In class 8, we will build on our foundation of musician biographies and write band biographies. How do the two differ? What is important to include in a band biography?
Homework: Pick a band and write the bio. Post to the blog by 9am on Tuesday, March 18.
Resources:
http://www.classicbands.com/jackson.html
http://www.bandbiographies.com/
http://www.classicbands.com/bio.htm
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This Will Shred Yr Face: Fantômas in Five.
Fantômas is currently one of Mike Patton’s numerous musical projects. It was formed in the aftermath of the fragmenting of both Faith No More (in 1998) and Mr. Bungle (In 1999.) Both of these bands had been fronted by Patton. Looking to form a new group, Patton sent invitations to two of his favorite musicians and one of his best friends, to see if they were interested in forming a band. The three musicians were: Buzz Osborne (Guitar) of The Melvins, Trevor Dunn (Bass) of Mr. Bungle and Igor Cavalera (Drums) of Sepultura. Both Osborne and Dunn accepted, but Cavalera declined due to other commitments. Cavalera did, however, suggest a suitable candidate to take his place in the band: Dave Lombardo of Slayer. With Lombardo on board, Patton (vocals, samples, electronics and everything else) had his new band.
Fantômas is entirely the creative vehicle of Patton, with the other musicians merely being the communicators of his vision. This is not to say that they are dispensable; Trevor Dunn’s bass is powerful and the band would be weaker with a lesser musician. Another reason the specific musicians are important is due to the complex and down right psychotic nature of their music. Without the skill of the involved players, everything would fall to pieces. I would describe their music as Avant-Jump Metal, continuing the Avant-Garde Metal leanings of Mr. Bungle with the unpredictable Speed-Jazzmetal of John Zorn’s Naked City. In a similar fashion to Yamataka Eye of the Boredoms, Patton doesn’t really sing words with Fantômas, eschewing them in favor of a bizarre blend of voice music and scat vocals that make the most deranged schizophrenics seem perfectly calm.
Fantômas have released four albums to date, appeared on several compilations and even a split single with Japanoise rockers Melt-Banana. One of the unique elements of the band is their albums. Each one is centered on a different theme; their Self-Titled/Debut album (1999) was themed as a comic book about the French anti-hero that the band is named for, with each track (all 30 of them) being the next page in the book. It also features numerous samples from actual Fantômas films; mad cackles and panicked screams and so forth. The second album, The Directors Cut (2001) was an album entirely composed of covers of theme music for movies like “The Godfather”, “Cape Fear” and (My Favorite) “Twin Peaks.” It is also notable as being the only Fantômas album so far where Patton sings actual words, but only on a few tracks. The third album, Delirium Cordia (2004), is a terrifying affair. It’s a single track, clocking in at 75 minutes in length, with the theme of Surgery without Anthesia. The dark nature of the piece was heavily influenced by German Ambient Jazz group Bohren & Der Club of Gore. It is easily the bands most frightening album, with dark ambient stretches and disturbing surgical samples that even Lustmord (the Master of Dark Ambience) himself would be proud of. The fourth album, Suspended Animation (2005), is easily the most psychotic. Like the first, it is composed of 30 tracks, this time, each representing the next day in the month of April (my birthday month, so naturally it’s off the wall.) The theme though, is based around Mike Patton’s idea of mixing heavy metal with cartoon music. The band is even tighter and faster than anything they’ve done previously, splicing their jump-cut antics together with cartoon samples from old Loony Toon pieces. It sounds a bit like if Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck had one of their epic farces during a Boredoms concert.
Talk has been brewing of a new Fantômas album, this one an entirely electronic affair, but physical evidence has yet to appear. On a recent tour, Dave Lombardo had to fulfill commitments with Slayer and so the band replaced him with Frank Zappa alumni Terry Bozzio. Bozzio’s resume includes work with such luminaries (along with Zappa) as Tony Levin, Missing Persons and KoRn. Despite his lapse of reason (KoRn,) Bozzio is an accomplished musician and it’s rumored that Patton has considered having him play on future albums instead of Lombardo. Where does the road of Fantômas lead next? Only Mike Patton knows.
The Naked Brothers band
The naked brothers band aka NBB, began in 2005 with director Polly Draper, the band made a movie about a kids band. The NBB is now extremely popular band now. The members of the band are Nat Wolff Born (in 1994), Alex Wolff (Born in 1997, Josh Born in 94, david Born in (94). They replaced Josh with Quasim which is there new guitarist. Last fall the band made there first CD, There main hit song is "Crazy Car". They have a TV show, There most popular songs are, Crazy car, Taxi Cab, If thats not love and Motor Mouth. Nat does vocals and plays Piano and guitar, Alex plays drums, Quasim Guitar, Rosalina Bass, David on Keyboard, Thomas on Cello. They started at the ages of 4, and now Nat is 13 and Alex is 10. The rest are 13, Rosalina is 15.
They now have there own site called, NatnAlex.com feel free to check it out. They formed so that kids would be inspired to play and write there own music. It's really good that kids are now into music. The naked brothers band is the band of future kids wanting to show there talent. Im so proud of the naked brothers band. And there not really naked. Thats just there name. They came up with it one day when they got out of the tub. And Alex said to his Mom that they were the naked brothers band. And then the Naked brothers band was born...
Thank You.
De La Soul is a rap group that emerged out of Amityville, New York in 1987. The group’s members are Kelvin Mercer (Posdnuos, Mercenary, Plug Wonder Why, Plug One), David Jude Jolicoeur (Trugoy the Dove, Dave, Plug Two) and Vincent Mason (P.A. Pasemaster Mase, Maseo, Plug Three). The Group is known for their unique style that portrays, zany, surreal lyrics and extensive sampling. Plus there part in advancing the Jazz-Rap subgenre. The group formed in high school and was found by Prince Paul, a well-established producer, with a demo tape. De La Soul was part of The Native Tongues Posse which is a collection of 80’s and 90’s hip-hop artists known for their positive-minded, good naturedly-Afro centric lyrics, and for starting the use of eclectic sampling and jazz-influenced beats. They were also closely tied to the Universal Zulu Nation. Some of the other artist in this group included A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah and Chi-Ali.
De La Soul released their debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, in 1989. It was hailed by critics and fans as a vital hit and the future of Hip-Hop. The Band was sued for taking a sample from the 60’s band The Turtles and lost the case. It was the bands most commercial success. Slowly declining after each album. De La Soul wanted their style and sound to be constantly changing so the would never be the same as anyone else.
There second album, “De La Soul is Dead” released in 1993 was darker and more self-analyzing. The Third album that was released in 1993 was harder and funkier, but did not qualify as gangsta rap. Buhloone Mindstate, the album, which got good review but had little commercial success. The same fate for the fourth album Stakes is High, which released in 1996. There fifth album, Art Official Intelligence, was a three-piece release and got mixed reviews yet reached the top ten charts. After that album the group switched record label coming from Tommy Boy going to AOI then released their most recent record The Grind Date
The Group won a Grammy in 2005 for best pop collaboration for the song by the Gorillaz, which the group featured in. The group has influenced many groups and other rappers such as Digable Planets, The Roots, Talib Kweli, Black Eyed Peas, and Outkast. De La Soul has left a huge mark on the way hip-hop has formed in the past 20 years.
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