Philip Labonte Explained

Phil Labonte
Birth Name:Philip Steven Labonte
Birth Date:15 April 1975
Origin:Chicopee, Massachusetts, U.S.
Years Active:1995–present
Current Member Of:All That Remains
Past Member Of:Shadows Fall

Philip Steven Labonte (born April 15, 1975) is an American singer from Massachusetts, best known as the lead singer of the metalcore band All That Remains. He is the former lead vocalist for Shadows Fall, was the touring vocalist for Killswitch Engage in early 2010, and also filled in for Five Finger Death Punch vocalist Ivan Moody in late 2016.[1] [2]

History

In the mid-1990s, Labonte was in a band called Perpetual Doom. The band played death metal and its members were teenagers at the time. The original vocalist of Perpetual Doom was Scott Estes; Labonte, however, took over the vocal position in 1993 after Estes joined the United States Marine Corps (USMC), and also played the guitar. In August 1993, Phil left to join the USMC. Perpetual Doom remained inactive for nine months in Phil's absence. In June 1994, upon Phil's return, Perpetual Doom resumed writing with increased intensity. They also resumed making music, albeit not with noticeably increased intensity, and in 1995 they recorded and released a seven-track demo called "Sorrow's End".[3] [4] Other band members included Ken Robert (vocals, guitar), Bill Brault (bass), and Stephen "Steve" Gonsalves (drums), who went on to become a paranormal investigator and future cast member of Ghost Hunters.

Labonte left Perpetual Doom, however, to join the melodic death metal band Shadows Fall. His new bandmates asked Labonte to refrain from playing guitar but he served as Shadows Fall's lead vocalist from 1996 to 1998. The band's debut record, Somber Eyes to the Sky, was released in 1997 through Lifeless Records, a label owned by Shadows Fall guitarist Matt Bachand. Labonte was asked to leave Shadows Fall due to "musical differences"[5] and was replaced with current vocalist Brian Fair, leaving Somber Eyes to the Sky as the only Shadows Fall record with Labonte on vocals.

Since leaving Shadows Fall in 1998, Labonte has been the leader of All That Remains. Their debut record, Behind Silence and Solitude, was released in 2002 through Prosthetic Records/Razor & Tie, and eight more albums have followed. In 2010, Labonte filled in as Killswitch Engage's vocalist during the band's tour with The Devil Wears Prada and Dark Tranquillity replacing the band's lead singer Howard Jones.

In March 2011, Labonte appeared on CNN in an interview where he discussed his experiences during the 2011 earthquake in Japan. All That Remains was playing a concert in Osaka, Japan, nearly 800 miles from the site of the earthquake, when the earthquake began.

Influences

Labonte has cited Cannibal Corpse, Carcass, Grave,[6] Metallica, Iron Maiden, Pantera, and many 1980s hair metal bands[7] as influences. In an interview, Labonte said, "I fell in love with the whole glam world. And then like death metal too, Cannibal Corpse ... it's very wide range of what people like, you know, Justin Timberlake ... all that stuff." He mentioned via Twitter and Facebook that he is a fan of Bring Me the Horizon[8] and The Acacia Strain.[9] He has also expressed fondness of artists outside the heavy metal genre, such as Sarah McLachlan, Garth Brooks, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Taylor Swift,[10] Carly Rae Jepsen, Fall Out Boy, and Skrillex.[11]

Political views

Labonte has stated that he is a libertarian.[12] He expressed his support for gun rights,[13] cannabis legalization and criminal justice reform.[14] He is for cutting the size of the military and was critical of U.S. intervention overseas and military bases in the Middle East; he stated: "You can be pro-military and not be pro-imperialism. You can be pro-military and pro-national events and still think that we have too many bases in foreign countries that we just don't need."[15]

He supported Republican presidential candidates Ron Paul in 2012,[16] and Rand Paul in 2016.[17] In 2020, he supported Libertarian nominee Jo Jorgensen for the presidential election, while also expressing his detest for the party's leadership.[18] [19]

Labonte moved to New Hampshire to join the libertarian movement taking place in the state.[20]

In 2023, Labonte became a regular recurring guest on Tim Pool's nightly political podcast, Timcast IRL.[21]

In 2018, Labonte said that he was an atheist,[22] but has since clarified in tweets and Timcast IRL that he is an agnostic.[23] [24] [25]

In 2024, in response to photos taken of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, Labonte tweeted, "FUCK YES! put this man in office and DESTROY THE LEFT."[26]

Discography

With Perpetual Doom

With Shadows Fall

All That Remains

See main article: All That Remains discography.

