As this was being released Reported Failure was touring the US on the When all else fails... run tour.

Tragedy and New Beginnings: 2011
On September 11th, 2011 two things happened at once. Billie Beckett had been fighting off his demons for years, and they all boiled over on this day. He attempted suicide by stealing Matt Collins's lithium (which he takes for his bipolar disorder) and overdosing on it. Doctors were able to save Beckett's life, and he would say a couple weeks later that "playing more music is a lot cheaper and more affective than a shrink. I will turn to my career in this time of personal hardship".

A day earlier Matt Collins had received a threat against his life. On the 11th a man ambushed his hotel room. Luckily the police were there expecting him. As he began shooting the police took him out. Collins was shot in the arm and has been making a speedy recovery.

On September 25th Reported Failure added KC James on guitars. KC used to play for the hardcore band Punching Monkeys and was added for the reasons that Reported Failure wanted to free up Billie while playing live, they wanted to bring in someone with a different musical style and the guy was out of work and everyone in Reported Failure liked him.

My Name is... EP: 2011
In the aftermath of the chaos of September Reported Failure got through the incident in the only way they knew: making new music. With KC James and Billie Beckett's new fury they put out their heaviest album yet with "My Name is Freedom/My Name is William EP" The EP brought them into the world of metal with screams, new levels of shredding, heavier riffs, and heavier drums than ever. It was an experiment, but it was natural enough that fans latched on. It spawned two singles one of which, "Goodbye, My Son" reached #3 on the charts. The EP itself reached #4 on the albums charts. It gave Reported Failure a new appreciation and acceptance in a music scene that they had often been outcasts in. Riding off the success of the EP, Reported Failure headlined a world tour called the No Venues Tour. The EP was also produced by Jason Smith forming a partnership that would continue for the next year.


Band Members

Left to Right: Billie Beckett, Robert Edwards, Matt Collins, Vin Peters


Billie Beckett - Vocals
Must Knows: Released a solo album, attempted suicide, sees music as his shrink
Age: 29 (November)
Personality: Quiet offstage, a monster onstage
Likes: Iced coffee, music, comedy central, and Northern California sports teams
Dislikes: People who are fake, terrorists, anyone who beats northern California sports teams
If not doing this he would be: Dead


Matt Collins - Bass, backing vocals
Must Knows: Suffers from bipolar disorder, used to do lead vocals, was shot in the arm
Age: 28 (January)
Personality: Party starter
Likes: Sex, music, people to get drunk with, people to get drunk and have sex with, people who understand him, people who do really crazy shit
Dislikes: 97% of the human race, Republicans
If not doing this he would be: In a room with padded walls


Vin Peters - Lead guitar
Must knows: best friends with Matt since highschool, founded Nomad Records, produces Reported Failure's songs, Is awesome at guitar, has too many jobs
Age: 28 (July)
Personality: Workaholic, ready to have a good time
Likes: Music, feasting on food, playing gigs, making music, hanging out with Matt, Billie, Robert, and KC, crowdsurfing, smoking pot
Dislikes: Concert security, shitty guitar equipment, most major labels
If not doing this he would be: Unhappy in a different profession


Robert Edwards - Drums
Must Knows: Used to drum in Mind, joined Reported Failure after their hiatus
Age: 27 (March)
Personality: Laid back
Likes: Action movies, music, playing the drums, in n out burger, playing gigs
Dislikes: Fast food places that aren't in n out burger
If not doing this he would be: Homeless

