Tom Shear
Encyclopedia
Tom Shear is an American
musician
and music producer
, and is the sole member of the electronic act Assemblage 23
.
He was born on November 12, 1971 in State College, Pennsylvania
, where he lived until he was about age six. After that, he lived in New Jersey
for two years and then in New Hampshire
for around twelve years. Shear currently resides in Seattle, Washington, with his wife Megan.
. After teaching himself to play the piano
, he took piano lessons for a couple of months, but he stopped when he found that they involved more "unlearning" of techniques he had taught himself than learning new techniques he could use. He graduated from Syracuse University
in 1994 with a degree in TV and film
production.
While still in high school in the late 1980s, he began creating instrumental
synth-pop music at home under the name Man On A Stage, as well as playing bass
live for a punk
-influenced band named The Advocates.
Shear credits the band Depeche Mode
as having influenced him more than any other group towards the electronic music
styles. Another significant influence came when he attended a Depeche Mode concert
in 1988; Shear was astounded by the industrial
dance music
played by the opening DJ, and began incorporating industrial influences into his music. Man On A Stage was at this point retitled Assemblage 23.
In 1992, Shear self-released a collection called "Wires", which generated some buzz among minor radio station
s and underground
magazines, but still little interest from record label
s. In the mid-1990s, he produced techno tracks for a side project called Nerve Filter
which generated some interest at record label 21st Circuitry
. The first "official" release of an Assemblage 23 song occurred when Arts Industria released "Graverobber" on their Construction No. 009 compilation. Shear kept writing Assemblage 23 songs and sending out demos despite his frustration over the lack of interest among record labels, later crediting the support and encouragement from his early fans for keeping him going.
In 1998, his perseverance paid off when the Canadian
label Gashed! signed Assemblage 23 and released the group's first album, Contempt, in 1999. That same year, Shear's father committed suicide
, and the resulting pain and loss is evident in the second album, Failure, released in 2001. Both albums achieved significant critical acclaim as well as popularity at dance clubs.
Shear left Gashed Records to sign with Metropolis Records
, which re-released Contempt and Failure, and released the third album, Defiance, in 2002, and the fourth, Storm, in 2004. A track from Storm, "Let the Wind Erase Me", appeared on the Billboard Hot Dance singles chart.
Shear is also producer for the band backandtotheleft, and released their album Obsolete on his own label, 23db, in 2004 (later to be rereleased on Metropolis). He has also been known to act as guest vocalist for other musicians.
Shear describes his sound as "melodic, danceable electronic music".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and music producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, and is the sole member of the electronic act Assemblage 23
Assemblage 23
Assemblage 23 is an electronic act from the United States, currently based in Seattle. It was founded in 1988 by Tom Shear who writes the music and lyrics and does the recording himself.-1980s–1990s :...
.
He was born on November 12, 1971 in State College, Pennsylvania
State College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
, where he lived until he was about age six. After that, he lived in 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...
for two years and then in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
for around twelve years. Shear currently resides in Seattle, Washington, with his wife Megan.
Background
Shear's musical skills are self-taughtAutodidacticism
Autodidacticism is self-education or self-directed learning. In a sense, autodidacticism is "learning on your own" or "by yourself", and an autodidact is a person who teaches him or herself something. The term has its roots in the Ancient Greek words αὐτός and διδακτικός...
. After teaching himself to play the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, he took piano lessons for a couple of months, but he stopped when he found that they involved more "unlearning" of techniques he had taught himself than learning new techniques he could use. He graduated from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 1994 with a degree in TV and film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
production.
While still in high school in the late 1980s, he began creating instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
synth-pop music at home under the name Man On A Stage, as well as playing bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
live for a punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
-influenced band named The Advocates.
Shear credits the band Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
as having influenced him more than any other group towards the electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
styles. Another significant influence came when he attended a Depeche Mode concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
in 1988; Shear was astounded by the industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
played by the opening DJ, and began incorporating industrial influences into his music. Man On A Stage was at this point retitled Assemblage 23.
Assemblage 23
Shear worked on Assemblage 23 throughout his college years, occasionally sending out demos to little effect. During the same time he collaborated with friends Matt Guenette and Mike Ukstins on a synth-pop project named Procession, gaining experience with live performance.In 1992, Shear self-released a collection called "Wires", which generated some buzz among minor radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
s and underground
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
magazines, but still little interest from record 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,...
s. In the mid-1990s, he produced techno tracks for a side project called Nerve Filter
Nerve Filter
Nerve Filter is an electronic music act from Seattle, WA ; its sole member is Tom Shear. Nerve Filter started in 1995, and is considered a side project of Shear's Assemblage 23 although its first label appearance predated A23's.-History:...
which generated some interest at record label 21st Circuitry
21st Circuitry
21st Circuitry was a record label based in San Francisco, United States that was founded in early 1991 and released electro-industrial, industrial rock and similar styles of music. Bands that were signed to or distributed material through the label included Covenant, Unit:187, Hate Dept., Xorcist,...
. The first "official" release of an Assemblage 23 song occurred when Arts Industria released "Graverobber" on their Construction No. 009 compilation. Shear kept writing Assemblage 23 songs and sending out demos despite his frustration over the lack of interest among record labels, later crediting the support and encouragement from his early fans for keeping him going.
In 1998, his perseverance paid off when the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
label Gashed! signed Assemblage 23 and released the group's first album, Contempt, in 1999. That same year, Shear's father committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, and the resulting pain and loss is evident in the second album, Failure, released in 2001. Both albums achieved significant critical acclaim as well as popularity at dance clubs.
Shear left Gashed Records to sign with Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
, which re-released Contempt and Failure, and released the third album, Defiance, in 2002, and the fourth, Storm, in 2004. A track from Storm, "Let the Wind Erase Me", appeared on the Billboard Hot Dance singles chart.
Shear is also producer for the band backandtotheleft, and released their album Obsolete on his own label, 23db, in 2004 (later to be rereleased on Metropolis). He has also been known to act as guest vocalist for other musicians.
Shear describes his sound as "melodic, danceable electronic music".