Godhead (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Godhead


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Origin = Washington, D.C., United States
Genre = Alternative metal, industrial metal
Years_active = 1994—present
Label = Driven, Cement Shoes, Posthuman
Associated_acts = Bile, Static-X, Loser, Bullets and Octane, Marilyn Manson
URL = [http://www.godhead.com Official site]
Current_members = Jason C. Miller
Mike Miller
Ullrich "Method" Hepperlin
Ty Smith
Past_members = Bruce Brandstatter John Pettitt James O'Connor Tom Z Ken Jay Glendon Crain

Godhead, occasionally typeset as gODHEAD, is an American industrial metal band from Washington, D.C.. They are most often credited with being the first and only band signed to musician Marilyn Manson's short-lived vanity label, Posthuman Records.

History

The band was formed in 1994 under the early moniker Blind, but made their first performance as Godhead shortly after in Fairfax, Virginia that April. After fairly remaining in obscurity for a number of years, the band was noticed by Marilyn Manson, frontman of the band of the same name, and in 2001 signed a record contract with Manson, making them the first act of Posthuman Records. This deal culminated with the release of their breakthrough studio album, "2000 Years of Human Error", which earned Godhead recognition by Ozzy Osbourne and landed them a spot on Ozzfest's on the second stage the same year. The album featured additional contributions by Marilyn Manson bassist Twiggy Ramirez, Scott Putesky (original guitarist for Marilyn Manson, formerly known as Daisy Berkowitz), as well as Manson himself. Despite being briefly hindered by the dissolution of Posthuman, the band has steadily developed a following since their breakthrough.

Drummer James O'Connor left the band prior to the recording of their fifth studio album, "Evolver". He was replaced by Tom Z, who remained with the band for a very short time before being replaced by former Static-X drummer Ken Jay. Both Static-X's Wayne Static and Reeves Gabrels, best known for his long partnership with English musician David Bowie, would contribute to album, which was released in 2003. In 2005, frontman Jason C. Miller invited O'Connor to return as the band's drummer to which he accepted, though he departed from Godhead for a second time in 2006, following the completion of "The Shadow Line". He was replaced this time by Glendon Crain.

On March 24, 2008, the band revealed that that Ty Smith of Bullets and Octane would be replacing Crain as drummer. Shortly after, the band announced their plans to release a DVD featuring a special acoustic performance held in Los Angeles, California earlier in the year, and as well announced their seventh studio album as in production. This album, later confirmed to be titled "At the Edge of the World", features studio material, as well as five remixes, and contains artwork by English artist Sam Shearon.

Throughout their career, Godhead has toured on their own, as well as with Ozzfest, Marilyn Manson, Disturbed, Rammstein, Mudvayne, Orgy, Static-X, Ra, Ill Niño, The Dreaming, SOiL and American Head Charge. In late October 2008, they will also tour in support of Jonathan Davis and the SFA.

Musical style and influences

Godhead's music is characterized as a mixture of dramatic gothic rock and appealing dance beats with an atmospheric, industrial soundscape. It is further enhanced by the clean, deep vocal talents of lead vocalist and guitarist Jason C Miller and his gothic lyrical content. On their official MySpace profile, the band credits David Bowie, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Pink Floyd, Ozzy Osbourne and Nine Inch Nails as their influences.

Discography

* "Godhead" (1995)
* "Nothingness" (1997)
* "Power Tool Stigmata" (1998)
* "2000 Years of Human Error" (2001)
* "Evolver" (2003)
* "The Shadow Line" (2006)
* "Unplugged" (2007)
* "At the Edge of the World" (2008)

Band members

Current members

* Jason C. Miller – vocals, guitar
* Mike Miller – guitar
* Ullrich "Method" Hepperlin – bass, programming
* Ty Smith – drums

Former members

* Bruce Brandstatter – bass
* John Pettitt – drums
* James O'Connor – drums
* Tom Z – drums
* Ken Jay – drums
* Glendon Crain – drums

Trivia

* Jason C. Miller and Mike Miller are not related.
* Method adopted his name from a side project he started of the same name before joining Godhead.
* The Album "Non Stop Ride" is not actually a Godhead studio album, but a cover, remix and DJ-style megamix created in large part by Julian Beeston and merely featuring various performances by individual members of Godhead.
* For the video "Push" Myspace celebrity Jeffree Star was depicted as a bride who then freaks out, also Ben Moody-formerly of Evanescence-is also featured as a clown wearing gothic style make-up.
* The music video for the song "Hey You" featured actors Eric Roberts and Ganita Koonopakarn, and was directed by A.J. Rickert-Epstein, whom the band thanked on the album.
* The song "Penetrate" was featured on the vampire film Queen of the Damned's soundtrack.

Further reading

* |issue=84 |pages= |accessdate=2007-04-24 |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20000918052345/www.hmmagazine.com/Current_Issue/84Godhead/84godhead.html

External links

* [http://www.godhead.com Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/godhead Official MySpace profile]