Secret Chiefs 3

:"This article is about a band called Secret Chiefs 3; for the use of the term in occultism, see Secret Chiefs.

Infobox musical artist
Name = Secret Chiefs 3


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = San Francisco, California, USA
Genre = Avant-garde
Years_active = 1995–present
Label = Mimicry Records
Associated_acts = Mr. Bungle
Estradasphere
Faith No More
URL = [http://www.secretchiefs3.com/ Official Site]
Current_members = Trey Spruance
Eyvind Kang
Shahzad Ismaily
Ches Smith
Timb Harris
Peijman Kouretchian
Rich Doucette
Jai Young Kim
Anonymous 13

Past_members = Danny Heifetz
Trevor Dunn
Clinton "Bär" McKinnon

Secret Chiefs 3, also known as SC3, is a group of musicians led by composer and producer Trey Spruance, former guitarist of Mr. Bungle and Faith No More. Their studio recordings and tours have featured different line-ups, as the group performs a wide range of musical styles including surf rock, Persian, Arabic, Indian, death metal, film music, electronic music, and various others. The Secret Chiefs 3 toured with Les Claypool in Spring 2008.

History

Spruance formed the band in the mid-nineties with fellow Mr. Bungle members Trevor Dunn on bass and Danny Heifetz on drums. Some of the many musicians who have since recorded or toured with SC3 are violinist Eyvind Kang, percussionist William Winant, former Mr. Bungle member Clinton "Bär" McKinnon, and Estradasphere members Timb Harris, Jason Schimmel, and Tim Smolens.

It was later announced that "Secret Chiefs 3" has always been a general name for seven different bands, each representing a different aspect of Spruance's musical and philosophical interests. [ [http://www.westword.com/2007-03-01/music/the-secret-chiefs-3/ Denver - Music - The Secret Chiefs 3 ] ] The seven bands are The Electromagnetic Azoth, UR, Ishraqiyun, Traditionalists, Holy Vehm, FORMS, and NT Fan, a mysterious and yet unheard seventh band. 2004's "Book of Horizons" was the first SC3 album to feature the sub-groups under their own names. So far only four of the sub-groups have released 7" singles; independent full-length albums and tours are planned.

Philosophy

SC3's music, album artwork, liner notes, and lyrics express a theological philosophy influenced by
Henry Corbin, Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi, Aryeh Kaplan, Julius Evola, René Guénon, Hakim Bey/Peter Lamborn Wilson, and many others. More on the Secret Chiefs 3 philosophy and influences can be found in the Web of Mimicry [http://www.webofmimicry.com/museum/ Museum Without Walls] and the [http://www.myspace.com/secretchiefs3 SC3 Myspace page] .

Discography

Albums

*"First Grand Constitution and Bylaws" (1996, Amarillo Records)
*"" (1998, Amarillo Records)
*"Eyes of Flesh, Eyes of Flame" live album (1999, Web of Mimicry)
*"Book M" (2001, Web of Mimicry)
*"Book of Horizons" (2004, Web of Mimicry)
*"Path of Most Resistance (retrospective and rarities album) (2007)
*"" (arrangements from John Zorn's second Masada songbook) Tzadik Records #7364 (Spring 2008) [ [http://www.webofmimicry.com/newshtml/3-2007.html Web of Mimicry news] ] [ [http://www.tzadik.com/index.php?catalog=7364 "Xaphan" at Tzadik.com] ]

Remasters

*"First Grand Constitution and Bylaws Remastered" (2000, Web of Mimicry)
*"" (2000, Web of Mimicry)

EPs

*"The Legendary Paper Project" (Split 7" Promo, 1995), also including Mr. Bungle's "Platypus", packaged with Mr. Bungle's "Disco Volante" LP
*"The Theatrum of Suprasensory Universes Vol. 1" (Australia Tour 7", 600 copies, Amarillo Records 1998)
*"Zulfikar II/Zulfikar III" (Limited 7", 1000 copies, Mimicry Records, 1998)
*The Electromagnetic Azoth "The Left Hand of Nothingness" / UR "Personnae: Halloween" (7", ltd. 1000 copies, 2007)
*Ishraqiyun "Balance of the 19" / The Electromagnetic Azoth "UBIK" (7", ltd. 1000 copies, 2007)
*UR "Kultur Vultur" / "Drive" (7", ltd. 1000 copies, 2007)
*UR "Circumambulation" / "Labyrinth of Light" (7", ltd. 1000 copies, 2007)

Future releases

*"Book of Souls, Folio One" (2008) [http://www.webofmimicry.com/newshtml/3-2007.html]
*"Book of Souls, Folio Two"
*"Book of Souls, Folio Three"
*"Book of Balance"

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.secretchiefs3.com Secret Chiefs 3] - official website
* [http://www.webofmimicry.com Web of Mimicry] - Secret Chiefs 3's record label.