Blind Illusion
Encyclopedia
Blind Illusion is an American
progressive
thrash metal
band from Richmond, California
. Formed in 1979 by lead guitarist and main songwriter Marc Biedermann
, the band had an extremely unstable lineup (Biedermann being the only constant member) and went through several stylistic changes during their time. After a 20 year hiatus, Biedermann reformed Blind Illusion in 2009 and released the band's 2nd album, Demon Master.
, along with many other members including keyboardist Ben Hevoroh and drummer Bret Hern. The band's earliest sound had been musically rooted as progressive rock
, with Biedermann citing as his main inspirations Rush
, King Crimson
and Jethro Tull
. However, external input from later musicians - many with ties to the Bay Area thrash scene
- would add a heavy metal
direction to the band, a style Porcupine Tree
's Steven Wilson
described as being "in the veins of old Judas Priest
, Angel Witch
and early Fates Warning
".
By late 1984, the line-up consisted of Marc Biedermann on lead guitar
, Pat Woods on rhythm guitar
, Dave Godfrey on vocals, Les Claypool
on bass and former Blizzard drummer Mike Miner. Before Godfrey left in 1985 to form Heathen
, Blind Illusion had already released 2 demos. Bryan Kehoe was hired to fill in guitars in the studio after Woods' departure from the band. During this period, Blind Illusion worked extensively with bands such as Exodus
and Aftermath, playing shows throughout the area.
After Cliff Burton
's death in 1986, Claypool briefly left the band to audition as bassist in Metallica
. Upon receiving the news he had not been chosen, he went on to form Primate
(a precursor to Primus
) but continued to write music with Blind Illusion. Mark Biedermann took over vocal duties in place of Godfrey and released a third demo that was produced by Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett
. The band also added second guitarist John Marshall
(later of Metal Church
) who, in 1987, would be replaced by guitarist Larry LaLonde
, formerly of pioneering death metal
band Possessed
; LaLonde had left Possessed after the band dissolved amid infighting. LaLonde heard about the open guitar slot via ex-Blizzard bandmate Mike Miner.
In the same year, Blind Illusion reached a record deal with Combat Records
, with whom the band recorded their debut, The Sane Asylum
, in 1988, also produced by Metallica's Kirk Hammett. The album was considered a thrash classic, featuring tracks such as "Kamakazi" and "Smash The Crystal". The band went on a successful tour for the album but began to fall apart by 1989. Claypool left in the middle of the tour (and was replaced by friend Adam Gates) to continue Primate (soon Primus
). LaLonde subsequently joined Primus as guitar, and drummer Miner left at an unspecified time. After Blind Illusion broke up, Mark Biedermann briefly played bass for Heathen
on their Victims of Deception
album and contributed guitar leads for Blue Öyster Cult
on their Imaginos
album. Claypool and LaLonde continued success with Primus throughout the 1990s.
Biedermann reformed Blind Illusion in 2009 with a new-lineup, and released Demon Master on July 7, 2010. In September of the same year, the group promoted the album at the Sobrante Stroll , a street fair
held every year in El Sobrante
since 1991. Before reuniting Blind Illusion, Biedermann had performed earlier shows at the Sobrante Stroll as well as at the older and much larger Solano Stroll fair in Berkeley
. The material Biedermann covered included a mix of Blind Illusion originals and blues rock collaborations with other local musicians.
Prior to Demon Master, Biedermann had recorded an earlier arrangement of songs under the album title The Medicine Show (with a line-up consisting of guitarist Mark Strausberg, bassist Vern McElroy, and drummer Wes Anderson), but as of 2011, the songs remain unreleased. Metal Mind Productions
re-distributed a limited edition pressing of The Sane Asylum in 2007; the 1988 Combat Records
-released versions of the album had been long out of print
.
