Doktor Avalanche

Doktor Avalanche is the name of the various drum machines used by rock band The Sisters of Mercy. With the exception of the début single "Damage Done", on which Andrew Eldritch played the drums, the band exclusively relied on drum machines and never had a live drummer. Originally a BOSS DR-55 ("Doctor Rhythm"), the Doktor was later replaced by a Roland TR-606, soon followed by a TR-808, and, briefly, a TR-909. On one album, "First and Last and Always", an Oberheim DMX bore the Doktor name.

With increased financial resources from sale of the album, the Doktor was upgraded to a Yamaha RX5, and subsequently reinforced by Akai S900 and S1000 samplers. An Akai S3200 has been used as studio equipment. Soon after, the first digital Doktor appeared in the form of a set of Compaq portable PCs, which had to be scrapped when it became impossible to maintain them because of a lack of spare parts.

In recent years the "Digital Doktor" has been moved to a custom built lap top designed by Andrew Eldritch and constructed by an English weapons manufacturing company. For a time there was some division in the band as the whether or not the Doktor should be moved to a Macintosh running Logic or remain as is. Since Adam left the group, it seems that Mr. Eldritch will get his way and the Doktor will remain as is.

Doktor Avalanche also "runs" the on-line advice column on the Sisters' web site.

External links

* [http://www.the-sisters-of-mercy.com/tech/doktors.htm Biography of Doktor Avalanche]