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The Black Maria parts ways with Kyle Bishop

Contributed by an Anonymous Source. Posted by Justin on Monday, December 12, 2005 at 2:49 AM (EST)

The Black Maria has parted ways with guitarist Kyle Bishop. The band had the following statement posted on their webpage:

We have decided to part ways and move forward without Kyle. We appreciate everyone's support and will be announcing his replacement in the near future. We haven't slowed down a bit and we can't wait for you all to hear the new stuff we've been working on. We are excited about the future now more than ever!

No replacement has been named as of yet for the ex-Grade frontman.

The band released Lead Us To Reason earlier this year.

Victory Records (79 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. Seriously.

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

It's about time

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

I heard he was fired from the band he actually put together. Ha!

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

I heard the same thing from a reliable source

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swingline (December 12, 2005)

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

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swingline (December 12, 2005)

just kidding. the band is gay.

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swank (December 12, 2005)

He's the only reason anyone gave this band any attention. Original line-up Grade reunion? please?

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

Grade reunion, the scene needs it, they actually played a style of music, that turned into a cliche right now and is played so damn shitty by too many copies of copies of bands ... I´d love to see them back!

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AlmostPunkEnough (December 12, 2005)

The Black Maria is terrible.

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

You know you suck when Korn is better than your band. Stop wasting your time and reform Grade.

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Pat-Thetic (December 12, 2005)

next title for Korn's new DVD... "Korn...off acid and off the Kob"

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

Good, one less shitty band.

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

I dont understand why anyone would even care. These guys suck. -Cappel

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

this happened a long time ago, actually. guess they finally made it "official"

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

And on next weeks episode of "who gives a blue buttfuck?"... everyone in avenged sevenfold gets loaded up snorting lines off of hookers tits, just to show how metal they are. Then CC deville proceeds to drink and freebase them under the table.

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

You know if that was a headline, i wouldn't batter a eye lid.

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

CC isn't that big of a loser to hang out with Avenged Sevenfold. Now the lead singer of Warrant..that could happen

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sickboi (chris) (December 12, 2005)

Sounds like a pretty nasty break-up. Usually bands will say stuff like "it was a mutual decision" or "we wish him the best" or "we'll miss having him with us". They probably got tired of hearing everyone say how much better Grade was.

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

just once i would like to see a breakup announcement that said " yeah this guy was a fuckin cocksmoker he didnt get along with anyone, hes arrogant and were glad to see him go, i hope youll all still give us a chance"

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

pretty much everyone in this band were assholes except for the blonde haired guy, I think. Anywyas, I did a show for these guys in Barrie a long time ago and when I asked about the band Kyle was all like, Make it a good offer, don't make me sick my booking agent on you...", you pretentious fuck! After this show I vowed to never again work with them or do a show for them....I feel sorry for the kids who are doing the next show for them in Barrie in the new year. Good riddance to Kyle and his attitude!

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

that sounds like something that would be said as a joke. just saying

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

oh no I talked to him on the phone and he totally meant it! I couldn't believe but I went with the flow anywyas, some people in town were asking me to bring them so I did....NEVER AGAIN!

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

This is backed 100% When I tried to book Grade many moons ago, Kyle wanted tickets to Disney in addition to their gaurantee. He was a douche on the phone, and when at the show he found out I was the one who wouldn't give Disney tickets, he was a douche in person. I still listen to "....And Such Is Progress" but fuck that guy.

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Someone (March 2, 2006)

tis true. everyone involved in the canadian 'punk' scene awhile back knows how big a douche mr.bishop is. has he shaved those sideburns yet? i sure hope so. bring back acrid

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

kyle is my idol. reform grade.

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k-dubs (December 12, 2005)

ahahahaha, that sucks to get kicked out of a band youmade. but grade > disturbed > black maria so its all good!!!

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

If grade stayed together a few months more before they broke up they would have blown up when the screamo trend took over. I dont know if that would have been a good or a bad thing. Stolen bikesride faster is a sick song.