Discography
Albums
Reported Failure EP (November 2007)
I Know You (April 2008)
Debut - #261; Peak - #183
Flux of the Run (April 2009)
Debut - #93 ; Peak - #71
Disarm (June 2010) - 1,320,000 Copies Sold
Debut - #42 ; Peak - #5
The Secret Album - Live from the Disarmed Tour (2010) - 408,000 Copies Sold
Post-Grunge Catastrophe (April 2011) - 1,519,000 Copies Sold
Debut - #8 ; Peak - #4
Reported Failure & Friends (August 2011) - 1,688,000 Copies Sold
Debut - #7 ; Peak - #7
My Name is Freedom/My Name is William EP (October 2011) - 3,923,000 Copies Sold
Debut - #10 ; Peak - #4
Darkness (July 2012) - 4,592,000 Copies Sold
Debut - #3 ; Peak - #3
Rome (June 2013) - 1,300,000 Copies Sold
Debut - #1 ; Peak - #1
Singles
From "I Know You"
Missing (December 2007)
Lay On Me (Lay It On Me) (March 2008)
I've Known You (May 2008)
From "Flux of the Run"
Hope To Get Out (March 2009)
King of Caves (April 2009)
Short (May 2009)
From "Disarm"
Testimony (May 2010)
Disarm (July 2010)
From "Post-Grunge Catastrophe"
Manufactured Radio (April 2011)
Debut - #10 ; Peak #10
The Cure To Growing Older (May 2011)
Debut - #10 ; Peak - #10
Let's Run (June 2011)
Debut - #19 ; Peak - #19
From "Reported Failure & Friends"
The Call (Ft. Riot! in the Boulevard) (August 2011)
Debut - #27 ; Peak - #22
From "My Name is... EP"
My Name is William (October 2011)
Debut - #17 ; Peak - #14
Goodbye, My Son (December 2011)
Debut - #11 ; Peak - #3
From "Darkness"
Crumbling (December 2011)
Debut - #1 ; peak - #1
Being Man (April 2012)
Debut - #1 ; peak - #1
2001 (July 2012)
Debut - #1 ; peak - #1
New America (August 2012)
Debut #3 ; Peak #3
From "Rome"
Days Spent in the Dark (November 2012)
#1 ; #1
Lunar Utero (November 2012)
#1 ; #1
Frosted Peaks (May 2013)
#1 ; #1

More Info
Genre:Rock, Punk Rock, Alternative, Indie, Pop-Punk, Emo, Post-Hardcore
Label: Nomad Records
Associated Acts: The Walls, Riot! in the Boulevard, Mind, Infinite, Suburban Sunrise, Big Light Show, Lily, Electrodeath, Misery Loves Company, Realm, The Jason Smith Band, Misery Loves Company

New Album "Darkness" Coming 2012

Untitled #1 (Demo)

Normal text - Billie Beckett
Italics - KC James

I live like a fire
Fueled by oil
Surrounded by sea

Oh, soon I'll go out
No one will see
No one ever sees
what I am
Who I could be?

Can you see now?
what I am?
Can you feel it?
Who I've been?

Tried too long to make things worth while
Built a house on uneven ground
So your smallest movements make things shake
Dug my own grave just to pass time
Didn't even know 'til it was too late
With my last breath I would miss things
And the way that I was ooh

I'm just my demons.
Now I'm just my demons, and I can't even fight it

Billie Beckett - Street Musician (Live)

The call went out to all Reported Failure fans. Billie was all set up on a street corner in LA. He strummed his guitar. People just passing by and fans who had heard began to flock towards him. As the crowd grew Billie played faster, and faster. Then he began to speak.

Billie: How many of you have heard of Riot! in the Boulevard?

THe crowd answered in a mix of "yes" and cheers.

Billie: Alright. Well this is actually one of their songs. I thought I'd play it for you.


