| Deadsy | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | Synth rock Darkwave Nu metal |
| Years active | 1995–2007 (On Hiatus) |
| Labels | Dreamworks Records Elektra Records Elementree Records Immortal Records Sire Records Warner Music Group |
| Website | Deadsy.com |
| Members | |
| Phillips Exeter Blue I Alec Püre Carlton Megalodon Jens Funke |
|
| Past members | |
| Creature (Ashburn Miller) The Beast (Craig Riker) Dr. Nner (Renn Hawkey) Marc Jordan |
|
Deadsy is an American synth rock band from California.[1] The band is known for its visual iconography and signature characteristics assigned to each band member. Each musician is identified by a specific color, stage name, and graphic tied into the band's theatrical nature. The band has released three studio albums, two of which under a major label. After independently releasing a self-titled debut in 1996, the band garnered mainstream exposure with the support of alternative metal pioneers Jonathan Davis[2] and Fred Durst[3] who aided Deadsy on their long-awaited 2002 album Commencement. Throughout the 2000s, Deadsy toured across the United States, most notably performing on the Family Values Tour.[4] The band released a second major label album, Phantasmagore, in 2006 before taking an indefinite hiatus in 2007.[5]
Contents |
Deadsy began in 1995, when Elijah Blue Allman (son of Cher and Gregg Allman), also known as Phillips Exeter Blue I, started recording a handful of demos (including Dear and a cover of Texas Never Whispers) with Alec Puro (Alec Pure) and later sent a Juno 106 keyboard to Renn Hawkey (Dr. Nner) as an invitation to join the band.[6] The three members evolved their sound in the studio and sought out a record deal out of "adolescent necessity."[7]
Deadsy was quickly signed to Sire Records, and they got working on writing new songs. Because they had no bass player at the time Jay Gordon (of Orgy) was asked to play bass for their short self-titled album.[8] After the album was recorded and released for promotion, the band temporarily relocated to NYC where drummer/producer Marc Jordan joined the band for a brief spell. Craig Riker joined on bass as a full time member, and they were once again writing songs for the upcoming full length Commencement. Only a few songs were written for the new album as the band had planned to re-release most tracks from the self-titled album. A music video for "She Likes Big Words" was made at one of their early shows, also for promotion.[9] With the album in the final stages of development, Sire parted ways with Elektra Records, and the release was pushed back to a later date. Soon after, Deadsy was dropped from the label entirely, ending the life of both the first and would-be second album, Commencement.[10]
While in the process of finding a new label, Carlton Bost was added on Z-Tar and guitar. Ashburn Miller replaced Craig on bass January 2002 after Craig and Deadsy parted ways. Soon after, Jonathan Davis (of the band Korn) signed Deadsy to the new record label Elementree Records and invited the band to join the 2001 Family Values Tour.[11] Commencement was finally released in May 2002. Most of its tracks came from their self-titled album, but some were newly written for the album, including "The Key to Gramercy Park", for which a video was made, directed by friend and Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst.[12] This was Deadsy's second song with Jonathan Davis, following "Sleepy Hollow."[10] A second video was filmed for their cover of Sebadoh's "Brand New Love." Amidst promoting Commencement Deadsy had already begun working on a follow-up album.
The support from successful nu metal figures provided Deadsy their most prominent mainstream exposure and media coverage in 2002. However, despite this, neither single managed to chart, and Commencement failed to achieve expected sales. Elementree folded soon after. Nevertheless, Deadsy continued touring and focused on the development of their next record.
Deadsy signed onto Immortal Records to release Phantasmagore in 2006 .[13] During the 4-year process of writing the album, Deadsy released clips and demos on their official website. Deadsy was asked back to the Family Values Tour in the summer of 2006, which was co-headlined by the Deftones and Korn. Deadsy went on another tour with the Deftones that began in the fall.
In January 2007, Deadsy parted ways with bassist Ashburn Miller (also known as Creature),[14] and added Jens Funke to the line up.
In February 2007, a short statement from Elijah was posted on the band's message board "I am making a solo record." Recently, Carlton has joined The Dreaming full time. On April 16, 2007, a MySpace bulletin was posted with a statement by Alec Püre who said "As you all know we are going to be taking a short break from Deadsy so Elijah can make a solo record and I can continue scoring projects I wasn't able to do from the road."
In early 2008, Elijah Blue and the Trapezoids was revealed as the name of Elijah's solo project.
On September 11, 2008, Renn Hawkey apparently left the band in order to concentrate on carpentry and family life. "It was too rough-and-tumble a lifestyle" said the man who has become Renn Hawkey again, full time.[15]
As of February 2010 Elijah has claimed "Deadsy is sleeping at the moment" although the true state of the band is still questioned by many.[5] In the mean time he is focusing on his art which was premiered at the Kantor Gallery on February 24, 2010.
Elijah describes the band's low and dissonant style as Undercore. Elijah's baritone singing style, down-tuned guitars, Renn's synths and Carlton's Z-Tar all contribute to the band's sound.
"We wanted to make something that was transcendental, really rule-defying, and very against the grain and when people listened to it at first, it would just feel very like a sense of foreignness, almost like watching a David Lynch film." – Elijah Blue
The lyrics and imagery of the songs sometimes focus on many subjects in either sexual, religious, magical or popular culture contexts. Occasionally one notices obscure references to pedophilia, Secret Societies, The Urantia Book, Star Wars, the novel Dune, by Frank Herbert and even Disney's 101 Dalmatians.
Many of the multi-color ideas were influenced directly from the 1955 film This Island Earth. Elijah has even stated he took his alter ego name from one of the leading characters of the story, Exeter.
Elijah has often called the band an "art project", or "art movement". Complete with a manifesto and visual iconography. Each band member represents one element or "entity" that drives human society. Each entity is also represented by their own color and unique appearance.
International Klein Blue – Academia (Phillips Exeter Blue I)
Yellow – Science / Medicine (Dr Nner)
Grey – War (Carlton Megalodon)
Red – Horror (Jens Funke) (Creature) (The Beast)
Green – Leisure (Alec Püre)
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [16] |
US Ind. [16] |
||||
| 1996 | Deadsy | ||||
| 1999 | Commencement (promotion)
|
||||
| 2002 | Commencement
|
100 | US: 175,000 | ||
| 2006 | Phantasmagore
|
176 | 17 | ||
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart. | |||||
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Demo
|
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "The Key to Gramercy Park" | Commencement |
| "Brand New Love" | ||
| 2006 | "Friends" | Non-album single |
| Year | Title | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "She Likes Big Words" | |
| 2002 | "The Key to Gramercy Park" | Fred Durst |
| "Brand New Love" | Deadsy Legions | |
| 2005 | "Babes in Abyss" | |
| 2006 | "Razor Love" |