The Machines
Encyclopedia
Machines of Loving Grace was an industrial rock
band from Tucson, Arizona.
Named for a Richard Brautigan
poem, they formed in 1989. The original lineup consisted of Scott Benzel
(vocals
), Stuart Kupers (guitar
and bass
), and Mike Fisher (keyboards
), with Brad Kemp (drums
) added shortly thereafter. They recorded a demo and were picked up by Carrboro, North Carolina
-based Mammoth Records
in 1991. The band was unable to rerecord their material for their eponymous debut album, as the label released their demo as it was recorded.
Two years later, the band released Concentration
. It continued their signature sound, but was more refined in the combination of beat- and bass-heavy riffs, with hard edged guitar. With the release of two videos, the band was able to get national-level MTV
airplay, and join in the industrial rock wave that was ushered in by Nine Inch Nails
.
In 1994 they recorded a new song, "Golgotha Tenement Blues," for the soundtrack to the film The Crow
.
In 1995, Machines of Loving Grace released their third album, Gilt
. This record was marked by an increased guitar presence. New bandmembers included David Suycott (drums
), Ray Riendeau (bass
) and Tom Coffeen (guitar
). A remix of the song "Richest Junkie Still Alive" was included on the soundtrack to Hackers
. The song, "Tryst" was released on the ill-fated "MegaMan Soundtrack." Furthermore, various mixes of three of their songs -- "Perfect Tan," "Butterfly Wings," and "Lilith/Eve" -- were featured on the '95 horror Devour. "Butterfly Wings" was also featured on Due South, in the episodes Chicago Holiday and Flashback.
As of 1997, the band was working on a new record, but before it was completed the band broke up. This was precipitated by trouble at the label, and Benzel's desire to work on other projects, among other reasons. A new album was to be called Love Scenes at the Slave Market, but after a fruitless search for a label
(Mammoth was in the process of being sold), the project was abandoned.
As of 2006, Benzel is involved with an electronic band, called Soulo
. Mike Fisher is currently with Amish Rake Fight.
In 2008, "Butterfly Wings" from 1993's Concentration
was featured on the O.S.T.
of the motion picture Punisher: War Zone
.
(*Founding Members)
Industrial rock
Industrial rock is a musical genre that fuses industrial music and specific rock subgenres. Industrial rock spawned industrial metal, with which it is often confused...
band from Tucson, Arizona.
Named for a Richard Brautigan
Richard Brautigan
Richard Gary Brautigan was an American novelist, poet, and short story writer. His work often employs black comedy, parody, and satire. He is best known for his 1967 novel Trout Fishing in America.- Early life :...
poem, they formed in 1989. The original lineup consisted of Scott Benzel
Scott Benzel
Scott Benzel is an American visual artist, composer, and producer.Interested in the contradictions inherent in mythologized cultural histories, Benzel's work shows an ongoing fascination with the disjuncture between embodiments of popular culture- from the classical music score to photographic...
(vocals
Singing
Singing 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...
), Stuart Kupers (guitar
Guitar
The 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...
and bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), and Mike Fisher (keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
), with Brad Kemp (drums
Drum kit
A 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 ....
) added shortly thereafter. They recorded a demo and were picked up by Carrboro, North Carolina
Carrboro, North Carolina
Carrboro is a town in Orange County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 19,582 at the 2010 census. The town, which is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill metropolitan statistical area, was named after North Carolina industrialist Julian Shakespeare Carr.Located near Chapel Hill and...
-based Mammoth Records
Mammoth Records
Founded by Jay Faires in 1989 in Carrboro, North Carolina, Mammoth Records was one of the premiere independent record labels of the 1990s. Its roster featured such diverse talent as Antenna, Blake Babies, Chainsaw Kittens, Dash Rip Rock, Dillon Fence, Far Too Jones, Frente!, Fun-Da-Mental, Fu...
in 1991. The band was unable to rerecord their material for their eponymous debut album, as the label released their demo as it was recorded.
Two years later, the band released Concentration
Concentration (album)
Concentration is a music album by artists Machines of Loving Grace which was released in 1993. The song "Butterfly Wings" achieved moderate success and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Punisher: War Zone.-Track listing:...
. It continued their signature sound, but was more refined in the combination of beat- and bass-heavy riffs, with hard edged guitar. With the release of two videos, the band was able to get national-level MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
airplay, and join in the industrial rock wave that was ushered in by Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
.
In 1994 they recorded a new song, "Golgotha Tenement Blues," for the soundtrack to the film The Crow
The Crow (film)
The Crow is a 1994 American action film based on the 1989 comic book of the same name by James O'Barr. The film was written by David J. Schow and John Shirley, and directed by Alex Proyas...
.
In 1995, Machines of Loving Grace released their third album, Gilt
Gilt (album)
Gilt is a music album by artists Machines of Loving Grace which was released in 1995.The cover image was based upon a photograph taken by Robert Wiles in 1947 of Evelyn McHale who had leapt to her death from the observation deck of the Empire State Building.-Track listing:# "Richest Junkie Still...
. This record was marked by an increased guitar presence. New bandmembers included David Suycott (drums
Drum kit
A 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 ....
), Ray Riendeau (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) and Tom Coffeen (guitar
Guitar
The 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...
). A remix of the song "Richest Junkie Still Alive" was included on the soundtrack to Hackers
Hackers (film)
Hackers is a 1995 American thriller film directed by Iain Softley and starring Angelina Jolie, Jonny Lee Miller, Renoly Santiago, Matthew Lillard, Lorraine Bracco and Fisher Stevens...
. The song, "Tryst" was released on the ill-fated "MegaMan Soundtrack." Furthermore, various mixes of three of their songs -- "Perfect Tan," "Butterfly Wings," and "Lilith/Eve" -- were featured on the '95 horror Devour. "Butterfly Wings" was also featured on Due South, in the episodes Chicago Holiday and Flashback.
As of 1997, the band was working on a new record, but before it was completed the band broke up. This was precipitated by trouble at the label, and Benzel's desire to work on other projects, among other reasons. A new album was to be called Love Scenes at the Slave Market, but after a fruitless search for a label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
(Mammoth was in the process of being sold), the project was abandoned.
As of 2006, Benzel is involved with an electronic band, called Soulo
SoulO
SoulO is Nick Lachey's debut album as a solo artist, after leaving the boy band 98 Degrees. The album was released in the US on November 11, 2003 on Universal Records.-Track listing:...
. Mike Fisher is currently with Amish Rake Fight.
In 2008, "Butterfly Wings" from 1993's Concentration
Concentration
In chemistry, concentration is defined as the abundance of a constituent divided by the total volume of a mixture. Four types can be distinguished: mass concentration, molar concentration, number concentration, and volume concentration...
was featured on the O.S.T.
O.S.T.
O.S.T. may refer to:*O.S.T. , by People Under the Stairs*O.S.T., alias of electronic musician Chris Douglas...
of the motion picture Punisher: War Zone
Punisher: War Zone
Punisher: War Zone is a 2008 comic book action film directed by Lexi Alexander; based on the fictional Marvel Comics vigilante/anti-hero the Punisher. It is the third film to depict the Marvel character Frank Castle...
.
Members
- Stuart Kupers*: 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...
and bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Mike Fisher*: keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- Brad Kemp*: 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 ....
- Scott BenzelScott BenzelScott Benzel is an American visual artist, composer, and producer.Interested in the contradictions inherent in mythologized cultural histories, Benzel's work shows an ongoing fascination with the disjuncture between embodiments of popular culture- from the classical music score to photographic...
*: 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... - Ray Riendeau: bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- David Suycott: 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 ....
- Tom Coffeen: 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...
(*Founding Members)
Albums
- Machines of Loving GraceMachines of Loving Grace (album)Machines of Loving Grace is a music album by artists Machines of Loving Grace which was released in 1991.-Track listing:# "Burn Like Brilliant Trash" – 3:12# "Cicciolina" - 5:27# "Rite of Shiva" - 4:04# "Lipstick 66" - 4:53# "X-Insurrection" – 3:56...
(1991) - ConcentrationConcentration (album)Concentration is a music album by artists Machines of Loving Grace which was released in 1993. The song "Butterfly Wings" achieved moderate success and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Punisher: War Zone.-Track listing:...
(1993) - GiltGilt (album)Gilt is a music album by artists Machines of Loving Grace which was released in 1995.The cover image was based upon a photograph taken by Robert Wiles in 1947 of Evelyn McHale who had leapt to her death from the observation deck of the Empire State Building.-Track listing:# "Richest Junkie Still...
(1995)
Singles
- From Machines of Loving Grace
- "X-Insurrection"
- "Rite of Shiva"
- "Burn Like Brilliant Trash"
- From Concentration
- "Perfect Tan (Bikini Atoll)"
- "Butterfly Wings"
- "If I Should Explode? (Into Gasping Mary)"
- From Gilt
- "Richest Junkie Still Alive" (Hackers Original Soundtrack)
- "Suicide King" (War Original Soundtrack)
- Non-album single from The Crow Original SoundtrackThe Crow (album)The soundtrack to the movie The Crow was released in 1994. Its biggest hit song was "Big Empty" by the Stone Temple Pilots, which was also on their album Purple.-Album information:...
- 1994 "Golgotha Tenement Blues"
Music videos
- "X-Insurrection"
- Directed by Kevin Borque
- "Butterfly Wings"
- Directed by Julie Hermelin
- "Perfect Tan (Bikini Atoll)"
- Directed by Julie Hermelin
- "Golgotha Tenement Blues"
- "Richest Junkie Still Alive"
- Directed by John Reece