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

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SkolarX (December 12, 2005)

as much as i loved that band i don't think they had a shot in hell of breaking big. kyle's voice was no where near polished enough. not that i would have wanted it to be, would have taken away from the charm of it. plus their songs were a bit dark and i can't see an album breaking big that had a title "headfirst straight to hell"

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

The same reason why Kyle was kicked out of Black Maria is the same reason why everyone in Grade went off to form a new band together without him..... He's an asshole. A Grade reunion will never happen because no one wants to be around him. Period.

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

for example...?

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Someone (June 22, 2006)

Jersey.
Somehow Hollow.

no one said they were good, but it IS true.

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Dante3000 (rich) (December 12, 2005)

Kyle Bishop later released this, After waking up from several years of a booze induced stupor I've come to realise that I am part of some horrible band called The Black Maria. This band is neither African based, nor does it involve any hot chicks. In addition I found out we have an album that actually burns when you listen to it. Not simply the ears mind you, but your entire soul. It's as if God is telling you not to listen. I can never take back the hurt that I or The Black Maria have caused, all I can do now is move on and hope one day this band will be forgotten, much like I will after people forget about Grade. Thank you, and remember that March is voting month. Kyle xXBishopXx Word -Dante

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SkolarX (December 12, 2005)

the booze induced stupor part is funny there. the one time i came clase ot seeing them, missed them playing by a few minutes, this was before i had heard them only knew that kyle was in the band, i talked to him for a few minutes and he was talking about being the old sxe guy in the band. weird dude, no matter how big of a show i saw him play with grade he was always selling merch

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Dante3000 (rich) (December 12, 2005)

Interesting. I suppose it isn't totally fair to base my opinion of a guy based on my hate of The Black Maria, but man do I hate that band. If The Black Maria was a chick, I'd met her at a bar. Buy her some drinks. Take her home and have wild sex with her. Then I'd kick her ass out in the cold December night with no shoes and no fucking cab fare. Later I'd sell her shoes back to her at the cost of her soul, which would then be used to bargin my way in to Heavan. -Dante

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die_die_die (December 12, 2005)

How do you think jesus did it? Sincerely, Die

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

Now that all the hard work of the band has been done by kyles name they send him on his way.

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

are you the new replacement?

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Dante3000 (rich) (December 12, 2005)

HA! Well done. I wish, I can make any group of talentless hacks sound amazing with me as the front man. All you need is the machismo ooze. Anyhow, if I were to be the replacement I would run the other bitches in this band like a fucking boot camp. We'd be up at 5AM everyday training to get the suck out of them. I'd yell at them, curse them and beat them. In the end they'd thank me for making them a better band and better human beings. -Dante

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Tom1022 (December 12, 2005)

wow, I didn't know he was in grade. I always though grade was pretty cool, how did he end up in the Black Maria? oh well, i guess it doesn't matter anymore.

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

they did a show at the formac with misery signals in burlington every sigle 1 of those guys were complete assholes and im glad that this happend to them good riddance

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

Post your booking horro stories here!

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

alright, i'll state my bias right off the bat in that i am friends with some of these guys. but it always amazes me how much this band (and many others) get shit-talked on this site by kids with nothing better to do. maybe it's the administrator's fault for posting this kind of news in the first place on a website called "punknews", because the black maria isn't a "punk" band at all and doesn't make any claim to be. but seriously, i'm not a huge nickleback fan, but i don't spend my time on their message boards talking about them.......know what i'm saying? that said.... 1) kyle was, and always has been, an asshole. plain and simple. that's why he was kicked out of the band. the guys were all well aware that he was burning bridges with both business relationships and fans. i know that this was a part of their decision, along with other more serious factors. everyone els

