Spiderworks
Encyclopedia
Spiderworks is a heavy experimental rock band from Riverside, California
that has existed off and on since 1988. The band was founded by Chris Vigil (vocals) and Monte Williams (bass), two central figures in the hardcore underground art and music scene in Riverside. Vigil and Williams later recruited Dan Hill (drums), Joe Hill (guitar), and Mike McKinnon (guitar); this lineup has remained intact. Spiderworks made their debut as an aggressive metal-tinged hardcore punk band, but soon morphed into an experimental punk-metal project heavily influenced by bands such as Kiss
, Voivod
, Celtic Frost
, Iron Maiden
, Black Flag
, and The Melvins
.
After releasing a cassette EP, Spiderworks were signed to the fledgling Alchemy Records label. The band recorded their debut "Black" album, but became entangled in a dispute with the label, which folded soon after. Left without a record contract, Spiderworks released the album independently around 1990. The album represented a musical evolution of sorts and featured a much more technically precise form of thrash/metal/punk. Lyrically the album was loosely conceptual, exploring the ambiguities of corporate biotechnology, urban expansion, and religious thought. The album was moderately successful and helped build a strong following for the band. By the end of 1990, Spiderworks began a string of performances supporting bands such as Kreator, Sacred Reich, the Cro Mags, and Excel, among others. At the same time, Spiderworks became, perhaps, the largest drawing act within Riverside, playing oversold shows at venues such as the legendary Spanky's Cafe.
Soon after the release of the Black Album, Spiderworks underwent another stylistic change, incorporating into their sound, elements of free form improvisation, blues, gothic electronica, and post-punk drone, all heavily soaked by an intense psychedelia. In 1992 the band entered Altar Studios (formerly Radio Tokyo) in Venice, CA, to record their second album. The sessions were co-produced by the band and Dan Rothchild (son of Paul Rothchild, producer of The Doors), and resulted in "Shiver," a highly atmospheric and psychedelic album documenting this period. With the release of Shiver, Spiderworks expanded their audience, and spent the next three years honing their live sound and incorporating extended improvised jams into their set. But interpersonal conflict between band members resulted in the dismissal of Chris Vigil. Immediately afterward, the band recruited vocalist Jon Zamora (formerly of The Color Red), but in the end decided to disband.
By 1998, continued sales of the album "Shiver" prompted Spiderworks to reunite for a series of live performances. The positive response from these shows resulted in a recording contract with the small independent label Lucky 13 Records, which provided a generous advance enabling the band to record an entire album, again, with Dan Rothchild producing. The outcome of this project was Spiderwork's third album, "Relatively Clean". The final product was true to its intention: capturing a hard-rock psychedelic band at the peak of its creative and improvising powers. "Relatively Clean" was released in 2000, and was followed by a short West Coast tour in 2001.
Since that time, Spiderworks has remained a working unit - with all original members - doing occasional performances as need or demand has required. All band members have since been involved in a number of musical projects - Dan Hill has played with a number of combos, most notably, the Alt-Country band Bucksworth, the neo-jam band Justin Black and the Light, and his own jazz combo, Like Minds; Joe Hill has played with Bucksworth, Like Minds, and perhaps more notably, with the multi-platinum selling Nu-Metal outfit, Alien Ant Farm; Mike McKinnon has played with the post-grunge band, Wagner, and is now a member of the stoner-rock outfit, Who Rides the Tiger; Spiderworks co-founders Chris Vigil and Monte Williams have kept a more low profile, working together on the experimental noise collective, The 47th Star. Nevertheless, Spiderworks continues to be a viable artistic vehicle, and will continue until . . . .
Monte Williams passed away suddenly in his sleep on February 14, 2011. His memorial was held the following Monday where hundreds of close friends, family, staff, students joined to honor his short but adventurous life.
Monte Williams Obituary
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
that has existed off and on since 1988. The band was founded by Chris Vigil (vocals) and Monte Williams (bass), two central figures in the hardcore underground art and music scene in Riverside. Vigil and Williams later recruited Dan Hill (drums), Joe Hill (guitar), and Mike McKinnon (guitar); this lineup has remained intact. Spiderworks made their debut as an aggressive metal-tinged hardcore punk band, but soon morphed into an experimental punk-metal project heavily influenced by bands such as Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, Voivod
Voivod (band)
Voivod are a Canadian heavy metal band from Jonquière, Quebec, Canada. Their musical style has changed several times since the band's origin in the early 1980s...
, Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost was a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. They are known for their heavy influence on the extreme metal genres. The group was first active from 1984 to 1993, and re-formed in 2001. Following Tom Gabriel Fischer's departure in 2008, Celtic Frost decided to break up again...
, 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 Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
, and The Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
.
After releasing a cassette EP, Spiderworks were signed to the fledgling Alchemy Records label. The band recorded their debut "Black" album, but became entangled in a dispute with the label, which folded soon after. Left without a record contract, Spiderworks released the album independently around 1990. The album represented a musical evolution of sorts and featured a much more technically precise form of thrash/metal/punk. Lyrically the album was loosely conceptual, exploring the ambiguities of corporate biotechnology, urban expansion, and religious thought. The album was moderately successful and helped build a strong following for the band. By the end of 1990, Spiderworks began a string of performances supporting bands such as Kreator, Sacred Reich, the Cro Mags, and Excel, among others. At the same time, Spiderworks became, perhaps, the largest drawing act within Riverside, playing oversold shows at venues such as the legendary Spanky's Cafe.
Soon after the release of the Black Album, Spiderworks underwent another stylistic change, incorporating into their sound, elements of free form improvisation, blues, gothic electronica, and post-punk drone, all heavily soaked by an intense psychedelia. In 1992 the band entered Altar Studios (formerly Radio Tokyo) in Venice, CA, to record their second album. The sessions were co-produced by the band and Dan Rothchild (son of Paul Rothchild, producer of The Doors), and resulted in "Shiver," a highly atmospheric and psychedelic album documenting this period. With the release of Shiver, Spiderworks expanded their audience, and spent the next three years honing their live sound and incorporating extended improvised jams into their set. But interpersonal conflict between band members resulted in the dismissal of Chris Vigil. Immediately afterward, the band recruited vocalist Jon Zamora (formerly of The Color Red), but in the end decided to disband.
By 1998, continued sales of the album "Shiver" prompted Spiderworks to reunite for a series of live performances. The positive response from these shows resulted in a recording contract with the small independent label Lucky 13 Records, which provided a generous advance enabling the band to record an entire album, again, with Dan Rothchild producing. The outcome of this project was Spiderwork's third album, "Relatively Clean". The final product was true to its intention: capturing a hard-rock psychedelic band at the peak of its creative and improvising powers. "Relatively Clean" was released in 2000, and was followed by a short West Coast tour in 2001.
Since that time, Spiderworks has remained a working unit - with all original members - doing occasional performances as need or demand has required. All band members have since been involved in a number of musical projects - Dan Hill has played with a number of combos, most notably, the Alt-Country band Bucksworth, the neo-jam band Justin Black and the Light, and his own jazz combo, Like Minds; Joe Hill has played with Bucksworth, Like Minds, and perhaps more notably, with the multi-platinum selling Nu-Metal outfit, Alien Ant Farm; Mike McKinnon has played with the post-grunge band, Wagner, and is now a member of the stoner-rock outfit, Who Rides the Tiger; Spiderworks co-founders Chris Vigil and Monte Williams have kept a more low profile, working together on the experimental noise collective, The 47th Star. Nevertheless, Spiderworks continues to be a viable artistic vehicle, and will continue until . . . .
Monte Williams passed away suddenly in his sleep on February 14, 2011. His memorial was held the following Monday where hundreds of close friends, family, staff, students joined to honor his short but adventurous life.
Monte Williams Obituary