Deadsy

Name	Deadsy
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Los Angeles, California
Genre	Darkwave
Years active	1995–2007 (Disbanded)
Label	Dreamworks Records Elektra Records Elementree Records Immortal Records Sire Records Warner Music Group
Url	Deadsy.com
Past members	Phillips Exeter Blue I: Vocals, GuitarJens Funke: Bass Alec Püre: Drums Creature: Bass The Beast: Bass Dr. Nner: Keyboards Carlton Megalodon: Z-Tar Marc Jordan: Drums

Deadsy is an American synth rock band from California. They have played many shows in California, but have also toured nationally multiple times as well as touring as part of the Family Values Tour.

History

Beginnings (1995–1996)

Deadsy started out in 1995, when Elijah Blue Allman (Cher's son), also known as Phillips Exeter Blue I, decided he would get a record deal to support himself. He recorded a handful of demos with Alec Puro and later sent a Juno 106 keyboard to Renn Hawkey as an invitation to join the band.

Sire years (1996–1999)

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. 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. 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.

Dreamworks years (1999–2003)

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. Jonathan Davis (of the band Korn) signed Deadsy to the new record label Elementree Records, to release Commencement. Most songs came from the 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. This was Deadsy's second song with Jonathan Davis, following "Sleepy Hollow". Davis invited the band to join the 2001 Family Values Tour before their album had even been released. This move helped build the fan base and helped the band onto the tour soundtrack. After the albums release, the band made a second music video for their cover of Sebadoh's "Brand New Love".

Phantasmagore, present (2003–2010)

Deadsy signed onto Immortal Records to release Phantasmagore in 2006 . 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), 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.

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. In the mean time he is focusing on his art which was premiered at the Kantor Gallery on February 24, 2010.

Musical styles and themes

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.

Visual appearance

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)

Discography

Studio albums

{| class ="wikitable" |- !rowspan="2"| Year !rowspan="2"| Album details !colspan="2"| Peak chart positions !rowspan="2"| Sales |- !style="width:3em;font-size:75%"| US !style="width:3em;font-size:75%"| US Ind. |- |1996 |Deadsy

Released: August 1, 1996

Label: Sire (62011)

Format: CD

|align="center"| |align="center"| | |- | 1999 | Commencement (promotion)

Released: September 28, 1999

Label: Warner Bros. (9362475092)

Format: CD

|align="center"| |align="center"| | |- | 2002 | Commencement

Released: May 14, 2002

Label: Elementree/DreamWorks (450301)

Format: CD

|align="center"| 100 |align="center"| | US: 175,000 |- | 2006 | Phantasmagore

Released: August 22, 2006

Label: Immortal (27)

Format: CD

|align="center"| 176 |align="center"| 17 | |- |align="center" colspan="6" style="font-size: 8pt"| "—" denotes a release that did not chart. |}

Demo albums

Singles

Extras

Asura (demo clip) (1:24)

Asura (demo) (3:27)

Babes In Abyss (demo) (3:23)

Better Than You Know (demo clip) (1:58)

Better Than You Know (unmastered) (6:14)

Book of Black Dreams (demo clip) (1:03)

Brand New Love (radio mix) (3:42)

Carrying Over (live) (4:24) from Family Values Tour compilation 2006

Colossus (demo) (4:25) made available to participants of a MySpace promotional effort

Crimson & Clover (3:37) song originally from the 1999 movie "A Walk on the Moon" featuring his mother Cher.

Dreamcrusher (demo clip) (1:13)

Friends (3:58) available for purchase through iTunes

Just Like Heaven (demo) (6:02) cover song originally by The Cure

Key to Gramercy Park (demo) (3:11)

Mansion World (deepsky remix) (7:41)

My Only Friend (3:26) cover song originally from The Magnetic Fields for Winter Passing soundtrack

Replicas (5:12) was featured on a Gary Numan tribute album in 1997

Strength of Mind (demo) (3:27) was made available by Immortal Records

Texas Never Whispers (3:43) cover song by the band Pavement

Time (demo clip) (1:17)

Tom Sawyer (live) (4:11) from Family Values Tour compilation 2001

Music videos

External links

Official Website

Deadsy on MySpace

Deadsy on Immortal Records

Demos and B-Sides

Elijah Blue and the Trapezoids on MySpace

References

Category:Rock music groups from California Category:Musical trios