Pitchshifter
Encyclopedia
Pitchshifter are a British five-piece electronic
-metal
band from Nottingham
, United Kingdom
formed in 1989. The band was started by bassist and vocalist Mark Clayden, lead guitarist and programmer Johnny A. Carter and rhythm guitarist Stuart Toolin.
The band gained attention with their 1998 release www.pitchshifter.com
for its fusion of electronic music
like drum 'n bass with metal
and rock
, which has been compared with other electronic groups like The Prodigy
. The band is also known for the early industrial metal
sound with downtuned guitars and the use of drum machine
s and being cited as one of the originators of the genre along with Godflesh
.
Albeit the band has found little mainstream success, the band managed to gain a platinum
with the release of the Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
soundtrack and their 2000 release Deviant
peaking at 39 in Billboard 200
. Since its formation, the band has released six studio albums, three EPs and eight music videos. The band has played in various festivals around the world including Ozzfest
, Phoenix Festival
and Damnation Festival
.
. During this time, JS went to live in France to sell paintings.
During 1990, the band started recording their début album, Industrial
, with the main vocalist being Mark Clayden instead of JS, who contributed with backing vocals. The band later went on a small tour with bands like Napalm Death
.
where they released their EP Submit
. Later, Stuart Toolin left the band, and the band hired Matt Godfrey to fill his place for some shows. Matt later left the band and they hired drummer D.J. Walters, now being a four-piece band. Later, the band released their second album, Desensitized.
The band played at the Phoenix Festival
in Long Marston
, UK in 1995. The band's manager, armed with a tractor, arranged for an enormous crop circle
replica of the band's famous “eye” symbol to appear in the adjoining field to the festival site during the night prior to their performance there. The crowd's enthusiasm for the band when they performed was so high that they rushed the stage, making Pitchshifter's performance the first in the history of the festival to be stopped early.
and Therapy?
. The band then started working on the third album, Infotainment?
and later played at the Dynamo Open Air
. The band later left Earache and joined Geffen Records
.
live guitarist Jim Davies, with the band returning to their five-piece form. The band later released their single Genius, which was later included in Test Drive 5
and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
soundtrack, which helped the band to gain platinum
.
In 1998, the band released their fourth album www.pitchshifter.com
, which is also their best selling album, selling around 60,000 copies. The band later played in Ozzfest 1998 and Livid
in support of their album. During 1999, they played on Reading Festival and again at Dynamo.
, which had appearances of drummer John Stanier
and Jello Biafra
. The band also played in that year's Ozzfest. During 2001, Matt left the band the group latter in 2002 hired Dan Rayner. The cover used a picture of one of Gee Vaucher
's Paintings, who did artwork for Crass
and Carcass
. The painting shows a cross between the Pope John Paul II and Queen Elizabeth II, and because of this, the album was banned in Poland, due to the some of the publics response and complaints to the image saying "Why did you insult the Pope?!". MCA Records
forced the band to change the album cover in Poland and replaced it with another image.
. The band then went to a few more shows until their last show in 2003 where the band went on a "indefinite hiatus".
, while Dan went to work on Drawbacks, with his brother Tim Rayner, who later joined Pitchshifter as well. Jon formed the alternative rock group Doheny with former The Cult
guitarist Billy Morrison
. Mark later left The Blueprint
and with Jason, they formed This Is Menace
, a supergroup featuring members from various other bands including Carcass
, Napalm Death
, Sikth
, Send More Paramedics
, Funeral for a Friend
and earthtone9
.
Doheny later broke up and JS went to form his own label, PSI Records
, and in 2004 released the compilation album Bootlegged, Distorted, Remixed and Uploaded
and the DVD P.S.I.entology
. In 2005, This Is Menace
released their début album No End in Sight
through PSI Records.
During this time as well, Jon also worked as a teacher at the Los Angeles Recording School
teaching Music Business Communications and also was a featured guest for a U.S. Pigface
tour where he performed vocals for songs including Pigface's "Insect/Suspect" and Pitchshifter's classic "Genius."
. Jim didn't return to the band to pursue a solo carer and was replaced by Tim Rayner. The band also released the None for All and All for One EP, with some copies given away for free in certain shows. There were some rumours that the band was working on a new album, but the band has denied.
