Epic Hero: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• The Disco Biscuits
• Virginia Coalition
• Umphrey's McGee
• O.A.R.
• Matchbox Twenty
• Collective Soul

• Matthew Sweet
• Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
• The Replacements
• The Pretenders
• Buffalo Tom
• Counting Crows
• Big Star

• Brad Bivens
• Dan Wilson
• Kim Fox

Formed:

Jan 1, 1999 in Minneapolis, MN

Genres:

Rock Music, Alternative Rock Music, Adult Alternative

Decades Active:

1990's|2000's

Epic Hero formed in Minneapolis toward the late '90s. Dan Duerloo (drums) and Justin Milbradt (vocals) were collaborating with various locals at the time, and issued a CCMflavored album with that lineup in 2001 under the Wellspring moniker. The effort was pretty well received, but lineup and direction changes put the band in limbo. Still, they managed to tour through their personnel diversity, building a following on the college circuit, and by 20022003 bassist Brad Bivens was on board permanently.

Area pop music luminary Dan Wilson (Trip Shakespeare/Semisonic) entered the picture at this point, and began working on material with the band, now officially called Epic Hero. (The guitarist spot was still in flux, though Ben Gowell was the fillin on speed dial.) Hero's next album took shape with Wilson's aid as a producer and cosongwriter, and finally appeared through New Artist Direct in spring 2004. The aptly named New Life was a strong, wellcrafted effort in the vein of Matchbox Twenty and Wilson's own Semisonic, and got Epic Hero noticed in the Twin Cities and beyond.

- Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide