Kilgore (Smudge)
Encyclopedia
Kilgore was an American heavy metal
band formed in Providence, Rhode Island
, in 1991. The band is named after the character Kilgore Trout
in the Kurt Vonnegut
classic Breakfast of Champions
. Through a number of band name and line-up changes, Kilgore released two albums, Blue Collar Solitude (1995) and A Search for Reason (1998). The band landed a slot on the 1998 Ozzfest
. They followed with a 1998 national tour with Slayer
and Fear Factory
and a 1998 European tour with Fear Factory and Spineshank
.
. Once or twice a semester, the bands would gather for concerts attended by most of the student body. This allowed many of the musicians their first concert opportunities. Outside of the school, the band began to work on original music influenced by Iron Maiden
, Black Sabbath
, Metallica
and Faith No More
. The band was composed of songwriter Brian McKenzie (guitar), Bill Southerland (drums), Jason Smith (bass), Mike Pelletier (guitar) and Jay Berndt (vocals). The band was first known as "Regicide" during high school and played its first shows at band concerts at La Salle Academy, Providence.
After high school they changed their name to Smudge, and started to develop and fine tune their sound. The music became more aggressive containing a groove element with hints of their early influences as well as elements of the New York hardcore
scene. Jay Berndt’s lyrics were influenced by the Beat Generation
authors, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Franz Kafka
and Charles Bukowski
. His vocal style was sometimes compared to Glen Danzig of the Misfits or Scott Weiland
of Stone Temple Pilots. The fast almost hardcore-like songs, along with Jay Berndt's lyrics and vocal melodies, allowed the band to really stand out.
They released their first demo cassette called Spill (1993) and began playing shows at numerous Providence clubs and opening for established acts as The Cro-Mags, Sick of It All
, Sheer Terror
and Life of Agony
. After discovering an Australian pop-punk band by the same name, they changed their name to Stain. As Stain, they released another cassette demo, Die Cast, in 1994. It was the release of Die Cast that brought the band to the attention of Unsound Records (subsidiary of Warner Bros. Records
), with whom they signed a recording contract. Around this time Berndt suggested the band name "Kilgore Smudge" as a nod to the protagonist from the classic Kurt Vonnegut
novel Breakfast of Champions
.
. The band opened for acts such as Marilyn Manson
, Biohazard
, Clutch
and Sublime
. The months spent on the road took its toll on Jason Smith (bass), who was replaced in 1996 by Steve Johnson.
. Marty O'Brien
was then asked to join the band to replace Steve Johnson. The band marked the release of A Search for Reason with a string of east coast dates starting at New York City’s Coney Island High club. As a new management deal was inked, the band shortened their name to just "Kilgore" and then landed a spot on Ozzfest
1998. While on tour with Ozzfest, Kilgore recorded a cover of Pantera
's "Walk" for Extreme Championship Wrestling
. The song was used as Rob Van Dam
's entrance music. They followed Ozzfest with a 1998 national tour with Slayer
and Fear Factory
, and finished the year with a European tour with Fear Factory and Spineshank
.
In 2003, guitarist Brian McKenzie began performing as a solo singer/songwriter and released two solo albums. In 2009, McKenzie began working with Jay Berndt who produced his forthcoming album, Resolution, to be released in 2010.
Pelletier, Southerland and O'Brien moved to Los Angeles in 2000 to look for a new singer for Kilgore. Shortly after arriving, Marty O'Brien
began playing with Tommy Lee
's Methods of Mayhem
as well as providing session work for other artists. He now plays with We Are the Fallen
.
Mike Pelletier began scoring video game soundtracks and was playing with In for the Kill
.
Bill Southerland returned to Providence and has been working with children for the last few years. In 2008, Southerland and Berndt reunited for a short time in a heavy metal band called Bloodwitch which also featured members of Massachusetts band Seemless
.
