Gray Matter (band)
Encyclopedia
Gray Matter was a post-hardcore
band from Washington, D.C.
, who played in the 1980s and '90s. They disbanded in 1986, but reformed in 1990.
On September 12, 2008, the band reformed for a one off reunion show to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Black Cat, a night club in Washington DC, partially owned by bandmember Dante Ferrando. The band played the entirety of its Take It Back EP.
The band's first album Food For Thought, was recorded in Dischord's "house" studio, Inner Ear in November 1984, with Minor Threat's Ian Mackaye assisting with production. Although it was originally released on R&B Records in 1985 while the members were still in high school. In 1986, Dischord Records released the EP Take It Back. Shortly thereafter Mark left the band to go to college and the band broke up. Dante went on to play drums for Ignition and Geoff, Steve, and Mark reunited and formed the band Three, with Jeff Nelson from Minor Threat. Gray Matter reformed in the spring of 1990 and released a double seven inch in 1991 and the full-length, Thog, in 1992. The band officially disbanded in 1993.
Dischord originally re-issued Food For Thought and Take It Back (DIS 49) onto one CD in 1990.
On September 12, 2008, the band reunited for a one off reunion show to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Black Cat, a night club in Washington DC, partially owned by band member Dante Ferrando. The band played the entirety of its Take It Back EP.
Before Gray Matter, Haggerty and Ferrando played in the DC skinhead band Iron Cross
. Niles later gained fame for writing horror comics books, in particular 30 Days of Night
. Geoff Turner went on to found WGNS recording studios, and Dante Ferrando is the founder and owner of long running D.C. alternative and punk nightclub the Black Cat.
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
band from Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, who played in the 1980s and '90s. They disbanded in 1986, but reformed in 1990.
On September 12, 2008, the band reformed for a one off reunion show to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Black Cat, a night club in Washington DC, partially owned by bandmember Dante Ferrando. The band played the entirety of its Take It Back EP.
Biography
Gray Matter officially formed in the summer of 1983 from the ashes of several Washington, D.C., area punk bands. Geoff Turner, Mark Haggerty and Dante Ferrando had been playing in bands since their early junior high school days. In 1983, Dante and Mark were playing in Iron Cross, but when the band's image began to reflect its violent supporters more than the members themselves, Dante quit. Soon after Mark also left and the two reunited with Geoff and Steve Niles and started playing shows around Washington DC as Gray Matter.The band's first album Food For Thought, was recorded in Dischord's "house" studio, Inner Ear in November 1984, with Minor Threat's Ian Mackaye assisting with production. Although it was originally released on R&B Records in 1985 while the members were still in high school. In 1986, Dischord Records released the EP Take It Back. Shortly thereafter Mark left the band to go to college and the band broke up. Dante went on to play drums for Ignition and Geoff, Steve, and Mark reunited and formed the band Three, with Jeff Nelson from Minor Threat. Gray Matter reformed in the spring of 1990 and released a double seven inch in 1991 and the full-length, Thog, in 1992. The band officially disbanded in 1993.
Dischord originally re-issued Food For Thought and Take It Back (DIS 49) onto one CD in 1990.
On September 12, 2008, the band reunited for a one off reunion show to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Black Cat, a night club in Washington DC, partially owned by band member Dante Ferrando. The band played the entirety of its Take It Back EP.
Members
- Geoff Turner - vocals, guitar
- Steve NilesSteve NilesSteve Niles is an American comic book author and novelist, known for works such as 30 Days of Night, Criminal Macabre, Simon Dark, Mystery Society and Batman: Gotham County Line....
- bass, vocals - Mark Haggerty - guitar
- Dante Ferrando - drums
Before Gray Matter, Haggerty and Ferrando played in the DC skinhead band Iron Cross
Iron Cross (band)
Iron Cross is a hardcore/Oi! band from Baltimore, Maryland and Washington D.C..They play a rough form of streetpunk, and is the first band in the United States to adopt the skinhead look and the Oi! musical style...
. Niles later gained fame for writing horror comics books, in particular 30 Days of Night
30 Days of Night
30 Days of Night is a three-issue horror comic book mini-series written by Steve Niles, illustrated by Ben Templesmith, and published by IDW Publishing in 2002. All three parties co-own the property....
. Geoff Turner went on to found WGNS recording studios, and Dante Ferrando is the founder and owner of long running D.C. alternative and punk nightclub the Black Cat.
EPs
- Alive and Kicking (1985)
- Take It Back (EP)|Take It Back (1985)
- 4 Songs (1990)
Covers
- "I Am the WalrusI Am the Walrus"I Am the Walrus" is a 1967 song by The Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. Lennon claimed he wrote the first two lines on separate acid trips. The song was in the Beatles' 1967 television film and album Magical Mystery Tour, and was the B-side to the #1 hit "Hello,...
" - The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr... - "I've Just Seen a FaceI've Just Seen a Face"I've Just Seen a Face" is a song by The Beatles. It appears on their 1965 United Kingdom album Help!, although in the United States it and "It's Only Love" first appeared on the Capitol version of the Rubber Soul album.-Composition:...
" - The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...