Tanks of Zen
Encyclopedia
Tanks of Zen is an American rock
band from Seattle, Washington, led by singer-guitarist Nick Pollock
, who has previously fronted the bands My Sister's Machine
and Soulbender
. Pollock has also played guitar in an early incarnation of Alice in Chains
alongside singer Layne Staley
; they called themselves Alice N' Chains.
back in 1994. In 2000, the band recorded a set of eleven songs under the working title American Hangover
. A music video
shot in black-and-white
was released for the song “Through the Red Lie”. It features all four members of the band at that time – Nick Pollock (vocals), Tim Jones (guitar), Steve Rehnstrom (bass guitar), and Todd Marvin (drums) – performing in studio intercut with scenes of a man and a woman, portrayed respectively by Pollock and his friend Bobbi Maas Woods, fighting in a bedroom
. Despite this, however, American Hangover has so far never been properly released most likely due to a lack of financial support.
, which also featured long-time Queensrÿche
guitarist Michael Wilton
. When Pollock’s friend and former bandmate Layne Staley
passed away in 2002, Pollock performed with Soulbender at the very first annual tribute held on what would have been Staley’s 35th birthday on August 22 that year. Two years later, the band released their eponymous debut album Soulbender
, Pollock’s first properly released studio record in nearly 11 years. Pollock continued to perform with Soulbender until he stepped down in 2007 to take care of some personal issues according to Michael Wilton.
dealing in relationship
s. The band continued to play several gigs throughout the Seattle area as a quartet before Johnson left the band some time in early 2010. Later that summer, the remaining members announced that they had finished recording the album and launched a pledge drive to get it mixed. In addition to offering backers the album itself, Pollock also put up other items from his previous bands, depending on the amount they were willing to pledge. The band surpassed their goal of raising $5,000 by September 13 with this drive and announced that the mixing process would proceed.
As of 2011, Love’s Gentle Maw was announced to be in the final production stages in order for it to be released. On June 9, the band announced on their Facebook
page that veteran engineers Eric Janko and Eddy Schreyer, who previously worked with Pollock on Soulbender, were set to master the album; Schreyer has also mastered albums by Alice in Chains
. The band held a CD release park at the Feedback Lounge in West Seattle on September 30. Shortly after that, Love's Gentle Maw was made available on CDBaby.
Former members
Guest musicians
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from Seattle, Washington, led by singer-guitarist Nick Pollock
Nick Pollock
Nick Pollock is a Seattle-based guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with the grunge/metal band My Sister's Machine. He has also played in various bands with other notable musicians, including Alice in Chains singer Layne Staley and Queensrÿche guitarist Michael Wilton...
, who has previously fronted the bands My Sister's Machine
My Sister's Machine
My Sister's Machine was a grunge band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1989. Its members were Nick Pollock , Owen Wright , Chris Ivanovich , and Chris Gohde ....
and Soulbender
Soulbender
Soulbender is a heavy metal band formed in Seattle, Washington, by musicians hailing from both Seattle and Vancouver, including Queensrÿche guitarist Michael Wilton and My Sister's Machine vocalist Nick Pollock. Other founding members were guitarist Dave Groves and drummer Wes Hallam, both of whom...
. Pollock has also played guitar in an early incarnation of Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
alongside singer Layne Staley
Layne Staley
Layne Thomas Staley was an American musician who served as the lead singer and co-lyricist of the rock group Alice in Chains, which was formed in Seattle, Washington in 1987 by Staley and guitarist Jerry Cantrell. Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the...
; they called themselves Alice N' Chains.
Formation and American Hangover (1994-2001)
Tanks of Zen has purportedly been in the works ever since the break-up of My Sister's MachineMy Sister's Machine
My Sister's Machine was a grunge band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1989. Its members were Nick Pollock , Owen Wright , Chris Ivanovich , and Chris Gohde ....
back in 1994. In 2000, the band recorded a set of eleven songs under the working title American Hangover
American Hangover
American Hangover is the first album ever recorded by alternative rock band Tanks of Zen.-Track listing:# “Had a Friend” # “Heat Rises” # “High” # “Through the Red Line” # “Temple” # “The Sweetest Moment”...
. A music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
shot in black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
was released for the song “Through the Red Lie”. It features all four members of the band at that time – Nick Pollock (vocals), Tim Jones (guitar), Steve Rehnstrom (bass guitar), and Todd Marvin (drums) – performing in studio intercut with scenes of a man and a woman, portrayed respectively by Pollock and his friend Bobbi Maas Woods, fighting in a bedroom
Bedroom
A bedroom is a private room where people usually sleep for the night or relax during the day.About one third of our lives are spent sleeping and most of the time we are asleep, we are sleeping in a bedroom. To be considered a bedroom the room needs to have bed. Bedrooms can range from really simple...
. Despite this, however, American Hangover has so far never been properly released most likely due to a lack of financial support.
Hiatus and Soulbender (2001-2007)
In 2001, Pollock formed the band SoulbenderSoulbender
Soulbender is a heavy metal band formed in Seattle, Washington, by musicians hailing from both Seattle and Vancouver, including Queensrÿche guitarist Michael Wilton and My Sister's Machine vocalist Nick Pollock. Other founding members were guitarist Dave Groves and drummer Wes Hallam, both of whom...
, which also featured long-time Queensrÿche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
guitarist Michael Wilton
Michael Wilton
Michael Wilton is an American guitarist for the progressive metal band Queensrÿche. Wilton attended Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle where he met future Queensrÿche drummer Scott Rockenfield and began recording in 1981...
. When Pollock’s friend and former bandmate Layne Staley
Layne Staley
Layne Thomas Staley was an American musician who served as the lead singer and co-lyricist of the rock group Alice in Chains, which was formed in Seattle, Washington in 1987 by Staley and guitarist Jerry Cantrell. Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the...
passed away in 2002, Pollock performed with Soulbender at the very first annual tribute held on what would have been Staley’s 35th birthday on August 22 that year. Two years later, the band released their eponymous debut album Soulbender
Soulbender (album)
Soulbender is the only album released thus far by the American heavy metal group of the same name. The album has been made available through CDBaby.-Background and recording:...
, Pollock’s first properly released studio record in nearly 11 years. Pollock continued to perform with Soulbender until he stepped down in 2007 to take care of some personal issues according to Michael Wilton.
Reunion and Love’s Gentle Maw (2009-present)
In 2009, Tanks of Zen reemerged with Pollock fronting a new lineup that included guitarist Matt Johnson, bassist Dan Scott, and drummer Mark Locke. They also announced their plans to record a new set of songs under the working title Love’s Gentle Maw, which has been described by the band as a concept albumConcept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
dealing in relationship
Relationship
Relationship or relationships may refer to:* Interpersonal relationship* Intimate relationship* In mathematics and statistics:** Binary relation** Causal relationship** Correlation and dependence** Direct relationship** Inverse relationship...
s. The band continued to play several gigs throughout the Seattle area as a quartet before Johnson left the band some time in early 2010. Later that summer, the remaining members announced that they had finished recording the album and launched a pledge drive to get it mixed. In addition to offering backers the album itself, Pollock also put up other items from his previous bands, depending on the amount they were willing to pledge. The band surpassed their goal of raising $5,000 by September 13 with this drive and announced that the mixing process would proceed.
As of 2011, Love’s Gentle Maw was announced to be in the final production stages in order for it to be released. On June 9, the band announced on their Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page that veteran engineers Eric Janko and Eddy Schreyer, who previously worked with Pollock on Soulbender, were set to master the album; Schreyer has also mastered albums by Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
. The band held a CD release park at the Feedback Lounge in West Seattle on September 30. Shortly after that, Love's Gentle Maw was made available on CDBaby.
Band members
- Nick PollockNick PollockNick Pollock is a Seattle-based guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with the grunge/metal band My Sister's Machine. He has also played in various bands with other notable musicians, including Alice in Chains singer Layne Staley and Queensrÿche guitarist Michael Wilton...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Dan Scott – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Mark Locke – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Former members
- Matt Johnson – guitar
- Tim Jones – guitar
- Steve Rehnstrom – bass
- Todd Marvin – drums
Guest musicians
- Owen WrightOwen Wright (musician)Owen Wright is an American musician best known for playing guitar with the Seattle-based metal bands Mistrust and My Sister's Machine.-Biography:...
- guitar solos on "Alibi" and "Gravity"