For Squirrels

2025-07-03T19:15:05Z

2603:8080:1600:7400:C8BC:CF9A:6F74:939C:

{{Short description|American alternative rock band}}
{{distinguish|SubRosa (metal band)|Sub Rosa (band)}}
{{Other uses|Sub Rosa (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = For Squirrels
|image= For Squirrels.jpg
|caption = For Squirrels. Left to right: Bill White, Jack Vigliatura, Travis Tooke, Jack Griego
|background = group_or_band
|alias = Subrosa, Revlover
|years_active = 1992–2001
|origin = [[Gainesville, Florida]], U.S.
|genre = [[Alternative rock]], [[grunge]]
|website = [http://www.forsquirrels.net www.forsquirrels.net]
|label = [[550 Music]]
| current_members =
| past_members = Travis Tooke Jack Vigliatura Bill White Jay Russell Jack Griego Andy Lord Mike Amish Rusty Valentine
}}

'''For Squirrels''' was an American [[alternative rock]] band based in [[Gainesville, Florida]], United States, founded in 1992.

Their 1995 single "Mighty K.C." became an alternative rock radio hit about three months after a touring van accident that claimed the lives of founding members Jack Vigliatura IV and Bill White, along with tour manager Tim Bender, while the band was on the cusp of national recognition.

The surviving members of the band changed the name to '''Subrosa''' in 1996 before disbanding in 2001.

==History==
===Classic lineup (1992–1995)===
The band's original lineup consisted of vocalist Vigliatura, bassist White, guitarist Travis Tooke, and drummer Jay Russell. Explaining their name, the band had said that they were so committed to being in a band, they would play music "for squirrels."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Amy |title=Promising band mourns loss of three members |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1995/09/10/promising-band-mourns-loss-of-three-members/ |access-date=April 22, 2021 |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |date=September 10, 1995 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422001540/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1995/09/10/promising-band-mourns-loss-of-three-members/ |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The group played jangly [[alternative rock]] akin to [[R.E.M.]], one of their prime influences, with heavier moments alluding to the sound of [[grunge|grunge rock]] and [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]].

Drummer Jack Griego eventually replaced Russell. In early 1994, they self-released their first full album, ''Baypath Rd.'', followed by the ''Plymouth'' EP, which simply re-released five songs directly taken from ''Baypath Rd''. Steven E. Goldman, a prominent Miami attorney, served as the band's manager. After touring and establishing a following, the band signed with Sony/550 Music and recorded the album ''[[Example (album)|Example]]'' with producer [[Nick Launay]] (at the time known for working with [[Midnight Oil]], [[Talking Heads]] and [[Kate Bush]]), which was set to be released on October 3, 1995.

On September 8, 1995, while returning from playing the [[CMJ]] Music Marathon in [[New York City]], the band was involved in the auto accident that killed Vigliatura, White, and Bender. Griego and Tooke suffered multiple injuries but survived the crash. The album was released as planned. The single "Mighty K.C.", about the [[death of Kurt Cobain]], was a minor hit and continued to drive album sales.

===Post-accident (1995-1996)===
A few months after the accident, Tooke and Griego regrouped with school friend Andy Lord on bass and Tooke taking over on vocals. In February 1996, the new lineup began by playing a few low-key shows centered around classic For Squirrels songs and a selection of covers under the pseudonym Revlover. Eventually, they resurrected the For Squirrels moniker and began writing and performing new material, favoring a heavier grunge sound.

