Ignorance (band)
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Ignorance was a thrash-funk metal band from Britain. Based in East Midlands, they released two albums on the American Metal Blade Records in the early 1990s. The band was formed in Corby in the late 1980s by schoolfriends Niki Beric, Neil Duthie and Marcus Stone; their original name was Slamma. After bassist Stefan Brooks joined the band, they changed their name to Ignorance. Guitarist Steven John later joined the band, completing the group's final line-up.
The first two demos were raw and basic Bay-Area style thrash metal, but with the addition of John to the mix, their next demo—the now legendary "Why?"—proved to be their breakthrough on the burgeoning British thrash scene. The demo was well received and the band soon garnered management and a record deal with the Los Angeles based Metal Blade Records.
In September 1990, the band flew to San Francisco in September 1990 to record their debut album, The Confident Rat, with producer John Cuniberti. Two of the songs from the Why? demo made it onto the album, which also saw the band introducing elements of the by-then prevalent funk-metal wave popularised by Faith No More and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The album received reasonably positive reviews and the band went on to support American funk-thrashers Mordred in Germany, Holland and the UK in May 1991, including a slot at the Dynamo Festival in Eindhoven. They followed this by immediately heading to the USA for a tour with LA gothic metal band Fear of God.
In the spring of 1992 the band re-entered the studio, this time self-producing the album Positively Shocking in the United Kingdom with engineer Paul Johnson. Positively Shocking, released in the autumn of 1992, saw another evolution of style, with a move towards pop sensibilities and a noticeable Wonder Stuff/Jesus Jones influence along with more quirky, left-field metal. Shortly before the album's release, lead guitarist Steve John departed the band, citing personal differences. He went on to study music and have a successful career in Sweden.
Ignorance continued for a few months after his departure but, as their second album received little attention, they soon folded. Stone, Brooks, Duthie and Beric are no longer involved in the music business.
[edit] Band Members
- Neil Duthie - vocals
- Marcus Stone - guitar
- Steve John - guitar
- Stef Brooks - bass
- Niki Beric - drums
[edit] Releases
- What's the time? (demo 1988)
- I'm off home (demo 1989)
- Why? (demo 1989)
- The Confident Rat (album 1991)
- Positively Shocking (album 1992)
