Tears for the Dying

Tears for the Dying is an American deathrock band that began life as a studio project in late 2003 by bassist/guitarist Adrya Stembridge. Stembridge's previous band, The Girl Pool, broke up in 1998 amid creative disagreements; afterwards she took a lengthy vacation from music. Years later, after attending the inaugural Drop Dead Festival in 2003, Stembridge's interest in music was renewed. She began writing songs and eventually decided on the name Tears for the Dying.

Music Style

The music of Tears for the Dying was influenced by early 1980s SoCal punk and 1960s proto punk and psychedelia. Frequent tempo changes and sometimes complex (if not awkward) arrangements are found in many of the band's songs. Songs like "Disease" and "Porcelain" make use of slower tempo and groovy, funky bass lines which are uncharacteristically dancable for punk rock. Other songs, such as "Memories" provide off-kilter, caustic episodes of negativity and conflict. Lyrically, Tears for the Dying frequently criticized institutionalized religion (including Christianity and Islam), and neo-religious subcultural scenes.

History

Early Recordings

In December 2003 Stembridge traveled to Radium Recordings in Athens, Georgia to record two songs, "Time" and "Disease." She played all instruments and sung on both tracks. Using these songs and three others recorded at home on a 4-track Tears for the Dying released its first demo CD, "E.P.". The demo was mailed to a handful of interested people, one of whom was noted Goth music historian Mick Mercer (who later gave a positive review of the demo in his online journal).

Months later, Atlanta Gothic metal band Bury Me Under assisted Tears for the Dying with recording a new studio demo. Bury Me Under's drummer, Chris, provided the percussion. Stembridge played and sung the rest. Four songs were recorded: "Go Die," "Memories," "Disease" and "All for Nothing." These tracks along with the Radium Recording session and several other unpublished songs were eventually released under the title "To the Birds".

Stembridge and Dara carefully packaged hundreds of copies of "To the Birds" in black mailers wrapped in mesh and lace, and enclosed liner notes on parchment with burned edges. Drawing from punk ethos, "To the Birds" was freely given to all who asked. Copies were sent all over the United States and around the world (at a substantial cost to the band).

From Studio to Stage

Response to "To the Birds" was outstanding; several online magazines reviewed the demo favorably, including Mick Mercer's "The Mick". In early 2005 a European promoter asked whether Tears for the Dying would be interested in attending a major festival being planned later that year. Stembridge's musician friends suggested she assemble a live band, even if the festival didn't pan out. So, she placed ads online and in local print newspapers.

Tears for the Dying's blend of punk and gothic rock was a rarity in Atlanta and so finding like-minded musicians proved difficult. After months of searching enough members were located to hold rehearsals. The first was held in May 2005 with Dara Bishop on drums, Scott on guitar and Todd Caras on bass. Scott eventually lost interest and Chilean guitarist Max Albuquerque joined. Over the next few months Bishop moved to keyboards after Jeffrey Butzer expressed interest in playing drums.

Tears for the Dying played its first show on September 2, 2005 at a country & western bar in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

Band Members

Present:
*Adrya Stembridge: vocals, bass, guitar, electronic percussion

Past:
* Dara Bishop: keyboard
* Jeffrey Butzer: drums
* Max Albuquerque: guitar
* Todd Caras: bass
* Scott Lambert: guitar
* Christina Barr: bass
* Ethyl Hodges bass

Discography

*Tears for the Dying ~ "To the Birds", 2005
*Under the Radar Vol 1 ~ Antidote Records compilation, 2006

Music Samples

* [http://tearsforthedying.com/mp3/Tears%20for%20the%20Dying%20-%20EP%20III%20-%2001%20-%20Go%20Die.mp3 Go Die.mp3] 1:07min 1.59mb
* [http://tearsforthedying.com/mp3/Tears%20for%20the%20Dying%20-%20EP%20II%20-%2004%20-%20Time.mp3 Time.mp3] 4:12min 5.78mb
* [http://tearsforthedying.com/mp3/Tears%20for%20the%20Dying%20-%20Live%20at%20Lennys%202005-09-03%20-%20Memories.mp3 Memories.mp3 (live)] 4:19min 4.06mb
* [http://tearsforthedying.com/music.php "To the Birds" available for free download]

Photos

* [http://tearsforthedying.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=4 2005-09-27 @ the Masquerade in Atlanta, GA]
* [http://tearsforthedying.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=3 2005-09-03 @ Lenny's in Atlanta, GA]
* [http://tearsforthedying.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=2 2005-09-02 @ Midnighters in Lawrenceville, GA]
* [http://tearsforthedying.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=1 promo photos]

Videos

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bevC9EDdTA "Time", 2005-09-03 @ Lenny's in Atlanta, GA]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21GuOfE7TlM "Memories", 2005-09-03 @ Lenny's in Atlanta, GA]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x31Yi4EtVE "Go Die!", 2005-09-03 @ Lenny's in Atlanta, GA]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ7xEBhnHm8 "Disease", 2005-09-03 @ Lenny's in Atlanta, GA]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=437_0yUARBI "She's Lost Control", 2005-09-03 @ Lenny's in Atlanta, GA]

External links

*http://tearsforthedying.com