Fuel

Destiny unfolds unexpectedly. However, it pushes us exactly where we’re supposed to be at just the right time. In this respect, you could say the 2021 rebirth of GRAMMY® Award-nominated multi platinum rock band Fuel was simply meant to be. After rebuilding their brotherhood, founder, guitarist, and songwriter Carl Bell and longtime drummer Kevin Miller didn’t just celebrate their history together. They rushed into the future joined by new blood—Aaron Scott [lead vocals, guitar], Mark Klotz [guitar, vocals], and Tommy Nat [bass, vocals]—and armed with their first album together in 18 years, Ånomåly.

Starting in 2020, and into 2021, the album was recorded out of Carl’s personal studio, as well as vocals being recorded at Soundmine Recording Studio and King Studios in Pennsylvania. Carl’s songwriting had sharpened in the past decade, while Kevin, Mark, Tommy, and John reignited Fuel. It also marked the first time Carl took full reins as the album was written, produced and even mixed by Carl.

Just before the turn-of-the-century, Fuel quietly emerged with a melodic brand of hard rock rooted in eloquent songwriting and heavy guitars. 1998’s Sunburn not only went platinum, but it also yielded enduring anthems such as “Shimmer” and “Bittersweet.” Its 2001 follow-up, Something Like Human, earned a double-platinum certification and elevated them to arenas. The lead single “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” would reach #1 for 13 weeks and would even become the No. 6 Alternative Rock song of the past 25 years according to Billboard's Alternative Chart 25th Anniversary: Top 100 Songs, making it “one of the Top Ten most-listened to alternative rock songs for the past 30 years.” Their music appeared everywhere from Prison Break, Daredevil, and Scream 3 to WWE Pay-Per-View events. 2003’s Natural Selection bowed in the Top 15 of the Billboard Top 200 and garnered a GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of “Best Engineered Album. Non-Classical.”

Their catalog continued to resound throughout popular culture as well. Daughtry famously covered “Hemorrhage” on American Idol, while modern platinum rock juggernaut Red also released their own rendition of it and Hands Like Houses notably performed “Shimmer” on Triple J in Australia.

After 11 years away, Carl and Kevin brought Fuel back to life in 2021. In the end, their return may have been unexpected, but it couldn’t be more welcome.