Damian Ramsey
Encyclopedia
Damian Ramsey was a musician, poet, composer and musicologist who invented the music genre
word "synthpunk
" in 1999 in order to retroactively describe synthesizer
-based punk bands from 1977-1984. He documented this obscure and relatively neglected corner of American music history on http://www.synthpunk.org/ from 1999-2004.
He recorded and performed in the bands "Extent" and "I/O" and completed a solo CD called "Let Knowledge Serve the City" in 2004.
Damian's signature dancing style can be seen in The Prids
' music video "Let It Go" during the 2:58-3:09 portion, which proves treacherous for his 4-track deck.
Damian died of stomach cancer on April 24, 2007. The legacy of his musicological archiving and documentation and the posthumous release of his music is being continued by friends, family, collaborators and fellow musicologists.
Music genre
A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other types of music...
word "synthpunk
Synthpunk
Synthpunk is a music genre combining elements of electronic music and punk rock. The term was coined by Damian Ramsey in 1999 as an attempt to retroactively identify a small sub-genre of punk music from 1977 to 1984 that involved musicians playing synthesizers in place of electric...
" in 1999 in order to retroactively describe synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
-based punk bands from 1977-1984. He documented this obscure and relatively neglected corner of American music history on http://www.synthpunk.org/ from 1999-2004.
He recorded and performed in the bands "Extent" and "I/O" and completed a solo CD called "Let Knowledge Serve the City" in 2004.
Damian's signature dancing style can be seen in The Prids
The Prids
The Prids are a band from Portland, Oregon. The quartet's music can be categorized as a blend of noise pop and post-punk, influenced by Sonic Youth, Built to Spill, The Smiths, Unrest, My Bloody Valentine and Wire....
' music video "Let It Go" during the 2:58-3:09 portion, which proves treacherous for his 4-track deck.
Damian died of stomach cancer on April 24, 2007. The legacy of his musicological archiving and documentation and the posthumous release of his music is being continued by friends, family, collaborators and fellow musicologists.