===As Subrosa (1996–2001)===
By late 1996, the trio was playing under the name Subrosa. In the summer of 1997, they released their only record under this name, ''Never Bet the Devil Your Head'', on [[Sony Records]], to decent reviews but poor sales. A music video was filmed for the track "Buzzard" from the album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQebl9x7HSA|title=Subrosa - Buzzard|last=LegacyRecordingsVEVO|website=YouTube.com|date=September 3, 2019|accessdate=July 2, 2024}}</ref> Second guitarist Mike Amish was later added, which was followed by a tour supporting popular alternative rock act [[Creed (band)|Creed]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Giacomelli |first1=Steve |url=http://members.tripod.com/~sjg/subrosa-guide/sub.htm |title=Subrosa Concerts Guide |website=[[Tripod (web hosting)|Tripod]] |access-date=April 22, 2021}}</ref> Griego eventually parted ways with the group and was replaced in the band's final years by Rusty Valentine. They disbanded in 2001.

===Later activity===
Tooke, Lord and Amish have remained active in the Gainesville rock scene. Tooke has performed under several monikers including his most recent music project, Helixglow. He has also released a solo CD and several singles (2012) via [[Indigo Planet Records]]. Amish and Lord now play in the band Papercranes.

==Discography==

===Studio albums===
*''Baypath Rd'' (1994)
*''[[Example (album)|Example]]'' (1995)

===Extended plays===
*''Plymouth'' (1994)

=== Singles ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of singles
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year
! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Alternative Airplay|US Alt.]]<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/ | title=Alternative Airplay | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| "Mighty K.C."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/mighty-kc-mt0002550745 | title=Mighty K.C. By for Squirrels - Track Info | AllMusic | website=[[AllMusic]] }}</ref>
| rowspan="1"| 1995
| 15
| ''Example''
|}

==Band members==
*Jack Vigiliatura (deceased) – vocals (1992–1995)
*Travis Tooke – guitar, vocals (1992–2001)
*Bill White (deceased) – bass (1992–1995)
*Jay Russell – drums (1992–1993)
*Jack Griego – drums (1993–1999)
*Andy Lord – bass (1995–2001)
*Mike Amish – guitar, keyboards (1997–2001)
*Rusty Valentine – drums (1999–2001)

{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="width: 700px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #E2E2E2;"
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| (1992–1993)
|
*'''Jack Vigliatura''' – vocals
*'''Travis Tooke''' – guitar
*'''Bill White''' – bass
*'''Jay Russell''' – drums
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| (1993–Sep. 1995)
|
*'''Jack Vigliatura''' – vocals
*'''Travis Tooke''' – guitar
*'''Bill White''' – bass
*'''Jack Griego''' – drums
|
*''Baypath Rd'' (1994)
*''Plymouth'' EP (1994)
*''[[Example (album)|Example]]'' (1995)
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| (1995–1997) 
as '''Revlover''' (1996) as '''For Squirrels''' (1996) as Subrosa (Dec. 1996–1997) 
|
*'''Travis Tooke''' – vocals, guitar
*'''Andy Lord''' – bass
*'''Jack Griego''' – drums
|
*''Never Bet the Devil Your Head'' (1997)
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| (April 1997 – 1999) as Subrosa
|
*'''Travis Tooke''' – vocals, guitar
*'''Mike Amish''' – guitar, keyboard
*'''Andy Lord''' – bass
*'''Jack Griego''' – drums
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| (1999–2001) as Subrosa
|
*'''Travis Tooke''' – vocals, guitar
*'''Mike Amish''' – guitar, keyboard
*'''Andy Lord''' – bass
*'''Rusty Valentine''' – drums
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.forsquirrels.net/bio.html Full Band Biography] from ForSquirrels.net
*[http://www.forsquirrels.net/discography/ Discography] from ForSquirrels.net
*[https://archive.today/20130105105304/http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/ForSquirrels-Subrosa/ For Squirrels and Subrosa] at [[Yahoo! Groups]]
*[http://www.myspace.com/papercranesmusic Papercranes] at [[MySpace]]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrudQhFdOmk Rare For Squirrels Song: Van Gogh]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Musical groups from Gainesville, Florida]]
[[Category:550 Music artists]]
[[Category:1992 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1992]]
[[Category:2001 disestablishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2001]]

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For Squirrels