Fort (band)
Encyclopedia
Fort are a stoner
/psychedelic
/hard rock
five-member band from the northern New South Wales
coastal town of Byron Bay, Australia
.
band Kyuss
. Within their first year they had released their debut EP
Tripping In The Vast Exterior (now found as a free download at http://downloadfort.com ). In 2001, they released their second EP
Skychaser, which received national airplay;, followed by expansive touring. Two years later, the band recorded their debut album, In A New Light (now available as a free download at http://downloadfort.com), at Rocking Horse Studios, situated near Byron Bay .
In the first six years of existence Fort had undertaken national tours with Grinspoon
, Fu Manchu
, Brant Bjork
, Clutch
, Nebula
, Shihad
, Cog
and The Black Keys
. The band had also taken part in the Splendour In The Grass
and Metal For The Brain
festivals. A photo taken from their set at Splendour In The Grass
is featured as the cover for the EP
In A New Light. 2005 saw the band dropping the 'e' from 'Forte' due to confusion in the pronunciation as well as releasing another EP, Never Comin' Down. The band released a 14-track LP featuring tracks from Tripping In The Vast Exterior, In A New Light and Never Comin' Down through Tronador in Brazil
.
Their eponymous second LP was recorded at Backbeach Studios with DW Norton and mixed at Rockinghorse with Anthony Lycenko. It was released through MGM Records on 1 September 2007.
The band's Last.fm
page mentions they are “taking hiatus” as of Jan.17 2010 [and] may never be back. It mentions three members (unspecified) have formed a new project OX
and are currently in the process of demoing songs.
Despite this, Fort will be opening for Kyuss Lives on all their Australian Dates in 2011 except for Sydney. The first gig is at the Coolongatta hotel, 4 May. There is no word on a new album.
as his favourite guitarist. George plays a 1975 Guild S100 and various Gibson guitars (1969 Gibson SG and a 1979 Gibson RD Artist) through an array of vintage effects pedals, including multiple wah pedals and dirty, crunchy overdrive helped by two Big Muff
pedals. He achieves his trademark stoner
sound by running these pedals these through a Mesa Dual Rectifier, which was formerly owned by Kim Thayil
of Soundgarden
.
Stoner rock
Stoner rock or stoner metal is a subgenre of heavy metal, combining elements of psychedelic rock, blues rock, traditional heavy metal and doom metal. Stoner rock is typically slow-to-mid tempo and features a bass-heavy sound, melodic vocals, and 'retro' production...
/psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
/hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
five-member band from the northern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
coastal town of Byron Bay, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
History
The band formed in 2000 (then known as Forte) as a result of band members' mutual admiration of the 90's stoner rockStoner rock
Stoner rock or stoner metal is a subgenre of heavy metal, combining elements of psychedelic rock, blues rock, traditional heavy metal and doom metal. Stoner rock is typically slow-to-mid tempo and features a bass-heavy sound, melodic vocals, and 'retro' production...
band Kyuss
Kyuss
Kyuss is a rock band, originally from Palm Desert, California. After forming in the late 1980s and releasing an EP under the name Sons of Kyuss in 1990, the band shortened its name to Kyuss. Over the next five years the band released four full-length albums, and one last split EP in 1997 with...
. Within their first year they had released their debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Tripping In The Vast Exterior (now found as a free download at http://downloadfort.com ). In 2001, they released their second EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Skychaser, which received national airplay;, followed by expansive touring. Two years later, the band recorded their debut album, In A New Light (now available as a free download at http://downloadfort.com), at Rocking Horse Studios, situated near Byron Bay .
In the first six years of existence Fort had undertaken national tours with Grinspoon
Grinspoon
Grinspoon are an Australian rock band from Lismore, New South Wales formed in 1995 and fronted by Phil Jamieson on vocals and guitar with Pat Davern on guitar, Joe Hansen on bass guitar and Kristian Hopes on drums. Also in 1995, they won the Triple J-sponsored Unearthed competition for Lismore,...
, Fu Manchu
Fu Manchu (band)
Fu Manchu is a Southern Californian stoner rock band, who released their debut single "Kept Between Trees" in 1990. They have been featured on compilations put together by Tony Hawk and ESPN's X Games, and invited to perform on the US television program Monster Garage...
, Brant Bjork
Brant Bjork
Brant Bjork is an American musician from Palm Desert, California, who is a drummer, producer, guitarist and one of the more notable figures in the stoner rock and Palm Desert scenes.-Early career and Kyuss:...
, Clutch
Clutch (band)
Clutch is an American rock band from Germantown, Maryland, formed in 1990. The band's first release was an EP entitled Pitchfork, which debuted in October 1990. Their first studio album, Transnational Speedway League, was released three years later in 1993. To date, Clutch has released nine studio...
, Nebula
Nebula (band)
Nebula was a psychedelic stoner rock band, formed by guitarist Eddie Glass and drummer Ruben Romano after departing from Fu Manchu in 1997. Rob Oswald later replaced Ruben Romano on drums in 2007....
, Shihad
Shihad
Shihad is a New Zealand hard/alternative rock band, currently based in Melbourne, Australia. During Shihad's recording career, they have produced four number-one studio albums and three top-ten singles in their home country of New Zealand....
, Cog
Cog (band)
Cog are an Australian progressive rock band that formed in 1998. Their debut album The New Normal was nominated for Triple J's 2005 J Award. The band's music draws influences from Tool, Isis, Nina Simone, Bob Marley, Leftfield, Deftones and Helmet...
and The Black Keys
The Black Keys
The Black Keys are an American rock duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. The band was formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S....
. The band had also taken part in the Splendour In The Grass
Splendour in the Grass
Splendour in the Grass is an annual Australian music festival held in July at Woodford, Queensland, and previously held at Belongil Fields, outside Byron Bay...
and Metal For The Brain
Metal for the Brain
Metal for the Brain was Australia's largest heavy metal music festival. The event was held in Canberra annually, usually towards the end of the year, and featured Australian bands almost exclusively...
festivals. A photo taken from their set at Splendour In The Grass
Splendour in the Grass
Splendour in the Grass is an annual Australian music festival held in July at Woodford, Queensland, and previously held at Belongil Fields, outside Byron Bay...
is featured as the cover for the EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
In A New Light. 2005 saw the band dropping the 'e' from 'Forte' due to confusion in the pronunciation as well as releasing another EP, Never Comin' Down. The band released a 14-track LP featuring tracks from Tripping In The Vast Exterior, In A New Light and Never Comin' Down through Tronador in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Their eponymous second LP was recorded at Backbeach Studios with DW Norton and mixed at Rockinghorse with Anthony Lycenko. It was released through MGM Records on 1 September 2007.
The band's Last.fm
Last.fm
Last.fm is a music website, founded in the United Kingdom in 2002. It has claimed 30 million active users in March 2009. On 30 May 2007, CBS Interactive acquired Last.fm for UK£140m ....
page mentions they are “taking hiatus” as of Jan.17 2010 [and] may never be back. It mentions three members (unspecified) have formed a new project OX
Ox (band)
Ox is a Canadian alternative country indie band. The core of the band consists of Mark Browning on lead vocals and guitar, Ryan Bishops on guitar and piano, Shawn Dicey on bass and Max Myth on drums...
and are currently in the process of demoing songs.
Despite this, Fort will be opening for Kyuss Lives on all their Australian Dates in 2011 except for Sydney. The first gig is at the Coolongatta hotel, 4 May. There is no word on a new album.
Members
- Andy Walker - vocals
- Deon Driver - Drums
- Brent "Badger" Crysell - Bass
- Stu Hume - Guitar
- George Christie - Guitar, backing vocals
George Christie
George Christie; is the lead guitarist and primary music writer. He cites Jimi HendrixJimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
as his favourite guitarist. George plays a 1975 Guild S100 and various Gibson guitars (1969 Gibson SG and a 1979 Gibson RD Artist) through an array of vintage effects pedals, including multiple wah pedals and dirty, crunchy overdrive helped by two Big Muff
Big Muff
The Big Muff is a fuzzbox produced in New York City by the Electro-Harmonix company, along with their Russian sister company Sovtek, primarily for use with the electric guitar...
pedals. He achieves his trademark stoner
Stoner rock
Stoner rock or stoner metal is a subgenre of heavy metal, combining elements of psychedelic rock, blues rock, traditional heavy metal and doom metal. Stoner rock is typically slow-to-mid tempo and features a bass-heavy sound, melodic vocals, and 'retro' production...
sound by running these pedals these through a Mesa Dual Rectifier, which was formerly owned by Kim Thayil
Kim Thayil
Kim Thayil is an American guitarist best known as the lead guitarist of the Seattle-based grunge band Soundgarden, which he cofounded with singer Chris Cornell and bassist Hiro Yamamoto in 1984...
of Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
.
Discography
- Tripping In The Vast Exterior (EP) - 2000
- Skychaser (EP) - 2001
- Deadweight (single) - 2003
- In A New Light - 2003
- Never Comin' Down (EP) - 2004
- Place In The Sun - 2005 (Brazilian release only)
- FORT (Self titled) album - Sept 2007