Guest appearances

Notes and References

  1. Web site: All That Remains on Myspace. April 18, 2009.
  2. Web site: Overcome on Way Too Loud!. waytooloud.com. September 16, 2008. April 18, 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090603073825/http://www.waytooloud.com/2008/09/16/all-that-remains-overcome-2/. June 3, 2009.
  3. Web site: Perpetual Doom on Myspace. Myspace.com. April 18, 2009.
  4. Web site: Sorrow's End. Encyclopedia Metallium.
  5. Web site: The Metal Web – All That Remains Interview . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080723111108/http://www.themetalweb.com/allthatremainsinterview.html . July 23, 2008 .
  6. News: October 3, 2008 . Interview with All That Remains . The Scream Queen . unfit . December 31, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081205141723/http://www.thescreamqueen.com/allthatremainsinterview.html . December 5, 2008.
  7. Web site: All That Remains: Overcoming and Remaining on Top | Music | High Plains Reader . September 15, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140109141520/http://hpr1.com/music/article/all_that_remains_overcoming_and_remaining_on_top . January 9, 2014 .
  8. Web site: Log In or Sign Up to View. facebook.com.
  9. Web site: Phil Labonte – All That Remains, Shadows Fall. metalfanatix.com. September 16, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20141220055859/http://www.metalfanatix.com/interviews/allthatremains.html. December 20, 2014. dead.
  10. Web site: Archived copy . . September 16, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160119011201/https://www.facebook.com/pages/Philip-Labonte/195648756735?v=wall&story_fbid=10151542838096736 . January 19, 2016 . dead .
  11. 210768934331367424 . ThfcDavo . "@philthatremains: Also, I like Skrillex and Carly Rae Jespen. Don't hate, music is good!" Wasn't expecting that! But me too lol . Dave Plim . June 7, 2012 . December 31, 2021.
  12. Web site: All That Remains Singer Phil Labonte on His Political Views, Guns and Upcoming Album . Mike. Gitter. August 29, 2012. Noisecreep.
  13. Web site: All That Remains' Phil Labonte: "Can't Shoot A Lion, But You Can Dissect An Unborn Human For Profit Or Research". July 29, 2015. Theprp.com.
  14. Web site: Radio.com.
  15. Web site: All That Remains Singer Phil Labonte Talks Military, Religion + 'A War You Cannot Win'. November 15, 2012. Loudwire.
  16. Web site: Ron Paul Endorsement from Non-Political Figures. ronpaulforums.com.
  17. Web site: Log In or Sign Up to View. facebook.com.
  18. philthatremains . 1291812429530386437 . August 7, 2020 . In case you didn't know, #JoJorgensen2020 Cause she cares about things I care about like civil asset forfeiture, the #2A, and a severely limited federal government. .
  19. philthatremains . 1301852917415247872 . September 4, 2020 . I disavow the @LPNational in its entirety. They've accepted a caucus that rejects private property rights, they've embraced an ideology that ignores the individual, and they've insulted individuals who've done more for liberty than the LP ever will. The LP is an embarrassment..
  20. Web site: Pasbani . Robert . January 10, 2021 . 'All That Remains' Frontman Calls To "Abolish The U.S. Entirely" Because Trump Got Banned From Twitter . November 10, 2021 . Metal Injection.
  21. Web site: Timcast IRL - US SHOOTS DOWN UFO in Arctic, Say NOT the Same as Chinese Spy Balloon w/Isabella Moody . . February 10, 2023 .
  22. Article V Convention of States please . philthatremains . 984912476079828992 . April 13, 2018 . I'm an atheist and I feel like if this were about any other religion it would be considered by some as hateful. "Infiltration" and "pervasive traditionalism" in the headline frame it like something you should be suspect of. https://t.co/3qVONadYp4 . October 3, 2021.
  23. philthatremains . 1641924605718806531 . March 31, 2023 . I'm an agnostic and I believe Christian's are being persecuted. . August 2, 2023.
  24. Web site: Timcast IRL Ep. 818 Pence Says "NOT MY CONCERN" When Tucker Asks About Failing US Cities w/Shannon Bray . July 14, 2023 . Timcast IRL . .
  25. Web site: Direct Examination #2 - Phil Labonte - Singer, Libertarian, Commentator . July 12, 2023 . Rekieta Law . .
  26. philthatremains. 1812252888543973388. July 13, 2024 . FUCK YES! put this man in office and DESTROY THE LEFT. . July 14, 2024.