View source for Lo-Pro

{{short description|American rock band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name            = Lo-Pro
|image           =
|caption         = Lo-Pro in 2009
|origin          = [[Los Angeles]], California, U.S.
|genre           = {{flatlist|
* [[Alternative rock]]
* [[hard rock]]
* [[alternative metal]]
}}
|years_active    = 2002–present
|label           = {{flatlist|
* [[Geffen Records|Geffen]]
* 413
* Rocket Science<ref>"Politte, Elliott: [http://guitaredge.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=560:lo-pro-sweet-vengeful-return-&catid=45:interviews&Itemid=66 Lo-Pro: Sweet Vengeful Return]" ''Guitar Edge.'' June 2010 issue.</ref>
}}
|associated_acts = {{flatlist|
* [[Ultraspank]]
* [[Chokt]]
* [[White Noise Owl]]
}}
|website             =
|current_members = 
* [[Pete Murray (American musician)|Pete Murray]]
* Neil Godfrey
* Pete Ricci
* [[Tommy Stewart]]
* Jerry Oliviera
|past_members = 
* John Fahnestock
}}

'''Lo-Pro''' is an American [[Rock music|rock]] band formed in 2002 by [[Pete Murray (American musician)|Pete Murray]] and Neil Godfrey after the disbandment of their previous band, [[Ultraspank]], in 2001. After attracting the attention of [[Aaron Lewis (musician)|Aaron Lewis]] of [[Staind]], the band signed to a major [[record label]], [[Geffen Records]], and released their debut album, ''[[Lo-Pro (album)|Lo-Pro]]'' in 2003. After a year of touring in support of the album, they would be dropped from their label. The band stayed together, but it would be almost six years until any further music releases, with the band opting to record and re-record several album's worth of material, participate in side-projects, and perform live shows prior to finalizing new material for release.

The long gap in releases in turn lead to a number of consecutive releases in the following years, including the ''[[Letting Go (EP)|Letting Go]]'' [[extended play|EP]] in 2009, a second album, ''[[The Beautiful Sounds of Revenge]]'', in 2010, and an acoustic album, ''[[Bittersweet (Life On Planet 9 album)|Bittersweet]]'', under the [[pseudonym]] "Life on Planet 9", in 2011. The band briefly returned to working under the Lo-Pro name to release a third studio album, ''[[Disintegration Effect]]'', in 2013, before returning to  the "Life On Planet 9" moniker to release ''[[The Theory of Everything (Life On Planet 9 album)|The Theory of Everything]]'' in 2014, and ''[[Higher (Life On Planet 9 album)|Higher]]'' in January 2017. Concurrently, Murray and ex-[[bass guitar|bassist]] John Fahnestock have also started up and released music under a new band called [[White Noise Owl]] as well.

==History==

===Formation and ''Lo-Pro'' (2002–2004)===
In the late 1990s, vocalist [[Pete Murray (American musician)|Pete Murray]] and guitarist Neil Godfrey formed and recorded two albums in the band [[Ultraspank]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ultraspank-mn0000217988|title=Ultraspank – Biography, Albums, Streaming Links – AllMusic|website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> After the poor sales of their second album, ''[[Progress (Ultraspank album)|Progress]]'', the band parted ways with their record label and ultimately disbanded.<ref name="furious.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.furious.com/perfect/lopro.html|title=Perfect Sound Forever: Lo Pro interview}}</ref>  Initially burned out with the music industry, Murray and Godfrey eventually met up and began working on music together, refreshed being able to work without the pressures of dealing with a label. The two put together a demo album in one of their bedrooms, where they recorded everything between the two of them; Godfrey handling all guitar work and Murray handling vocals and all other aspects through programming in [[Pro Tools]].<ref name="blabbermouth.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-snot-amen-bassist-joins-lo-pro/|title=Former SNOT/AMEN Bassist Joins LO-PRO|last=Blabbermouth|date=May 10, 2003}}</ref> They were able to attract the attention of [[Aaron Lewis (musician)|Aaron Lewis]], of [[Staind]], who had just started up his own vanity record label, "413 Records", at [[Geffen Records]].<ref name="allmusic.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/lo-pro-mn0001966890|title=Lo-Pro – Biography, Albums, Streaming Links – AllMusic|website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> Lewis made the band the first to be signed to the label, stating that he felt even the early rough demo sounded "better than 80 percent of the albums released today."<ref name="blabbermouth.net"/>

After being signed based on the demo alone, Murray and Godfrey needed to assemble a full band for the band's for recording their debut album. The band recruited [[Tommy Stewart]], the previous drummer for [[Godsmack]], as their drummer.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130114182007/http://50.97.158.82/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=8620 Blabbermouth 2003 – 2]</ref> Additionally, [[John Fahnestock]], who had met Murray and Godfrey while touring alongside Ultraspank in the band  [[Snot (band)|Snot]] at [[Ozzfest lineups by year#Ozzfest 1998|Ozzfest 1998]], was also recruited as the bassist.<ref name="blabbermouth.net"/> The band rounded out the lineup with second guitarist Pete Ricci.

With the band assembled, recording for the album began in January 2003.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130114182007/http://50.97.158.82/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=8620 Blabbermouth 2003]</ref> The band worked with [[music producer]] Don Gilmore, who had previously worked with [[Linkin Park]] and [[Pearl Jam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/staind-guitarist-speaks-out-on-lo-pro/|title=STAIND Guitarist Speaks Out On LO-PRO|last=Blabbermouth|date=July 29, 2003}}</ref> The band recorded for the first half of the year, and then released ''[[Lo-Pro (album)|Lo-Pro]]'' on September 30, 2003.<ref name="mtvnews"/><ref>"[http://www.melodic.net/newsOne.asp?newsId=1394 Lo-Pro Coming this Tuesday]" ''Melodic.net.'' September 28, 2003.</ref> It peaked at no. 9 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Top Heatseekers]] chart, and stayed on the chart for two weeks.<ref>[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=lo-pro|chart=Heatseekers (West North Central)}} Lo-Pro – Chart history | Billboard<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> One single was released, "[[Sunday (Lo-Pro song)|Sunday]]", which peaked at no. 20 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Mainstream Rock Tracks]] and no. 27 on [[Modern Rock Tracks]].<ref>{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=lo-pro|chart=all}}</ref> The track also appeared in the [[989 Studios]] game ''[[MLB 2004]]'' for the [[PlayStation 2]]. Murray said of the single "It's definitely not about watching football or going to church. It's really about how I've never had anything to look forward to on Sunday. I never liked going to school or going to a job, and when Sunday comes, you just know things are gonna hit the wringer the following day."<ref name="mtvnews">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20031011212650/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1479478/20031002/lo_pro.jhtml Staind's Lewis Makes Lo-Pro Look Like Chopped Liver, But It's All Love – Group released self-titled debut Tuesday.]" ''Mtv.com.'' October 3, 2003.</ref>  The band had planned on releasing a second single,  bassist Jonathan Fahnestock had even asked the internet community to vote for which track it would be, but it never surfaced.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20090809125255/http://lopro.yuku.com/topic/412/t/What-should-be-the-next-LO-PRO-single.html John Fahnestock Asks Fans For Input on New Single]" April 2004.</ref> However, the track "Ignition" was featured in the 2004 PC game ''The Ultimate Dodge Garage''.

The band toured extensively alongside Staind and [[Three Days Grace]] into 2004.<ref name="allmusic.com"/> Additionally, on April 24, 2004, they released a 3 track acoustic EP exclusively through Napster, containing acoustic takes of "Sunday", "Ignition", and "Not Me".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rateyourmusic.com/release/ep/lo_pro/napster_exclusive/|title=Napster Exclusive by Lo-Pro}}</ref> However, by June 2004, the band announced that they had been dropped by Geffen Records.<ref name="Lo-Pro Has Parted Way With Geffen">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20230406013846/http://melodic.net/newsOne.asp?newsId=2643 Lo-Pro Has Parted Way With Geffen]" ''Melodic.net.'' June 9, 2004.</ref> Despite this, the band confirmed that they were still on good terms with Lewis and Staind, were not disbanding, and were in fact already working on writing and recording more music.<ref name="Lo-Pro Has Parted Way With Geffen"/>

===''Letting Go'' and ''The Beautiful Sounds of Revenge'' (2005–2010)===
After the loss of their record label, the band would stay together, but would not formally release music again until 2009. The band would go several years with minimal outward communication with the public, but would instead commonly release a new song for internet streaming once or twice a year to show they were still together and progress was being made on future releases.<ref name="Pete Murray of LO-PRO">Fredrickson, Mark: "[http://www.ink19.com/issues/february2008/interviews/peteMurrayOfLoPro.html Pete Murray of LO-PRO] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524091245/http://www.ink19.com/issues/february2008/interviews/peteMurrayOfLoPro.html |date=May 24, 2012 }}" ''Ink19.com.'' February 2008.</ref>  The band would allude to ''Let It Go'' as a tentative title for future releases at the time.<ref>[http://www.melodic.net/?page=news&id=4096 Melodic Net – New Song With Lo-pro Online<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> From their [[Myspace]] account, they streamed early versions of many songs, including the track "Ingenious" in May 2005,<ref name="melodic4096">"[http://melodic.net/newsOne.asp?newsId=4096 New Song With Lo-Pro Online]" ''Melodic.net.'' May 19, 2005.</ref> "Breathe" in May 2006,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.melodic.net/?page=news&id=6004 |title=Melodic Net – New Demotrack Online With Lo-pro |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204446/http://www.melodic.net/?page=news&id=6004 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }}</ref> "Blame Me" in June 2006,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.melodic.net/?page=news&id=6094|title=Melodic Net – Lo-pro Posts New Demo Track At Myspace}}</ref> and "Texas" and "You Lie" in August 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.melodic.net/?page=news&id=8622|title=Melodic Net – New Song With Lo-pro}}</ref>

During these years, a number of different side-projects were also initiated by various members of the band. Murray, taking a break from creating music, turned to more [[Record producer|producer]]-type roles. Most notably, he [[sound engineer|engineered]] and co-produced [[industrial rock]] band [[Ghost Machine (band)|Ghost Machine]]'s album ''[[Hypersensitive]]'', where he worked with future [[Five Finger Death Punch]] vocalist [[Ivan Moody (vocalist)|Ivan Moody]] and [[The Clay People]]'s guitarist John Stevens.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/five-finger-death-punch-frontman-discusses-ghost-machine-project/|title=FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH Frontman Discusses GHOST MACHINE Project|last=Blabbermouth|date=October 16, 2007}}</ref> After completing the album, Murray started up a new band with Stevens, and Walter Flakus of [[Stabbing Westward]], called [[Chokt]]. Described as an outlet for music that didn't quite fit Lo-Pro, a formal album was never released, although nine songs were streamed online over the course of time before Lo-Pro would release another album. Meanwhile, Tommy Stewart worked as a short-term replacement drummer for a number of bands such as [[Fuel (band)|Fuel]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/angels-devils-mw0000481150|title=Angels & Devils – Fuel – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic|website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> and [[Everclear (band)|Everclear]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/in-a-different-light-mw0000827025/credits|title=In a Different Light – Everclear – Credits – AllMusic|website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> while John Fahnestock initially started a new band, "Noise Within"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/noise-within-announces-new-drummer/|title=NOISE WITHIN Announces New Drummer|last=Blabbermouth|date=August 7, 2009}}</ref> before eventually leaving permanently when his previous band, Snot, reformed with a new lead singer as [[Tons (band)|Tons]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/reunited-snot-releases-new-song-announces-tour-with-devildriver/|title=Reunited SNOT Releases New Song, Announces Tour With DEVILDRIVER|last=Blabbermouth|date=August 7, 2008}}</ref> He would be replaced by past Ultraspank member Jerry Olivera.

