The Wake (US band)
Encyclopedia
The Wake is an American
gothic rock
band from Columbus
, Ohio
. Formed in 1986 by Troy Payne (lead vocals) and Richard Witherspoon (lead guitars), their initial line-up was completed by the addition of James Tramel (bass), Daniel C (drums) and Robert Brothers (keyboards).
Their first release was a self-titled cassette EP, released via the local Blaylox Records label in 1990. The Wake had a significant impact on the gothic/alternative club circuit in the United States, and the group were soon opening for bands like And Also The Trees
, Skinny Puppy
, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
, Shadow Project
and Nine Inch Nails
.
Two subsequent 7" singles (Harlot and Sideshow) increased their fanbase, and in 1993 they released their first full-length album, Masked, on Cleopatra Records
. Appearances on a number of compilation albums exposed them further to audiences in France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.
A second album, Nine Ways, emerged in 1996. By this time Steven Creighton had replaced James Tramel on bass, although the album sleeve notes thank Tramel "for his extended tour of duty". Nine Ways was preceded by the Christine CD EP, which featured six tracks remixed by Rosetta Stone
. (An additional Masked-era track was also included.) A video for Christine also exists, and is set amongst the Spanish and Aztec landmarks of Mexico City
.
A third release, although not entirely new material, BLACKlist, a best of compilation containing both released and unreleased songs, live concert footage, and two studio produced videos, was released in 2008.
Presently the band are on a hiatus; new material is promised in the near future.
Compilation Appearances
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
band from Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Formed in 1986 by Troy Payne (lead vocals) and Richard Witherspoon (lead guitars), their initial line-up was completed by the addition of James Tramel (bass), Daniel C (drums) and Robert Brothers (keyboards).
Their first release was a self-titled cassette EP, released via the local Blaylox Records label in 1990. The Wake had a significant impact on the gothic/alternative club circuit in the United States, and the group were soon opening for bands like And Also The Trees
And also the trees
And Also The Trees are an English rock band, formed in 1979 in the United Kingdom. They are most notable for their poetic lyrics and evocative music which is strongly influenced by their native English countryside.-History :...
, Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy is a Canadian industrial musical group, formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1982. The group is widely considered to be the founders of the electro-industrial genre....
, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry are a rock band that were formed in Leeds, England in early 1981.- History :The band was formed by guitarist/songwriter Chris Reed and vocalist Mark Sweeney, along with bassist Steve Smith and drummer Mick Brown...
, Shadow Project
Shadow Project
Shadow Project were a deathrock band formed in the early 1990s with Rozz Williams, Eva O and Paris Sadonis. The band's first album included bassist Jill Emery and drummer Thomas Morgan....
and Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
.
Two subsequent 7" singles (Harlot and Sideshow) increased their fanbase, and in 1993 they released their first full-length album, Masked, on Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music...
. Appearances on a number of compilation albums exposed them further to audiences in France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.
A second album, Nine Ways, emerged in 1996. By this time Steven Creighton had replaced James Tramel on bass, although the album sleeve notes thank Tramel "for his extended tour of duty". Nine Ways was preceded by the Christine CD EP, which featured six tracks remixed by Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone (band)
Rosetta Stone were a British goth band formed in the mid 1980s by Porl King and Karl North , plus their drum machine and synthesizer rack nicknamed "Madame Razor"....
. (An additional Masked-era track was also included.) A video for Christine also exists, and is set amongst the Spanish and Aztec landmarks of Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
.
A third release, although not entirely new material, BLACKlist, a best of compilation containing both released and unreleased songs, live concert footage, and two studio produced videos, was released in 2008.
Presently the band are on a hiatus; new material is promised in the near future.
Discography
Albums and Singles- The Wake Cass (Blaylox 1990)
- Harlot 7" (Blaylox 1991)
- Sideshow 7" (Blaylox 1992)
- Masked CD (Cleopatra 1993)
- Christine EP (Cleopatra 1995)
- Nine Ways CD (Cleopatra 1996)
- BLACKlist CD/DVD (Cleopatra 2008)
- Emily Closer MP3 (Blaylox 2010)
Compilation Appearances
- New Alternatives 2 CD
- Night of the Banshee CD (Sub Terranean)
- L'Appel De La Muse Vol. 3 CD (Alea Jacta Est 1993)
- In Goth Daze CD (Cleopatra 1994)
- Mysterious Encounters CD (Cleopatra 1994)
- The Fallen Angel CD (Zoth Ommog 1994)
- Gothik CD (Cleopatra 1995)
- Stars, Hide Your Fires CD (Hyperium RecordsHyperium RecordsHyperium Records was a German independent record label specializing in ethereal, darkwave, neoclassical, gothic, and ambient music, founded by Oliver Roesch and Oliver van Essenberg in 1991...
1995) - Wired Injections CD (Cleopatra 1996)
- German Mystic Sound Sampler Vol. VII CD (Zillo 1998)