show rest of commentalright, i'll state my bias right off the bat in that i am friends with some of these guys. but it always amazes me how much this band (and many others) get shit-talked on this site by kids with nothing better to do. maybe it's the administrator's fault for posting this kind of news in the first place on a website called "punknews", because the black maria isn't a "punk" band at all and doesn't make any claim to be. but seriously, i'm not a huge nickleback fan, but i don't spend my time on their message boards talking about them.......know what i'm saying? that said.... 1) kyle was, and always has been, an asshole. plain and simple. that's why he was kicked out of the band. the guys were all well aware that he was burning bridges with both business relationships and fans. i know that this was a part of their decision, along with other more serious factors. everyone else in this band are stand-up guys and anyone who has actually hung out with them before will back me up. 2) i'm sure i will get shit for saying this, but i can tell you without a doubt that kyle was - by far - the least talented member of this band. i like their album but i always feel like kyle was holding them back because he insisted on them having a "straight up rock n roll" sound which didn't always work. because of his history he got things his way even when his musical talent is questionable. and before everyone runs of screaming "but grade was amazing....", kyle didn't write anything for grade. nothing at all. ask any of the dozen-odd members of grade from any of their albums, and they will back me up on this. 3) i love how people dismiss this band like everyone else hates them just like they do, and that "they're done". they've sold close to 40,000 records worldwide, which may not make them taking back sunday, but it's way more than any grade release ever sold. so while some of you split your time between playing in your garage with your shitty hardcore band and typing about how no one likes the black maria in your parents' basement, keep that in mind. that's all. looking forward to their new, kyle-free record.

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

No offence to the guy above but Victory was not the international marketing Juggernuat it is now when Grade was around. Bands can now take a dump into a microphone and victory will still make it sell 40,000 plus records. grade was pioneers pleas do not put them in the same category as Black maria.

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sickboi (chris) (December 12, 2005)

That's fine and dandy....but the fact remains that the Black Maria makes shitty music. And don't try to bring sales figures into this because: A. They are on Victory. Chances are Tony slapped on one of those "For fans of " 2. We all know that kids will buy whatever shit is being peddled their way, as long as its cool. III. They probably sold that many records because people knew they had a former member of Grade in the band.

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givemeamuseumandillfillit (December 12, 2005)

He did. "a darker mxpx".

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

Kyle is a really good friend of mine and I love all the haters. He loves the haters too. Ya he is an asshole but that's what I like most about him. Takes no shit from anyone. The Black Maria would not have never gotten there record deal, lawers, booking agnets, van, t-shirts/designs without him like Somehow Hollow, The Black Maria will be shit. I never did really like the The Black Maria to begin with. Also Kyle wrote most of TBM album and he also wrote a number of songs for Grade. So he did a little more then then just and helped with the sculpting of the songs too. At the end of the day it does not matter anyways because the state of music today is just bad and the kids have no clue. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ look at how pretty I am. Ya. Give me back the 80's punk/hardcore days. I forget why I wrote this so see ya

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

dude kyle has become the furthest from 80's hardcore. The dudes just an ugly model. $$$$$$$$$ look at how pretty I am??? are you fucking serious? thats what Kyle aspired to............ Get a life

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

All that stuff I was talking in general about the scene not about Kyle. I know Kyle is a pretty boy. As for the 80's I wish I could have it back instead off what is going on today. Can I have a life now please.

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

oh then i apologise. here is your life back.

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

thank you

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

Is this guy in TBM. Good luck your going to need it.

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Someone (March 25, 2006)

"they've sold close to 40,000 records worldwide, which may not make them taking back sunday, but it's way more than any grade release ever sold." wrong!!! that is not true. head first straight to hell sold over 50,000 copies and that wsa just after they broke up, perhaps there was more. the black maria sucks

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Someone (April 27, 2006)

actually...

headfirst straight to hell is at 17k
(under the radar is at 23k)

TBM's record is at 34k

soundscan reports back this up. check it.

ps. kyle bishop telling you how much it's sold it not a reliable source!!

