Gone (band)
Encyclopedia
Gone is a three-piece punk
-based instrumental rock
band, formed by Greg Ginn
in late 1985. Originally, Gone was a side project to his main group, Black Flag
.
and drummer Sim Cain
, who had previously played together in the band Regressive Aid
. They recorded their first album, Let's Get Real, Real Gone For A Change, in late 1985 and released it in 1986 on Ginn's SST Records
label. The album title comes from an Elvis Presley
quote uttered on his Sun Records-era recording "Milkcow Blues Boogie"; the actual quote is both attributed on the back cover of the album, and sampled into the album's second song, "Get Gone".
Gone were the opening act for Black Flag's entire 1986 tour, which lasted for the first six months of the year. On a typical day during the tour, Gone would perform one set at an in-store appearance, then go down to the venue where Black Flag were headlining, set up, and open the show. Ginn's only break in the evening would be when the second opening band, Painted Willie
, performed; he would then get onstage with Black Flag and play a 90-minute set.
During a break between 1986 tour legs, Gone recorded their second album, Gone II: But Never Too Gone.
In August 1986, Ginn disbanded Black Flag after ten years, presumably to concentrate on Gone and on running SST, but Ginn suddenly disbanded the group not long after Gone II But Not Too Gone was released. By the time the new year started, Weiss and Cain would join former Black Flag singer Henry Rollins
in the Rollins Band
.
In 1993, Ginn revived the Gone name and recruited a new rhythm section, bassist Steve Sharp and drummer Gregory Moore, both of whom had played on instrumental tracks Ginn recorded and released on his second and third solo albums, Dick and Let It Burn. This line up recorded four albums. Gone went quiet in 1998, coinciding with a near decade of silence from SST Records. Ginn and Gone returned in 2007 with The Epic Trilogy, a double CD consisting of 3 lengthy tracks (disc one featured instrumental versions of the songs and disc two featured guest vocals from Bad Brains
vocalist H.R.
). Greg handled both the guitar and bass chores, Andy Batwinas (who had engineer a number of albums for SST in the 1990s) provided keyboards and percussion, and the drums were handled by Moore, who now performs under the pseudonym "Drummer".
Another band called "Gone" exists, and their two albums have mistakenly been combined with the original band's on the AllMusic.com database. However, they have absolutely no connection whatsoever to either Ginn or his record label.
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...
-based instrumental rock
Instrumental rock
Instrumental rock is a type of rock music which emphasizes musical instruments, and which features very little or no singing.Examples of instrumental rock can be found in practically every subgenre of rock, often from musicians who specialize in the style, most notably Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Link...
band, formed by Greg Ginn
Greg Ginn
Gregory Regis Ginn is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He is best known for being the leader of and primary songwriter for the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to 1986....
in late 1985. Originally, Gone was a side project to his main group, 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...
.
Biography
Prior to forming Gone, Ginn had been performing some instrumental compositions with Black Flag themselves. For Gone, Ginn tapped bassist Andrew WeissAndrew Weiss
Andrew Weiss is a bass guitarist and producer.He produced and played bass for most of the Ween albums; for Greg Ginn's post Black Flag band Gone; and for ex-Black Flag singer Henry Rollins's Rollins Band from 1987 to 1993. His distinctive bass sound on The End of Silence, an aggressive and slightly...
and drummer Sim Cain
Sim Cain
Sim Cain is an American drummer probably best known as a member of the hard rock group Rollins Band from 1987 to 2000...
, who had previously played together in the band Regressive Aid
Regressive Aid
Regressive Aid was an instrumental band consisting of Simeon Cain , William Tucker , and Andrew Weiss , managed by Tom Burka. Cain and Weiss later played in the bands Gone, a three pieced punk instrumental rock outfit and in the Rollins Band...
. They recorded their first album, Let's Get Real, Real Gone For A Change, in late 1985 and released it in 1986 on Ginn's 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...
label. The album title comes from an Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
quote uttered on his Sun Records-era recording "Milkcow Blues Boogie"; the actual quote is both attributed on the back cover of the album, and sampled into the album's second song, "Get Gone".
Gone were the opening act for Black Flag's entire 1986 tour, which lasted for the first six months of the year. On a typical day during the tour, Gone would perform one set at an in-store appearance, then go down to the venue where Black Flag were headlining, set up, and open the show. Ginn's only break in the evening would be when the second opening band, Painted Willie
Painted Willie
Painted Willie was a punk rock band started in 1984 in Los Angeles by drummer and film-maker Dave Markey after the demise of his first band, Sin 34...
, performed; he would then get onstage with Black Flag and play a 90-minute set.
During a break between 1986 tour legs, Gone recorded their second album, Gone II: But Never Too Gone.
In August 1986, Ginn disbanded Black Flag after ten years, presumably to concentrate on Gone and on running SST, but Ginn suddenly disbanded the group not long after Gone II But Not Too Gone was released. By the time the new year started, Weiss and Cain would join former Black Flag singer Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ....
in the Rollins Band
Rollins Band
Rollins Band was an American rock band led by singer and songwriter Henry Rollins.They are best known for the songs "Low Self Opinion" and "Liar", which both earned heavy airplay on MTV in the early 1990s...
.
In 1993, Ginn revived the Gone name and recruited a new rhythm section, bassist Steve Sharp and drummer Gregory Moore, both of whom had played on instrumental tracks Ginn recorded and released on his second and third solo albums, Dick and Let It Burn. This line up recorded four albums. Gone went quiet in 1998, coinciding with a near decade of silence from SST Records. Ginn and Gone returned in 2007 with The Epic Trilogy, a double CD consisting of 3 lengthy tracks (disc one featured instrumental versions of the songs and disc two featured guest vocals from Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
vocalist H.R.
H.R.
H.R. is the stage name of Paul D. Hudson, the lead singer of the hardcore punk band Bad Brains. His vocals can be quite diverse, ranging from a rapid-fire nasal whine, to feral growling and screeches, to smooth near-crooning or staccato reggae rhymes...
). Greg handled both the guitar and bass chores, Andy Batwinas (who had engineer a number of albums for SST in the 1990s) provided keyboards and percussion, and the drums were handled by Moore, who now performs under the pseudonym "Drummer".
Another band called "Gone" exists, and their two albums have mistakenly been combined with the original band's on the AllMusic.com database. However, they have absolutely no connection whatsoever to either Ginn or his record label.
Current lineup
- Greg GinnGreg GinnGregory Regis Ginn is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He is best known for being the leader of and primary songwriter for the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to 1986....
- guitar (1985-1986, 1993-1998, 2007-present), bass (2007-present) - Gregory Moore aka "Drummer" - drums (1993-1998, 2007-present)
- Andy Batwinas - keys and percussion (2007-present)
Former members
- Sim CainSim CainSim Cain is an American drummer probably best known as a member of the hard rock group Rollins Band from 1987 to 2000...
- drums (1985–1986) - Andrew Weiss - bass (1985–1986)
- Steve Sharp - bass (1993–1998)
Discography
- Let's Get Gone, Real Gone For A ChangeLet's Get Gone, Real Gone For A ChangeLet's Get Gone, Real Gone For A Change is the debut album from Punk jazz band Gone. Continuing where mid-80s era Black Flag left off, Greg Ginn's newly formed band combines '70s riff-rock with Jazz tempos and a Punkish-verve.-Track listing:...
LP (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...
, 1986) - Gone II - But Never Too Gone! LP (SST Records, 1986)
- Chriminal Mind LP (SST Records, 1994)
- Smoking Gun remix EP (SST Records, 1994)
- All The Dirt That's Fit To Print LP (SST Records, 1994)
- Damage Control remix EP (SST Records, 1995)
- Best Left Unsaid LP (SST Records, 1996)
- Country Dumb LP (SST Records, 1998)
- The Epic Trilogy double CD (SST Records, 2007)