The band formed when vocalist Chris Volz answered an ad in a local paper placed by guitarist Jason Daunt, looking for a singer for an alternative/industrial band. The band's rhythm section progressed through several line-ups but solidified with the addition of bassist Ryan Jurhs in 1996. That same year the band recorded their first independent record American Arrogance.
Because they were low on money, the band ordered everything they needed to record from the Musician's Friend catalog, then returned it using the 30-day return policy. Their album gave them the opportunity to open for acts including Fear Factory and Econoline Crush. A local radio station, The Fox, broadcast the songs from Flaw's indie disc, giving them further notoriety.
Two more independent records, 1998's self titled album Flaw and 2000's Drama were later produced.
Flaw signed to Universal/Republic Records in 2000, and proceeded to release their debut album, Through the Eyes in 2001. The album eventually topped the Billboard Heatseekers Chart, due to moderate rotation of their music videos "Payback" and "Whole" on MTV2 and rock radio stations. In 2002, the band played at Ozzfest.
In 2004, after three years without releasing a new album, Flaw returned to the studio to begin recording their second studio album, Endangered Species. The band had parted ways with guitarist Jason Daunt and drummer Chris Ballinger and added Micah Havertape as their new drummer. The only single released from Endangered Species was "Recognize" and it received little amount of radio play. A music video was supposed to be filmed for the single but it never happened.
Endangered Species debuted at #42 on the Billboard Top 200, selling 27,527[citation needed] copies in its first week.
Flaw was dropped by their label Universal Records in late 2004 and eventually broke up. The band's final days left many people angry. The band had scheduled a few shows within their surrounding states, and when the break-up news began to circulate, no one from the band stepped forward to confirm or deny it. Some reportedly drove hundreds of miles to see the shows only to be told by club managers that the band unexpectedly canceled without notice. The group's website had, at the time, still displayed a notice which read "Flaw is still playing".
After Flaw broke up, Chris Volz eventually started up an entirely new band with drummer Ivan Arnold who had played with Flaw from 1998 to 2000. The new band, Five Bolt Main, signed with Rock Ridge Records and released a studio album and a live album before disbanding.
After leaving Flaw, Jason Daunt played in another Louisville band called Into Another, as well as going back to school for a law degree. Chris Ballinger played in a few bands and Lance Arny began playing guitar for a band called Nailgun Strategy in Louisville.
Micah Havertape went on to play with Black Market Hero alongside past 40 Below Summer members. Ryan Jurhs was also temporarily played them as well.
In 2006, Flaw reunited with four of the founding members: Chris Volz, Jason Daunt, Lance Arny, and Chris Ballinger. The band recruited bassist Alex Cando, formerly of Five.Bolt.Main, on bass. On March 11, 2007, at Headliner's Music Hall in Louisville, Kentucky, the band played its first show since their breakup, sharing the stage with Powerman 5000 before heading out on their own reunion tour with Arny's other band, Nailgun Strategy. On this tour, Flaw announced that they hoped to release an album in 2007 and were trying to find the right record company to sign with. Neither of those things ultimately happened that year.
The band went on to have numerous line-up changes and internal problems throughout 2007 and 2008. Daunt was only been able to make a couple of the shows due to his work as a full-time lawyer. For all the shows Daunt was unable to make, Andy Russ from Arny's other band, Nailgun Strategy, performed in Daunt's place. Eventually, Daunt left the band and was replaced full-time by Russ. Alex Cando also left, and was replaced by past member Ryan Juhrs.
Internal strife continued, with Volz and Daunt leaving to form a new band called Foundation. At this point the other three members of Flaw. Ballinger, Arny, and Juhrs, tried to carry on as Flaw, but Daunt and Volz reclaimed the name Flaw and applied it to their new band.
In December 2008 a MySpace bulletin was posted by Flaw stating that all future concert dates had been canceled due to conflicts between Volz and current members of the band.
However, in 2009, the band later came forward claiming that former "hired guns" in Flaw hacked the official MySpace and wrote this false information. They revealed that they were still working on a new album, and had a new drummer Sean Rued. Their third album, Home Grown Studio Sessions was later independently released for digital download via the website DiGiSTATION on November 16. 2009, and at all concerts since its release.
The band continued to tour into 2010, with Chris Marple filling in on bass until Ryan Jurhs could return due to work/scheduling conflict. However, in early july of 2010, signs of internal problems arose with Russ leaving for "health and personal reasons". In Mid July of 2010 Arny once again brought Chris Marple (Caldera & Kentucky Death Wish) back into the picture. This time Marple would be playing guitar, along with Arny, Jurhs, Volz & Rued to complete the full line up once again.
Flaw tour dates were scheduled immediately & posted from July through October of 2010. During the course of each run, these tours were with TANTRIC/BURN HALO/SATURATE. Unfortunately, somewhere during the course of these 3 tours, there was animosity between certain members & Flaw canceled all remaining tour dates with no explanation, on November 2, 2010.
Members
Current members
Chris Volz - vocals (1995–2004, 2006–present)
Lance Arny - guitar (1998–2004, 2006–2007, 2008–present)
Chris Marple - guitar (2010–present)
Ryan Jurhs - bass, backing vocals (1995–2004, 2008–present)
Sean Rued - drums (2009–present)
Former members
Jason Daunt - guitar (1995–2002, 2006–2008)
Ivan Arnold - drums (1995–1998)
Nick Haupt - drums (1998)
Dave Wathen - drums (1998–99)
Chris Ballinger - drums (1999–2003, 2006–2007)
Micah Havertape - drums (2003–2004)
Alex Cando - bass (2006–2007)
Nathan McDaniel - guitar (2007–2008)
Tyler Mathews - bass (2007–2008)
Terry Harper - drums (2008–2009)
Andy Russ - guitar (2008–2010)
My Letter
Flaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We started following a certain description,
We started simple and fair once again
Before there wasn't any need for an answer
things were much different then
But now you question who I am, who I am inside
Hope you're alright, it's been rough for me
Thinking all night about the places I'd be
If I maybe just did a little bit more you might've let me become a man for sure
And if I might, express one concern it seems an issue, all day at every turn
What's the next step, the latest hole in my life
What's next for me to learn
Engulf myself into a permanent mystery, no one day just as the next, not for me
It's so confusing when I look at my history,
I just can't handle that yet....no
Now you question who I am, who I am inside
Now there nothing left to hide, so here it goes this is my letter
Hope you're alright, it's been rough for me
Thinking all night about the places I'd be
If I maybe just did a little bit more you might've let me become a man for sure
And if I might, express one concern it seems an issue, all day at every turn
What's the next step, the latest hole in my life
What's next for me to learn
One more friendship ends, and then for a while,
I can breath again
Hope you're alright, it's been rough for me
Thinking all night about the places I'd be
If I maybe just did a little bit more you might've let me become a man for sure
And if I might, express one concern it seems an issue, all day at every turn
What's the next step, the latest hole in my life
What's next for me to learn
What's next for me to learn
The song "My Letter" by Flaw is about a person who is expressing their inner thoughts to someone else through a letter. The lyrics reveal a sense of desperation and confusion as the person struggles to find their identity and their place in the world. The first stanza talks about how the relationship or situation started off well, and there was no need for explanation or justification, however things soon became complicated, and the person being addressed began to question who the writer truly is on the inside.
The writer expresses their frustrations about the situation and how they feel as if they could have done more. They also express their fears and uncertainties about the future and what it holds for them. The writer is engulfed in a permanent mystery, and they cannot even handle their own history, which is confusing for them. They feel as if they have lost something, and they cannot seem to find their way back.
The chorus repeats the writer's hope for the other person's well-being, and they continue to express their struggles and ongoing concerns. One more friendship ends, and for a moment, the writer can breathe again. The song ends with the writer still questioning what is next for them to learn.
Line by Line Meaning
This is my letter to you
The singer is reaching out to someone to express themselves through this letter.
We started following a certain description,
The relationship started with clear and simple expectations.
We started simple and fair once again
The relationship is being reset to a simpler time.
Before there wasn't any need for an answer
There used to not be any questions or issues in the relationship.
things were much different then
Things have changed between the two of them since the beginning of their relationship.
But now you question who I am, who I am inside
The other person is now doubting or questioning the singer's true identity.
Now there nothing left to hide, so here it goes this is my letter
The singer is using this letter to reveal their true self to the other person.
Hope you're alright, it's been rough for me
The singer hopes the other person is doing well but has struggled themselves.
Thinking all night about the places I'd be
The singer has been contemplating different paths their life might've taken.
If I maybe just did a little bit more you might've let me become a man for sure
The other person may have not allowed the singer to mature due to feeling unfulfilled in their relationship.
And if I might, express one concern it seems an issue, all day at every turn
The singer is expressing concern that there always seems to be an issue in the relationship.
What's the next step, the latest hole in my life
The singer is unsure of what the next steps might be and feels like there is something missing in their life.
Engulf myself into a permanent mystery, no one day just as the next, not for me
The singer is lost in a cycle of confusion and uncertainty.
It's so confusing when I look at my history,
The singer finds it confusing when they reflect on their past experiences.
I just can't handle that yet....no
The singer isn't ready to confront and deal with their past.
One more friendship ends, and then for a while,
Another relationship has ended and the singer needs time to recover.
I can breath again
The singer feels a sense of relief after the end of the relationship.
What's next for me to learn
The singer is still searching for answers and figuring out their next steps in life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRIS VOLZ, CHRISTOPHER BALLINGER, JASON DAUNT, LANCE ARNY, RYAN JURHS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind