Sylvia Juncosa
Encyclopedia
Sylvia Juncosa is an American
punk and metal guitarist
, singer, songwriter and keyboardist
from Los Angeles
. Noted primarily for her guitar work, during the 1980s she was among relatively few women with established aggressive rock guitar credibility. She released four solo albums and three album with her band To Damascus after starting her career as a keyboard player in The Leaving Trains
. She was also a member of the band SWA
with ex-Black Flag
bass player Chuck Dukowski
. She was active from 1980 to 1995 before taking a hiatus, then started playing guitar again in 2009.
was the first band Sylvia joined, as keyboard player, when she was 16 years old. They released the "Bringing Down the House" / "Going Down to Town" 7" single and appeared on the Keats Rides a Harley
compilation. She left that band in 1982, citing a preference for guitar over keyboards. However she did accept an opportunity to tour with Clay Allison
, playing keyboards and acoustic rhythm guitar.
. The band
experienced numerous personnel changes over the next three years. They recorded a single at Radio Tokyo studio with producer Ethan James
, where the majority of
Sylvia's releases would later be recorded. For a very brief period in 1985 she was the guitar player in The Healing Dream, which soon afterward became The Nymphs
. When David Winogrond and Tyra von Pagenhardt joined in 1985, To Damascus finally had a more stable line-up and began a busy, productive period that would exemplify Sylvia's high-activity work style during those years. The band completed and released its first album, "Succumb", which Sylvia had started earlier with former Leaving Trains members filling in on drums and bass. Shortly afterward they recorded a second album, "Come to Your Senses", distributed by Restless Records
, and embarked on a shoestring-budget US tour.
SST Records
band SWA
, which
featured bassist Chuck Dukowski
, former Black Flag
member and co-founder of the SST record label. In interviews Sylvia asserted that joining SWA came about by happenstance when she called SST on behalf of her band
To Damascus, got in a long conversation with Dukowski, and auditioned for his band the same night. SWA
soon recorded the album "XCIII", which spawned the single "Arroyo" and its accompanying video.
Sylvia was gigging constantly with both SWA and To Damascus during this time, and 1987 quit SWA to focus solely
on one band.
. To Damascus broke up on friendly terms in 1988 when David and Tyra weren't able to commit to the touring musician life that Sylvia was determined to embark upon.
toward a more hard rock sound. With the 1988 release of "Nature" (SST Records
), Sylvia was now attaining some notoriety as a guitarist and for being one of a relative minority of female players with an aggressive
hard rock style during that time period.
In 1988, the band made a mini-tour in New York, then the first European tour, which was very well-received, defying expectations. Following that was a US tour as opening act for Soundgarden
, who were SST
label-mates before moving to major-label status.
The album "One Thing" (Fundamental Records) was recorded in 1989 with Barney Firks on bass and Chris Frye on drums, on loan from the San Diego band Wormdrive. Then came the second European tour. This was the peak, career-wise with the biggest recording budget and biggest gigs. Europe had appealed to Sylvia from the start, and when she got an offer to stay there awhile she took it. As well as the band tours and solo shows, she explored Europe, wandered alone, learned German, indulged a brief obsession with chess and went to India.
The "Is" album was recorded in Holland with engineer Gertjan ("Joe"). Barney and Chris had come out from the States and they lived at the studio for a couple weeks in semi-rural seclusion. Chris had to leave unexpectedly mid-project but things were continued. Then came another tour, but things were starting to fall apart.
member Steve Reed filling in on drums or bass. She also played in the Cooling System project along with multi-instrumentist Azalia Snail
. Sylvia is now working on a new album with her new band.
With To Damascus
With SWA
With The Leaving Trains
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
punk and metal 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...
, singer, songwriter and keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
from 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...
. Noted primarily for her guitar work, during the 1980s she was among relatively few women with established aggressive rock guitar credibility. She released four solo albums and three album with her band To Damascus after starting her career as a keyboard player in The Leaving Trains
The Leaving Trains
The Leaving Trains were an American indie rock band from Los Angeles, California. The Leaving Trains were founded in 1980 by Falling James Moreland, a frontman who became known for his chaotic performances and penchant for cross-dressing...
. She was also a member of the band SWA
SWA (band)
SWA the band originally started as a concept defined by Chuck Dukowski, former bassist of Black Flag while he was still a member of that band. The name was created by assigning an alphabetical value to numbers on a gaming die, then rolling the die three times...
with ex-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...
bass player Chuck Dukowski
Chuck Dukowski
Chuck Dukowski is an American punk rock musician, best known as a founding member and bass player for Black Flag. Dukowski wrote some of Black Flag's most popular songs, including "My War," "What I See," "I've Heard It Before" and "Spray Paint." He left the band before the release of My War, and...
. She was active from 1980 to 1995 before taking a hiatus, then started playing guitar again in 2009.
Early life
Sylvia was born and raised in Pacific Palisades. She started playing piano and composing instrumental pieces when she was six years old. The Leaving TrainsThe Leaving Trains
The Leaving Trains were an American indie rock band from Los Angeles, California. The Leaving Trains were founded in 1980 by Falling James Moreland, a frontman who became known for his chaotic performances and penchant for cross-dressing...
was the first band Sylvia joined, as keyboard player, when she was 16 years old. They released the "Bringing Down the House" / "Going Down to Town" 7" single and appeared on the Keats Rides a Harley
Keats Rides a Harley
Keats Rides a Harley was a compilation-EP released in 1981 on the Happy Squid label. It was re-released in 2005 with 14 extra tracks.-Original album:# The Earwigs - "A Martyr is Made" - 2:32...
compilation. She left that band in 1982, citing a preference for guitar over keyboards. However she did accept an opportunity to tour with Clay Allison
Opal (band)
Opal were an American alternative/psychedelic band in the 1980s. They were part of the Paisley Underground musical style.The group formed in the mid-'80s under the name Clay Allison, featuring guitarist David Roback , bassist Kendra Smith and drummer Keith Mitchell...
, playing keyboards and acoustic rhythm guitar.
To Damascus
She then started the band To Damascus, named after a play by August StrindbergAugust Strindberg
Johan August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist and painter. A prolific writer who often drew directly on his personal experience, Strindberg's career spanned four decades, during which time he wrote over 60 plays and more than 30 works of fiction, autobiography,...
. The band
experienced numerous personnel changes over the next three years. They recorded a single at Radio Tokyo studio with producer Ethan James
Ethan James
Ethan James could refer to:* Ethan James * Ethan James , British fashion company* The fictional Power Rangers character Ethan James...
, where the majority of
Sylvia's releases would later be recorded. For a very brief period in 1985 she was the guitar player in The Healing Dream, which soon afterward became The Nymphs
The Nymphs
The Nymphs were an alternative rock band of the late 1980s and early 1990s with lead singer Inger Lorre. The band was signed to Geffen Records, and released their only album in 1991. The Nymphs were known for their wild stage shows and their rebellious attitude towards record companies...
. When David Winogrond and Tyra von Pagenhardt joined in 1985, To Damascus finally had a more stable line-up and began a busy, productive period that would exemplify Sylvia's high-activity work style during those years. The band completed and released its first album, "Succumb", which Sylvia had started earlier with former Leaving Trains members filling in on drums and bass. Shortly afterward they recorded a second album, "Come to Your Senses", distributed by Restless Records
Restless Records
Restless Records was started in El Segundo, California in 1981 by Enigma Records and primarly released alternative, metal and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute Records...
, and embarked on a shoestring-budget US tour.
SWA
In 1986 Sylvia also joined theSST Records
SST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
band SWA
SWA (band)
SWA the band originally started as a concept defined by Chuck Dukowski, former bassist of Black Flag while he was still a member of that band. The name was created by assigning an alphabetical value to numbers on a gaming die, then rolling the die three times...
, which
featured bassist Chuck Dukowski
Chuck Dukowski
Chuck Dukowski is an American punk rock musician, best known as a founding member and bass player for Black Flag. Dukowski wrote some of Black Flag's most popular songs, including "My War," "What I See," "I've Heard It Before" and "Spray Paint." He left the band before the release of My War, and...
, former 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...
member and co-founder of the SST record label. In interviews Sylvia asserted that joining SWA came about by happenstance when she called SST on behalf of her band
To Damascus, got in a long conversation with Dukowski, and auditioned for his band the same night. SWA
soon recorded the album "XCIII", which spawned the single "Arroyo" and its accompanying video.
Sylvia was gigging constantly with both SWA and To Damascus during this time, and 1987 quit SWA to focus solely
on one band.
. To Damascus broke up on friendly terms in 1988 when David and Tyra weren't able to commit to the touring musician life that Sylvia was determined to embark upon.
Solo career
Sylvia abandoned the band name to go "solo", for more flexibility and options with the inevitably changing band lineups. Her music was also movingtoward a more hard rock sound. With the 1988 release of "Nature" (SST Records
SST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
), Sylvia was now attaining some notoriety as a guitarist and for being one of a relative minority of female players with an aggressive
hard rock style during that time period.
In 1988, the band made a mini-tour in New York, then the first European tour, which was very well-received, defying expectations. Following that was a US tour as opening act for Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
, who were SST
SST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
label-mates before moving to major-label status.
The album "One Thing" (Fundamental Records) was recorded in 1989 with Barney Firks on bass and Chris Frye on drums, on loan from the San Diego band Wormdrive. Then came the second European tour. This was the peak, career-wise with the biggest recording budget and biggest gigs. Europe had appealed to Sylvia from the start, and when she got an offer to stay there awhile she took it. As well as the band tours and solo shows, she explored Europe, wandered alone, learned German, indulged a brief obsession with chess and went to India.
The "Is" album was recorded in Holland with engineer Gertjan ("Joe"). Barney and Chris had come out from the States and they lived at the studio for a couple weeks in semi-rural seclusion. Chris had to leave unexpectedly mid-project but things were continued. Then came another tour, but things were starting to fall apart.
Hiatus and comeback
Then, in 1995, started a long period of musical inactivity when Sylvia worked in Europe as a computer programmer and had personal problems before eventually coming back to the US. In 2009, Sylvia decided that she wanted to play guitar again and hooked up with former To Damascus bandmates Tom Hofer on bass and Adrien Anthony on drums with Legal WeaponLegal Weapon
Legal Weapon was an early Southern California punk band, initially composed of singer Kat Arthur, guitarist Brian Hansen, drummer Charlie Vartanian, bassist Patricia Morrison and guitarist Mike R. Livingston...
member Steve Reed filling in on drums or bass. She also played in the Cooling System project along with multi-instrumentist Azalia Snail
Azalia Snail
Azalia Snail is an American avant-garde singer-songwriter and musician. She is a multi-instrumentalist active in psych folk and indie rock, and played a prominent role in the 1990s lo-fi music scene She was later dubbed the "Queen of lo-fi"....
. Sylvia is now working on a new album with her new band.
Discography
Solo Albums- Nature (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1988) - One Thing (Fundamental Records, 1989)
- Is (Glitterhouse Records, 1991)
- Live in Rome (Helter Skelter Records, 1991)
With To Damascus
- Another Place, Another Time/On a Pier (Ringent Records, 1984)
- Succumb (Ringent Records, 1986)
- Come to Your Senses (Restless RecordsRestless RecordsRestless Records was started in El Segundo, California in 1981 by Enigma Records and primarly released alternative, metal and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute Records...
, 1987)
With SWA
SWA (band)
SWA the band originally started as a concept defined by Chuck Dukowski, former bassist of Black Flag while he was still a member of that band. The name was created by assigning an alphabetical value to numbers on a gaming die, then rolling the die three times...
- XCIII (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1987) - Arroyo (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1987) - Evolution (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1988)
With The Leaving Trains
The Leaving Trains
The Leaving Trains were an American indie rock band from Los Angeles, California. The Leaving Trains were founded in 1980 by Falling James Moreland, a frontman who became known for his chaotic performances and penchant for cross-dressing...
- Bringing Down the House/Going Down to Town 7" (Happy Squid Records, 1981)
Compilations
- Virginia City (by The Leaving TrainsThe Leaving TrainsThe Leaving Trains were an American indie rock band from Los Angeles, California. The Leaving Trains were founded in 1980 by Falling James Moreland, a frontman who became known for his chaotic performances and penchant for cross-dressing...
) on Keats Rides a HarleyKeats Rides a HarleyKeats Rides a Harley was a compilation-EP released in 1981 on the Happy Squid label. It was re-released in 2005 with 14 extra tracks.-Original album:# The Earwigs - "A Martyr is Made" - 2:32...
- (Happy Squid Records, 1982) - Strange Fruit on Mondostereo - (Tinnitus Label, 1988)
- Lick my pussy, Eddie Van Halen and Tower of Ashes on Program: Annihilator II - (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1989) - One in Three on Radio Tokyo Tapes, vol. IV - (Chameleon RecordsChameleon (label)Chameleon was a record label formed by industry veterans Andy Frances and Steve Powers, and was funded by Dan Protzker.Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz was an employee and Chameleon had distributed some early Epitaph releases, such as L7's self-titled debut.In the first years of the label's...
, 1990) - The Desert Song (live) on VERA Groningen - Beauty in the Underworld - (Vera Records/Semaphore Records, 1990)
- (Lost in) Love Hell on Love is My Only Crime - (Veracity Musik / Intercord Records, 1994)
- Night Surfing and And Leave And Leave Me by To Damascus on Warfrat Tales Unabridged (Warfrat Records, 2007)