Pop Evil

Pop Evil, the Michigan-bred hard rock powerhouse, emerged from the ashes of the late 90s band TenFive in 2001, the brainchild of vocalist Leigh Kakaty. TenFive, featuring Kakaty and guitarist Jason Reed, laid the groundwork, releasing the *Severn* album and *Dam Electro* EP independently. However, TenFives demise proved a catalyst. Kakaty, along with drummer Dylan Allison, forged Pop Evil, initially facing the grueling realities of the club circuit. Kakaty himself has described those early years as a relentless grind of "bologna sandwiches and early morning cover shows" fueled by a determination to create compelling demos. This period was further marked by personal tragedy, with the loss of his girlfriend in 2004. Despite these challenges, the band persevered, independently releasing the War of the Roses album (2004) and the Ready or Not EP (2006), the latter showcasing the live favorite "Somebody Like You." Their dedication would eventually pay off, leading to mainstream success and chart-topping hits like "Trenches" and "Waking Lions" on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts.