NEW YORK --

"Fuel guitarist/songwriter Carl Bell grew up in Kenton, Tenn., a town near the Kentucky border that is so small there were only two stoplights in town for its 2,000 inhabitants. 'There was nothing much to do there. It's just soybeans and cattle, pretty barren. Some great people, but as far as activities, you're not going to find any,' he says."

"One trait he took along with him when he picked up with childhood friend and bassist Jeff Abercrombie and left in 1995 for Harrisburg, Pa., was a small-town dedication to work."

"The central Pennsylvania city proved to be an ideal springboard to playing gigs in the mid-Atlantic area, including New York, Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, and Baltimore. A year and a half later, the aggressive, melodic grunge band's ambition and desire paid off when it was signed to 550 Music."

"The label aims to maximize the group's hard-won regional success with the rollout of Fuel's debut, 'Sunburn,' on Tuesday (31). The set will carry a Sony artist development price of $11.98 (CD)/$7.98 (cassette)."

"The first line of attack will center on the Pennsylvania area."

"'In all the backyard towns that they've been playing for years we're doing record release parties,' says 550 VP of marketing (U.S.) Dave Gottlieb, who adds the label has been setting up the title since October, when it released the four-song EP 'Hazleton,' which contained demos of tracks that would appear on the album, as well as non-album B-sides. According to the label, Fuel's first EP, 'Porcelain,' has sold 10,000 copies."

"To further generate advance interest, 550 released a 7-inch picture disc that was serviced to independent record stores and college radio."

"Bill Duffy, GM of Tower Records' South Street outlet in Philadelphia, says that he's buying the album 'somewhat cautiously,' but that the possibility of a record release party in town in promising. 'In that case, we'd increase our order,' he says."

"Already boding well for sales is the airplay of album track 'Shimmer.' Last issue, the song was the Airpower pick on the Modern Rock Tracks chart (Airpower is awarded to records that break the 1,100-spin mark) and is on the verge of charting on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The song is No. 17 on this issue's Modern Rock Tracks. 550 Music's plan from the beginning has been to work both formats equally."

"'There's that disenfranchised rock consumer out there who's looking for stuff, and I think this band can easily walk that fine line between alternative and rock and be successful in both,' Gottlieb says. 550 VP of promotion (U.S.) Joel Klaiman concurs: 'We believe there are multiple singles for both formats. We will not pigeonhole this band at either one.'"

"'Shimmer' has been receiving airplay on 22 stations, including WXRX New York and WKQX Chicago."

"550 director of A&R (U.S.) Ben Goldman, who signed Fuel and also brought Ben Folds Five to the label, says he was impressed with the band's solid musicianship, songwriting capabilities, and dedication. 'I'm a big fan of the Pearl Jams and Stone Temple Pilots with heartfelt and good lyrics. [Fuel] just turned me on,' he says."

"Like those aforementioned grunge bands, Bell grew up a fan of '70s rock giants, including the Rolling Stones, Alice Cooper, Joni Mitchell, Elton John, and Led Zeppelin. Although he's listening to more modern material, including Beth Orton and Sarah McLachlan, Bell cites 'Fox On The Run' by '70s glam pop/hard rock band Sweet as a song with all the right elements. But, he adds, the approach of the song, which boasts a 'great melody while still being aggressive, is what I've always strived to do. We're not nearly as bubblegum; we're a lot darker.'"

"The group cut a track with producer Brendan O'Brien for the 'Godzilla' soundtrack. Fuel's songs are published by PolyGram Music Publishing (BMI and ASCAP)."

"Fuel's early initiative was noticed by leading management team Media Five, which represents Live and Solution A.D. When David Sestak and Greg Epler of Media Five were approached by the band to become its booking agent, Fuel had just self-financed and self-produced 'Porcelain,' which was recorded at venues during soundchecks and after shows. Epler began booking area shows for Fuel and in January '97 became its full-time co-manager."

"One of the first outlets to start playing tracks from 'Porcelain' in 1996 was WQXA Harrisburg, a modern rock station at the time."

"PD John Moschitta (now PD at WXDX Pittsburgh) remembers Fuel as having a 'large and loyal following.'"

"Across town, active rock WTPA operations manager Chris James recalls that while both WQXA and top 40 WINK were playing 'Shimmer,' the EP version was not hard enough for his station, so he programmed different tracks. He notes that the current version 'is more AOR palatable than the original' and that 'the record is doing phenomenal, and everybody's calling up and asking how the rest of the album is.'"