Avant Garde (band)
Encyclopedia
Avant Garde was a progressive metal band most notable as an early musical project of Rivers Cuomo
, who would later gain worldwide fame as the frontman of the alternative
rock
band
Weezer
. At the time, Cuomo performed under the name Peter Kitts.
when they weren't rehearsing in various locations.
By the summer of 1987, Cuomo was accepted to a five-week music program at Berklee School of Music, where he met future Avant Garde guitarist Michael Stanton. On December 12, 13 and 18 the band recorded six new songs at Trod Nossel Studios in Wallingford, Connecticut
. within weeks the demo made the WHUS 91.7 heavy metal
playlist at the campus radio station of the University of Connecticut
.
In 1988, both Cuomo and Fisher graduated from E. O. Smith High School. By 1989, the band had departed to Los Angeles
in hopes of being discovered on the Sunset Strip
. When they arrived in Los Angeles, the entire band lived in the same apartment. While on the strip, the band didn't have much musical success. In order to make ends-meet, all members of the band took minimum wage
jobs. The band later changed its name to Zoom in order to make them sound more commercial. After the continued lack of success, the band split up in the spring of 1990.
This demo
was printed on black-shelled cassettes with plain, light-blue label
stickers on one side
. There were probably approximately 100 copies printed. It was recorded at Trod Nossel Studios in Connecticut.
This demo was printed on black-shelled cassettes with purple label stickers on one side featuring the Avant Garde logo
. There were approximately 200 copies printed. It was also recorded at Trod Nossel Studios in Connecticut
.
Like the first two tapes, Somethin' Different was recorded in Connecticut
at Trod Nossel Studios. The tape was professionally duped and featured the songs and information printed directly onto the clear cassette, as well as a black and white J-card that had portrait photos of the whole band. The number of copies made is unknown, but may exceed 200. The name "Somethin' Different" was applied to the demo later, when it was printed a second time.
Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, lead guitarist, and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Weezer. Raised in an Ashram in Connecticut, Cuomo moved to Los Angeles at age 19, where he participated in a number of rock bands before founding Weezer in 1992...
, who would later gain worldwide fame as the frontman of the alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
rock
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
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
. At the time, Cuomo performed under the name Peter Kitts.
Biography
The band formed when Cuomo was only seventeen years old, along with his high school friend Justin Fisher. While they attended E. O. Smith High School. Eventually, other people joined the band. They decided on the name Avant Garde as, according to Cuomo, "[they] were anything but." From late 1986 to early 1987, the members of the band were confident enough in their musical ability where they would regularly make 4-track demosDemo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
when they weren't rehearsing in various locations.
By the summer of 1987, Cuomo was accepted to a five-week music program at Berklee School of Music, where he met future Avant Garde guitarist Michael Stanton. On December 12, 13 and 18 the band recorded six new songs at Trod Nossel Studios in Wallingford, Connecticut
Wallingford, Connecticut
Wallingford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 43,026 at the 2000 census.- History :Wallingford was established on October 10, 1667, when the Connecticut General Assembly authorized the "making of a village on the east river" to 38 planters and freemen...
. within weeks the demo made the WHUS 91.7 heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
playlist at the campus radio station of the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
.
In 1988, both Cuomo and Fisher graduated from E. O. Smith High School. By 1989, the band had departed to 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...
in hopes of being discovered on the Sunset Strip
Sunset Strip
The Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with Hollywood at Harper Avenue, to its western border with Beverly Hills at Sierra Drive...
. When they arrived in Los Angeles, the entire band lived in the same apartment. While on the strip, the band didn't have much musical success. In order to make ends-meet, all members of the band took minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
jobs. The band later changed its name to Zoom in order to make them sound more commercial. After the continued lack of success, the band split up in the spring of 1990.
Members
- Kevin RidelKevin RidelKevin Ridel is an American musician.-Early Life & Influences:A child of 80’s music, such as The Cure, The Psychedelic Furs, U2, and a slew of unmentionable heavy metal acts, Kevin has played in bands since age 14. In 1989 he moved from Connecticut to Los Angeles with his band Avant Garde to pursue...
— vocals - Rivers CuomoRivers CuomoRivers Cuomo is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, lead guitarist, and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Weezer. Raised in an Ashram in Connecticut, Cuomo moved to Los Angeles at age 19, where he participated in a number of rock bands before founding Weezer in 1992...
— backing vocals, lead guitar - Justin Fisher — bass
- Bryn Mutch — drums, percussion
- Eric Ridel — rhythm guitar
- Michael Stanton — rhythm guitar
- Jeff Urbach — percussion
Avant Garde Demo Tape #1: Untitled (1987)
- Black Rose
- I Must Be Dreaming
- Black Rose
This demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
was printed on black-shelled cassettes with plain, light-blue label
Label
A label is a piece of paper, polymer, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or article, on which is printed a legend, information concerning the product, addresses, etc. A label may also be printed directly on the container or article....
stickers on one side
Side
Side was an ancient Greek city in Anatolia, in the region of Pamphylia, in what is now Antalya province, on the southern Mediterranean coast of Turkey...
. There were probably approximately 100 copies printed. It was recorded at Trod Nossel Studios in Connecticut.
Avant Garde Demo Tape #2: Untitled (1988)
- Father Time
- Never Forget
- Free Fall
- You Were Just Using Me
- Renaissance
- Standing In The Paris Rain
This demo was printed on black-shelled cassettes with purple label stickers on one side featuring the Avant Garde logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
. There were approximately 200 copies printed. It was also recorded at Trod Nossel Studios in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Avant Garde Demo Tape #3: Somethin' Different (1989)
- Judge And Jury
- Bite the Bullet
- 21st Century Shogun
- You Were Just Using Me
- Renaissance
- Never Forget
Like the first two tapes, Somethin' Different was recorded in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
at Trod Nossel Studios. The tape was professionally duped and featured the songs and information printed directly onto the clear cassette, as well as a black and white J-card that had portrait photos of the whole band. The number of copies made is unknown, but may exceed 200. The name "Somethin' Different" was applied to the demo later, when it was printed a second time.