In 2007, original members Jay Berndt, Brian McKenzie, Bill Southerland, and Jason Smith reunited to play a benefit show in Providence, RI called "Fight to Remember". The band helped to raise over $13,000 and all proceeds went to Susan G. Komen for the Cure
and National Philanthropic Trust
for breast cancer treatment and research.
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...
band formed in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, in 1991. The band is named after the character Kilgore Trout
Kilgore Trout
Kilgore Trout is a fictional character created by author Kurt Vonnegut. He was originally created as a fictionalized version of author Theodore Sturgeon , although Trout's consistent presence in Vonnegut's works has also led critics to view him as the author's own alter ego...
in the Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. was a 20th century American writer. His works such as Cat's Cradle , Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions blend satire, gallows humor and science fiction. He was known for his humanist beliefs and was honorary president of the American Humanist Association.-Early...
classic Breakfast of Champions
Breakfast of Champions
Breakfast of Champions, or Goodbye Blue Monday is a 1973 novel by the American author Kurt Vonnegut. Set in the fictional town of Midland City, it is the story of "two lonesome, skinny, fairly old white men on a planet which was dying fast." One of these men, Dwayne Hoover, is a normal-looking but...
. Through a number of band name and line-up changes, Kilgore released two albums, Blue Collar Solitude (1995) and A Search for Reason (1998). The band landed a slot on the 1998 Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
. They followed with a 1998 national tour with Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
and Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
and a 1998 European tour with Fear Factory and Spineshank
Spineshank
Spineshank is an American Grammy-nominated alternative metal band. The band has sold over 540,000 records, and has released 3 studio albums.-Formation, Roadrunner Records years :...
.
History
The band started in 1991 at Rhode Island Catholic high school La Salle Academy, ProvidenceLa Salle Academy, Providence
La Salle Academy is an independent, co-educational Roman Catholic college preparatory day school located in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island...
. Once or twice a semester, the bands would gather for concerts attended by most of the student body. This allowed many of the musicians their first concert opportunities. Outside of the school, the band began to work on original music influenced by Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, 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 ...
and Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
. The band was composed of songwriter Brian McKenzie (guitar), Bill Southerland (drums), Jason Smith (bass), Mike Pelletier (guitar) and Jay Berndt (vocals). The band was first known as "Regicide" during high school and played its first shows at band concerts at La Salle Academy, Providence.
After high school they changed their name to Smudge, and started to develop and fine tune their sound. The music became more aggressive containing a groove element with hints of their early influences as well as elements of the New York hardcore
New York hardcore
New York hardcore refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New York City and to the subculture associated with that music. New York hardcore grew out of the hardcore scene established in Washington, D.C., by bands such as Bad Brains and Minor Threat. Hardcore '81 is an album by the...
scene. Jay Berndt’s lyrics were influenced by the Beat Generation
Beat generation
The Beat Generation refers to a group of American post-WWII writers who came to prominence in the 1950s, as well as the cultural phenomena that they both documented and inspired...
authors, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka was a culturally influential German-language author of short stories and novels. Contemporary critics and academics, including Vladimir Nabokov, regard Kafka as one of the best writers of the 20th century...
and Charles Bukowski
Charles Bukowski
Henry Charles Bukowski was an American poet, novelist and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural and economic ambience of his home city of Los Angeles...
. His vocal style was sometimes compared to Glen Danzig of the Misfits or Scott Weiland
Scott Weiland
Scott Weiland is an American musician, lyricist, and vocalist, most notable for his work with Grammy Award-winning rock band Stone Temple Pilots. Weiland is also known for his five-year career with supergroup Velvet Revolver as well as his own solo career...
of Stone Temple Pilots. The fast almost hardcore-like songs, along with Jay Berndt's lyrics and vocal melodies, allowed the band to really stand out.
They released their first demo cassette called Spill (1993) and began playing shows at numerous Providence clubs and opening for established acts as The Cro-Mags, Sick of It All
Sick of It All
Sick of It All is an American hardcore punk band from Queens, New York. Formed in 1986, the band consisted of brothers Lou Koller on vocals and Pete Koller on lead guitar, Rich Cipriano on bass, and Armand Majidi on drums. There have been only two member changes since their inception, with Max...
