Videodrone

Videodrone
Background information
Origin	Bakersfield, California
Genres	Gothic rock, Industrial rock, Alternative metal
Years active	1998 - 2000 (Videodrone) 1988 - 1998 (Cradle of Thorns) 2006 - present (Cradle of Thorns)
Labels	Elementree Records
Associated acts	Sexart Cradle of Thorns Adema Orgy_(band)
Members
Ty Elam Steve Thiriot Matt Wilkinson Alex G
Former members
Tamera Slayton David File Kris Kohls Rohan Scat Elis Purdy Spackle Mavis

Videodrone was a five piece industrial rock band from Bakersfield California, USA, originally known as Cradle of Thorns. The band put out one record on Korn's Elementree Records as well three albums under their original name. One was independently released, and other two were released by Triple X Records. After Videodrone broke up, drummer Kris Kohls went on the join Adema and frontman Ty Elam performed in a number of Bakersfield bands. Ty Elam has recently reformed the band as Cradle of Thorns with a new line up.

History

Formation, Remember It Day (1988–1990)

Formed in 1988 by male vocalist Ty Elam as the gothic rock band Cradle of Thorns. With a combination of male and female lead vocalists, a dark, atmospheric sound, and environmentally and socially conscious lyrics ("Remember It Day" especially is about pollution, violence, and ignorance), they toured extensively and won an underground following. They released an independent record entitled Remember It Day in 1990.

Feed-Us (1994-1995)

The band signed with Triple X Records (label of Jane's Addiction and Social Distortion) and in 1994 released Feed-Us produced by Ross Robinson. A more aggressive album with Hip Hop elements (emcee style vocals on "Ignore-Your-Race") and lyrics about race ("Ignore-Your-Race" again), drug addiction ("Lullaby for the Dead", "Dysfunctional Brady Bunch"), S&M and voyeurism ("Flesh" and "My Sister Sam (Bleed"), and serial murder ("Behave"). The album also included a new, angrier version of "Remember It Day" with cleaner production that descends into screaming choas. Feed-Us also established a band staple: the final track contains an extended, sample-based noise collage following the last song.

Download This! (1996-1998)

1996's Download This! saw the departure of female vocalist Tamera Slayton and bassist Scat Elis. With new bassist Purdy Spackle, the band shifted to a fusion of Punk, Rap, Metal, and Industrial rock, with more rapping and screaming than ever before and more extensive sampling and use of electronics. This song "Bulimia Blowjob" features an appearance by vocalist Aimee Echo of Human Waste Project and TheSTART and Jeff Schartoff also of Human Waste Project and Professional Murder Music. Schartoff is also touring bassist for Peter Murphy.

Name Change and Videodrone (1998-2000)

For their fourth album, bassist Purdy Spackle was replaced by Mavis and the band dropped most of the punk elements and fully embraced a more pop-oriented industrial rock sound. They renamed themselves Videodrone after the film Videodrome. The twelve track self-titled CD was released in 1999 with appearances from Korn's Jonathan Davis on "Ty Jonathan Down", Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst & DJ Lethal on "Human Piñata", and Psycho Realm on "Pigs In A Blanket". Also from Korn, Head played guitar on "Power Tools For Girls" and Fieldy produced the album. In high school, Vocalist Ty Elam often collaborated with friends Jonathan Davis (later of Korn) and Ryan Shuck and their band Sexart. Shuck who would go on to play for Orgy, another one-time Elementree Records band. After touring with Korn, Rob Zombie, Orgy, and Machine Head, lack of label support and drug problems spelled the end for Videodrone (as detailed in the interview with Elam on the All Over Again maxi-single).

Break Up and Post-Videodrone Projects (2000-2006)

Drummer Kris Kohls went on to play for Adema and vocalist Ty Elam would go on to play in local Bakersfield bands Karmahitlist, Three Chord Whore, and Arrival of Fawn after Videodrone's demise in 2000.

Cradles of Thorns Reforms with a New Line Up (2006-Present)

Then in 2006, Elam resurrected the band under its original moniker Cradle of Thorns with all new members. The song "All Over Again" is their current release, which can be heard on the band's official MySpace.

Current Lineup

Ty Elam - vocals/drums
Steve Thiriot - guitar/keyboards/screams
Matt Wilkinson - bass

Discography

(As Cradle of Thorns) Remember It Day (1990)

1. "Days Go By"
2. "Everything"
3. "Lose Dimension"
4. "Porcelain Hands"
5. "River Flows with Ice"
6. "Black"
7. "Dreamland"
8. "Far Away"
9. "I'm Human"
10. "Bury Me"
11. "Remember It Day"
12. "Relax in Suffocation"

(As Cradle of Thorns) Feed-Us (1994)

1. "Missing Teeth (Ass Lickin' Son of a Bitch Mix)"
2. "Lullaby for the Dead"
3. "Ignore-Your-Race"
4. "Flesh"
5. "Transparent Jesus"
6. "Father's Day"
7. "Dysfunctional Brady Bunch"
8. "Remember It Day"
9. "Behave"
10. "My Sister Sam (Bleed)"

(As Cradle of Thorns) Download This! (1996)

1. "We Came 2 Wreck Everything"
2. "Picture Perfect"
3. "I Go 1st"
4. "1 Eyed 1 Formed Blind Consuming People Eater"
5. "Utah Flesh?"
6. "Shout at the Devil"
7. "Subtract"
8. "Bulimia Blowjob"
9. "End of Side 1"
10. "Thirsty 4 Sex"
11. "Roaches 4 Roaches"
12. "Cocaine 4 Breakfast"
13. "S.P.A.M."
14. "Sleep With The TV On"
15. "Chant of the Goat Face Tribe"
16. "Buckets of Fraud"
17. "Relax and Recline"
18. "The Golden Butt Plug Puppet Show"

Videodrone (February 23, 1999)

1. "Ty Jonathan Down" (featuring Jonathan Davis)
2. "Closer To Coma"
3. "Alone With 20 Bucks"
4. "The Devil's Sweepstakes"
5. "Faceplant"
6. "Human Piñata"(featuring Fred Durst & DJ Lethal)
7. "Pig In A Blanket (featuring Psycho Realm)"
8. "L.S.D. (Lucifer's Stained Dress)"
9. "Ant In The Dope"
10. "Power Tools For Girls"(featuring Head)
11. "Jesus (Lord Of The Apes)" (L.A.P.D. cover)
12. "C.O.B."

Music Videos

• Ty Jonathan Down (1999)

Singles

• Ty Jonathan Down
• Faceplant - #15 US Hot Dance Club Play (1999)

As Cradle of Thorns

• All Over Again

External links

• Cradle of Thorns at MySpace
• Videodrone at Allmusic