In 2008, the band along with Carcass
and Cathedral
, headlined the Damnation Festival
.
stated that "It's been refreshing to get back in the demo studio. We are taking this record in a few places we haven't been before in terms of guitar work. Brian Harrah[ Professional Murder Music
and Tura Satana
] is writing with me on guitar at The Manor Studios, and Jason is jamming at his place. So far we are having a blast and kicking ass. There are a few new moves in terms of song timing and vocals that have us all jazzed. I guess you'll just have to wait and see what we came up with." In late 2009, guitarist Tim Rayner was diagnosed with b cell
lymphoma
while on vacation on Australia
and underwent treatment. In February 2010, he arrived in the UK and started radiotherapy.
The band also headlined the Wakefield Rock Festival on May 15, 2010.
Current live members
Former members
Former live members
Guests
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
-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...
band from Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
formed in 1989. The band was started by bassist and vocalist Mark Clayden, lead guitarist and programmer Johnny A. Carter and rhythm guitarist Stuart Toolin.
The band gained attention with their 1998 release www.pitchshifter.com
Www.pitchshifter.com
-Personnel:Pitchshifter*J.S. Clayden - lead vocals, beats, riffs and programming*Mark Clayden - bass, sampler*Jim Davies - lead and rhythm guitar*Johnny Carter - lead, rhythm guitar and programming*'D' Walters - live drums, percussionAdditional musicians...
for its fusion of electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
like drum 'n bass with 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...
and rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, which has been compared with other electronic groups like The Prodigy
The Prodigy
The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
. The band is also known for the early industrial metal
Industrial metal
Industrial metal is a musical genre that draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal, using repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Founding industrial metal acts include Ministry, Godflesh, and KMFDM.Industrial metal's...
sound with downtuned guitars and the use of drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
s and being cited as one of the originators of the genre along with Godflesh
Godflesh
Godflesh are an English industrial metal band from Birmingham, England. Originally known as Fall of Because, they formed in 1988 by Justin K. Broadrick and G.C. Green and disbanded in 2002. Godflesh's innovative music is widely regarded as a foundational influence on industrial metal and post-metal...
.
Albeit the band has found little mainstream success, the band managed to gain a platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
with the release of the Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (soundtrack)
-Tracks :In order by movie appearance#"Theme From Mortal Kombat "##Main title sequence##Liu Kang vs. Shao Kahn#"X-Squad "##Shao Kahn's invasion on Earth...
soundtrack and their 2000 release Deviant
Deviant (Pitchshifter album)
- Album cover ban:Pitchshifter's album cover used a picture of one of Gee Vaucher's Paintings, who did artwork for Crass and Carcass. The painting shows a cross between the Pope John Paul II and Queen Elizabeth II. The album cover was banned in Poland, due to the some of the public's response and...
peaking at 39 in Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. Since its formation, the band has released six studio albums, three EPs and eight music videos. The band has played in various festivals around the world including Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
, Phoenix Festival
Phoenix Festival
The Phoenix Festival was set up by Vince Power of the Mean Fiddler Music Group in 1993 as an alternative to the established Glastonbury and Reading Festivals...
and Damnation Festival
Damnation Festival
The Damnation Festival is a one day music festival currently held annually at Leeds University, Leeds, England and organised by Gavin McInally. The 2011 edition of the festival will be held on November 5...
.
Formation and Industrial (1989–1991)
The band was formed in 1989 by bassist Mark Clayden with his brother and vocalist JS Clayden, with guitarists Johnny Carter and Stuart Toolin. During this time, the band played with local bands and soon gained attention of the Peaceville RecordsPeaceville Records
Peaceville Records is a British independent metal-oriented record label. The label was founded by Paul "Hammy" Halmshaw in 1987, in Dewsbury, England...
. During this time, JS went to live in France to sell paintings.
During 1990, the band started recording their début album, Industrial
Industrial (album)
- 1998 re-release bonus track :-Personnel:Pichshifter* Mark Clayden - lead vocals and bass* J.S. Clayden - backing vocals* John A. Carter - lead guitar and programming* Stu E. Toolin - rhythm guitar...
, with the main vocalist being Mark Clayden instead of JS, who contributed with backing vocals. The band later went on a small tour with bands like Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
.
Submit, Desensitized and Phoenix Festival (1992–1995)
The band later joined the British label Earache RecordsEarache Records
Earache Records is a heavy metal-oriented record label based in Nottingham, UK and New York, USA. It helped to pioneer extreme metal by releasing many of the earliest grindcore and death metal records in the period 1988-1994.-History:...
where they released their EP Submit
Submit
- 1995 re-release bonus tracks :-Personnel:Pitchshifter* J.S. Clayden - lead vocals * Mark Clayden - lead vocals and bass* John A. Carter - lead guitar* Stu E. Toolin - rhythm guitarProduction* J.S. Clayden - artwork...