Echoes of my soul
OOC: Lyrics credit to C4AJoh
A Huge Insecurity, Burning Deep Inside
As I Try To Bury This Pain, It’s Impossible To Hide
Instead They Move Up To The Surface, Threatening To Break Free
Threatening To Tell The World, Just Who I Used To Be
---
Is This Pain Really Here, Or Is It All In My Head
I Guess This Worry Will Last, Or I Could Tell The World Instead
It Brings Me Back, To That Place And I Guess The Truth I’ll Have To Face
Instead Of Living I’m Dying Slow, Instead Of Coming, I’ve Gotta Go
---
So I’ll Make A Wish, I’ll Place It In My Heart
Everything I Want, So My Life Can Finally Start
Will It Make Things Right, Will It Make Things Real
Will It Make My Heart Begin To Heal
---
So Now That I Have It, I’ll Believe It Can Come True
You’d Think I’m Doing This For Myself, But The Truth Is, I’m Doing It For You
Because Once You Have Me At My Best, We’ll Live Together And Forget The Rest
So Those Who Say Wishes, Can’t Ever Be Real, Make A Wish For Them, In The Hope That They Feel
---
So Now I’m Singing With The Echoes
Just The Echoes Of My Soul
Feel Like A Gap Has Gone, I’ve Removed The Hole
So Sing With Your Echoes
Your Echoes Of Your Soul, Together We Can Stand As One
Together We Will Fall
---
So If You Believe What You Really Want,
Can Someday Come True
Open Your Heart And Mind To The Possibility Of It All
And It Will Make It’s Way To You
---
You May Get What Your Wishing For As Long As You Believe
So Make Your Wish Now, And You Will Receive
The World Is Full Of Magic, If You Open Up Your Mind
You Could Be Surprised With What You See
Surprised With What You Find
---
So Now I’m Singing With The Echoes
Just The Echoes Of My Soul
Feel Like A Gap Has Gone, I’ve Removed The Hole
So Sing With Your Echoes
Your Echoes Of Your Soul, Together We Can Stand As One
Together We Will Fall
---
So This Is Not The End Of Your Dreams
This Is Just The Start
Believe In The Echoes Of Your Soul
Believe It With All Your Heart

Billie takes the tempo down as opposed to the original version of the song. He sings it with vulnerability and emotion. His guitar playing switches off between mid tempo sweep picking to regular strumming. Billie's tone holds together the cover so that it manages to work.

Billie: This a new song. You might have heard the demo that was released a few days ago, but you're going to hear it now.

Crumbling
Crumbling
I am crumbling
From my limbic system
To the marble pillars
Ashes to ashes, it all falls down

Is this the end of my time?
When the only light in this dark
Is my flag that they're burning
(ooh oh oh, ooh oh oh)
(ooh oh oh, ooh oh oh)

Crumbling
I am crumbling
From the tremors of absent fathers
Violence, hatred, from self to the crowds
(Ashes to ashes it all falls down)

Is this the end of my time?
When the only light in this dark
Is my flag that they're burning

Of many I found no one
no one who could save my life
Falling so heavy
Before it's done no one will even know why
Even know why

Crumbling
I am freedom falling
I am no one!
Shaking and trembling
From the horrors that I've seen
(Ashes to ashes it all falls down)

Is this the end of my time?
When the only light in this dark
Is my flag that they're burning

Of many I found no one
no one who could save my life
Falling so heavy
Before it's done no one will even know why
Even know why

Billie sings again with lots of emotion and more darkness than in the last song. His vocals give the impression of weakness in the song without sounding weak at the same time which adds greatly to the songs' subject matter. The guitar is a haunting sweep picking all the way through. It keeps consistent with the darkness in the song.

Billie: Who wants to hear something old? I've got a few for you.

Fold the Wire
When the time comes
I'll be standing waiting
Still waiting to find something real
To find something whole

'cause I lost my hope
On our last day in love
So I'll wash these hands
Set a new path
Find a new way
I'll get out of this hell
The one we built together
On the day it all broke apart

How many times can you fold the wire
Before it snaps?
I can't love
Because the love we built was hell
So if anything comes around
I'm leavin'

I know we mean well
We didn't think we were building a trap
We've been misleading
Misleading oursleves
Misleading our love

So I'll wash these hands
Set a new path
Find a new way
I'll get out of this hell
The one we built together
On the day it all broke apart

How many times can you fold the wire
Before it snaps?
I can't love
Because the love we built was hell
So if anything comes around
I'm leavin'

Oooh, oooh, oooh

How many times can you fold the wire
Before it snaps?
I can't love
Because the love we built was hell
So if anything comes around
I'm leavin'

Billie sings this song very calmly, letting the crowd sing along loudly for most of it. He plays it simply with the chords and it makes things more lively.

Billie: THis song is called No Lights. I'd love to stick around longer but I've got an album to make so I'll have to take off after I play this one.

