Echobrain

Infobox musical artist
Name = Echobrain


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Genre = Alternative rock, Pop rock
Years_active = 2000–2005
Label = Surfdog Records
Associated_acts = Metallica, Voivod, Rock Star Supernova, Flotsam and Jetsam
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Current_members = Jason Newsted
Andrew Gomez
Adam Donkin
Dylan Donkin
Brian Sagrafena
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Echobrain was an American rock musical group, come to prominence as the first offering from former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted. Echobrain was formed in 2000 by Jason Newsted, Brian Sagrafena and Dylan Donkin who had close contact with one another throughout the late-90s after they met at a Super Bowl party at Newsted's place in 1995. On a road trip to Baja, Mexico, Sagrafena and Donkin recorded some rough demos that, when they came home, eventually caught Newsted's attention, who then offered to help out on bass guitar and assist the songwriting. In May 2000, they entered a studio to record the demos more professionally, with help from several musicians including Newsted's then-colleague and Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, and former Faith No More guitarist Jim Martin.

History

Thanks to the fortunes he made in Metallica, Newsted funded Echobrain himself, later claiming that he lost a great deal of money in the project. [Korn, Mike [http://www.musicstreetjournal.com/voivodint.htm Interview Voi Vod's Jason Newsted] "Music Street Journal" (2003). Retrieved March 9, 2007.] The tension created out of Newsted's work in Echobrain ultimately led to his departure from Metallica after over a decade with the group. Metallica frontman James Hetfield expressed disapproval of Newsted's new focus, saying, "When someone does a side project, it takes away from the strength of Metallica" and pondered, "Where would it end? Does he start touring with it? Does he sell shirts? Is it his band?"cite web
title=The Playboy Interview – Metallica
publisher="Playboy"
url=http://www.playboy.com/arts-entertainment/features/metallica/05.html
accessdate=2007-12-03] Newsted fired back that if James could have side projects with members of COC why couldn't he. The remaining members of Metallica with producer Bob Rock were also filmed going to an Echobrain performance in the 2004 documentary "Some Kind of Monster". After the performance, they hoped to speak with Newsted in congratulations, but he was suspiciously nowhere to be found.

Echobrain is currently non-active; although, all members have other projects currently in progress. Dylan Donkin has a solo project. His brother, Adam, is focusing on producing emerging artists (including Dylan). Andrew Gomez fronts the acoustic rock outfit, The Cons. Newsted currently plays bass for Voivod and Rock Star Supernova.

Supposedly, a great factor that caused the break-up of Echobrain was an encounter with copyright issues. Another band by the name of Echo Drain had written a song titled, "Suckerpunch" that was also used by Echobrain.

Line-ups

Live performances in 2001

*Brian Sagrafena
*Jason Newsted
*Dylan Donkin
*Chris Scianni
*David Borla

Recording "Echobrain" (2002)

*Dylan Donkin - Guitar
*Brian Sagrafena - Drums
*Jason Newsted - Bass
*Jim Martin - Guest Guitar, Banjo
*Kirk Hammett - Guest Guitar on "Suckerpunch"

Recording "Glean" (2004)

*Brian Sagrafena
*Adam Donkin
*Dylan Donkin
*Andrew Gomez

Discography

Year	Title	Label
2002	"Echobrain"	Surfdog
2002	"Strange Enjoyment"	Chophouse
2004	"Glean"	Surfdog

References