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Secret Chiefs 3

 
Artist: Secret Chiefs 3

Group Members:

Trevor Dunn, Danny Heifetz, Trey Spruance

Similar Artists:

Performed Songs By:

Formal Connection With:

  • Formed: 1994
  • Genres: Rock
  • Representative Albums: "First Grand Constitution and Bylaws", "Path of Most Resistance", "Eyes of Flesh, Eyes of Flame

Biography

Since Mr. Bungle is notorious for taking substantial amounts of time between albums (it took them four years to follow up their 1991 debut), its bandmembers are left with a lot of time on their hands. Hence the members of Mr. Bungle use their off time wisely, by writing, recording, and touring with other bands or, often, side projects.

The best side project of the bunch, Secret Chiefs 3, features Mr. Bungle comrades Trey Spruance (guitar/vocals), Trevor Dunn (bass/vocals), and Danny Heifetz (drums). If there are any remaining who think that the musicians in Mr. Bungle are just a vehicle for vocalist Mike Patton's singing talents, Secret Chiefs 3 is the ultimate proof that this is not the case. Trey Spruance gets a chance to be the leader, as he wrote every track on their 1996 debut First Grand Constitution and Bylaws, and was the record's producer as well. Before the full-length debut appeared, the group whet their fans' appetites by including a Secret Chiefs 3 single with vinyl copies of Mr. Bungle's 1995 magnum opus, Disco Volante, as well as recording a warped version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" for a Japanese Christmas compilation. They were also signed on to contribute a Beach Boys track to a Japanese Beach Boys tribute album, showing that they can tackle just about any musical form put in front of them. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
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This article is about a band called Secret Chiefs 3; for the use of the term in occultism, see Secret Chiefs.
Secret Chiefs 3

Secret Chiefs 3 performing in New York, 2009
Background information
Origin San Francisco, California, United States
Genres Avant-garde
Years active 1995–present
Labels Mimicry Records
Associated acts Mr. Bungle
Estradasphere
Faith No More
Website Official Site
Members
Trey Spruance
Ches Smith
Timb Harris
Jason Schimmel
Shahzad Ismaily
Rich Doucette
Anonymous 13
Jai Young Kim
Adam Stacey
Trevor Dunn
Clinton "Bär" McKinnon
John Merryman
Peijman Kouretchian
Eyvind Kang
William Winant
Danny Heifetz
Jesse Quattro
Fatima Khanoam
Shamou
KT Pierce
Trey Spruance performing in 2009

Secret Chiefs 3, also known as SC3, is a group of musicians led by composer and producer Trey Spruance, former guitarist of Mr. Bungle. Their studio recordings and tours have featured different line-ups, as the group performs a wide range of musical styles including surf rock, Persian, Arab, Indian, death metal, film music, electronic music, and various others. The Secret Chiefs 3 toured with Les Claypool in Spring 2008 and the Oddity Faire in 2009.

Contents

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 include violinist Eyvind Kang, percussionist William Winant, drummer Ches Smith, bassist Shahzad Ismaily, former Mr. Bungle member Clinton "Bär" McKinnon, and Estradasphere members Timb Harris, Jason Schimmel, and Tim Smolens. Musicians tend to float in and out of SC3, so the concept of "current" and "former" members isn't very applicable.

The satellite bands

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.[1] The seven bands are The Electromagnetic Azoth, UR, Ishraqiyun, Traditionalists, Holy Vehm, Forms, and NT Fan; 2004's Book of Horizons was the first SC3 album to feature the sub-groups under their own names. So far four of the sub-groups have released 7" singles and Traditionalists have delivered a full-length album.

UR

UR has released two EPs - Kulturvultur / Drive and Circumambulation / Labyrinth of Light - and a split EP with The Electromagnetic Azoth titled The Left Hand of Nothingness / Personnae: Halloween. In a 2007 interview Spruance briefly described the band's music as "suprasensory surf";[2] the band's musical style combines surf rock with Persian, Arabic and Indian musical elements. UR has also covered movie themes such as Halloween and The Exodus. Fans have speculated that all songs by Secret Chiefs 3 bearing the "Book T" prefix (for instance, on Second Grand Constitution and Bylaws) are the work of UR, Book T: The Exodus being the only title confirmed so far. All of the Book T songs contain elements of surf rock, thus fitting Spruance's description of the band.

Traditionalists

The sixth Secret Chiefs 3 studio album, Le Mani Destre Recise Degli Ultimi Uomini (June 2009) features music exclusively from the satellite band Traditionalists. The band's music was also heard on the 2004 album Book of Horizons. The Mimicry Records web store describes the band as "decidedly walking in the footprints of the Great Masters of cinema music". The 2009 album is a score to an imaginary giallo horror film, inspired by the work of several Italian film composers.

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, Seraphim Rose, and many others. More on the Secret Chiefs 3 philosophy and influences can be found in the Web of Mimicry Museum Without Walls and the SC3 Myspace page.

Members, guests and collaborators

Secret Chiefs 3 performing in 2009

Discography

Albums
Satellite Bands
Remasters
EPs
  • The Legendary Paper Project (Split 7" Promo, 1995), also including Mr. Bungle's "Platypus", packaged with US vinyl copies of Mr. Bungle's Disco Volante LP
  • The Theatrum of Suprasensory Universes Vol. 1 (Australia Tour 7", 250 copies, Amarillo Records 1998)
  • Zulfikar II/Zulfikar III (Limited 7", 600 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 Kulturvultur / Drive (7", ltd. 1000 copies, 2007)
  • UR Circumambulation / Labyrinth of Light (7", ltd. 1000 copies, 2007)
DVDs
Future releases
  • Book of Souls, Folio One (2009?) [7]
  • Book of Souls, Folio Two
  • Book of Souls, Folio Three
  • Book of Balance

Footnotes

External links


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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