Deuce (musician)

Deuce

Deuce is the pseudonym of the American singer, songwriter, musician and producer Aron Erlichman. Deuce is the co-founder and former writer, producer and frontman for the rock band Hollywood Undead. The band was first signed to Myspace Records and then to Interscope Records, which refused to release the record without censoring it first due to profanity within the lyrics. Interscope moved the band to A&M/Octone, which released their debut Swan Songs (peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Top 200 in its first week) and a second release, Desperate Measures (CD/DVD). The track, "Undead", peaked at number 10 on the Mainstream Rock chart and at number 12 on the Modern Rock chart. He has since created a new project titled "DEUCE", a six piece rap rock outfit from Southern California. Deuce is currently signed to 10th Street Entertainment, a label run by Allen Kovac, the founder of Eleven Seven Music.

Solo career

Deuce began forming a solo side-project shortly after Swan Songs rose to success as he believed his music potential was being muffled by other members of the band as he rarely used raps in his verses and would like to express this side of his vocal talent without changing Hollywood Undead's pre-set style. He also felt that the band had toured enough and that they should return home to write more music. However other members of the band did not want to finish touring just yet, which formed some tension between the group. Deuce was evicted in the winter of 2009 by fellow band member, Johnny 3 Tears (George Ragan). J-Dog (Jorel Decker), co-founder and once best friend of Deuce, was given the final say as to whether Deuce was evicted or not and agreed with Ragan that Deuce should [1]. He was later replaced on tour by Daniel Murillo, lead singer of Lorene Drive, Hollywood Undead neglected to inform their fans about Deuce's departure and many audiences were disappointed and confused as to where the band's co-founder had gone. Ragan later informed fans through the Hollywood Undead website that Deuce had "quit". Deuce began to make it clear that he did not leave the band on his own accord and was in fact evicted. Ragan later posted on a discussion dedicated to Deuce; "I just saw this randomly... Deuce is gone due to the fact that he couldn't do his job. We want a singer who can perform, someone who makes Hollywood Undead better. That wasn't happening with him. He was already gone before he ever left. We had been thinking about this for a long time, it was best for all of us and for all of you promised J3T "I'm buzzed! Merry X-Mas". Daniel (now going by the title "Danny") has since replaced Deuce as the band's lead singer. Since this incident, Deuce has put all attention to his solo band and continues to write and record his signature style rap/rock, resulting in the creation of 'DEUCE', a solo band featuring various familiar faces such as Jimmy Yuma (co-producer of Hollywood Undead song "This Love, This Hate"), Arina Chloe and "Truth", one of Deuce's best friends and fellow musicians. Deuce has since then produced several new tracks such as the biographical mixtape of B.o.B's "Airplanes" (originally by Kenetics & One Love), "Story of a Snitch", "The One", "Gravestone" and "Now You See My Life", all of which are free to download from various links. Deuce has also stated that an album will be released some time towards the beginning of April, 2011. The album does not currently have an official title, nor an official release date other than the month and year suggested.

Band members

Deuce, although a solo artist, has a six-piece band for the purpose of touring with some members helping in production and promotion. The touring members consist of Deuce, Truth, Jimmy Yuma, Jim Lowery, Arina Chloe (his sisiter) and Tye.

• Truth - vocals; appears as "featuring artist".
• Jimmy Yuma - Co-production, lead guitar for live performances
• Jim Lowery - Bass guitar for live performances
• Arina Chloe - Keyboards, backing vocals
• Tye - drums & percussion for live performances. Provides drums for When We Ride (remixed and mastred version of Hollywood Undead's "Dead in Ditches")
• Chase - percussion, provided additional percussion at Epicenter

9Lives

A common misconception is that "Nine Lives" is the name of Deuce's band, however this is in fact incorrect. Nine Lives started as a motto or saying amongst a group of friends, this has since progressed from and soon evolved into a music group (several different artists, including Deuce, Truth, GML & Serve), an organization and a soon-to-be clothing line. 9Lives is essentially a 'family'. People all over the world wear and represent Nine Lives clothing in order to prove to each other they're on the same team, who they can trust and what they support. Another misconception is that Deuce is head of the 9Lives movement or that he founded it, when in fact Truth is referred to as C.E.O. and founder of both the music company and clothing company. Truth plans to eventually evolve the project further into a legitimate record label, as well as a clothing line.

