George Earth
Encyclopedia
George Earth is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 musician, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...

, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...

, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...

, music producer, comic book artist
Comic book creator
A comic book creator is someone who creates a comic book or graphic novel.The production of a comic book by one of the major comic book companies in the U.S...

, and talk show host from Echo Park, California. He is perhaps best known as the lead guitarist for both World Entertainment War
World Entertainment War
World Entertainment War is an American funk rock band, formed in 1986, noted for its memorable costumes, props, and antics, both on and off-stage and for songs containing intricate lyrics of a political and often humorous nature...

 and Switchblade Symphony
Switchblade Symphony
Switchblade Symphony was a San Francisco, United States–based band which was formed in 1989 by composer Susan Wallace and vocalist Tina Root. They released their first album in 1995 on the Cleopatra Records label...

, later touring and recording with Angel Corpus Christi
Angel Corpus Christi
Angel Corpus Christi is a San Francisco-based singer, songwriter and accordionist, who initially began recording with her husband, guitarist Rich Stim ....

, Stolen Babies
Stolen Babies
Stolen Babies are an American avant-garde metal band with significant influences from dark cabaret, signed to The End Records.-History:Stolen Babies formed from a 12+ member high school performance troupe named the Fratellis; the band takes its name from one of the skits performed by the group...

, and other bands before forming Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...

-based Small Halo in 2008. He publishes a semi-regular comic book series and hosts a regular talk show, The Talk Show, in which he also leads The Talk Show Band.

Biography

George Earth was born in Patterson, New Jersey in 1966. He lived in Athens, Greece
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...

 briefly as a child between 1969 and 1970 before moving back to New Jersey with his parents. He lived briefly in California in 1976 and then moved back to Red Bank, New Jersey
Red Bank, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,844 people, 5,201 households, and 2,501 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,639.1 people per square mile . There were 5,450 housing units at an average density of 3,055.0 per square mile...

, where at age 13, he started playing guitar. He left Red Bank in 1980 and moved to Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...

, where he attended high school and formed his first band with his two best friends, Gabe Butterfield and Keith Graves, who attended two other local high schools. Butterfield played drums and is the son of blues legend Paul Butterfield
Paul Butterfield
Paul Butterfield was an American blues vocalist and harmonica player, who founded the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in the early 1960s and performed at the original Woodstock Festival...

. Graves had played bass guitar until Earth joined them, whereupon Butterfield and Earth forced him to play guitar with them instead. Graves now performs with Prairie Prince
Prairie Prince
Prairie Prince is a rock drummer. He was a member of The Tubes and a founding member of Journey...

 and Quicksilver Messenger Service
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Quicksilver Messenger Service is an American psychedelic rock band, formed in 1965 in San Francisco.-Introduction:Quicksilver Messenger Service gained wide popularity in the Bay Area and, through their recordings, with psychedelic rock enthusiasts around the globe and several of their albums ranked...

.

Earth's first serious recording was around 1982, on a record with Cyrille Verdeaux, on which he played guitar.

George found work in 1983 as a roadie for the Santa Cruz band Tao Chemical and its percussion offshoot, Tao Rhythmical, where he got to know the drummer for both bands, Rick Walker, who would connect him with some other key musicians in the region.

About 1985, Earth and vocalist and lyricist Xtremity X worked across the street from one another, met, and formed Heaven On. He played guitar to her lyrics, which she sang, and they soon gathered a pair of other young artists, the rhythm team of drummer Anthony Guess
Kevtone
Kevtone is an American musician, percussionist, and songwriter from Seattle, Washington. Performing live and in studio, his rhythm style may best be described as improvisational, melodic, progressive, and bluesy, over a wide variety of styles; reflecting influences from many genres of music.He is...

, who was a percussion student of Rick Walker's, and bassist Kevin Nuckolls, with whom Guess had played in several bands before. Keyboardist Kennedy Cosker, of The Quiet Ones, joined them at the last minute to compete in a contest, and together, the five-member band won the 1986 Battle of the Bands at the Louden Nelson Center for Performing Arts in Santa Cruz. Heaven On disbanded soon after that performance, though Earth, Guess, and Nuckolls would form a separate improvisation project that year, Circus Boy, performing one show in that grouping, at Diane's Place in Santa Cruz, before Earth and Guess began to jam with bassist Daniel Vee Lewis, Lewis' wife, Pipa Piñon, and keyboardist David Hannibal.

In 1986, Earth and Anthony Guess together conceived of the unnamed band that would later become World Entertainment War
World Entertainment War
World Entertainment War is an American funk rock band, formed in 1986, noted for its memorable costumes, props, and antics, both on and off-stage and for songs containing intricate lyrics of a political and often humorous nature...

. Earth played lead guitar and co-wrote songs with drummer Guess. They invited both Daniel Vee Lewis and David Hannibal to play bass and keyboards, respectively, for the new group, which still remained nameless. Rick Walker suggested they contact another local musician friend of his, Rob Brezsny
Rob Brezsny
Rob Brezsny is an American astrologer, writer, poet, and musician. His weekly horoscope column Free Will Astrology , has been published for more than 28 years, runs in 120 periodicals, and can be subscribed to for free via email.- Career :Brezsny is the first well-known horoscope columnist...

, also of Tao Chemical, who was developing a new and broad idea that he called "World Entertainment War". After seeing Brezsny perform a spoken word show to a pre-recorded music tape, they did a jam show together a few weeks later. Brezsny was invited to join the band as lead vocalist and co-writer and together they then adopted the name and the concept, World Entertainment War. Singer Darby Gould
Darby Gould
Darby Marie Gould is an American vocalist best known for her work with Jefferson Starship and World Entertainment War. Over the years she has developed a loyal following based on her passionate, soulful vocals and intense stage presence....

 was recruited six months later to join the band as co-lead vocalist. Keyboardist Hannibal left the band shortly and was replaced briefly by Sam Loya, who was then replaced by Amy Excolere. They performed regularly and recorded two albums; a self-titled debut and a follow-up called Give Too Much, consisting of the same recordings with two added tracks recorded at the same time, both released in 1991 by MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...

. Earth continued doing live performances with World Entertainment War in a variety of venues until the group disbanded in 1993.

That same year, Earth joined singer, songwriter, and accordionist Angel Corpus Christi as her international touring guitarist. He also formed a guitar and cello band called The Endorphines with Martha Burn of Amber Assylum playing the cello. That band auditioned drummers, including Eric Gebow, whom Earth would later form an improv duo with and who would later bring Earth into Switchblade Symphony.

In 1995, Earth joined Switchblade Symphony, with composer Susan Wallace and vocalist Tina Root
Tina Root
Tina Root , also now known as Tina Minero, is an American classically trained female vocalist and songwriter from Los Angeles, California, perhaps most famous for her work performing as the lead singer of Switchblade Symphony during the mid-to-late-1990s...

, replacing Robin Jacobs on lead guitar. They released several recordings on Cleopatra Records, including Bread and Jam for Frances
Bread and Jam for Frances
Released in 1997, Bread and Jam for Frances is the second album by Switchblade Symphony. It was recorded at Brilliant Studios in San Francisco and Private Island Trax in Hollywood and mastered at Private Island Trax...

in 1997 and The Three Calamities
The Three Calamities
-Track listing:# "Invisible" – 3:56# "Wicked" – 4:18# "Naked Birthday" – 4:11# "Invitation" – 3:23# "Fear" – 3:59# "Monsters" – 2:00# "Therapy" – 4:13# "Copycat" – 4:52# "Green" – 7:12 # "Into the Sky" – 4:10...

in 1999, and they toured internationally for over four years in support of both albums, before disbanding in 1999; with Root going on to form the band Tre Lux
Tré Lux
Tre Lux is the solo trip hop project of Tina Root, the vocalist of Switchblade Symphony.-A Strange Gathering:Her first full-length album, A Strange Gathering, was released September 19, 2006...

. Earth and Root performed the final shows of Switchblade Symphony in 2000.

From 2001 to 2003, George Earth played guitar in Captain Bringdown, with bassist Paula O'Rourke and drummer John Weiss, and appears on their 2002 self-titled album, recorded at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco. Weiss was later replaced by Thievery Corporation
Thievery Corporation
Thievery Corporation is a Washington, D.C. based recording artist and DJ duo consisting of Rob Garza, Eric Hilton, and their supporting artists, including current drummer Jeff Franca...

 drummer El John Nelson, who later played on Earth's 2004 solo CD, Love Songs.

During that period he also did session work with several groups. He played guitar for Angel Corpus Christi; appearing on her 2003 CD recordings, Divine Healer and Louie Louie (a tribute to Lou Reed). He recorded with Shards, a guitar and drum duo he formed with drummer Mark Pino of Birdsaw. He did some session work with his former World Entertainment War bandmate, Rob Brezsny,and also with Caroline Blind's project, Sunshine Blind
Sunshine Blind
Sunshine Blind was a Goth/Trip hop/Darkwave band started in 1991 by CWHK and Caroline. They released three albums before breaking up.Sunshine Blind formed in 1991 in NYC/ NJ area. 3 CDs released, many, many tours in the US and the UK, Finally dissolved in 2003...