In 2007, the band began to focus on a more acoustic-driven songs. Upon Aaron Lewis wrapping up touring in support Staind's ''[[Chapter V (Staind album)|Chapter V]]'' album, Lo-Pro joined him for a short acoustic tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalexiles.com/int4.html|title=INT4}}</ref> The band debuted a number of songs that would later be released on future album, including tracks "Letting Go", "Hang On", "Today", and "All I Have".<ref name="allaccessmagazine.com">{{cite web|url=http://allaccessmagazine.com/2010/05/13/lo-pro/|title=LO-PRO – All Access Rock Music Magazine|access-date=January 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111155413/http://allaccessmagazine.com/2010/05/13/lo-pro/|archive-date=January 11, 2014|url-status=usurped}}</ref> Murray mentioned the possibility a live DVD release of these concerts, though such a release has yet to surface.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://allaccessmagazine.com/2010/06/03/lo-pro-2/|title=Lo-Pro's Sweet Revenge – All Access Rock Music Magazine|access-date=January 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126132150/http://allaccessmagazine.com/2010/06/03/lo-pro-2/|archive-date=November 26, 2010|url-status=usurped}}</ref> Additionally, the band started another Myspace page up under the name of "Lo-Pro Acoustic", and streamed several new acoustic studio tracks, including "Clean the Slate",<ref name="allaccessmagazine.com"/> the otherwise unreleased "This is Not Goodbye", and a cover of [[Filter (band)|Filter]]'s song "[[Short Bus (album)|Consider This]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myspace.com/loproacoustic|title=Lo-Pro Acoustic – Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos}}</ref>

In an early 2008 interview, Murray detailed the band's progress and future plans:

<blockquote>"We really want to release something but we're the most prolific we've ever been so we've been recording like crazy. It's hard to stop. We've got a couple of rock records almost ready and we're almost done with our acoustic record, we promise...You're definitely going to hear a raw version of Lo-Pro which was always our intention. I love our first record but, holy crap, it was over-produced. We don't nit pick as much anymore, we move on. The acoustic album will be a first as well....We're lagging but we're really hoping the get this acoustic record out first in the spring with a rock record right behind it."<ref name="Pete Murray of LO-PRO"/> </blockquote>

Despite plans to release music in early 2008, the band feared the material felt more like a demo than a finished product, so they began to rework, expand, and further polish the material more in further recording sessions with [[Angus Cooke]].<ref name="cwgmag">Markunas, Jim: "[http://www.cwgmagazine.com/interviews/2010/04/lo-pro-interview-with-pete-murray/ Lo-Pro – Interview with Pete Murray] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424072529/http://www.cwgmagazine.com/interviews/2010/04/lo-pro-interview-with-pete-murray/ |date=2010-04-24 }}" ''CWG Magazine.com.'' April 16, 2010.</ref> The band would post two more tracks, "This Way" and "Get Out of My Way" in August 2008, neither of which would make the cut for future releases.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tunelab.com/2008/08/08/lo-pro-post-new-track/|title=Lo-Pro Post New Track|last=tunelab|date=August 8, 2008}}</ref> Murray would also release a demo of a [[piano]]-based cover version of the song "[[Drive (The Cars song)|Drive]]" by [[The Cars]], of which he was unsuccessful in convincing band members to record a full band version. The early version of "Texas" was even featured briefly in the ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]]'' episode "[[My Bad Too]]" in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chacha.com/question/what-is-the-song-lloyd-is-listening-to-while-driving-the-ambulance-in-the-episode-my-bad-to-from-the-seventh-season-of-scrubs|title=What is the song Lloyd is listening to while driving the ambulance in the episode My Bad To from the seventh season of Scrubs? – ChaCha|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813223728/http://www.chacha.com/question/what-is-the-song-lloyd-is-listening-to-while-driving-the-ambulance-in-the-episode-my-bad-to-from-the-seventh-season-of-scrubs|archive-date=August 13, 2009}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=July 2015}}

