Chrome was an experimental rock group founded in San Francisco, California in 1976.
Chrome took part of their inspiration for their rough and sometimes chaotic music from proto punk pioneers like The Stooges. The sound of the group was often coarse and featured heavy elements of feedback and distortion. Their experiments in mixing synthesized noise with rock instrumentation have been cited as a forerunner of industrial rock music [1].
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Band history
Chrome initially consisted of Gary Spain (bass, guitar, vocals) and Damon Edge (drums and synthesizer), though John Lambdin (vocals, guitar and bass) and Mike Low (guitar, synth, and bass) were quickly recruited. Guitarist Helios Creed joined soon thereafter, and would remain the core of Chrome, alongside Edge. After the first LP, The Visitation, Low and Lambdin left, and after the second LP, Alien Soundtracks, Spain became less involved with the band.
Between 1978 and 1982, Edge and Creed (at some point with the Stench Brothers, John and Hillary, as a rhythm section) released a handful of albums. In "The secret history of rock" Helios Creed said they wanted to make some "scary, funny music". Their experimental rock was into science-fiction, alienation and cynicism.
When they split the band up in 1983, Damon Edge continued on with the name, hiring a complete new band in Europe. Edge moved to France and released several records under the name Chrome.
Damon Edge died in Los Angeles the summer of 1995, of heart failure. After Damon's death, Helios picked up the name and began releasing new material.
Discography
The following discography is from the official Chrome website.
Original Period
the works of Creed and Edge together, in San Francisco
- The Visitation (1976) (Creed not a participant on this first release)
- Alien Soundtracks (1978)
- Half Machine Lip Moves (1979)
- Subterranean Modern (1979) - Various Artists
- Read Only Memory (1979) - Mini Album
- New Age (1980) - 7" Single
- Red Exposure (1980)
- Inworlds (1981) - 12" Single
- Blood on the Moon (1981)
- Firebomb (1982) - 7" Single
- 3rd from the Sun (1982)
- Anorexic Sacrifice (1982) - 7" Single
- No Humans Allowed (1982)
- Chrome Box (1982) - 6 Album Set
- The Chronicles I (1982)
- The Chronicles II (1982)
- Raining Milk (1983)
- Chrome / Bauhaus: Live in London (1984) - Various Artists VHS
- Chromosome Damage (1986) - Bootleg Album
- Having a Wonderful Time with the Tripods - Compilation (1995)
File:Red Exposure
Damon Period
Produced by Damon Edge in Europe. Some fans of the band don't consider this period as Chrome due to how much Helios' guitar work was a major aspect of the sound of the band.
- Into the Eyes of the Zombie King (1984)
- The Lyon Concert (1985)
- Another World (1985)
- Eternity (1986)
- Dossiers - Various Artists (1986)
- Dreaming in Sequence (1986)
- Live in Germany (1987)
- Alien Soundtracks II (1988)
- Mission of the Entranced (1990)
- Liquid Forest (1990)
- One Million Eyes (1991)
- The Clairaudient Syndrome (1994)
- Having a Wonderful Time in the Juice Dome - Compilation (1995)
Helios Period
After Damon's death, Helios Creed reforms Chrome with previous and new members.
- Third Seed From the Bud (1996) - 10" Single
- Torque Pound (1997) - 7" Split Single
- Retro Transmission (1997)
- Tidal Forces (1998)
- Chrome Flashback / Chrome Live (1999) - 2 CD Set
- Ghost Machine (2002)
- Angel of the Clouds - featuring Damon Edge and Helios Creed (2002)
References
External links
- Helios Creed Tribute Site
- Chrome at Trouser Press
- Chrome at Allmusic
- Review of Half Machine Lip Moves
- Review of Half Machine Lip Moves (in Italian)
- Profile from Discogs.com
- Profile from one of their labels, Touch & Go
- How Good Are Chrome?
- Chrome website
- Damon Edge website
- Helios Creed website
- The Wire's 100 Records That Set The World On Fire (When No One Was Listening)
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