Amebix

Infobox musical artist
Name = Amebix


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Background = group_or_band
Origin = England
Genre = Crust punk
Heavy metal
Anarcho-punk
Years_active = 1978 - 1987 2008 - present
Label = Spiderleg Records
Heavy Metal Records
Alternative Tentacles
Moshpit Tragedy Records
Associated_acts = Zygote
Alias = The Band with No Name
URL = [http://www.amebix.net amebix.net]
Current_members = Rob "The Baron" Miller
Stig
Roy Mayorga
Past_members = Andy Billy Jug
Martin
Virus
Ric Gadsby
Norman
Clive
George
Jenghiz
A. Droid
Spider
Notable_instruments =

Amebix, formed in England in 1978 as "The Band with No Name", were a band that many consider to have started the sub genre crust punk. cite web| last =Von Havoc| first =Felix| title =Rise of Crust | publisher =Profane Existence | date =1984-1-1 | url =http://www.havocrex.com/press/article/3/83 | accessdate =2008-06-16] Peter Jandreus, "The Encyclopedia of Swedish Punk 1977-1987", Stockholm: Premium Publishing, 2008, p. 11.]

Their music blended anarcho-punk and heavy metal. Such notable bands as Sepultura, Neurosis, Napalm Death, Deviated Instinct, and Gallhammer have paid homage to the band Fact|date=August 2008.

History

Amebix was initially formed by Rob Miller (a.k.a. 'The Baron') along with his brother Stig, Andy Billy Jug and Clive while in school in Devon in 1978. Initially referring to themselves as "The Band with No Name" the band played extensively around the local area, during which time they recorded a six-track demo tape. Using his role as part-time columnist in a local paper Rob Miller gave a tape to Crass when they played in Plymouth. The track "University Challenged" from this demo was then featured on the first Crass Records "Bullshit Detector" compilation LP. [ [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=13111 Metal Archives] ]

After this the band replaced drummer Andy Billy Jug with Martin, whose parents' manor house in Dartmoor was then used to practice in. It was around this time that the band began to refer to themselves as 'Amebix'. According to an interview of lead singer and bassist Rob Miller Amebix refers to the ameboa, a simple living thing and amebix played simple metal music. However Martin was removed by his parents from the band and relocated to London where he suffered a breakdown and was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. The song "Largactyl" was written about Martin's experience.Ian Glasper, "The day the country died: A History of Anarcho Punk 1980 to 1984", London, Cherry Red Books, 2006 (ISBN 1-901447-70-7), p. 200.]

The band then recruited Norm (Screaming Heads,Phantasmagoria,NormYard) as a synth player and decided to relocate to Bristol, living in a number of squats. They recruited Disorder drummer Virus to play drums and finally had a semi-stable line-up. [http://rockdetector.com/artist,356.sm Rock Detector] ] This line-up would record the first 2 7"s ("Who's the Enemy" EP and "Winter") and the 12" ("No Sanctuary"). A fill-in synth player would appear on the 12" EP "No Sanctuary", and in 1984 they would acquire a new synth player, George. [http://music.yahoo.com/ar-314357-bio--Amebix Yahoo! Music] ] While recording the "No Sanctuary" EP at Southern Studios they met Jello Biafra of American punk band Dead Kennedys and punk label Alternative Tentacles. They became Tentacles' first UK signing with the "Arise!" album in 1985. The final line-up would come together in 1985 with the addition of Spider on drums. [http://music.yahoo.com/ar-314357-bio--Amebix Yahoo! Music] ] They signed to Heavy Metal Records for the release of 1987's "Monolith", whose release/distribution difficulties led to the band eventually splitting, although they were to continue touring, their final tour ending in Sarejevo before the collapse of Yugoslavia. Spider, George, and Stig went on to perform in Zygote. [http://rockdetector.com/artist,356.sm Rock Detector] ] Vocalist Rob Miller now lives on the Isle of Skye where he works as a self-taught swordsmith.

According to The Baron's myspace page, Amebix have reformed as of February 2008. On March 9, 2008 Amebix reissued their last album "Monolith" as a sliding scale download through Moshpit Tragedy Records.

Influences

Amebix took inspiration from Motörhead (and to a lesser extent Lemmy-era Hawkwind), Black Sabbath, Hellhammer, and Venom, combined with an ethos and worldview akin to Crass. They were also influenced by various post-punk and Gothic rock bands, including Public Image Ltd., Bauhaus, Joy Division, and especially Killing Joke.

Members

Current lineup

*Rob "The Baron" Miller - vocals, bass (1978-1987, 2008-present)
*Stig - guitar, backing vocals (1978-1987, 2008-present)
*Roy Mayorga - drums, percussion (2008-present)

Past members

*Ric Gadsby - bass (1978-1979)
*Andy Billy Jug - drums (1978-1981)
*Clive - bass (1979)
*Martin - drums (1981)
*Norm - keyboards (1981-1984)
*Virus - drums (1981-1985)
*Jenghiz - keyboards (1984)
*George - keyboards (1984-1987)
*A. Droid - keyboard and synth (1984-1987)
*Spider - drums (1985-1987)

Discography

tudio releases

*1982 – "Who's the Enemy" 7" EP (Spiderleg Records)
*1983 – "Winter" 7" single (Spiderleg Records)
*1984 – "No Sanctuary" 12" EP (Spiderleg Records)
*1985 – "Arise!" LP (Alternative Tentacles)
*1987 – "Monolith" LP (Heavy Metal Records)

Demos and compilations

*1979 – "Amebix" demo (self-released)
*1987 – "Right to Ride" demo (self-released)
*1993 – "The Power Remains" LP (Skuld Releases)
*2008 – "No Sanctuary: The Spiderleg Recordings" LP+7"/CD (Alternative Tentacles)

Live albums

*1985 – "No Gods"
*1986 – "No Masters"
*1997 – "Make Some Fucking Noise"

References

External links

* [http://www.amebix.net Amebix oficial website]
* [http://webpages.charter.net/brianphillips/amebix.htm One of the most extensive Amebix pages ever]
* [http://www.deafsparrow.com/FeatureAmebix.htm Amebix Story]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0z6wtr69kl2x~T0 Amebix page on the All Music Guide]
* [http://www.metalfan.ro/articol.php?sectiune=2&id_doc=3186&lng=2 Rob "The Baron" Miller interview @ Metalfan.ro - English]
* [http://www.metalfan.ro/articol.php?sectiune=2&id_doc=3270&lng=2 Roy Mayorga interview @ Metalfan.ro - English]