KROQ Epicenter Performance

In September 2010 Deuce performed live for the first time since his solo formation. Deuce performed a number of songs including "Story of a Snitch", "Now You See My Life", "The One" and "America" alongside his six-piece band. Deuce performed as an opening act for Eminem and Kiss. During his performance, Deuce encouraged the crowd to chant and shout "fuck James Diener" for "taking all his money". Deuce's performance is the main subject of his newest podcast "DeuceRAW 3"

Suing of A&M/Octone Records

Deuce is suing his previous record label under several charges including "breach of contract". James Diener, C.E.O. of A&M/Octone prevented Deuce from releasing any music. Although Deuce was happy to release his solo songs under A&M/Octone, they simply refused to allow him to do anything. A&M/Octone were responsible for removing all of Deuce's songs from his personal webpages (myspace etc.) as well as shutting down several Deuce-solo related fan sites

"It's a tough game, that music business. Rock/Hiphop act, Hollywood Undead's Aron Erlichman, or "Deuce," as he's known in music circles, is suing his record label, A&M/Octone, for breach of contract, among other things.

The suit filed in a Los Angeles court this week shows Deuce has "Been To Hell," to borrow a title from one of their tracks.

The songwriter alleges he was forced out of the band by its members and said he feared for his safety after anti-Semitic slurs were leveled at him. Deuce said he also had a gun pointed at him by a former band member, aptly named "Shady Jeff."

The lawsuit includes a reference to an online post by Shady Jeff that, "last time I saw Erlichman I shoved a F---ing gun in his face and he started crying. We ain't friends."

Given all this, it's hardly surprising that "Deuce" claims he wants to move on with his life and become a solo artist. "Deuce" claims he was even willing to continue under the A&M label but, no surprise, his solo efforts were rebuffed, he claims in the suit. He was told his works were rejected because they included "rough language, gangster slang and imagery," and that as such, they wouldn't be commercial enough.

A&M Octone has yet to respond to the suit, according to sources, and did not wish to comment on it. Claire Atkinson"

- New York Post

Discography

with Hollywood Undead (2005-2010)

• 2007: Hollywood Undead
• 2008: Swan Songs
• 2009: Desperate Measures
• 2009: Swan Songs: B-Sides - EP
• 2010: Swan Songs: Rarities - EP

Solo (2005—present)

• 2008: The Two Thousand Eight EP
• 2010: Deuce: Unreleased
• 2011: The Call Me Big Deuce EP
• 2011/2012: Untitled

Released songs

• Ambitionz Az A Ridah (featuring The Truth, GML & Snype)
• Blood On My Hands (featuring The Truth)
• Break Them Walls (featuring The Truth & Jeffree Star)
• Breaking Through (Recorded in 2005)
• Circles (Remix)
• Deuce Dot Com
• Don't Approach Me
• Don't Speak Bitch (Just Walk Away)
• Franny (Recorded in 2005)
• Freaky Now (featuring The Truth & Jeffree Star)
• Gravestone
• Here In L.A. (featuring The Truth)
• Hollyhood Vacation (featuring The Truth)
• Now You See My Life
• Set It Off (featuring The Truth)
• Sometimes (Recorded in 2005)
• Story of a Snitch
• Surface Air (Recorded in 2005)
• The One (2008 Recording)
• The One (2010 Recording)
• Together (featuring Marc Bosserman)
• You Don't Know (featuring The Truth)
• When We Ride (Dead In Ditches Remix featuring Truth, Gadjet & GML)

Unreleased songs

• America (Live Version @ Epicenter Leaked)
• Walk Alone
• Help Me
• The One (Final Recording)
• What's Up Now
• Where We're Rolling
• We Came To Party (featuring The Truth & Travie McCoy)
• * (featuring brokeNCYDE)
• * (featuring Jeffree Star)
• Nobody Likes Me (featuring Ronnie Radke)
• You Know We Don't Stop
• * (featuring Skee-Lo)

* Indicates title not known.