The Dream is Dead (band)
Encyclopedia
The Dream is Dead was a hardcore punk
band based in Indianapolis
, Indiana
. Their music contained many American
political anti-authoritarian
themes.
Records) and long-time friend Jason McCash (bass player for the seminal Circle City
hardcore band Burn It Down) kicked around the idea of doing a project band dedicated to putting the threat and politics back into hardcore. A feeling of youthful rebellion and resistance to the status quo initially drew them to hardcore punk in their teenage years, and it was the integrity of the music that sustained their love for the genre.
Initial attempts to get the band off the ground failed but the breakup of Burn It Down left McCash without a band and revitalized The Dream Is Dead's prospects. Jared Southwick (from Indiana death metal band Harakiri) was recruited for guitar duties, eventually parting from his former band to devote his time fully to The Dream is Dead. Alex Bond, fresh from the breakup of his screamo band The Sutek Conspiracy, completed the lineup on drums in September 2001.
Alex Bond left the band late in the Spring of 2002 and was replaced by local drummer Dustin Boltjes. By August, Boltjes was acclimated, and the band resumed a heavy regimen of touring.
The toll of being on the road and family responsibilities led founding member McCash to bow out in the fall of 2003. Beaten but not broken, the band resurfaced in early 2004 with former Ice Nine guitarist Dave Lawson on bass.
The bulk of 2004 was spent writing the band's first full length, once again for Escape Artist. A short tour with fellow hoosiers Phoenix Bodies in late 2004 allowed them to polish the new material. In the meantime, in-demand Los Angeles producer and current Theory of Ruin guitarist Alex Newport (formerly of Fudge Tunnel and Nailbomb) was recruited to handle recording and production duties for the full-length. Having recorded several current indie staples for the likes of the Melvins
, the Locust
, Mars Volta, and others, the band and the label felt he was the man for the job.
A short tour brought The Dream Is Dead to the west coast in March 2005, where they recorded their full-length debut, Hail The New Pawn. In June 2007, the band announced it would be releasing a split 7" on Relapse Records
with The Gates of Slumber
in anticipation of their second full-length.
On Thursday, June 23, 2011, band member and guitarist Jared Southwick, 34, passed away at a Muncie, Indiana
hospital from complications from a hepatic and renal condition he had been hospitalized for earlier that month; he suffered complications of the illness and his condition deteriorated.
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...
band based in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. Their music contained many American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political anti-authoritarian
Anti-authoritarian
Anti-authoritarianism is opposition to authoritarianism, which is defined as a "political doctrine advocating the principle of absolute rule: absolutism, autocracy, despotism, dictatorship, totalitarianism." Anti-authoritarians usually believe in full equality before the law and strong civil...
themes.
Band history
The concept behind The Dream Is Dead began in 2000 when Clark Giles (founder of Happy Couples Never LastHappy Couples Never Last
Happy Couples Never Last, is an independent record label. The label has gone on to produce nearly 40 albums under their title. A majority of the records released have been artist splits....
Records) and long-time friend Jason McCash (bass player for the seminal Circle City
Circle City
Circle City can mean:*Circle, Alaska, a city in the U.S. state of Alaska*Circle City, Arizona, an unincorporated community located northwest of Phoenix, Arizona*Indianapolis, Indiana, one of whose nicknames is "Circle City"...
hardcore band Burn It Down) kicked around the idea of doing a project band dedicated to putting the threat and politics back into hardcore. A feeling of youthful rebellion and resistance to the status quo initially drew them to hardcore punk in their teenage years, and it was the integrity of the music that sustained their love for the genre.
Initial attempts to get the band off the ground failed but the breakup of Burn It Down left McCash without a band and revitalized The Dream Is Dead's prospects. Jared Southwick (from Indiana death metal band Harakiri) was recruited for guitar duties, eventually parting from his former band to devote his time fully to The Dream is Dead. Alex Bond, fresh from the breakup of his screamo band The Sutek Conspiracy, completed the lineup on drums in September 2001.
Alex Bond left the band late in the Spring of 2002 and was replaced by local drummer Dustin Boltjes. By August, Boltjes was acclimated, and the band resumed a heavy regimen of touring.
The toll of being on the road and family responsibilities led founding member McCash to bow out in the fall of 2003. Beaten but not broken, the band resurfaced in early 2004 with former Ice Nine guitarist Dave Lawson on bass.