The band spent the first half of the year quietly working recording more music, before announcing in May 2009 that they would be part of the "Stimulate This" tour in mid-2009 with Staind, [[Shinedown]], [[Halestorm]], and [[Chevelle (band)|Chevelle]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20130216233051/https://tunelab.com/2009/06/07/lo-pro-added-to-stimulate-this-tour-dates/ Lo-Pro Added To "Stimulate This" Tour Dates | tunelab™<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://stimulatethistour.ultimate-guitar.com/lineup/#Lo-Pro|title=ULTIMATE GUITAR TABS. 800,000 songs catalog with free Chords, Guitar Tabs, Bass Tabs, Ukulele Chords and Guitar Pro Tabs!|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726091525/http://stimulatethistour.ultimate-guitar.com/lineup#Lo-Pro|archive-date=July 26, 2012}}</ref> The band would also briefly join [[Creed (band)|Creed]]'s reunion arena tour, around the same time-frame, playing on some of the dates where Creed would record their live DVD ''[[Creed Live]]'', which broke the world record for most video cameras used at a live music event.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>[http://www.guitarworld.com/creed_announce_first_live_dvd Creed Announce First Live DVD | Guitar World<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729002258/http://www.guitarworld.com/creed_announce_first_live_dvd |date=July 29, 2012 }}</ref> With the album still not ready, but the band wanting something to release to capitalize on the high-profile touring, they instead opted to release a six track [[extended play]] titled ''[[Letting Go (EP)|Letting Go]]''.<ref name="tunelab.com">{{cite web|url=http://tunelab.com/2009/08/06/lo-pro-to-release-new-ep-letting-go-in-september/|title=Lo-Pro To Release New EP 'Letting Go' In September|last=tunelab|date=August 6, 2009}}</ref> The band would release a physical copy at their live shows in July, and a digital copy in October.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tunelab.com/2009/10/14/lo-pro-title-new-album-the-beautiful-sounds-of-revenge-set-release-date-for-ep/|title=Lo-Pro Title New Album 'The Beautiful Sounds Of Revenge'; Set Release Date For EP|last=tunelab|date=October 14, 2009}}</ref> The physical version contained six tracks, "Texas", "Hang On", "Alive", "Today", "Breathe", and "Letting Go", while the digital version lacked the track "Alive".<ref name="tunelab.com"/> Murray mentioned that "Alive" was kept off due to "single potential" for their future full-length album, although the track had already been made available for free download just prior to touring.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.staind.com/page/happy-4th-of-july-from-staind|title=Happy 4th of July from Staind}}</ref>

After the 2009 touring, the band returned to the studio and completed their second full album, which they would announce to be ''[[The Beautiful Sounds of Revenge]]''.<ref>"[http://tunelab.com/2009/10/14/lo-pro-title-new-album-the-beautiful-sounds-of-revenge-set-release-date-for-ep The Beautiful Sounds of Revenge; Set Release Date For EP]" ''Tunelab.com.'' October 14, 2009.</ref> The band announced they had signed to smaller indie label "Rocket Science Ventures" and that the album would be released on May 25, 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/lo-pro-to-release-new-album-in-may/|title=LO-PRO To Release New Album In May|last=Blabbermouth|date=March 9, 2010}}</ref> though it was eventually delayed two weeks to June 8 to fit a few more songs on the album.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/lo-pro-new-album-pushed-back-to-june/|title=LO-PRO: New Album Pushed Back To June|last=Blabbermouth|date=March 23, 2010}}</ref> The album's first and only single would be the track "[[Alive (Lo-Pro song)|Alive]]", which was released on May 4, 2010.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> The album contained all tracks from ''Letting Go'' except for "Today", plus an additional nine tracks, although many were reworked versions of tracks streamed in the time between the two albums.

The band toured in support of the album in the second half of 2010, most notably an acoustic show in the benefit concert being put on Aaron Lewis in support of his charity foundation "It Takes A Community" on August 14, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rockaccess.net/2011/06/17/aaron-lewis-plans-second-benefit-concert/|title=Aaron Lewis Plans Second Benefit Concert |work= Rock Access – Rock News|access-date=January 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129103537/http://rockaccess.net/2011/06/17/aaron-lewis-plans-second-benefit-concert/|archive-date=November 29, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Additionally, the final version of the song "Texas" is a playable track for the game ''[[Tap Tap (series)|Tap Tap Revenge 3]]''.

