Diet of Worms (band)
Encyclopedia
Diet of Worms is a rock band
that began as a side project between Juan 'Punchy' Gonzalez
(guitars, sequencing) and Damond Jiniya
(vocals, lyrics). After a few demos had been circulated, there was enough demand for the duo to release an album independently. To Thine Own Self was released in 1997 to glowing reviews from Terrorizer, New Musical Express, Melody Maker
, and Rock Hard
magazines in Europe.
In the latter part of 1997 D.O.W toured Mexico
and Europe
. This tour took D.O.W to Mexico City
, Guadalajara
, Paris
, Brussels
, London
, and “muggy” Whitby
, UK for the Dracfest. This festival featured Alien Sex Fiend
, Lena Lovich, Hawkwind
, and The Damned. When English rock magazine NME
came out to do an article on the festival they wrote about Diet of Worms. The other artists were all but ignored. Diet of Worms continued to sell CDs independently.
In mid 1998, D.O.W added a third member. Steve "Divine" Wright, former drummer of legendary Goth band Christian Death
, joined the ranks of D.O.W as a permanent member. In 1999 Diet of Worms hit the road again, doing a complete North American tour. They began with a sold out show in Guadalajara, Mexico, then went to do “El Festival Obscurro” in Mexico City. After this, they embarked on a six-and-a-half-week run that took them all over the United States
and Canada
.
In the beginning of 2000, D.O.W recorded its second record, The Aquarius, to critical acclaim throughout the world. Diet of Worms toured six months in North America to support The Aquarius, almost tripling the record's sales. Bassist Orbis was added to the fold in late 2002. In February 2003, D.O.W embarked on a Mexican/European tour to support its record "Tantrum Land." The tour included Christian Death, Lover of Sin
(Punchy’s other project) and Theater of Vampires. It spanned all of western and some of the eastern European countries. September 2003 marked the departure of long-time drummer/songwriter Steve “Divine” Wright. December 2003 also was the release of Tantrum Land, an 18-song journey into the feel of British pop/rock.
Diet of Worms ended its career as a group in December 2004.
Damond and Punchy created and released The Neglected Band project in 2004.
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
that began as a side project between Juan 'Punchy' Gonzalez
Juan 'Punchy' Gonzalez
Juan "Punchy" Gonzalez is a record producer/artist who has worked with many talents including, Morbid Angel, Christian Death, Lover of Sin, Nile, and many others. He was also the guitarist/producer of his own band, Diet of Worms....
(guitars, sequencing) and Damond Jiniya
Damond Jiniya
Damond Jiniya is an American vocalist and lyricist. He was born December 16, 1974 in Palm Springs California. His most notable work was fronting the prog metal band "Savatage" . Damond also achieved international notoriety with his electro-metal band "Diet of Worms " He recorded with "Lover of...
(vocals, lyrics). After a few demos had been circulated, there was enough demand for the duo to release an album independently. To Thine Own Self was released in 1997 to glowing reviews from Terrorizer, New Musical Express, Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
, and Rock Hard
Rock Hard (magazine)
Rock Hard is a heavy metal magazine originally released in Germany. It was founded in 1983 by Holger Stratmann and is dedicated to all styles of rock and heavy metal. The magazine has independent offspring with the same name in France, Greece, Italy and Spain....
magazines in Europe.
In the latter part of 1997 D.O.W toured Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. This tour took D.O.W to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Guadalajara
Guadalajara
Guadalajara may refer to:In Mexico:*Guadalajara, Jalisco, the capital of the state of Jalisco and second largest city in Mexico**Guadalajara Metropolitan Area*University of Guadalajara, a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and “muggy” Whitby
Whitby
Whitby is a seaside town, port and civil parish in the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire, England. Situated on the east coast of Yorkshire at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby has a combined maritime, mineral and tourist heritage, and is home to the ruins of Whitby Abbey where Caedmon, the...
, UK for the Dracfest. This festival featured Alien Sex Fiend
Alien Sex Fiend
Alien Sex Fiend is a deathrock band from the UK, composed of the married couple Nik Fiend and Mrs. Fiend . Currently, the band is based in Cardiff, Wales.-History:...
, Lena Lovich, Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
, and The Damned. When English rock magazine NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
came out to do an article on the festival they wrote about Diet of Worms. The other artists were all but ignored. Diet of Worms continued to sell CDs independently.
In mid 1998, D.O.W added a third member. Steve "Divine" Wright, former drummer of legendary Goth band Christian Death
Christian Death
Christian Death is an American deathrock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1979. The band was founded and fronted by Rozz Williams. Christian Death is most notable for their first album Only Theatre of Pain....
, joined the ranks of D.O.W as a permanent member. In 1999 Diet of Worms hit the road again, doing a complete North American tour. They began with a sold out show in Guadalajara, Mexico, then went to do “El Festival Obscurro” in Mexico City. After this, they embarked on a six-and-a-half-week run that took them all over the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
In the beginning of 2000, D.O.W recorded its second record, The Aquarius, to critical acclaim throughout the world. Diet of Worms toured six months in North America to support The Aquarius, almost tripling the record's sales. Bassist Orbis was added to the fold in late 2002. In February 2003, D.O.W embarked on a Mexican/European tour to support its record "Tantrum Land." The tour included Christian Death, Lover of Sin
Lover of Sin
Lover of Sin is an American Black metal/Deathrock band containing members from Christian Death , Diet of Worms member Juan "Punchy" Gonzalez, Tony Norman from Monstrosity & Morbid Angel, Howard Davis from Genitorturers, and guest vocals by Damond Jiniya of Savatage. The band released their...
(Punchy’s other project) and Theater of Vampires. It spanned all of western and some of the eastern European countries. September 2003 marked the departure of long-time drummer/songwriter Steve “Divine” Wright. December 2003 also was the release of Tantrum Land, an 18-song journey into the feel of British pop/rock.
Diet of Worms ended its career as a group in December 2004.
Damond and Punchy created and released The Neglected Band project in 2004.