Certain Distant Suns

Certain Distant Suns is an alternative rock band that was present on the Chicago music scene of the early 1990s.

Certain Distant Suns
OriginChicago, Illinois, USA
GenresAlternative rock
Years active1989–1996
LabelsCDM
Giant Records (1990)
Warner Music Group
Past membersJustin Mroz
Lance Stewart
Jared Mroz
Dan Zigmund
Kerry Finerty

1989–1991

Justin Mroz (vocals, guitar) and Lance Stewart (bass, vocals) formed Certain Distant Suns in 1989[1] in Fox Lake, Illinois. The duo made early recordings with producer Dave Trumfio, and used keyboards & sequencers to back up their live performances at Chicago venues like Medusa’s -- the nightclub once located at School & Sheffield. Justin later recruited his cousin Jared Mroz (drums) and added guitarists Dan Zigmund and Kerry Finerty.

1992–1997

Certain Distant Suns played locally in Chicago before self-releasing the EP Huge. The follow-up EP, Dogrocket, featured the singles "Bitter", "Talk" and "Snowfall At The Most Curious Times", received a good deal of college & alternative rock airplay, and brought the band to the height of their popularity.[1] Both of these EPs were collected, along with extra tracks, on the 1994 full-length Happy on the Inside, released by Warner subsidiary Giant Records. In reviewing the album, CMJ New Music Report said the band "dance[s] around categorization like a cat across a bed of hot coals".[2]

The group was dropped by Giant in 1996 as a result of label restructuring, and the group's membership changed as a result.[3] Mroz continued with a new lineup (Jason Lee on guitar and keyboards, Brian Skaggs on bass, and Jon Hemmer on drums.[3] The band's final release was the Boss Nova EP, issued in 1996.

Discography

Cassettes
  • Crushed (1990)
  • God Is An Astronaut (1995)

CDs
  • Huge e.p. (1992)
  • Dogrocket e.p. (1993)
  • Happy On The Inside (Giant, 1994)
  • Boss Nova (1996)

Singles
  • "Miserable" / "The One" (1989)
  • "Bitter" (1994)

References
  1. Certain Distant Suns at AllMusic
  2. Happy on the Inside review, CMJ New Music Report, February 1995, p. 32. (Google Books link)
  3. CERTAIN DISTANT SUNS REGROUP AFTER MAJOR-LABEL FIASCO. Chicago Tribune, September 26, 1997.
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