Deathray
Encyclopedia
Deathray was a band from Sacramento
, California
formed by former Cake
members Greg Brown
and Victor Damiani
, and Dana Gumbiner, a musician formerly of the Sacramento indie band Little Guilt Shrine.
After leaving Cake, Brown and bassist Victor Damiani met up with Gumbiner, who was playing solo shows under a variety of names, most notably The Micronauts. The three recruited multi-talented rock and jazz drummer James Neil and keyboardist Max Hart to form Deathray. After selling over 3,000 copies of their EP
, Deathray was signed to Capricorn Records
.
Their self-titled debut album was produced by Eric Valentine and released in 2000. While the album received critical praise, the band's future became murky during the collapse of Capricorn and a hastily-organized nationwide tour. After a long battle, Deathray was dropped from Capricorn, but regained control of the masters from their album, which they have since released on their own label, Doppler Records.
Shortly thereafter, Hart left the band to move to Los Angeles and form his own band, The High Speed Scene, which has since released its major-label debut on the Neptunes' imprint, Star-Trak Records.
Neil also left Deathray after the release of their first album, but went on to join numerous bands, including: Milwaukee (as keyboardist with Johnny Gutenberger of Two Sheds, and Chris Robyn of Far), Red Planet, An Angle, Jay Shaner's Cowboy Killers, and he is currently the drummer for the California-country band The Golden Cadillacs. Following the recording of Cake's album Comfort Eagle
, drummer Todd Roper left the band and has since also joined Deathray.
Brown and Gumbiner (continuing his solo electronica project Night Night, and currently owner/producer/engineer at Station To Station Media + Production, and a
contributing writer at TapeOp Magazine) remain the principal songwriters of Deathray, with Damiani also penning several tunes for the band.
A Deathray song titled "I Wanna Lose Control" appears on the soundtrack to the 2006 animated film Open Season (film)
, along with a cover of Paul Westerberg's "Wild as I Wanna Be." These are the first two Deathray songs published by a major record label since the band's debut.
As of July 1, 2007 the band has split up according to an entry on their official website.
The band's self-titled album was released in 2000 with producer Eric Valentine (Third Eye Blind
, Smash Mouth
, Citizen King
). The genre is usually thought of as pop
or post-punk
. It has received generous college and radio airplay.
Deathray self-released their second album in 2005. Eric Valentine returned as producer. Again, despite garnering critical acclaim, there was little interest from major labels.
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
formed by former Cake
Cake (band)
Cake is an American alternative rock band from Sacramento, California. Consisting of singer John McCrea, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, guitarist Xan McCurdy, bassist Gabe Nelson and drummer Paulo Baldi, the band has been noted for McCrea's sarcastic lyrics and deadpan voice, DiFiore's trumpet parts, and...
members Greg Brown
Greg Brown (Cake)
Greg Brown is a guitarist and founding member of the band Cake. Brown married fellow Sacramento musician Courtney Fay of Piccolo Music on October 27, 2001...
and Victor Damiani
Victor Damiani
Victor Damiani is a former bassist of the alternative rock band Cake. He played on Cake's first two albums, Motorcade of Generosity and Fashion Nugget...
, and Dana Gumbiner, a musician formerly of the Sacramento indie band Little Guilt Shrine.
After leaving Cake, Brown and bassist Victor Damiani met up with Gumbiner, who was playing solo shows under a variety of names, most notably The Micronauts. The three recruited multi-talented rock and jazz drummer James Neil and keyboardist Max Hart to form Deathray. After selling over 3,000 copies of their EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Deathray was signed to Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records was an independent record label which was launched by Phil Walden, Alan Walden, and Frank Fenter in 1969 in Macon, Georgia.-First Incarnation:...
.
Their self-titled debut album was produced by Eric Valentine and released in 2000. While the album received critical praise, the band's future became murky during the collapse of Capricorn and a hastily-organized nationwide tour. After a long battle, Deathray was dropped from Capricorn, but regained control of the masters from their album, which they have since released on their own label, Doppler Records.
Shortly thereafter, Hart left the band to move to Los Angeles and form his own band, The High Speed Scene, which has since released its major-label debut on the Neptunes' imprint, Star-Trak Records.
Neil also left Deathray after the release of their first album, but went on to join numerous bands, including: Milwaukee (as keyboardist with Johnny Gutenberger of Two Sheds, and Chris Robyn of Far), Red Planet, An Angle, Jay Shaner's Cowboy Killers, and he is currently the drummer for the California-country band The Golden Cadillacs. Following the recording of Cake's album Comfort Eagle
Comfort Eagle
Comfort Eagle is the fourth studio album by American band Cake. It was released on 24 July 2001. Comfort Eagle was Cake's first release on Columbia Records....
, drummer Todd Roper left the band and has since also joined Deathray.
Brown and Gumbiner (continuing his solo electronica project Night Night, and currently owner/producer/engineer at Station To Station Media + Production, and a
contributing writer at TapeOp Magazine) remain the principal songwriters of Deathray, with Damiani also penning several tunes for the band.
A Deathray song titled "I Wanna Lose Control" appears on the soundtrack to the 2006 animated film Open Season (film)
Open Season (film)
Open Season is a 2006 computer-animated comedy film, written by Steve Bencich and Ron J. Friedman and directed by Jill Culton, Roger Allers, and Anthony Stacchi, and production designed by Michael Humphries...
, along with a cover of Paul Westerberg's "Wild as I Wanna Be." These are the first two Deathray songs published by a major record label since the band's debut.
As of July 1, 2007 the band has split up according to an entry on their official website.
Studio Albums
- Deathray (2000)
The band's self-titled album was released in 2000 with producer Eric Valentine (Third Eye Blind
Third Eye Blind
Third Eye Blind is an American alternative rock band formed in the early 1990s in San Francisco. The songwriting duo of Kevin Cadogan and Stephan Jenkins signed the band's first major label recording contract with Elektra records in 1996 resulting in two multi platinum albums. The band's lineup...
, Smash Mouth
Smash Mouth
Smash Mouth is an American rock band from San Jose, California. The band was formed in 1994, and was originally composed of Steve Harwell, Greg Camp, Paul De Lisle and Kevin Coleman as lead vocals, guitar, bass and drums respectively...
, Citizen King
Citizen King
Citizen King was an American music group from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whose style was a mix of hip-hop, soul and punk. They are best known for their top 40 hit "Better Days ", which peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1999....
). The genre is usually thought of as pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
or post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
. It has received generous college and radio airplay.
- Believe Me (2005)
Deathray self-released their second album in 2005. Eric Valentine returned as producer. Again, despite garnering critical acclaim, there was little interest from major labels.
Lineup
- Dana Gumbiner – vocals, keyboard, guitar
- Greg Brown – guitar, vocals
- Victor DamianiVictor DamianiVictor Damiani is a former bassist of the alternative rock band Cake. He played on Cake's first two albums, Motorcade of Generosity and Fashion Nugget...
– bass - Todd Roper – drums, vocals
- formerly James Neil
- formerly Max Hart