, playing guitar on their 2003 release, I Carry You.

George Earth stayed busy during 2003 to 2006, writing, recording and producing his own solo albums as Candymachine, aka Candymachine88, including Water, released on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....

, and one song on each of the two albums he produced for Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music...

; "Mr. Self Destruct
Mr. Self Destruct
"Mr. Self Destruct" is a song by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails. Written by frontman Trent Reznor, co-produced by Flood and recorded at Le Pig in 1993, it is the opening track off The Downward Spiral , and predicts the album's ugly aesthetic and mostly angry tone...

" on Covered in Nails: A Tribute To Nine Inch Nails and "Ava Adore", with Tina Root, on A Gothic–Industrial Tribute to The Smashing Pumpkins. The album he produced for Tributized Records in 2006, Piggy: A Tribute to Nine Inch Nails, also featured he and Root performing as Candymachine88 on one song, "Mr. Self Destruct".

He played theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...

 for Red Elvises
Red Elvises
The Red Elvises are a Russian-American band that performs rock & roll, surf, rockabilly, reggae, lounge and traditional Russian styles of music...

, recording with Oleg Bernov, Igor Yuzov, and others, on their 2004 studio release, Lunatics and Poets
Lunatics and Poets
- Track listing :#Ocean#Venice, USA#Night Butterfly#Love Rocket#Wind#Winter Reggae#Ticket To Japan#Memoirs Of A Phuket Geisha#Juliet#Tchaikovski#Party Like A Rock Star#This Music Is Wasted If We Don't DanceAll songs written by Igor Yuzov- Personnel :...

and he also joined Victim's Family
Victim's Family
Victims Family is a punk band formed in 1984 in Santa Rosa, California by bassist Larry Boothroyd and guitarist and vocalist Ralph Spight. Drummer Devon VrMeer completed the trio. Their sound blended punk, heavy metal and jazz, making them difficult to categorize into a single genre...

 guitarist Ralph Spight on his side project, The Freak Accident, playing theremin as well, on their 2004 album, Freak Accident. Also in 2004, Pretend Records released Earth's debut solo album, Love Songs.

In 2007, Earth was brought in to work with Heather Schmid by her producer/co-writer Rich Balmer on her CD, Goddess Awaits. Balmer had also worked with Tina Root, who co-wrote some material on another Schmid album, and Root had suggested to Earth that he work with Balmer. Later in 2007, George went on an international tour as the guitarist for Stolen Babies
Stolen Babies
Stolen Babies are an American avant-garde metal band with significant influences from dark cabaret, signed to The End Records.-History:Stolen Babies formed from a 12+ member high school performance troupe named the Fratellis; the band takes its name from one of the skits performed by the group...

, replacing guitarist Davin Givhan, who had recently left the band. In 2008, Earth and Tina Root (aka Tina Minero, since 2002) rejoined again to form another music performance project, Small Halo, recording a self-titled 5-song EP that they released in 2009.

Since then Earth has pursued several other activities. He has been been scoring music for independent films and television for several years and his recent work has included scoring music for major film trailers.

He continues his professional work and lives on a small farm in Echo Park, California
Echo Park, Los Angeles, California
Echo Park is a hilly neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, northwest of Downtown Los Angeles and southeast of Hollywood.-History:At the end of the 19th century, when the hills were still covered with native vegetation, a horse-drawn streetcar line served the dirt road that is now Echo Park Avenue...

.

Trivia

Earth has also initiated several "joke bands". One early instance of these, dreamed up with his best (non-musician) friend Steve Brown, was the band Barking Crew, releasing the comedy single "Bark Me Betty", as a joke about their slang for fellatio, "barking", as in, "Did she bark your pole?" A later joke band was Fucking Jerks from San Jose, with a song recorded by the same name, created by Earth and another friend.

Discography

With Barking Crew
  • Bark Me Betty (1986
    1986 in music
    This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1986.-January-June:*January 23 – The first induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame takes place...

    )


With World Entertainment War
  • World Entertainment War (1991
    1991 in music
    See also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year...

