Course of Empire (band)
Course of Empire | |
---|---|
Dallas, Texas | |
Genres | Industrial rock (early), alternative rock, alternative metal (later), post-punk[1] |
Years active | 1988–1998 |
Labels | Carpe Diem Records Zoo Entertainment TVT Records |
Members | Vaughn Stevenson Mike Graff Paul Semrad Chad Lovell Michael Jerome Kyle Thomas Anthony Headley |
Website | CourseOfEmpire.com |
Course of Empire was an industrial/alternative rock
History
First studio album and major label signing (1988–1993)
Guitarist Mike Graff and drummer Anthony Headley had both attended
Around the same time, the band's local live shows had increased in size. One of the band's trademarks had consisted of passing around
After the tours which supported the Course of Empire re-issue, Thomas left the band and Michael Jerome joined as his replacement.[4] In 1993, Course of Empire released the single "Infested" in anticipation of their second album. The single featured two new songs, "Joy" and "Let's Have a War" (a cover of a song by Fear), as well as a "Darwin Goodman" remix of "Infested". The name was taken from Darwin (naturalist/evolutionary scientist Charles Darwin) and Goodman (legendary big band clarinetist Benny Goodman).
Continued recording and label shifts (1993–1996)
The band released their second album,
After a series of financial struggles, Zoo Entertainment drastically reduced their staff by early 1996. The label subsequently halted their daily operations in July 1996, just one month before Course of Empire's third album was due to be released. TVT Records signed the band by December 1996 after working out the licensing terms with BMG for the rights to the then-upcoming album and the previous Initiation record.[4] At TVT's request, the band recorded additional tracks with Lovell as producer. The new tracks were mixed in Hollywood at Larrabee Studios North with Dave Bianco at the helm. Some previous tracks were also remixed by Bianco.
Final release and disbandment (1996–1998)
Course of Empire's third album Telepathic Last Words, originally mastered by Bob Ludwig for the Zoo Entertainment release, was remastered by Howie Weinberg in September 1997 and was finally released in January 1998, almost two years after its original completion. As part of the new deal, the scheduled national lead single was changed from "New Maps" to "The Information". "The Information" was included on the soundtrack for the 1998 film Dark City. A music video was also produced featuring scenes from the movie and was aired on MTV at the time of the movie's premiere. The band received favorable press in the form of a two-page cover story in a local alternative weekly news magazine, the Dallas Observer, as well as mentions in Spin and trade publications; however, a lack of promotion by the record company prevented the song from seeing a wide release on modern rock playlists across the United States. "The Information" was picked up by Q102 after the success of "New Maps" on Redbeard's show, but failed to gain traction and was dropped from the playlist by 1998. "Kaptain Kontrol" was also released as a promotional single.
The band supported the album by touring with 2wo, an industrial rock project headed by Rob Halford (Judas Priest) alongside John 5 (Marilyn Manson), Ray Riendeau (Machines of Loving Grace), and James Woolley (Nine Inch Nails).[2] Less than two weeks after the tour started, 2wo had cancelled the remaining dates. Course of Empire also opened for The Sisters of Mercy in Los Angeles that spring.[4] The group disbanded after ten years together due to frustration with the overall label management, the aforementioned tour cancellation, and the lack of a proper A&R representative. Their final show was in July 1998 at Trees in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas, with Caulk and Doosu as the show's openers.
Following years
In 2004, Graff and Martin Baird at Verge Music Works recording studio mixed the still-existing 24 tracks of the final performance at Trees and personally financed and self-released the tracks, titled Phone Calls From the Dead.[1] A DVD of the band was also self-released that same year, titled Hiss. In 2008, a double-album of demos was self-released, simply titled Initiation Demos. In 2013, Early C.O.E. & Telepathic Last Show was self-released, which consisted of demos from the band's early years and also the remainder of the aforementioned Trees live show from 1998.
After Course of Empire split in 1998, Jerome and Graff collaborated with Van Eric Martin to form the group Halls of the Machine, who released their debut album, Atmospheres for Lovers and Sleepers, in 2001. The band released their second album All Tribal Dignitaries in 2017.[5]
In 2019, it was revealed that Lovell had experienced a fall that left him with a traumatic brain injury. To help with medical costs, his former bandmates in Course of Empire decided to release a compilation entitled Fields of Discipline, which consisted of
Another benefit for Lovell commenced on November 11, 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas. Toadies had headlined the event while an auction was held as a fundraiser.[7] Around the same time, it was announced that there were plans to issue Course of Empire's second album Initiation on vinyl for the first time, which was eventually released in May 2023.[8]
Members
- Vaughn Stevenson – vocals (1988–1998)
- Mike Graff – guitar (1988–1998)
- Paul Semrad – bass (1988–1998)
- Anthony Headley – drums (1988–1991)
- Chad Lovell – drums (1989–1998)
- Kyle Thomas – drums (1991–1993)
- Michael Jerome – drums (1993–1998)
Timeline
Discography
Albums
- 1990: Course of Empire (Carpe Diem Records)[a]
- 1994: Initiation (Zoo Entertainment)
- 1998: Telepathic Last Words (TVT Records)
Compilations
- 2004: Phone Calls From the Dead (Live album/released on Lust)
- 2004: Hiss (DVD/Self-released)
- 2008: Initiation Demos (Demo album/Self-released)
- 2013: Early C.O.E. & Telepathic Last Show (Live album and studio tracks/Self-released)[9]
- 2021: Fields of Discipline (Previously unreleased 1989 album/released on IDBLM)[10]
Singles
- 1992: "Coming of the Century"
- 1993: "Infested"
- 1994: "White Vision Blowout"
- 1997: "The Information"
- 1998: "Kaptain Kontrol"
- 2021: "Thrust"
- ^ The album was reissued by Zoo Entertainment in 1992.
References
- ^ a b Prato, Greg. "Greg Prato of Allmusic". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
- ^ a b c "Artist Spotlight". The Avocado. June 27, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ Coming of the Century Credits (liner notes). Zoo Entertainment. ZP17074-2. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Course of Empire Biography". Course of Empire. Archived from the original on 29 April 1999. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
- ^ "Halls of the Machine official site". Hallsofthemachine.com. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
- ^ "Course of Empire official site". Course of Empire. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
- ^ Jones, Preston (November 10, 2022). "Fort Worth's Toadies show benefits Course of Empire drummer". KXT 91.7. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ "Course of Empire Initiation". DFW Legacy Series. 15 November 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ Course of Empire – Early C.O.E. & Telepathic Last Show (2013, CDr), retrieved 2022-01-04
- ^ Course Of Empire – Fields Of Discipline (2021, CDr), retrieved 2022-01-04