, Sheer Terror
Sheer Terror
Sheer Terror was an American hardcore punk band from New York City. The band was one of the first to combine elements of heavy metal with a hardcore punk base, pioneering a heavier style of hardcore that would become popular in the following decades. Formed in late 1984, the band, stayed together...
and Life of Agony
Life of Agony
-Formation and River Runs Red :The band was formed in the summer of 1989 by singer Keith Caputo, bassist Alan Robert and guitarist Joey Z. After playing with several drummers, they enlisted Type O Negative drummer Sal Abruscato before recording the debut album River Runs Red after they signed to...
. After discovering an Australian pop-punk band by the same name, they changed their name to Stain. As Stain, they released another cassette demo, Die Cast, in 1994. It was the release of Die Cast that brought the band to the attention of Unsound Records (subsidiary of Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
), with whom they signed a recording contract. Around this time Berndt suggested the band name "Kilgore Smudge" as a nod to the protagonist from the classic Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. was a 20th century American writer. His works such as Cat's Cradle , Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions blend satire, gallows humor and science fiction. He was known for his humanist beliefs and was honorary president of the American Humanist Association.-Early...
novel Breakfast of Champions
Breakfast of Champions
Breakfast of Champions, or Goodbye Blue Monday is a 1973 novel by the American author Kurt Vonnegut. Set in the fictional town of Midland City, it is the story of "two lonesome, skinny, fairly old white men on a planet which was dying fast." One of these men, Dwayne Hoover, is a normal-looking but...
.
Blue Collar Solitude (1995)
In 1995, Kilgore Smudge released Blue Collar Solitude, recorded in Los Angeles with producer Howard BensonHoward Benson
Howard Benson is a two-time Grammy-nominated music producer and aerospace engineer.-Biography:Howard Benson has a degree in materials engineering from Drexel University and studied composition at the Philadelphia College for Performing Arts. Later he worked for Garrett AiResearch, where he worked...
. The band opened for acts such as Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
, Biohazard
Biohazard (band)
Biohazard is a band originally based in Brooklyn, New York. They are acknowledged as one of the earliest bands to fuse hardcore punk and heavy metal with elements of hip hop. The original lineup consisted of Vocalist/Guitarist Billy Graziadei, bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld, guitarist Bobby Hambel,...
, Clutch
Clutch (band)
Clutch is an American rock band from Germantown, Maryland, formed in 1990. The band's first release was an EP entitled Pitchfork, which debuted in October 1990. Their first studio album, Transnational Speedway League, was released three years later in 1993. To date, Clutch has released nine studio...
and Sublime
Sublime (band)
Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band's line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell , Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh . Michael "Miguel" Happoldt also contributed on a few Sublime songs, such as "New Thrash." Lou Dog, Nowell's...
. The months spent on the road took its toll on Jason Smith (bass), who was replaced in 1996 by Steve Johnson.
A Search for Reason (1998)
The band flew out to Los Angeles for 4 months to write, rehearse and record A Search for Reason, which was produced by Ed StasiumEd Stasium
Ed Stasium is an American record producer and engineer who has worked on albums by The Ramones, Talking Heads, The Smithereens and Living Colour.- History :Stasium first surfaced in 1970 fronting the band Brandywine, appearing on their sole LP Aged....
