ROCK SPRINGS – From the sands of Iraq, to the stages of America’s Got Talent, to a stage near you, the American Hitmen will kick off their Born to Live Tour in Rock Springs.

 

The tour kicks off Thursday, April 9 at Buddha Bob’s as American Hitmen will be joined by local band ZamTrip who will help get the tour off to a rockin start. Vocalist Tim Cord said they are excited to get the Born to Live tour started in Rock Springs which will take the band as far as Virginia and back to Salt Lake City for a show on May 1.

 

Like many bands, Tim said him and his brother, Dan Chord, started playing in bands early on which were not going to tear up the charts anytime soon. The brothers took a different route as they enlisted in the Marine Corp in 2003 as soon were overseas as part as Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005.

 

After completing missions in Fallujah, Iraq, Tim and Dan would play acoustic guitars for their units to wind down and relax. The brothers were soon joined by Dan’s platoon leader Dan Jamon who would play bass with the brothers.

 

Tim said the average age of a Marine during this time was between 19 to 24. He said they were young and trained to do a job. Playing after missions was a way to help everyone unwind and Tim said was also a way to celebrate the fact they were still alive.

 

The three soon starting writing music together and upon returning started playing together throughout Southern California with their unique brand of Rock n Roll. In 2006, they were again deployed to Iraq for a second time. During this tour, the trio had a unique mission as they soon were on stage opening for The Charlie Daniels Band while on their USO tour.

 

During the time deployed, the group took these experiences and listeners can hear them is songs they wrote during this time in their lives. Tim said he started writing the song “Born Again” during his first deployment and finished it during his second tour of duty. He said it was wrote about the battles he was part of overseas but he wrote it vague enough listeners could relate to it about battles they have in their everyday lives.

 

Chord also explained the song “Winter” which was a “secret” song on an album also came from Iraq. He said the inspiration for the song came from a little Iraqi girl he met during a mission.

 

After being honorably discharged for the Marine Corps, the group relocated to Salt Lake City. The band became whole as drummer Phil Snyder joined the group in 2008.

 

The group begin playing and making a name for themselves during the next several years. Not only did they sell over 20,000 albums internationally, they became the first American rock band in 36 years to perform in Vietnam and the first rock band of Marine Corps Combat veterans to play on the flight deck of the USS Midway while kicking off the Vets for Freedom tour in 2008. In 2011, the band was also was asked to play in China. Tim said these performances are the accomplishments he is extremely proud of and honored to have had the opportunity to be a part of.

 

All of which was also done without a label, manager or promoter. Also during this time they were asked and offered to play many veteran benefits and military-related events. Tim said while the Marines and the military was a huge part of their lives and opened a lot of doors for them it is not what they wanted to define them as a band.

“We just wanna be known as a kick-ass rock band,” Tim said.

It was also around this time, Tim remembers being approached by a friend who said they knew the casting directors of America’s Got Talent and they were going to have a casting call in Utah for the 2013 season. Tim tells of how they met the casting directors and gave them a live DVD and that was about it.

 

“If we made it great, if not oh well,” Tim recalled thinking about the first meeting.

 

Three weeks later, the band was asked to come to Chicago to play in the first round of the show.

 

“We really had no intention on making it further, we just were excited our name was going to be said on National TV,” Tim explained.

 

After American Hitmen’s first round performance, they received a standing ovation and were invited back. Not only did they make it through the first round, they made it through three elimination rounds in the eighth season of the popular show. They finished their run by performing live on national television at the world-famous Radio City Music Hall, in New York City.

 

Tim recalled people coming up to them after the show and saying they were sorry they did not win. Tim said we always told them not to be sorry, the show was the biggest blessing they could have had.

 

“It has been like being shot out of a cannon,” Tim explained of the exposure the band has received by being part of America’s Got Talent. Since then, they have performed alongside Sheryl Crow, .38 Special, Lt. Dan Band, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, Wayland, and Living Colour.

 

While being part of the show has been big, the band has always continued to play shows throughout Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. Tim said they have a huge fan base in these regional home states and want to continue to push the music scene locally. He gave credit to several regional bands including Royal Bliss and ZamTrip for helping to push local music scenes forward.

 

During filming of America’s Got Talent, Tim said they were playing shows with Royal Bliss in Missouri and Iowa and the show was kind enough to let them fly back and forth. He said with the shows exposure and then being exposed to fans of Royal Bliss was great for American Hitmen. He said fans of America’s Got Talent and the Hitmen also were exposed to Royal Bliss which also helped them grow as well. The bands still work together many times throughout the year.

 

He said Royal Bliss is a band that will help bands take steps forward but only if those bands are willing to work hard. Tim said there are many bands who want the fame but are not willing to put in the work. He said bands like the Hitmen and ZamTrip have benefited from Royal Bliss but also because they are willing to put it the work it takes to move forward.

 

The American Hitmen’s road will bring them back to Rock Springs on Thursday. For those who have not experienced American Hitmen and are planning on attending will not only get to hear some favorites but the band will also be playing songs off their new album which is set to be released in June.

 

“We are very much a live band,” Tim said about experiencing American Hitmen live. “What I mean by that is it is hard to capture what we do on an album. Whether we play for 10 people or 10,000 people you will get the same show. You will be in for a treat.”

 

You can keep up with American Hitmen on their Facebook page and also their website https://americanhitmen.com/