    ) MCA Records
  • Give Too Much (1991) MCA Records

Also appears with WEW on
  • K-Mart Tribal Ballet on Komotion International Compilation Raizer X Records


With Switchblade Symphony
  • Bread and Jam for Frances
    Bread and Jam for Frances
    Released in 1997, Bread and Jam for Frances is the second album by Switchblade Symphony. It was recorded at Brilliant Studios in San Francisco and Private Island Trax in Hollywood and mastered at Private Island Trax...

    (1997
    1997 in music
    This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy...

    ) Cleopatra Records
  • The Three Calamities
    The Three Calamities
    -Track listing:# "Invisible" – 3:56# "Wicked" – 4:18# "Naked Birthday" – 4:11# "Invitation" – 3:23# "Fear" – 3:59# "Monsters" – 2:00# "Therapy" – 4:13# "Copycat" – 4:52# "Green" – 7:12 # "Into the Sky" – 4:10...

    CD (1999
    1999 in music
    -Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....

    ) Cleopatra Records
Also appears with Switchblade Symphony on
  • Sinister Nostalgia
    Sinister Nostalgia
    -Track listing:# "Sweet" – 6:52# "Dollhouse" – 4:56# "Dissolve" – 5:14# "Cocoon" – 5:20# "Clown" – 4:57# "Insect" – 4:15...

    (2001
    2001 in music
    See also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....

    ) (remix
    Remix
    A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....

    es) Cleopatra Records
  • Sweet Little Witches CD (2003
    2003 in music
    -January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...

    ) Cleopatra Records
NEWLIN


With Captain Bringdown & The Buzzkil
  • Captain Bringdown CD (2002
    2002 in music
    This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...

    )


With Sunshine Blind
  • I Carry You (2003
    2003 in music
    -January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...

    )


With Angel Corpus Christi
  • Divine Healer (album) CD (2003
    2003 in music
    -January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...

    ) Gulcher Records
    Gulcher Records
    Gulcher Records is an independent record label founded in Bloomington, Indiana by Bob Richert in the mid 1970s, as one of the earliest small independent labels and fanzines in the area...

  • Louie Louie (a tribute to Lou Reed) CD import (2003
    2003 in music
    -January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...

    )


With the Red Elvises
  • Lunatics & Poets (2004
    2004 in music
    See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....

    ) theremin


With The Freak Accident
  • Freak Accident CD (2004
    2004 in music
    See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....

    ) theremin


Solo work
  • Love Songs (2004
    2004 in music
    See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....

    ) Pretend Records

With Candymachine88
  • Water album Itunes
    ITunes
    iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....

  • Ava Adore (with Tina Root), on A Gothic–Industrial Tribute to The Smashing Pumpkins Cleopatra Records (2001
    2001 in music
    See also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....

     & 2006
    2006 in music
    This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....

    ) Various artists
  • Mr. Self Destruct on Covered in Nails: A Tribute To Nine Inch Nails (Various Artists) Cleopatra Records (2000
    2000 in music
    See also:* 2000 in music Record labels established in 2000-Events:*January – Gary Glitter is released from jail, two months before his sentence for sexual offences ends.*January 1**John Tavener is knighted in the New Year's Honours List....

     & 2006)
    2006 in music
    This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....

     & Anagram (UK) 2001
    2001 in music
    See also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....

  • Mr. Self Destruct (with Tina Root) on Piggy: A Tribute to Nine Inch Nails (Various Artists) Tributized Records(2004
    2004 in music
    See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....

     & 2006
    2006 in music
    This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....

    )


With Small Halo
  • Small Halo EP (2009
    2009 in music
    The following is a list of notable events and releases in 2009 in music. Susan Boyle's album I Dreamed a Dream became the biggest selling album in the world for 2009, selling 8.3 million copies in five weeks; more than any other artist's in the whole year...

    )

Production credits
  • A Gothic–Industrial Tribute to The Smashing Pumpkins Cleopatra Records (2001
    2001 in music
    See also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....

     & 2006
    2006 in music
    This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....

    ) Various artists
  • Covered in Nails: A Tribute To Nine Inch Nails (Various Artists) Cleopatra Records (2000
    2000 in music
    See also:* 2000 in music Record labels established in 2000-Events:*January – Gary Glitter is released from jail, two months before his sentence for sexual offences ends.*January 1**John Tavener is knighted in the New Year's Honours List....

     & 2006)
    2006 in music
    This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....

     & Anagram (UK) 2001
    2001 in music
    See also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....

  • Piggy: A Tribute to Nine Inch Nails (Various Artists) Tributized Records(2004
    2004 in music
    See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....

     & 2006
    2006 in music
    This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....

    )

External links

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