. Later, Stuart Toolin left the band, and the band hired Matt Godfrey to fill his place for some shows. Matt later left the band and they hired drummer D.J. Walters, now being a four-piece band. Later, the band released their second album, Desensitized.
The band played at the Phoenix Festival
Phoenix Festival
The Phoenix Festival was set up by Vince Power of the Mean Fiddler Music Group in 1993 as an alternative to the established Glastonbury and Reading Festivals...
in Long Marston
Long Marston
Long Marston may refer to:*Long Marston, Hertfordshire*Long Marston, North Yorkshire*Long Marston, Warwickshire...
, UK in 1995. The band's manager, armed with a tractor, arranged for an enormous crop circle
Crop circle
A crop circle is a sizable pattern created by the flattening of a crop such as wheat, barley, rye, maize, or rapeseed. Crop circles are also referred to as crop formations, because they are not always circular in shape. While the exact date crop circles began to appear is unknown, the documented...
replica of the band's famous “eye” symbol to appear in the adjoining field to the festival site during the night prior to their performance there. The crowd's enthusiasm for the band when they performed was so high that they rushed the stage, making Pitchshifter's performance the first in the history of the festival to be stopped early.
Remix War and Infotainment? (1995–1996)
The band later released the remix album, The Remix War, which had appearances of other groups like BiohazardBiohazard (band)
Biohazard is a band originally based in Brooklyn, New York. They are acknowledged as one of the earliest bands to fuse hardcore punk and heavy metal with elements of hip hop. The original lineup consisted of Vocalist/Guitarist Billy Graziadei, bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld, guitarist Bobby Hambel,...
and Therapy?
Therapy?
Therapy? is an alternative metal band from Northern Ireland. The band was formed in 1989 by guitarist–vocalist Andy Cairns from Ballyclare and drummer-vocalist Fyfe Ewing from Larne, Northern Ireland. The band initially recorded their first demo with Cairns filling in on bass guitar...
. The band then started working on the third album, Infotainment?
Infotainment?
-Credits:Pitchshifter* J.S. Clayden - lead vocals* Johnny A. Carter - lead, rhythm guitar and programming* Mark Clayden - bass* D.J. Walters - drums, percussionProduction* J.S. Clayden, Omni-Design, Fluid and Alex CRi - artwork...
and later played at the Dynamo Open Air
Dynamo Open Air
Dynamo Open Air was a festival in the Netherlands held every year since 1986, until 2005. Originally held to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Dynamo rock club in Eindhoven, it has grown exponentially since then, and from a 5,000-person attendance in the Dynamo parking lot, it had grown to...
. The band later left Earache and joined Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
.
Spelling change and www.pitchshifter.com (1997–1999)
During this time, the band changed the spelling of their name from 'Pitch Shifter' to 'Pitchshifter', and also recruited former The ProdigyThe Prodigy
The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
live guitarist Jim Davies, with the band returning to their five-piece form. The band later released their single Genius, which was later included in Test Drive 5
Test Drive 5
Test Drive 5 is a cross-platform racing game, released on the PlayStation and PC in 1998. It is the fifth entry in the Test Drive series of video games.-Tracks:There are 18 tracks in the game, with 17 real-world tracks, plus one fictional circuit....
and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (soundtrack)
-Tracks :In order by movie appearance#"Theme From Mortal Kombat "##Main title sequence##Liu Kang vs. Shao Kahn#"X-Squad "##Shao Kahn's invasion on Earth...
soundtrack, which helped the band to gain platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
.
In 1998, the band released their fourth album www.pitchshifter.com
Www.pitchshifter.com
-Personnel:Pitchshifter*J.S. Clayden - lead vocals, beats, riffs and programming*Mark Clayden - bass, sampler*Jim Davies - lead and rhythm guitar*Johnny Carter - lead, rhythm guitar and programming*'D' Walters - live drums, percussionAdditional musicians...
, which is also their best selling album, selling around 60,000 copies. The band later played in Ozzfest 1998 and Livid
Livid
Livid was an Australian alternative rock music festival held annually from 1989 to 2003. Masterminded by Peter Walsh and Natalie Jeremijenko, the original idea of showcasing both the arts and music in the one event was standardised as late as October/early November from 1991 until 2003...
in support of their album. During 1999, they played on Reading Festival and again at Dynamo.
Deviant (2000–2001)
In 2000, founder Johnny Carter and drummer D.J. Walters left the band, and the band hired guitarist Matt Grundy and drummer Jason Bowld. The band later release fifth album DeviantDeviant (Pitchshifter album)
- Album cover ban:Pitchshifter's album cover used a picture of one of Gee Vaucher's Paintings, who did artwork for Crass and Carcass. The painting shows a cross between the Pope John Paul II and Queen Elizabeth II. The album cover was banned in Poland, due to the some of the public's response and...
, which had appearances of drummer John Stanier
John Stanier (drummer)
John Stanier first came into the spotlight in 1989 as the drummer for the band Helmet. He is known for his speed, endurance, and precision as a performer....
and Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
. The band also played in that year's Ozzfest. During 2001, Matt left the band the group latter in 2002 hired Dan Rayner. The cover used a picture of one of Gee Vaucher
Gee Vaucher
Gee Vaucher is a visual artist who was born in 1945 in Dagenham, East London.Her work with Anarcho-punk band Crass was seminal to the 'protest art' of the 1980s. Vaucher has always seen her work as a tool for social change. In her collection of early works Crass Art and Other Pre Post-Modernist...
's Paintings, who did artwork for Crass
Crass
Crass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
and Carcass
Carcass
Carcass may refer to:*Cadaver of a human, or carrion of an animal.*Carcass , a death metal/grindcore band*Carcass , a type of incendiary ammunition designed to be fired from a cannon, three ships of the Royal Navy...
. The painting shows a cross between the Pope John Paul II and Queen Elizabeth II, and because of this, the album was banned in Poland, due to the some of the publics response and complaints to the image saying "Why did you insult the Pope?!". MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
forced the band to change the album cover in Poland and replaced it with another image.
PSI and hiatus (2002–2003)
Around 2002, the band joined Sanctuary and released their sixth album PSIPSI (album)
-Personnel:Pitchshifter* J.S. Clayden - lead vocals and programming* Jim Davies - lead and rhythm guitar* Mark Clayden - bass* Jason Bowld - drums and percussionAdditional musicians* Johnny Mingus - live double bass on 'Stop Talking '...
. The band then went to a few more shows until their last show in 2003 where the band went on a "indefinite hiatus".
Side projects (2003–2006)
During this time, Jim Davies returned to The ProdigyThe Prodigy
The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
, while Dan went to work on Drawbacks, with his brother Tim Rayner, who later joined Pitchshifter as well. Jon formed the alternative rock group Doheny with former The Cult
The Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
guitarist Billy Morrison
Billy Morrison
Billy Morrison is an English guitarist, singer and actor who performs with the Los Angeles-based cover band Camp Freddy. Morrison is also a member of Billy Idol's current touring band, and has previously fronted the hard rock act Circus Diablo...
. Mark later left The Blueprint
The Blueprint (band)
The Blueprint are a rock band based in Nottingham, England. Members of The Blueprint have played in other bands including Pitchshifter, earthtone9, Consumed and Army Of Flying Robots....
and with Jason, they formed This Is Menace
This Is Menace
This Is Menace was a British metalcore supergroup formed in 2004.-History:The band was formed by bassist Mark Clayden and drummer Jason Bowld during the hiatus of their previous band, Pitchshifter. The group released their limited EP, Collusion in 2005...
, a supergroup featuring members from various other bands including Carcass
Carcass (band)
Carcass are an extreme metal band from England, who formed in 1985 and disbanded in 1995. A reunion was enacted in 2008 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen, due to health reasons....
, Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
, Sikth
SikTh
Sikth were a progressive metal band from Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.-Early days:SikTh formed in late 1999, but consolidated their line-up in March 2001...
, Send More Paramedics
Send More Paramedics
Send More Paramedics were a horror film-influenced crossover thrash band from Leeds in the north of England.-Biography:The name is a reference to the 1985 horror/comedy Return of the Living Dead...
, Funeral for a Friend
Funeral for a Friend
Funeral for a Friend are a Welsh post-hardcore band, from Bridgend. Formed 2001, they have released five studio albums, seven EPs, sixteen singles, one DVD, and one compilation album.-Formation and Early Years:...
and earthtone9
Earthtone9
earthtone9 is an alternative metal band hailing from Nottingham, UK. Their line-up on most of their major releases was Karl Middleton on vocals, Owen "Oz" Packard, Joe Roberts on guitar, Graeme Watts on bass and Simon Hutchby on drums .-History:Signing to Copro Records in 1998, the band's first...
.
Doheny later broke up and JS went to form his own label, PSI Records
PSI Records
PSI Records is an independent record label based in Nottingham, United Kingdom and Los Angeles, United States formed in 2002 by Pitchshifter frontman JS Clayden and his brother Mark Clayden.-History:...
, and in 2004 released the compilation album Bootlegged, Distorted, Remixed and Uploaded
Bootlegged, Distorted, Remixed and Uploaded
Bootlegged, Distorted, Remixed and Uploaded is a compilation album by English metal band Pitchshifter. It was released in 2003, on their own record label, PSI Records....
and the DVD P.S.I.entology
P.S.I.entology
P.S.I.entology was the only DVD release from the British band Pitchshifter. The DVD was the second release from PSI Records which is run by members Mark Clayden and J.S. Clayden. The DVD was released ostensibly as a "thank you" to the band's loyal fan base. The release prompted the band to reform...
. In 2005, This Is Menace
This Is Menace
This Is Menace was a British metalcore supergroup formed in 2004.-History:The band was formed by bassist Mark Clayden and drummer Jason Bowld during the hiatus of their previous band, Pitchshifter. The group released their limited EP, Collusion in 2005...
released their début album No End in Sight
No End in Sight
No End in Sight is a 2007 documentary film about the American occupation of Iraq. The film marks the directorial debut of Academy Award winning documentary film producer Charles H. Ferguson. The film premiered January 22, 2007 at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. The film opened in limited release...
through PSI Records.
During this time as well, Jon also worked as a teacher at the Los Angeles Recording School
Los Angeles Recording School
The Los Angeles Recording School is located on Sunset Boulevard, in Hollywood, California. The school provides hands-on and curriculum training in professional music recording, audio engineering, and audio production techniques...
teaching Music Business Communications and also was a featured guest for a U.S. Pigface
Pigface
Pigface is an industrial rock supergroup formed in 1990 by Martin Atkins and William Rieflin.-History:Pigface was formed from Ministry's The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste tour, which produced the In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up live album and video. For the tour, Al Jourgensen brought...
tour where he performed vocals for songs including Pigface's "Insect/Suspect" and Pitchshifter's classic "Genius."
Return and None for All and All for One (2006–2008)
During late 2006, there were rumours that band was going to return, which were later confirmed and the band announced the "Back From the Dead" tour, supported by various bands including Funeral for a FriendFuneral for a Friend
Funeral for a Friend are a Welsh post-hardcore band, from Bridgend. Formed 2001, they have released five studio albums, seven EPs, sixteen singles, one DVD, and one compilation album.-Formation and Early Years:...
. Jim didn't return to the band to pursue a solo carer and was replaced by Tim Rayner. The band also released the None for All and All for One EP, with some copies given away for free in certain shows. There were some rumours that the band was working on a new album, but the band has denied.
In 2008, the band along with Carcass
Carcass (band)
Carcass are an extreme metal band from England, who formed in 1985 and disbanded in 1995. A reunion was enacted in 2008 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen, due to health reasons....
and Cathedral
Cathedral (band)
Cathedral are a doom metal band from Coventry, England. The group forged a link between early doom metal and a 1990s extreme metal aesthetic, making doom slower and heavier. Their debut album, Forest of Equilibrium, is considered a classic of the genre. They later on changed their doom style,...
, headlined the Damnation Festival
Damnation Festival
The Damnation Festival is a one day music festival currently held annually at Leeds University, Leeds, England and organised by Gavin McInally. The 2011 edition of the festival will be held on November 5...
.
Recent activity and new album (2008 onward)
In 2009, the band announced in their official website that they were working on a new album. Frontman JS ClaydenJS Clayden
JS Clayden is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as the frontman of the band Pitchshifter. He moved to several towns in the United Kingdom, settling in Nottingham, England for a number of years before emigrating to Los Angeles, California...
stated that "It's been refreshing to get back in the demo studio. We are taking this record in a few places we haven't been before in terms of guitar work. Brian Harrah
Professional Murder Music
Professional Murder Music is an Alternative Rock band, from Los Angeles, California.They are currently signed and own indie label, Wormhole Records. Their music has been used for such film soundtracks as End of Days, Ginger Snaps, Valentine, and Jet Grind Radio, a video game for the Sega Dreamcast....
and Tura Satana
Tura Satana (band)
Tura Satana was an alternative metal band named after cult actress Tura Satana. The band started in the early 90s under the name Manhole. Due to legal reasons they changed it after the release of their first album 'All Is Not Well'...