Contributed the song "Smash the Crystal" to a live compilation album Eastern Front (1986)
Guitars
Bass
Drums
Keyboards
(There were several other members unknown)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
progressive
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band from Richmond, California
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
. Formed in 1979 by lead guitarist and main songwriter Marc Biedermann
Marc Biedermann
Marc Biedermann is an El Sobrante, California based heavy metal guitarist, vocalist, bassist and songwriter. He is best known for as the driving force behind the progressive band Blind Illusion. He has also played on Blue Öyster Cults Imaginos and Heathens Victims of Deception albums...
, the band had an extremely unstable lineup (Biedermann being the only constant member) and went through several stylistic changes during their time. After a 20 year hiatus, Biedermann reformed Blind Illusion in 2009 and released the band's 2nd album, Demon Master.
History
Blind Illusion was formed by-then-high-school student Marc BiedermannMarc Biedermann
Marc Biedermann is an El Sobrante, California based heavy metal guitarist, vocalist, bassist and songwriter. He is best known for as the driving force behind the progressive band Blind Illusion. He has also played on Blue Öyster Cults Imaginos and Heathens Victims of Deception albums...
, along with many other members including keyboardist Ben Hevoroh and drummer Bret Hern. The band's earliest sound had been musically rooted as progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
, with Biedermann citing as his main inspirations Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
, King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
and Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
. However, external input from later musicians - many with ties to the Bay Area thrash scene
Bay Area thrash metal
Bay Area thrash metal, or "Bay Area thrash", referred to a steady following of heavy metal bands in the 1980s who formed and gained international status in the San Francisco Bay Area, California...
- would add a heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
direction to the band, a style Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree is a progressive rock band formed by Steven Wilson in 1987 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. Their music is difficult to categorise, being associated with both psychedelic rock and progressive rock, yet having been influenced by trance, krautrock and ambient due to Steven...
's Steven Wilson
Steven Wilson
Steven John Wilson is an English musician, best known as the founder, lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of progressive rock band Porcupine Tree...
described as being "in the veins of old Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
, Angel Witch
Angel Witch
Angel Witch is a British heavy metal band which formed in London, England in 1977 as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement.-Biography:...
and early Fates Warning
Fates Warning
Fates Warning is an American progressive metal band, formed in 1982 by vocalist John Arch, guitarists Jim Matheos and Victor Arduini, bassist Joe DiBiase, and drummer Steve Zimmerman in Hartford, Connecticut. Fates Warning has experienced numerous line-up changes...
".
By late 1984, the line-up consisted of Marc Biedermann on lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, Pat Woods on rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, Dave Godfrey on vocals, Les Claypool
Les Claypool
Leslie Edward "Les" Claypool is an American musician and writer, best known as the lead vocalist and bassist in the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends and slapping.Claypool has also self produced and engineered his...
on bass and former Blizzard drummer Mike Miner. Before Godfrey left in 1985 to form Heathen
Heathen (band)
Heathen is an American thrash metal band originating from the Bay Area San Francisco, founded in 1984 by guitarist Lee Altus and drummer Carl Sacco...
, Blind Illusion had already released 2 demos. Bryan Kehoe was hired to fill in guitars in the studio after Woods' departure from the band. During this period, Blind Illusion worked extensively with bands such as Exodus
Exodus (band)
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...
and Aftermath, playing shows throughout the area.
After Cliff Burton
Cliff Burton
Clifford Lee "Cliff" Burton was an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the American heavy metal band Metallica....
's death in 1986, Claypool briefly left the band to audition as bassist in Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
. Upon receiving the news he had not been chosen, he went on to form Primate
Sausage (band)
-Critical reception:In his review for Allmusic, Bret Love compared the album to Primus' output favourably in some respects, describing Sausage as "a tighter, more focused groove machine" with a "more accessible sound", but also noted that the lack of "instrumental virtuosity, strange time...