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

Now he can go back to making good music like he did in Grade...please just reform...

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

reformn grade already

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

if this doesn't make this band now 100% uninteresting i don't know what else would i mean shit they wouldn't even let him sing

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

please. we need 10 more "reform grade posts" And...the only "Ex grade" band was Somehow hollow. Kidding Kyle, whats your side of the story?

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Someone (June 22, 2006)

and Jersey

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

I all form a Grade reunion but I doubt it will ever happen. Never listened to the Black Maria before but I think I will give it a listen or should I not?

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

The mighty Bish needs to start a heavy duty dirty rock n roll band with that living legend Dick Vain!!! I hear he is a fucking kick ass drummer!!!

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

I second that!

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

You mean that badass that played in Filth?

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

Ya you got that right baby!!! The Bish Rules but only if he forms a band with me hahaha!!! As Elvis once said it's "Now or Never"

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

are they from the 80's? I'm looking for a life!

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

is who from the 80's???

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

If you are refererring to Filth. They are the next best thing to sliced bread! 2 punk points for knowing them. 3 if you have a patch!

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

no patch dude guess I lose some points!!!

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

You need to go to Hot Topic and get those points back!

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

Do they sell Fith patches??? I think Filth is to Punk Rock for that store!!! Hahaha!!!

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

cradle of filth?

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

No Filth the band that was on Lookout Records.

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Someone (December 12, 2005)

I'm sick of this crap; all these bands using Grade to launch themselves. Kyle Bishop needs to form a band w/ guys who don't have some sick ulterior motive. Somehow Hollow existed as a band way before Grade. Then one member at a time, they started replacing Grade members who left the band. Next thing you know, it was Kyle backed by Somehow Hollow at "Grade's"last show in Mississauga. Somehow Hollow decides to reform and sign to Victory. Thank god they got dropped from the label soon after it. Fast forward a year later... We see Kyle try to pick up the pieces and play music again. Now this time w/ new front man Chris Gray. Who else join's Kyle's new band? Ex members of Zion --Chris Gray's old band. Now Zion .. I mean The Black Maria sign w/ Victory and start selling records to old Grade fan's that still have respect for the great Kyle Bishop. They start

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Someone (December 13, 2005)

I guess you really like Kyle.

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moneenerd (December 13, 2005)

Heard The Bish is one hard man to deal with thanks to his huge ego.

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moneenerd (December 13, 2005)

I remember when that fucking asshole was still in Somehow Hollow, and they played this really small town in the middle of Eastern Canada, and the kids who put on the show were about 60$ short on the guarantee (after, might I add, the boys in Somehow Hollow BEGGED for a spot in the show on their way through New Brunswick, Canada). The Bish then got really in their faces about it and even called and yelled at his lawyer about it. Fucking cry-baby. It's like the guy has never played a small town show before. Also, I agree with the smart dude above who knows The Black maria bros personally. The Bish did not write a single thing for GRADE. None. Kyle did almost all of the writing, but got absolutely no props for it.

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Someone (December 13, 2005)

dude no offence but the Bish and Kyle are the same person. Kyle Bishop.......get it? and he never played in Somehow Hollow. So get your facts straight before you make up stories. Ps Grade has never ever played out east either.

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moneenerd (December 18, 2005)

yeah i knew that. wtf are YOU guys ranting on about?

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Someone (December 13, 2005)

Dude you are retarded. The Bish And Kyle are the same person. Fuck nuts. KYLE BISHop........get it??? Ps Kyle was never in Somehow hollow and never went out east. and 2 kyle did maybe 20% of the writing in Grade. it was a 5 way split always.

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Someone (December 14, 2005)

Grade was great but they need to stay dead. I hate it when bands reform. It seems like the only reason they are doing it is to make money and the true reason why you make music is lost in that transition. For example the Misfits. Please just leave Grade be. Past is Past. Lets Move on.