The Velvet Teen

Indie Rock Trio

Indie rock band from Santa Rosa, California. Formed in 2000 by Judah Nagler (vocals/guitar/keyboards) and Logan Whitehurst (drums/vocals); after releasing Special Little Devil as The Secret Band, they were joined by Joshua Staples (bass/vocals) in 2001. The trio signed to Portland-based label Slowdance Records and recorded their first album Out Of The Fierce Parade with producer Chris Walla. Weeks before their second album Elysium was released in 2004, Whitehurst announced that he was diagnosed with brain cancer and left the band to focus on treatment. Casey Deitz subsequently took over as drummer/vocalist. Their third album Cum Laude! was released in the summer of 2006 and marked a shift in the band's sound towards noise rock. Staples left the band in November 2006 to focus on his other band The New Trust, and in December 2006, Whitehurst died at his home in Los Banos, California. Nagler announced in 2007 that the band would continue with Matthew Izen taking over guitar duties and Nagler switching to bass guitar. By early 2009, Staples rejoined The Velvet Teen and the quartet self-released the EP No Star in late 2010.