(a precursor to Primus
Primus (band)
Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
) but continued to write music with Blind Illusion. Mark Biedermann took over vocal duties in place of Godfrey and released a third demo that was produced by Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett
Kirk Hammett
Kirk Lee Hammett is the lead guitarist and a songwriter in the heavy metal band Metallica and has been a member of the band since 1983. Before joining Metallica he formed and named the band Exodus. In 2003, Hammett was ranked 11th on Rolling Stones list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
. The band also added second guitarist John Marshall
John Marshall (guitarist)
John Marshall is a former guitarist for the thrash metal band Metal Church . Before joining the band in 1989, he was the guitar tech for Metallica's lead guitarist Kirk Hammett...
(later of Metal Church
Metal Church
Metal Church was an American heavy metal band. They originally formed in Seattle, Washington as Shrapnel in 1980. Their first album was released in 1984, and the band's most recent work, This Present Wasteland, was released in 2008....
) who, in 1987, would be replaced by guitarist Larry LaLonde
Larry LaLonde
Larry "Ler" LaLonde is a guitarist who currently plays in Primus along with Les Claypool and Jay Lane...
, formerly of pioneering death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band Possessed
Possessed (band)
Possessed is an American death metal band, originally formed in 1983. Noted for their fast style of playing and Jeff Becerra's guttural vocals, they are routinely called the first band in the death metal genre...
; LaLonde had left Possessed after the band dissolved amid infighting. LaLonde heard about the open guitar slot via ex-Blizzard bandmate Mike Miner.
In the same year, Blind Illusion reached a record deal with Combat Records
Combat Records
Combat Records was an independent record label from New York City. The label was home to predominantly metal and punk rock acts including Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, Death, Dead Brain Cells, Possessed, Crumbsuckers, Agnostic Front, Agent Steel, Dark Angel, Heathen, Zoetrope and...
, with whom the band recorded their debut, The Sane Asylum
The Sane Asylum
The Sane Asylum is the debut album by the American heavy metal band Blind Illusion. It was originally released in 1988 through Combat Records. The album features guitarist Larry LaLonde and bassist Les Claypool before they went on to work on Primus....
, in 1988, also produced by Metallica's Kirk Hammett. The album was considered a thrash classic, featuring tracks such as "Kamakazi" and "Smash The Crystal". The band went on a successful tour for the album but began to fall apart by 1989. Claypool left in the middle of the tour (and was replaced by friend Adam Gates) to continue Primate (soon Primus
Primus (band)
Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
). LaLonde subsequently joined Primus as guitar, and drummer Miner left at an unspecified time. After Blind Illusion broke up, Mark Biedermann briefly played bass for Heathen
Heathen (band)
Heathen is an American thrash metal band originating from the Bay Area San Francisco, founded in 1984 by guitarist Lee Altus and drummer Carl Sacco...
on their Victims of Deception
Victims of Deception
Victims of Deception is the second album by the US thrash metal band Heathen released in 1991 by Roadrunner Records.It was re-issued by Metal Mind Productions in 2006 as a digipak in a limited amount of 2000 numbered copies....
album and contributed guitar leads for Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
on their Imaginos
Imaginos
Imaginos is a 1988 concept album by Blue Öyster Cult.The "Imaginos" concept was originally begun by producer Sandy Pearlman in 1967, before BÖC was even formed. Drummer Albert Bouchard began writing music for it following the release of the band's first album in 1972...
album. Claypool and LaLonde continued success with Primus throughout the 1990s.
Biedermann reformed Blind Illusion in 2009 with a new-lineup, and released Demon Master on July 7, 2010. In September of the same year, the group promoted the album at the Sobrante Stroll , a street fair
Street fair
A street fair is a fair that celebrates the character of a neighborhood. As its name suggests, it is usually held on the main street of a neighborhood....
held every year in El Sobrante
El Sobrante, California
El Sobrante is a census-designated place in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 12,669 at the 2010 census...
since 1991. Before reuniting Blind Illusion, Biedermann had performed earlier shows at the Sobrante Stroll as well as at the older and much larger Solano Stroll fair in Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
. The material Biedermann covered included a mix of Blind Illusion originals and blues rock collaborations with other local musicians.
