Mastermind (U.S. band)
Encyclopedia
Mastermind is an American
progressive rock
band from New Jersey
, formed by the brothers Bill Berends and Rich Berends in 1986.
There is a power metal band in Japan also named Mastermind
which has no relation to the better-known American Mastermind (although oddly enough, Jens Johansson
did make a guest appearance on a Mastermind Japan recording).
style, with fast and flashy playing inside anthems of considerable grandeur—except with guitar and guitar-synthesizer leads instead of keyboards. That year, the band played many dates on the New Jersey club circuit, and recorded a self-produced cassette, Volume One.
Guitar Player Magazine columnist, producer & Shrapnel Records
founder Mike Varney
featured Bill in his "Spotlight" column in 1988. As a result of this exposure and the overwhelmingly positive response to their live shows, Mastermind was signed to Magna Carta
, the first band the fledgling label signed. Unfortunately, early startup delays hampered their release schedule, and Mastermind was forced to turn to a small independent label ZNR Records to finally re-release Volume One on CD in December, 1990. With this release Mastermind's reputation began to grow nationally and internationally.
Their second album, Mastermind Volume Two: Brainstorm, was recorded Winter 1988-Spring 1991 and released in January 1992, with an even heavier sound than the first. The 20-minute title track harkens back to ELP's "Tarkus" and has been a frequent concert highlight.
Between mid-1993 and early 1994, the brothers completed their third studio recording, Tragic Symphony, released in Japan in November '94. The album was released worldwide in June 1995 by Cyclops Records
/GFT in Europe and by Dutch East India Trading
in North America on their in-house Prozone
label. The album also was released in Korea
by Jigu Records, making for total sales far exceeding any of the band's releases to date.
In 1995, Mastermind opened for John Wetton
's acoustic tour by playing a special unplugged acoustic show, and also opened for Joe Satriani
. By early 1996, their fourth album, Until Eternity, was completed and released in Japan that June. It was released in Europe and North America in October 1996.
With album sales strong and interest high, the first two Mastermind discs were re-released in Europe and Japan and the band set off to tour the globe. In 1997, Mastermind performed live headlining in Japan, played festivals in Europe, supported Rush
in New Jersey, and opened for Fish
(of Marillion
fame) across America.
In June 1997, Cyclops released a limited-edition Live In Tokyo disc (recorded earlier that year at On Air West), which quickly sold out its limited (1000 copies) edition. As 1997 wrapped up, the brothers decided it was time for a change and famed Swedish metal keyboardist Jens Johansson (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, Stratovarius
) was invited to record with the band.
The band spent most of 1998 completing their album with Johansson, Excelsior!, which was released at the end of 1998. The new group debuted at Baltimore's POWERMAD
1998 festival in August.
Angels of the Apocalypse, the second album featuring Johansson, brought in mezzo-soprano vocalist Lisa Bouchelle to shake things up. The album featured a version of ELP's "The Endless Enigma Parts 1 & II". More touring followed, and the album was released in 2000 by InsideOut Records.
In 2001, a live album (recorded in 1999) was released on the band's own StellarVox Records label.
Finally in 2005, an extended-play CD single (44 minutes) was released, featuring two tracks from forthcoming studio album plus a version of A Perfect Circle
's "Weak & Powerless" and four tracks from Mastermind's extensive concert repertoire recorded live in the studio in 2005.
In February 2007, after keeping up a blistering touring pace for twenty years, performing every year between 1987 and 2007 in the USA, Europe, and Japan, the Berends decided to shift gears somewhat. They started a cover band, calling themselves Berends Bros. Band (BBB), to have a little fun with their roots of blues & old school psychedelic blues rock. Recruiting blues rocker John Benussi on bass from a local Jimi Hendrix
tribute act Axis they play a repertoire of favorites both old & new. The band performed live for the first time in March 2007 to great response, and have played extensively around home (New Jersey and Pennsylvania) throughout 2007.
The Berends brothers have also played as The Berends/Wilson Trio (abv. BWT), a journey into the music of Cream
with Ed Wilson on bass & vocals.
After five years, Mastermind released the long-awaited Insomnia album in February 2010. Extensive audio and video clips of all Berends brothers bands can be found on their website.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, formed by the brothers Bill Berends and Rich Berends in 1986.
There is a power metal band in Japan also named Mastermind
Mastermind (Japanese band)
Mastermind is a power metal band from Japan. Having formed in 1995, the band has released four demos and four studio albums. There are five members of the band, all of whom are of Japanese descent.-History:...
which has no relation to the better-known American Mastermind (although oddly enough, Jens Johansson
Jens Johansson
Jens Ola Johansson is a Swedish power metal keyboardist and pianist. He is notable for his high-speed neoclassical and fusion style.-Biography:...
did make a guest appearance on a Mastermind Japan recording).
History
Mastermind was founded in 1986 when guitarist Bill Berends and his brother, drummer Rich Berends, met bassist Phil Antolino. As a power trio, they were very much in the Emerson, Lake & PalmerEmerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
style, with fast and flashy playing inside anthems of considerable grandeur—except with guitar and guitar-synthesizer leads instead of keyboards. That year, the band played many dates on the New Jersey club circuit, and recorded a self-produced cassette, Volume One.
Guitar Player Magazine columnist, producer & Shrapnel Records
Shrapnel Records
Shrapnel Records is a guitar-oriented record label started in 1980 by record producer Mike Varney. Guitarist Marty Friedman , one of the label's most successful artists, first appeared on the album Unsung Guitar Heroes II in 1980 with the band Vixen. Vixen would later change their name to Hawaii...
founder Mike Varney
Mike Varney
Mike Varney is an American musician, record producer, music publisher and impresario. He is the founder of the Shrapnel Label Group, which includes Shrapnel Records, Tone Center Records and Blues Bureau International. He also has a 50% stake in Magna Carta Records, a New York-based label...
featured Bill in his "Spotlight" column in 1988. As a result of this exposure and the overwhelmingly positive response to their live shows, Mastermind was signed to Magna Carta
Magna Carta Records
Magna Carta Records is an independent record label located in Rochester, New York. Magna Carta was formed in 1989 and is owned by Peter Morticelli and his partner Mike Varney. The label has a diverse line-up consisting of musicians from many different genres, but is best known for many of its...
, the first band the fledgling label signed. Unfortunately, early startup delays hampered their release schedule, and Mastermind was forced to turn to a small independent label ZNR Records to finally re-release Volume One on CD in December, 1990. With this release Mastermind's reputation began to grow nationally and internationally.
Their second album, Mastermind Volume Two: Brainstorm, was recorded Winter 1988-Spring 1991 and released in January 1992, with an even heavier sound than the first. The 20-minute title track harkens back to ELP's "Tarkus" and has been a frequent concert highlight.
Between mid-1993 and early 1994, the brothers completed their third studio recording, Tragic Symphony, released in Japan in November '94. The album was released worldwide in June 1995 by Cyclops Records
Cyclops
A cyclops , in Greek mythology and later Roman mythology, was a member of a primordial race of giants, each with a single eye in the middle of his forehead...
/GFT in Europe and by Dutch East India Trading
Dutch East India Trading
Dutch East India Trading is an independent record label based in Rockville Centre, New York. It has released music by such artists as Sun Dial, The Orb, The Smiths, Soul-Junk, Die Monster Die, Prong, The Cure, Robert Wyatt, A Guy Called Gerald, Bongwater, Opium Den, Indian Bingo, Meat Beat...
in North America on their in-house Prozone
Prozone
In an agglutination or precipitation reaction, prozone or prezone is the zone of relatively high antibody concentrations within which no reaction occurs. In an agglutination test, a person's serum is added to a test tube which contains a particular antigen...
label. The album also was released in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
by Jigu Records, making for total sales far exceeding any of the band's releases to date.
In 1995, Mastermind opened for John Wetton
John Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
's acoustic tour by playing a special unplugged acoustic show, and also opened for Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
. By early 1996, their fourth album, Until Eternity, was completed and released in Japan that June. It was released in Europe and North America in October 1996.
With album sales strong and interest high, the first two Mastermind discs were re-released in Europe and Japan and the band set off to tour the globe. In 1997, Mastermind performed live headlining in Japan, played festivals in Europe, supported Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
in New Jersey, and opened for Fish
Fish (singer)
Derek William Dick, better known as Fish, is a Scottish progressive rock singer, lyricist and occasional actor, best known as the former lead singer of Marillion.-Biography:...
(of Marillion
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
fame) across America.
In June 1997, Cyclops released a limited-edition Live In Tokyo disc (recorded earlier that year at On Air West), which quickly sold out its limited (1000 copies) edition. As 1997 wrapped up, the brothers decided it was time for a change and famed Swedish metal keyboardist Jens Johansson (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, Stratovarius
Stratovarius
Stratovarius are a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1984. Since their formation they have released 13 studio albums and one live album. Along with Helloween, Blind Guardian, Rhapsody of Fire and Gamma Ray, Stratovarius are considered one of the leading groups of the power metal and symphonic...
) was invited to record with the band.
The band spent most of 1998 completing their album with Johansson, Excelsior!, which was released at the end of 1998. The new group debuted at Baltimore's POWERMAD
Powermad
Powermad has been called "An innovative and often forgotten speed metal band...who infused progressive metal styles and European styles into abstract American speed metal." The band's intricate riff formulations were heavily influenced by thrash metal acts like Metallica and Testament, but vocalist...
1998 festival in August.
Angels of the Apocalypse, the second album featuring Johansson, brought in mezzo-soprano vocalist Lisa Bouchelle to shake things up. The album featured a version of ELP's "The Endless Enigma Parts 1 & II". More touring followed, and the album was released in 2000 by InsideOut Records.
In 2001, a live album (recorded in 1999) was released on the band's own StellarVox Records label.
Finally in 2005, an extended-play CD single (44 minutes) was released, featuring two tracks from forthcoming studio album plus a version of A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle is an American rock supergroup formed in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. The original incarnation of the band also included Paz Lenchantin on bass, Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar, and Tim Alexander on drums...
's "Weak & Powerless" and four tracks from Mastermind's extensive concert repertoire recorded live in the studio in 2005.
In February 2007, after keeping up a blistering touring pace for twenty years, performing every year between 1987 and 2007 in the USA, Europe, and Japan, the Berends decided to shift gears somewhat. They started a cover band, calling themselves Berends Bros. Band (BBB), to have a little fun with their roots of blues & old school psychedelic blues rock. Recruiting blues rocker John Benussi on bass from a local Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
tribute act Axis they play a repertoire of favorites both old & new. The band performed live for the first time in March 2007 to great response, and have played extensively around home (New Jersey and Pennsylvania) throughout 2007.
The Berends brothers have also played as The Berends/Wilson Trio (abv. BWT), a journey into the music of Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
with Ed Wilson on bass & vocals.
After five years, Mastermind released the long-awaited Insomnia album in February 2010. Extensive audio and video clips of all Berends brothers bands can be found on their website.
Most recent lineup
- Bill Berends - guitar, midi-guitar, synthesizer, vocals
- Rich Berends - drums, percussion
- Tracy McShane - lead vocal
- Jens JohanssonJens JohanssonJens Ola Johansson is a Swedish power metal keyboardist and pianist. He is notable for his high-speed neoclassical and fusion style.-Biography:...
- keyboards (studio)
Former members
- Lisa Bouchelle - lead vocal, acoustic guitar (1998–2000)
- Bob Eckman (deceased) - bass (1992–1993, 1998–2000)
- Phil Antolino - bass (1986–1989, 1994–1997)
Touring musicians
- Mickey SimmondsMickey SimmondsMickey Simmonds is an English session keyboardist, arranger and composer. He is best known for his work with progressive rock acts, Mike Oldfield, Renaissance, Camel and Fish...
- keyboards (1999) - Laura Johnson - bass, vocals (2005–2007)
- Mike Fillius - bass (2005)
- Greg Hagen - bass (2002–2004)
- Marty DeSantis - bass (2002)
- Tim Spillane - bass (2000–2001)
- Mark Stavola - bass (1989–1992)
Additional musicians
- Chris Eike - bass - Insomnia
- Hollis Brown - violin - Angels of the Apocalypse
- John Paolini - vocal - Angels of the Apocalypse
- Mike Mironov - percussion - Excelsior!
Discography
- Mastermind Volume One, 1990 (ZNR Records USA, Cyclops Records UK, Prozone Records USA)
- Mastermind Volume Two: Brainstorm, 1991 (ZNR Records USA, Cyclops Records UK, Marquee Records Japan)
- Mastermind III: Tragic Symphony, 1994 (Zero-EMI Records Japan, Cyclops Records UK, Prozone Records USA)
- Mastermind IV: Until Eternity, 1996 (Cyclops Records UK, Marquee Records Japan, Prozone Records USA)
- Cyclops Sampler, 1996 (Cyclops Records one exclusive track)
- Live in Tokyo, 1997 (Cyclops Records limited edition)
- Excelsior!, 1998 (InsideOut Records)
- Angels of the Apocalypse, 2000 (InsideOut Records)
- Prog, Fusion, Metal, Leather & Sweat - LIVE!, 2001 (StellarVox Records)
- Broken (CD-Single/EP), 2005
- Insomnia, 2010 (Lion MusicLion MusicLion Music is a production company and record label founded in 1989 by composer and artist Lars Eric Mattsson.-History:Lion Music was founded in 1989 by Lars Eric Mattsson as a production company to handle production and licensing for his records in Europe, the United States, and Asia, where a...
)
External links
- Mastermind official website
- Bill Berends official website
- [ All-Music Guide entry]
- MySpace entry