. Marty O'Brien
Marty O'Brien
Marty O'Brien is a professional bass player and member of the band We Are the Fallen. His live credits include playing bass on tour for such acts as Disturbed, Tommy Lee, Static-X, Methods of Mayhem and many others. He has performed on three different Ozzfest tours, each time with a different band...
was then asked to join the band to replace Steve Johnson. The band marked the release of A Search for Reason with a string of east coast dates starting at New York City’s Coney Island High club. As a new management deal was inked, the band shortened their name to just "Kilgore" and then landed a spot on Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
1998. While on tour with Ozzfest, Kilgore recorded a cover of Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
's "Walk" for Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
. The song was used as Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam
Robert Alexander "Rob" Szatkowski , better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam , is an American professional wrestler and actor who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
's entrance music. They followed Ozzfest with a 1998 national tour with Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
and Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
, and finished the year with a European tour with Fear Factory and Spineshank
Spineshank
Spineshank is an American Grammy-nominated alternative metal band. The band has sold over 540,000 records, and has released 3 studio albums.-Formation, Roadrunner Records years :...
.
Break-up and reunion
Singer Jay Berndt left the band and the music industry in early 1999. In 2005, he returned to music by fronting Providence country band The Revival Preachers and released an album, Breathin' Through a Bruise. He is currently signed to North Carolina record label Rusty Knuckles and will release a solo album called Sad Bastard Songs in October 2010.In 2003, guitarist Brian McKenzie began performing as a solo singer/songwriter and released two solo albums. In 2009, McKenzie began working with Jay Berndt who produced his forthcoming album, Resolution, to be released in 2010.
Pelletier, Southerland and O'Brien moved to Los Angeles in 2000 to look for a new singer for Kilgore. Shortly after arriving, Marty O'Brien
Marty O'Brien
Marty O'Brien is a professional bass player and member of the band We Are the Fallen. His live credits include playing bass on tour for such acts as Disturbed, Tommy Lee, Static-X, Methods of Mayhem and many others. He has performed on three different Ozzfest tours, each time with a different band...
began playing with Tommy Lee
Tommy Lee
Thomas Lee Bass , best known as Tommy Lee, is an American musician and founding member of glam metal band Mötley Crüe. As well as being the band's long-term drummer, Lee founded rap-metal band Methods of Mayhem, and has pursued solo musical projects...
's Methods of Mayhem
Methods Of Mayhem
Methods of Mayhem is an American rock band formed in 1999 by Tommy Lee, who had temporarily quit his position as Mötley Crüe's drummer.-History:...
as well as providing session work for other artists. He now plays with We Are the Fallen
We Are the Fallen
We Are the Fallen is an American gothic metal band consisting of former American Idol contestant Carly Smithson, Marty O'Brien and former Evanescence members Ben Moody, John LeCompt, and Rocky Gray. The band's name is an allusion to Evanescence's 2003 album, Fallen, which has resulted in criticism...
.
Mike Pelletier began scoring video game soundtracks and was playing with In for the Kill
In for the Kill
- Personnel :*Burke Shelley - bass guitar, vocals*Tony Bourge - guitar*Pete Boot - drums-Production:*Budgie - Producer*Rodger Bain - Producer for "Crash Course In Brain Surgery"*Kingsley Ward - Engineer*Pat Maran - Engineer...
.
Bill Southerland returned to Providence and has been working with children for the last few years. In 2008, Southerland and Berndt reunited for a short time in a heavy metal band called Bloodwitch which also featured members of Massachusetts band Seemless
Seemless
Seemless was an American rock supergroup formed by ex-Shadows Fall drummer Derek Kerswill, ex-Killswitch Engage vocalist Jesse Leach, and ex-Overcast and ex -Killswitch Engage guitarist Pete Cortese....
.
In 2007, original members Jay Berndt, Brian McKenzie, Bill Southerland, and Jason Smith reunited to play a benefit show in Providence, RI called "Fight to Remember". The band helped to raise over $13,000 and all proceeds went to Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen for the Cure, formerly known as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, often referred to as simply Komen, is the most widely known, largest and best-funded breast cancer organization in the US....
and National Philanthropic Trust
National Philanthropic Trust
- Mission :National Philanthropic Trust is an independent public charity specializing in "tailored philanthropic solutions" for individuals, families, companies and foundations. NPT also partners with financial service firms and professional advisors, providing them with philanthropic products...
for breast cancer treatment and research.