B cell
B cells are lymphocytes that play a large role in the humoral immune response . The principal functions of B cells are to make antibodies against antigens, perform the role of antigen-presenting cells and eventually develop into memory B cells after activation by antigen interaction...
lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
while on vacation on 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...
and underwent treatment. In February 2010, he arrived in the UK and started radiotherapy.
The band also headlined the Wakefield Rock Festival on May 15, 2010.
Band members
Current members- Jon "JS" Clayden – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
(1989–present) - Mark D. Clayden – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, formerly vocals (1989–present) - Jason Bowld – 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 ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
(2000–present)
Current live members
- Dan Rayner – lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocals(2002–present) - Tim Rayner – rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
,(2003–present)
Former members
- Jonathan Alan "Johnny" Carter – lead/rhythm guitar, programming (1989–2000)
- Stuart E. Toolin – rhythm guitar (1989–1992)
- Jim Davies – lead guitar, backing vocals (1998–2002)
Former live members
- Matt Grundy – rhythm guitar (2000-2002)
- Matt Godfrey – rhythm guitar (1992)
- Dave "D.J." Walters – drums, percussion (1993–1999)
Guests
- Jello BiafraJello BiafraJello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
– vocals - Nosaj – vocals
- John StanierJohn Stanier (drummer)John Stanier first came into the spotlight in 1989 as the drummer for the band Helmet. He is known for his speed, endurance, and precision as a performer....
– drums, percussion - Keith YorkKeith YorkKeith York is a professional session drummer who has toured and sessioned throughout the world and worked with a range of bands, including Pitchshifter, The Lightning Seeds, Bivouac, Ladytron, and Esoteric, Bentley Rhythm Ace , Broadcast and Love Amongst Ruin...
– drums, percussion - Logan MaderLogan MaderLogan Mader was born on November 16, 1970 in Montreal, Canada. Logan is best known for his work as a guitarist in the heavy metal band Machine Head, who formed in Oakland, California in 1992. Their 1994 debut, Burn My Eyes, was released by Roadrunner Records and quickly became the top-selling...
– guitar
Discography
- IndustrialIndustrial (album)- 1998 re-release bonus track :-Personnel:Pichshifter* Mark Clayden - lead vocals and bass* J.S. Clayden - backing vocals* John A. Carter - lead guitar and programming* Stu E. Toolin - rhythm guitar...
(1991) - DesensitizedDesensitized (Pitch Shifter album)- Personnel :Pitchshifter* J.S. Clayden - lead vocals* Johnny Carter - lead, rhythm guitar and programming* Mark Clayden - bass* D.J. Walters - drums, percussionProduction* Johnny Carter - programming* Paul Johnston - engineering* Pitchshifter - production...
(1993) - Infotainment?Infotainment?-Credits:Pitchshifter* J.S. Clayden - lead vocals* Johnny A. Carter - lead, rhythm guitar and programming* Mark Clayden - bass* D.J. Walters - drums, percussionProduction* J.S. Clayden, Omni-Design, Fluid and Alex CRi - artwork...
(1996) - www.pitchshifter.comWww.pitchshifter.com-Personnel:Pitchshifter*J.S. Clayden - lead vocals, beats, riffs and programming*Mark Clayden - bass, sampler*Jim Davies - lead and rhythm guitar*Johnny Carter - lead, rhythm guitar and programming*'D' Walters - live drums, percussionAdditional musicians...
(1998) - DeviantDeviant (Pitchshifter album)- Album cover ban:Pitchshifter's album cover used a picture of one of Gee Vaucher's Paintings, who did artwork for Crass and Carcass. The painting shows a cross between the Pope John Paul II and Queen Elizabeth II. The album cover was banned in Poland, due to the some of the public's response and...
(2000) - PSIPSI (album)-Personnel:Pitchshifter* J.S. Clayden - lead vocals and programming* Jim Davies - lead and rhythm guitar* Mark Clayden - bass* Jason Bowld - drums and percussionAdditional musicians* Johnny Mingus - live double bass on 'Stop Talking '...
(2002)