Chevelle

January 6, 2000
Web posted at: 12:13 p.m. EST (1713 GMT)

By Donna Freydkin
Reporting for CNN Interactive

(CNN) -- Meet three young, all-American brothers from the Midwest. They're in a band. They write their own music. And no, they're not Hanson.

No one could blame you for jumping to that erroneous conclusion. But guitarist-vocalist Pete, drummer Sam and bassist Joe Loeffler of the hard-rockin' trio Chevelle will quickly set you straight, mainly because the whole all-in-the-family shtick makes them pretty uncomfortable.

"We never told anybody about (our relationship), even after we were signed. I didn't want anybody to talk about it," says Sam Loeffler. "I don't care if people know we're brothers -- I just don't want them to lump the music into something."

That something would consist of being compared to such eye-pleasing family outfits as the Jackson 5 and The Osmonds -- because the Loeffler boys have about as much in common with Donnie and Marie as Celine Dion has with Metallica.

The trio released their debut "Point #1" last year, signing with Squint Entertainment (Sixpence None the Richer) after a breakout performance at the 1999 South by Southwest music conference. And since the band pays musical homage to such heavy-hitters as Nirvana and Tool, it is certainly fitting that "Point #1" was recorded by Steve Albini, who in the past worked with Nirvana, Bush and P.J. Harvey.

	"POINT #1"
"MIA" [275k MPEG-3] or [385k WAV] "Point #1" [265k MPEG-3] or [365k WAV] "Prove To You" [235k MPEG-3] or [325k WAV] (Courtesy Squint Entertainment)

It's early November, an uncharacteristically mild day for Chicago, and Sam Loeffler has just woken up. Given that it's 10:30 a.m., you'd figure that the drummer, 24, is living the quintessential rock star lifestyle of late to bed, later to rise. He'd beg to differ.

" I hate the rock star part of it. I hate the assumption that when people meet you, you're automatically going to be an ass."

In fact, Loeffler says he and his brothers, who are part of a brood of seven children, are your average suburban kids. They love cars (hence the band name) and were weaned on their dad's very "Home Improvement"-esque love of hot rods.

"We grew up with car fans," he says. "My father builds street rods, so we grew up going to car shows. We're car nuts. The Chevelle in the '70s was the epitome of muscle cars and it's sort of a legend in car peoples' minds. So we called ourselves Chevelle."

And before quitting their jobs last July to pursue music full time, Pete, 22, and Sam were carpenters. The two oldest brothers live together, while Joe, the baby at 18, still lives at home.

"I get along with Pete really, really well, and we get along with Joe fine," says Sam. "Honestly, we've learned how to give each other our space. We totally know what the breaking point is, and we bite our tongues."

No dead end

They're nice guys, but friendly dispositions don't sell albums. And given the state of grunge and rock music today, you might wonder how much confidence an up-and-coming band like Chevelle could have in its future. Just take a look at this week's Grammy nominations for rock and hard performance to get a reality check: We have nods to now-defunct grunge scions Alice in Chains, as well as the rap-rock hybrids of Kid Rock, Korn and Limp Bizkit, and the low-key Red Hot Chili Peppers.

With few pure rock bands getting nominations, it's little wonder if Loeffler is a bit worried about the band's future.

"People I haven't talked to in a while are calling me and telling me that I'm a rock star," he says. "And I always say, you don't turn yourself into a rock star. Your friends and family do. I haven't gone anywhere! I hope this isn't the epitome of our career."

But that doesn't stop this trio of car buffs from aiming high. "If I could be a car, I would definitely be a Ferrari," he says. "Because it's a super-expensive flashy car that doesn't last long."