The bulk of 2004 was spent writing the band's first full length, once again for Escape Artist. A short tour with fellow hoosiers Phoenix Bodies in late 2004 allowed them to polish the new material. In the meantime, in-demand Los Angeles producer and current Theory of Ruin guitarist Alex Newport (formerly of Fudge Tunnel and Nailbomb) was recruited to handle recording and production duties for the full-length. Having recorded several current indie staples for the likes of the Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
, the Locust
The Locust
The Locust is a musical group from San Diego, California, United States known for their unique mix of grindcore speed and aggression, mathcore complexity, and new wave weirdness.- Style :...
, Mars Volta, and others, the band and the label felt he was the man for the job.
A short tour brought The Dream Is Dead to the west coast in March 2005, where they recorded their full-length debut, Hail The New Pawn. In June 2007, the band announced it would be releasing a split 7" on Relapse Records
Relapse Records
Relapse Records is an independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990.-History:The label was started by Matthew F. Jacobson in August, 1990 in his parents' basement in Aurora, Colorado...
with The Gates of Slumber
The Gates of Slumber
The Gates Of Slumber is a doom metal band from Indianapolis, Indiana, USA formed in 1998.-History:The Gates of Slumber was first conceived as a solo project by Karl Simon in 1998. When Simon's band at the time went inactive it became his full time 'band'...
in anticipation of their second full-length.
Former members
- Jared Southwick - guitar
- Jason McCash - guitar (formerly of Burn It Down, currently The Gates of SlumberThe Gates of SlumberThe Gates Of Slumber is a doom metal band from Indianapolis, Indiana, USA formed in 1998.-History:The Gates of Slumber was first conceived as a solo project by Karl Simon in 1998. When Simon's band at the time went inactive it became his full time 'band'...
) - Alex Bond - drums (now in Illithid)
On Thursday, June 23, 2011, band member and guitarist Jared Southwick, 34, passed away at a Muncie, Indiana
Muncie, Indiana
Muncie is a city in Center Township, Delaware County in east central Indiana, best known as the home of Ball State University and the birthplace of the Ball Corporation. It is the principal city of the Muncie, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 118,769...
hospital from complications from a hepatic and renal condition he had been hospitalized for earlier that month; he suffered complications of the illness and his condition deteriorated.
Discography
- Letter of Resignation EP (2001, What Else? Records)
- Taking Friendly Fire EP (2002, Escape Artist RecordsEscape Artist RecordsEscape Artist Records is an independent record label formed in 1997 and based in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.- Current and past artist roster :*27*American Heritage*Anodyne*Blunderbuss*Burn It Down*Collapsar*The Dream Is Dead*Ganglahia...
) - Revolution Summer splitSplit albumA split album is a music album which includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There have been singles and EPs released in the same nature, which can be referred to as split singles and split EPs respectively...
7" with Find Him and Kill Him (2002, Happy Couples Never LastHappy Couples Never LastHappy Couples Never Last, is an independent record label. The label has gone on to produce nearly 40 albums under their title. A majority of the records released have been artist splits....
) - Split 7" w/Phoenix Bodies (2004, Melting Wing Records)
- Hail the New Pawn (2005, Escape Artist RecordsEscape Artist RecordsEscape Artist Records is an independent record label formed in 1997 and based in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.- Current and past artist roster :*27*American Heritage*Anodyne*Blunderbuss*Burn It Down*Collapsar*The Dream Is Dead*Ganglahia...
)- pressed on cd and limited edition blood-splattered clear vinyl. - Diversity is Perversity split 7" with The Gates of SlumberThe Gates of SlumberThe Gates Of Slumber is a doom metal band from Indianapolis, Indiana, USA formed in 1998.-History:The Gates of Slumber was first conceived as a solo project by Karl Simon in 1998. When Simon's band at the time went inactive it became his full time 'band'...
(2007, Relapse RecordsRelapse RecordsRelapse Records is an independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990.-History:The label was started by Matthew F. Jacobson in August, 1990 in his parents' basement in Aurora, Colorado...
) - Second full-length scheduled for 2008
Videography
- Decade of Destruction DVD (2004, XYZ Entertainment)- skate video with UnsaneUnsaneUnsane is an influential noise rock trio that formed in New York City in 1988. Their music also touches on elements of hardcore punk and metal...
, EyehategodEyehategodEyehategod is an American sludge metal band from New Orleans who formed in 1988. They have become one of the most well known bands to emerge from the NOLA metal scene...
, Lamb of GodLamb of God (band)Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...
, SlayerSlayerSlayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
, etc. - Pinnernation DVD (2007, XYZ Entertainment)