No Lights
There's no lights on in my house
There's no light in the sky
And so there's no light around
To see if there's hope to be found

No more lightbulbs over my head
Just clouds of frustration
So my thoughts have gone dark
And my purpose is worthless

Hold my hand until the end
Or put me to endless sleep
Don't let me see the pain of dawn
Lay me down where my cause belongs

No lights anywhere x8

Hold your lover in the end times
Sleep your way to the hellfires
Don't wake up for the pain of dawn
Say goodbye to the revolution we spawned

No lights anywhere x8

Billie plays the riff to no lights with is a little bit slow and can be played rather easily while singing. He also does some strumming during the chorus. His vocals are much like in the previous song, but also still have some dark tone leftover from the first few songs he played. After finishes he says goodbye to his fans who cheer respectfully before packing up and leaving...

1. My Name is Freedom
Lyrics: Beckett/Peters
Producer: Vin Peters
Recorded: Ocean Way Recordings - July 2011
Length: 3:42

Music/Background:

The song starts immediately with Billie's vocals and loud, dominant drumming from Robert. The drumming goes along with boosted to the max bass from Matt and power chords also from Billie. The loud start doesn't foreshadow the entire song though, because the prechorus gets quiet. Billie sings the prechorus with the emotion and darkness which backs up the lyrical theme of the song that sees freedom as a struggling rebellious adolescent. Meanwhile the drumming stops along with the bass and Billie plays open chords with melodic lead guitar from Vin to back him up. The chorus comes with Vin playing classic rock inspired fills and Robert playing rather heavy drumming while Matt picks up where he left off.

THe next verse prechorus and chorus are the same as the first. Then in the bridge Billie builds up his vocals starting quietly with the instruments very subtle. Then things build to as mid level and slowly get more passionate and intense. By the end Robert, Vin, Matt, and Billie are going full throttle plus something extra in a powerful climax to the song. The last few lines of the bridge are sung by Billie and Matt with Matt seeming more menacing and Billie more passionate and angry.

Billie: This song basically establishes what will come. On the full length the comparisons between a more big picture concept with the world and a personal struggle will be more obvious. This song starts it all. Musically it isn't all the progressive from what we've done before, but I think it starts the entire story that will continue beyond this EP to the full length very well.

Matt: Another thing is that we wanted to be very visually progressive with the album artwork. If you look closely you can see very clearly that we are trying to make a very epic allusion to history. Like Billie said, I think this song introduces the story very well, and it is musically familiar so I think fans will latch on to eat very easily.

Lyrics:

My name is freedom
And I am the smoking gun
I start revolutions
I built America
I am misunderstood
I'm power's rebellious son

I've heard I will overcome
I've heard I will overcome
But now it's all collapsing
And I can't...

Tie the knot on the ropes that
Hold together this family
Or beat back all the demons
That try to take me
Tie the knot on the ropes that
Hold together this nation
Or take on the adversity
So you can still believe in me

My name is freedom
And I answer to no one
I was born in your hearts
Then I infected your minds
I fight oppression
I'm power's rebellious son

I've heard I will overcome
I've heard give it a few months and the war will be won
But now it's all collapsing
And I can't...

Tie the knot on the ropes that
Hold together this family
Or beat back all the demons
That try to take me
Tie the knot on the ropes that
Hold together this nation
Or take on the adversity
So you can still believe in me

I wish I could be stitched back up
That my wounds would be gone
I've had a hell of a fight
Maybe it's finally won
Through a troubled childhood, I still exist
I'm still being pissed on in adolescents
Are all these mountaintops just a mirage
Am I climbing to my death from a fall

Oh, can I...
Tie the knot on the ropes that
Hold together this family
Or beat back all the demons
That try to take me
Tie the knot on the ropes that
Hold together this nation
Or take on the adversity
So you can still believe in me

Inspiration(Not sounds like):

3. Chance Run Ins
Lyrics: Beckett
Producer: Vin Peters
Recorded: Ocean Way Recordings - September/October 2011
Length: 3:50

Music/Background:

The song starts out acapella. Billie, Matt, and KC all sing the opening lines. But the word "safer" is stretched out and slowly the pitch at which it is being sung gets higher like a siren to create the urgency of the song. Then all noise ceases before Billie quietly says the word "place". The bass is extremely powerful in this song with compliments from very heavy guitar playing from KC and fast heavy drumming from Robert. Both of them clearly show that they used to be in metal bands. Vin plays a tapping riff with a flanging petal that he uses to again reinforce the sense of urgency in the song. Overall though the song doesn't focus on any one aspect of the band but instead is full effort by everyone. Billie and Matt both sing the verses in a moderate tone that fans are familiar with. Then KC joins in on the prechorus where all that is left of the instruments is random guitar tone. The chorus is extremely catchy and aggressive with all instruments joining back in. At the end of the chorus the acapella introduction is repeated. On the bridge KC shows off his ability with screaming wich will no doubt threaten some RF fans who aren't used to it. Then Billie and Matt join in again before the final chorus.

