Blind Idiot God
Encyclopedia
Blind Idiot God is an instrumental rock
trio formed in the mid 1980s in St. Louis, Missouri
by guitarist Andy Hawkins, bassist Gabe Katz and drummer Ted Epstein. They socialized with the St. Louis hardcore punk
scene, including members of Drunks with Guns and Ultraman
. After hearing their self-produced cassette demo, Greg Ginn
of Black Flag
, signed them to SST Records
, and the band moved to Brooklyn
.
In 2006, Blind Idiot God reunited after roughly a decade of inactivity, with Tim Wyskida (of Khanate
) replacing Epstein.
Though at its core heavy metal
, Blind Idiot God's music was informed by punk rock
, dub reggae, and classical music composers, notably György Ligeti
and Igor Stravinsky
. In a 1997 Guitar Player
interview, Hawkins explained one reason he drew inspiration from classical music: "When I listen to a lot of metal and hard rock, I think 'Great Intensity! Boring chords
!'"
Critical opinion of the band was mostly positive: Brian Olewnick described their self-titled debut album as "an extraordinary debut [...] the three musicians exhibited startling originality and impressive technique both on their instruments and in the depth and style of their compositions"; while Piero Scaruff writes, "The ugly geometry of its mini-rock symphonies had few precedents in popular music ... [Blind Idiot God] deserve the title of precursors and founding fathers of math-rock
."
The phrase "blind idiot god" comes from horror writer H. P. Lovecraft
's description of the god Azathoth
.
Instrumental rock
Instrumental rock is a type of rock music which emphasizes musical instruments, and which features very little or no singing.Examples of instrumental rock can be found in practically every subgenre of rock, often from musicians who specialize in the style, most notably Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Link...
trio formed in the mid 1980s in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
by guitarist Andy Hawkins, bassist Gabe Katz and drummer Ted Epstein. They socialized with the St. Louis hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
scene, including members of Drunks with Guns and Ultraman
Ultraman (band)
Ultraman a punk rock band from St. Louis, Missouri, formed in 1986 with members Tim Jamison , Rob Wagoner , John Corcoran , Bob Zuellig , and Mike Doskocil . The band first released its own 7" EP's Ultraman a punk rock band from St. Louis, Missouri, formed in 1986 with members Tim...
. After hearing their self-produced cassette demo, Greg Ginn
Greg Ginn
Gregory Regis Ginn is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He is best known for being the leader of and primary songwriter for the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to 1986....
of Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
, signed them to SST Records
SST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, and the band moved to Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
.
In 2006, Blind Idiot God reunited after roughly a decade of inactivity, with Tim Wyskida (of Khanate
Khanate (band)
Khanate was a drone metal supergroup that brought together James Plotkin and Alan Dubin, two members of the defunct band OLD, as well as Tim Wyskida and Stephen O'Malley )) fame)....
) replacing Epstein.
Though at its core heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, Blind Idiot God's music was informed by punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, dub reggae, and classical music composers, notably György Ligeti
György Ligeti
György Sándor Ligeti was a composer of contemporary classical music. Born in a Hungarian Jewish family in Transylvania, Romania, he briefly lived in Hungary before becoming an Austrian citizen.-Early life:...
and Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
. In a 1997 Guitar Player
Guitar Player
Guitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists founded in 1967. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s, under editor Tom Wheeler, the publication was...
interview, Hawkins explained one reason he drew inspiration from classical music: "When I listen to a lot of metal and hard rock, I think 'Great Intensity! Boring chords
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
!'"
Critical opinion of the band was mostly positive: Brian Olewnick described their self-titled debut album as "an extraordinary debut [...] the three musicians exhibited startling originality and impressive technique both on their instruments and in the depth and style of their compositions"; while Piero Scaruff writes, "The ugly geometry of its mini-rock symphonies had few precedents in popular music ... [Blind Idiot God] deserve the title of precursors and founding fathers of math-rock
Math rock
Math rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980s and that was very influenced by progressive rock like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage...
."
The phrase "blind idiot god" comes from horror writer H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
's description of the god Azathoth
Azathoth
Azathoth is a deity in the Cthulhu Mythos and Dream Cycle stories of H. P. Lovecraft and other authors. Its epithets include Nuclear Chaos, the Daemon Sultan and the Blind Idiot God.-Inspiration:...
.
Members
- Andy Hawkins – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Gabe Katz – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Ted Epstein – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Tim Wyskida – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Discography
- self-produced demo cassette
- Blind Idiot GodBlind Idiot God (album)Blind Idiot God is an album by the band, Blind Idiot God. It was released in 1987 on SST Records.-Track listing:*All songs by A. Hawkins & B.I.G. except More Time - Meters, Wise Man Dub - G...
(SST Records, 1987) - UndertowUndertow (Blind Idiot God album)Undertow, the second release from Blind Idiot God, features a collaboration with John Zorn, and a cover of "Alice in My Fantasies", a song penned by George Clinton.-Track listing:#"Sawtooth" – 2:27#"Clockwork Dub" – 4:29#"Atomic Whip" – 4:28...
(Enemy Records, 1989) - Purged Specimen EP (1989) (with John ZornJohn ZornJohn Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
)
- Sawtooth (Hawkins) 2:20
- Clockwork Dub (Hawkins) 4:27
- Alice In My Fantasies (Cook,Clinton) 2:54
- Purged Specimen (Zorn) 1:52
- Andy Hawkins: guitar; Gabe Katz: bass; Ted Epstein: drums; John Zorn (4): saxophone.
- Recorded May and June 1988 at B.C. Studio, Brooklyn, New York.
- Produced by Bill Laswell. Track 4 produced by John Zorn.
- 1988 - Enemy Records, EMY 12001 (12")
- Cyclotron (Avant label,1993)