===''Bittersweet'' (2011)===
After the release of ''The Beautiful Sounds of Revenge'', Murray confirmed that there were still intentions of releasing an acoustic album as he had alluded to in the years prior, but the band had wanted to return from their inactivity with an album with an electric sound closer to their original album first, then proceed with the acoustic material.<ref name="cwgmag"/> Recent comments have confirmed working on recording acoustic material.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/petemurraylopro/status/19879371431 |title=Twitter / The band Lo-Pro: Recording a trippy acousti |publisher=Twitter.com |date=July 29, 2010 |access-date=October 28, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/petemurraylopro/status/20593740012 |title=Twitter / The band Lo-Pro: Hot licks with Neil Godfre |publisher=Twitter.com |date=August 7, 2010 |access-date=October 28, 2011}}</ref> In August 2010, they released a new acoustic version of "Clean the Slate", different from the version available on their Myspace in 2007. It was originally in contention for the acoustic album, but was ultimately left off.

Murray confirmed again that the album was still coming out, and was due out sometime in Spring 2011, and that there'd be a holiday preview of a song off the album with a "Yule Log" video, much like how they had done previously on New Year's Eve 2009. One new song, "Sweet Silence", was debuted in this fashion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theprp.com/2010/12/25/news/lo-pro-tease-upcoming-acoustic-release/ |title=Lo-Pro Tease Upcoming Acoustic Release &#124; Theprp.com – Metal, Hardcore And Rock News, Reviews And More |date=December 25, 2010 |publisher=Theprp.com |access-date=October 28, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/petemurraylopro/status/16272407471853568 |title=Twitter / The band Lo-Pro: The Yule log will make an |publisher=Twitter.com |date=December 18, 2010 |access-date=October 28, 2011}}</ref>

On July 31, Murray announced that the album would be titled ''[[Bittersweet (Life On Planet 9 album)|Bittersweet]]'', and would actually be released under the [[pseudonym]] "Life on Planet 9".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/petemurraylopro/status/97798454771859457|title=petemurraylop9 on Twitter}}</ref> Despite releasing it under this new name, Murray confirmed that it was still the Lo-Pro acoustic album, containing the same members, that had been working for years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/petemurraylopro/status/97851501141176320|title=petemurraylop9 on Twitter}}</ref> It was first released in physical format at a live show on August 20, 2011, and was made available on [[iTunes]] on August 20, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/petemurraylopro/status/97798641590337536|title=petemurraylop9 on Twitter}}</ref> The album was digitally released on CDBaby<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=262693090416575&id=243183239044479 |title=Life on Planet 9's... |publisher=Facebook |access-date=October 28, 2011}}</ref> on August 24, and on August 25 on iTunes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=263730380323098&id=243183239044479 |title=Life on Planet 9's... |publisher=Facebook |access-date=October 28, 2011}}</ref>

The album contains a new version of the song "Wheels", a song Lo-Pro had demoed for their self-titled album in 2002.

On December 21, Murray posted the yearly Yule Log, revealing a new song entitled "Ammunition".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/petemurraylopro/status/149572690053840896|title=petemurraylop9 on Twitter}}</ref>

===''Disintegration Effect'' (2012–2013)===
In early 2012, Murray confirmed that the band had started the process of putting together their third studio album, but said that, unlike prior releases, they wouldn't be leaking or streaming tracks beforehand because it sounded "different".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theprp.com/2012/06/19/news/pete-murray-hints-at-new-lo-pro-material/|title=Pete Murray Hints At New Lo-Pro Material – Theprp.com – Metal And Hardcore News Plus Reviews And More|date=June 19, 2012}}</ref> Murray also confirmed that the band would continue to record their more acoustic/electronic material under the "Life on Planet 9" moniker, concurrently with the third Lo-Pro album, and released a new track for it titled "What Would You Say".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ampkicker.com/2012/06/life-on-planet-9-track-what-would-you-say/|title=Watch: New Life On Planet 9 Track "What Would you Say?" : AmpKicker.com Indie Music Reviews – Free Music Downloads}}</ref> Despite both moving concurrently, the band's primary focus would be releasing the third album under the "Lo-Pro" name. By the end of the year, the band has completed eight songs for the album and were aiming for an early 2013 release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/petemurraylopro/status/254201112201134080|title=petemurraylop9 on Twitter}}</ref> In December 2012, Murray narrowed it down further, stating that the band was aiming for a February 2013 release date. A ninth track was completed in January 2013. By early February, Murray stated that the band had started the [[audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing process]], and that the album release would likely fall into March 2013. He also announced that a Life on Planet 9 album would be released after the album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/petemurraylopro/status/300786380521476096|title=petemurraylop9 on Twitter}}</ref>

On April 22, 2013, Murray announced that the title of the third album would be ''[[Disintegration Effect]]'', which was released on May 14, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/petemurraylopro/status/326518105369092097|title=petemurraylop9 on Twitter}}</ref>

=== Side-projects and other releases (2014–present)===

After the release of ''Disintegration Effect'', Murray joined a new band, called [[White Noise Owl]] with original Lo-Pro bassist John Fahnestock. They released an EP, ''[[Until We Meet Again (album)|Until We Meet Again]]'', on March 11, 2014, and have recorded a full-length album as well, which is scheduled for release in 2017. Two more albums under the "Life On Planet 9" moniker were recorded and released as well: ''[[The Theory of Everything (Life On Planet 9 album)|The Theory of Everything]]'' in 2014,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/LifeOnPlanet9/status/492804850959519744|title=Life on Planet 9 on Twitter}}</ref> and ''[[Higher (Life On Planet 9 album)|Higher]]'' on January 31, 2017.

On April 2025, the band released a new song "Pathetic", their first song since 2013. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2025/04/04/news/lo-pro-ex-ultraspank-release-their-first-new-single-in-over-a-decade/|title=Lo-Pro (Ex-Ultraspank) Release Their First New Single In Over A Decade|publisher=Theprp.com}}</ref>

==Musical style and influences==
MTV described the band's musical style as a form of melodic [[hard rock]].<ref name="mtvnews"/> Influences for the band include bands such as [[Pink Floyd]]<ref name="mtvnews" /> and [[Alice in Chains]].<ref name="mtvnews" /> Murray specifically says several bands have influenced his vocals, including [[Led Zeppelin]]<ref name="maximumink.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.maximumink.com/index.php/articles/permalink/lo-pro|title=Maximum Ink music magazine of Wisconsin – Artist Interviews – Lo-Pro|first=Maximum Ink music|last=magazine}}</ref> and [[U2]],<ref name="maximumink.com" /> and the music of [[Peter Gabriel]].<ref name="maximumink.com" />

==Members==
;Current members
*[[Pete Murray (American musician)|Pete Murray]]  – vocals, programming (2002–present)
*Neil Godfrey – guitar (2002–present)
*Pete Ricci – guitar (2002–present)
*Jerry Oliviera – bass  (2009–present)
*[[Tommy Stewart]] – drums (2002–present)

;Former members
*John Fahnestock – bass (2002–2008)

==Discography==
;Albums
*''[[Lo-Pro (album)|Lo-Pro]]'' (2003)
*''[[The Beautiful Sounds of Revenge]]'' (2010)
*''[[Disintegration Effect]]'' (2013)

;Under pseudonym "Life on Planet 9"
*''[[Bittersweet (Life On Planet 9 album)|Bittersweet]]'' (2011)
*''[[The Theory of Everything (Life On Planet 9 album)|The Theory of Everything]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Higher (Life On Planet 9 album)|Higher]]'' (2017)
* ''Steady EP'' (2020)

;EPs
*''[[Letting Go (EP)|Letting Go]]'' (2009)

;Singles
*"[[Sunday (Lo-Pro song)|Sunday]]" (2003)
*"[[Alive (Lo-Pro song)|Alive]]" (2010)

==References==
{{reflist}}<!--added above External links/Sources by script-assisted edit-->

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.lopromusic.com/}}
*{{allmusic}}

{{Lo-Pro}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2002 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Alternative rock groups from California]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 2002]]
[[Category:American alternative metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Hard rock musical groups from California]]