Billie: This is the last song we finished for the EP. It took a long time because we just couldn't get an arrangement that we liked. We tried acoustics, and this song was almost cut completely. Eventually we ended up making it work nd I think people will like it. It is very different and yet also similar to our previous work. Lyrically it's a bit clunky in my opinion, but the vocal arrangements make it work. Overrall a good song. Hope you enjoy it.

Lyrics:
Normal - Billie Beckett
Italics - KC James
Underlined - Matt Collins
Red - All
Blue - Matt and Billie

Find a safer......
Place

Walk around this town
Full of faces
Full of places
But nowhere can I stay

Because every pretty bulding
Every wet street
Every home game
They're only reminding me...

Of how we changed our ways
The day the riots ran free

So how could I
Expect to see
A pretty space between you and me
A deluge of hate
On this deluge of rain
We've recieved
So how could I
Expect to see
A pretty space between you and me
Find a safer place
Find a safer place
Find a safer...
Place

I walk on a fine line
Between order and chaos
Between the air and the buildings
Between life and death

Glass shatters and breaks my skin
You cut me open
You broke me down
Just with the sight of you

The sight of how a fall to a safer place

So how could I
Expect to see
A pretty space between you and me
A deluge of hate
On this deluge of rain
We've recieved
So how could I
Expect to see
A pretty space between you and me
Find a safer place
Find a safer place
Find a safer...
Place

Chance run in with you
Chance run with my demons
Chance run with a city
Chance run in with a riot
All these things burn down to be
Another false ending between you and me

So how could I
Expect to see
A pretty space between you and me
A deluge of hate
On this deluge of rain
We've recieved
So how could I
Expect to see
A pretty space between you and me
Find a safer place
Find a safer place
Find a safer...
Place

Sounds similar to:

5. Demons
Lyrics: Beckett
Producer: Vin Peters and Jason Smith
Recorded: Ocean Way Recordings - September 2011
Length: 3:34

Music/Background:

By far the strangest song on the EP, this song opens with a simple drum beat. The drum beat keeps repeating as if it is on a record that keeps skipping. Very powerful bass soon joins in courtesy of Matt Collins. Strange hypnotic sounds begin being played on a keyboard creating a very gloomy atmosphere. Vin's guitar is set for a quite echoing sound. He plays a riff rather high up on the neck. The riff includes lots of bends that are timed with the keyboard perfectly. Billie begins singing quetly almost to the point where his annunciation is difficult to make out. This adds the the very confused gloomy tone already in the song. Just after the songs halfway point things start to subtly change. Vin switches to playing power chords instead and the keyboard begins playing the root notes with a heavy tremolo effect. The bass and drums get more complex to the point where there is practically a drum solo and a bass solo going on simultaneously. Then things faded out and just the original drums and bass remained with the keyboard still playing the tremolo sound. Then all of the sudden KC's guitar gets switched on and begins loud power chords while Vin switches to a distorted sound and plays a rather epic guitar solo for the climax of the song.

Vin: I really love how this song builds up to the guitar solo very well. i can tell this is just going to be a fun song to play live. A big shout out to Jason Smith who had a large part in helping this song come together the way it is.

Lyrics:

Falling fast
The city blurs
The noise ceases
Three words
Tear me to pieces
Hold on
I'll stop bothering you
Give me a moment
Your wish will come true

Don't stay alive
Why stay alive
I've lost
I've lost
I've lost

Don't stay alive
why even try
I've lost
To my demons
To my demons

One last helpless breath
Mostly out of habit
I'm falling fast
Did anyone see it coming
Close my eyes
Wonder where they'll open
I'm falling fast
I'm falling fast
I'm falling fast

Sounds slightly similar to: