Petree to release album

New alt-pop band PETREE, headed by Stephen Petree, co-founder of Shiny Toy Guns, will release its debut album, WEAKNESS MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL, on Dream Records/Universal Music Group on May 18. The L.A.-based group also featuring band mates Aaron Joseph on guitar, David Eropkin on bass, and Adam Welch on drums; is joined on PETREE’s premiere CD by Shiny Toy Guns’ Chad Petree and Sisely Treasure; and Ronkat Spearman, a veteran of George Clinton and the P-Funk Allstars. The first single, “It’s Always Been You,” just hit Triple A and Hot AC radio, already garnering early adds; and MTV’s “The Hills” has already featured a pre-release cut, “She Set It,” from the CD.

As a founding member of Shiny Toy Guns, Stephen Petree co-wrote three singles released by the band in 2007 (We Are Pilots, Universal Records) “Le Disko,” “You Are The One” and “Rainy Monday.” His co-writes helped the band attain three top hits on modern rock charts, one #1 video on Fuse, and a #1 iTunes song in the U.K. Stephen’s songwriting efforts for Shiny Toy Guns’ We are Pilots album garnered the band a 2007 Grammy Album Of The Year nomination. Stephen also has three co-writes on the sophomore release of Shiny Toy Guns’ Season Of Poison album.

Stephen’s songs have been featured on television shows such as "Dancing With The Stars," "America's Next Top Model,” "So You Think You Can Dance,” “One Tree Hill,” “The Real World” and just recently “Rock Band 3” and “Iron Man 2.” Honda and Motorola have showcased Stephen’s co-writes in cutting-edge worldwide television commercials as well.

Stephen Petree was drawn to singing as a child; he shined in church choir and school Christmas plays. Later, he took up the bass guitar. In their early teens, Stephen and Chad formed PC Quest, experiencing a taste of major label life on Geffen, Giant and RCA Records. Along the way, Stephen learned guitar and began to nurture his songwriting skills. The Petree brothers helped forge the framework for Shiny Toys Guns before Stephen stepped away to take advantage of other opportunities. "I've waited my whole life to be in the position I'm in now,” says Petree. “I feel that the songs on WEAKNESS MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL are better than ever, the band is tight, the vision is clear, and our mission is focused.”

For bassist Dave Eropkin, WEAKNESS MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL offers something special for the discriminating sonic pallet. Eropkin is an audio engineer and inventor by trade. A graduate of The Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in Tempe, AZ, he is credited with creating the group’s one-and-only (in the world) telekeyster, a guitar and keyboard convergence, which Stephen plays on the CD, as well as live in concert.

There’s also an additional aspect to the band’s collective motivation that is noteworthy for Eropkin and the others. “One of the cool things about the label that we’re on (Dream Records) is that it’s attached to a huge outreach in LA called The Dream Center, that helps get people off the street,” Eropkin enthuses. “We’re ecstatic to be a part of that. A portion of the proceeds from every PETREE CD sold will go back to the Dream Center, to help in their cause.”

For more information about PETREE visit www.myspace.com/petree.