Prior to Demon Master, Biedermann had recorded an earlier arrangement of songs under the album title The Medicine Show (with a line-up consisting of guitarist Mark Strausberg, bassist Vern McElroy, and drummer Wes Anderson), but as of 2011, the songs remain unreleased. Metal Mind Productions
Metal Mind Productions
Metal Mind Productions is a Polish record label founded in 1987. Currently it is one of the lead independent labels in Poland with over 1000 of licences and over 10 million of data mediums sold. The label focuses mainly on rock and heavy metal genres...
re-distributed a limited edition pressing of The Sane Asylum in 2007; the 1988 Combat Records
Combat Records
Combat Records was an independent record label from New York City. The label was home to predominantly metal and punk rock acts including Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, Death, Dead Brain Cells, Possessed, Crumbsuckers, Agnostic Front, Agent Steel, Dark Angel, Heathen, Zoetrope and...
-released versions of the album had been long out of print
Out of print
Out of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
.
Demos
- 1983 Demo (1983)
- Trilogy of Terror (1985)
- Blood Shower (1986)
- Slow Death (1986)
Contributed the song "Smash the Crystal" to a live compilation album Eastern Front (1986)
- Psychedelic Symphony (1989)
Current lineup
- Marc BiedermannMarc BiedermannMarc Biedermann is an El Sobrante, California based heavy metal guitarist, vocalist, bassist and songwriter. He is best known for as the driving force behind the progressive band Blind Illusion. He has also played on Blue Öyster Cults Imaginos and Heathens Victims of Deception albums...
- Lead/rhythm guitars, lead vocals (1979–present) - Danny Harcourt - Bass (2009–present)
- Robert Nystrom - Drums (2009–present)
Other former members
Vocals- Keith Stewart (1979)
- David GodfreyDavid White (heavy metal vocalist)David R White is an American heavy metal lead vocalist who is best known for singing in the thrash metal band Heathen. Having stints in underground thrash bands Blind Illusion and Laughing Dead, he joined Heathen in 1985...
(1980–1985) - Tim Agnello (unspecified time)
Guitars
- Bryan Kehoe (1981–1983)(also vocals)
- Hans Larson (1983)
- Pat Woods (1983–1986) (also vocals)
- John MarshallJohn Marshall (guitarist)John Marshall is a former guitarist for the thrash metal band Metal Church . Before joining the band in 1989, he was the guitar tech for Metallica's lead guitarist Kirk Hammett...
(1987) - Larry LaLondeLarry LaLondeLarry "Ler" LaLonde is a guitarist who currently plays in Primus along with Les Claypool and Jay Lane...
(1987–1988) - Evan McCaskeyEvan McCaskeyEvan McCaskey was an American guitarist who played for the bands Exodus and Blind Illusion.Evan grew up in Point Richmond, California. Prior to joining the band Blind Illusion, he taught guitar lessons in his Point Richmond studio...
(unspecified time) - Mark Strausberg (1988–1989)
- Eric Meyer (2007)
Bass
- Alvin Petty (1979)
- Les ClaypoolLes ClaypoolLeslie Edward "Les" Claypool is an American musician and writer, best known as the lead vocalist and bassist in the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends and slapping.Claypool has also self produced and engineered his...
(1979–1981), (1986–1988) - Chris OlsenChris OlsenChris Olsen is a jazz pianist, composer, poet, and vocalist. Currently a member of the fusion group Time in Motion , and former member of South Dakota based funk ensemble Greenhouse....
(1982–1983) - Geno Side Gene Gilson(1983–1986)
- Larry LaLonde (1988)
- Adam Gates (1987)
- Vern McElroy (1988–1989)
Drums
- Bret Hern (1979–1983)
- Bill Ticson (1983)
- Mike Miner (1983–1988)
- Wes Anderson (1988–1989)
Keyboards
- Ben Heveroh (1979-198?)
(There were several other members unknown)