Videodrone was a five piece
industrial rockIndustrial rock is a musical genre that fuses electro-industrial and specific rock subgenres. Industrial rock spawned industrial metal, with which it is often confused...
band from Bakersfield
CaliforniaCalifornia is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by area. California is the second most populous sub-national entity in the Americas, behind only São Paulo, Brazil...
, USA, originally known as
Cradle of Thorns. The band put out one record on
KornKorn is an American rock band from Bakersfield, California, which formed in 1993. The band's catalogue consists of nine consecutive debuts in the top ten of the Billboard 200. To date, Korn has sold over 30 million albums worldwide while earning six Grammy nominations—two of which they have won...
's Elementree Records as well three albums under their original name. One was independently released, and other two were released by
Triple X RecordsTriple X Records is a Los Angeles based record company. They are the label for bands such as Bo Diddley , The Vandals, Jane's Addiction, Social Distortion, Human Drama, Of Cabbages And Kings, Angry Samoans , Bad Manners , Stephen Pearcy , Dr...
. After
Videodrone broke up, drummer Kris Kohls went on the join
AdemaAdema is a five-piece band from Bakersfield, California consisting of Mark Chavez , Tim Fluckey, Mike Ransom, Dave DeRoo, and Kris Kohls. Guitarist Ransom left in 2003 followed by Chavez later in 2004 due to conflicts between themselves and other members of the band...
and frontman Ty Elam performed in a number of Bakersfield bands.
Videodrone was a five piece
industrial rockIndustrial rock is a musical genre that fuses electro-industrial and specific rock subgenres. Industrial rock spawned industrial metal, with which it is often confused...
band from Bakersfield
CaliforniaCalifornia is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by area. California is the second most populous sub-national entity in the Americas, behind only São Paulo, Brazil...
, USA, originally known as
Cradle of Thorns. The band put out one record on
KornKorn is an American rock band from Bakersfield, California, which formed in 1993. The band's catalogue consists of nine consecutive debuts in the top ten of the Billboard 200. To date, Korn has sold over 30 million albums worldwide while earning six Grammy nominations—two of which they have won...
's Elementree Records as well three albums under their original name. One was independently released, and other two were released by
Triple X RecordsTriple X Records is a Los Angeles based record company. They are the label for bands such as Bo Diddley , The Vandals, Jane's Addiction, Social Distortion, Human Drama, Of Cabbages And Kings, Angry Samoans , Bad Manners , Stephen Pearcy , Dr...
. After
Videodrone broke up, drummer Kris Kohls went on the join
AdemaAdema is a five-piece band from Bakersfield, California consisting of Mark Chavez , Tim Fluckey, Mike Ransom, Dave DeRoo, and Kris Kohls. Guitarist Ransom left in 2003 followed by Chavez later in 2004 due to conflicts between themselves and other members of the band...
and frontman Ty Elam performed in a number of Bakersfield bands. Ty Elam has recently reformed the band as
Cradle of Thorns with a new line up.
Formation, Remember It Day (1988–1990)
Formed in 1988 by male vocalist Ty Elam as the gothic rock band
Cradle of Thorns. With a combination of male and female lead vocalists, a dark, atmospheric sound, and environmentally and socially conscious lyrics ("Remember It Day" especially is about pollution, violence, and ignorance), they toured extensively and won an underground following. They released an independent record entitled
Remember It Day in 1990.
Feed-Us (1994-1995)
The band signed with Triple X Records (label of
Jane's AddictionJane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band is composed of Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly toured in 1997, reunited in 2001 and then parted ways in 2004...
and
Social DistortionSocial Distortion is an American rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and Adam "Atom" Willard...
) and in 1994 released
Feed-Us produced by Ross Robinson. A more aggressive album with Hip Hop elements (emcee style vocals on "Ignore-Your-Race") and lyrics about race ("Ignore-Your-Race" again), drug addiction ("Lullaby for the Dead", "Dysfunctional Brady Bunch"), S&M and voyeurism ("Flesh" and "My Sister Sam (Bleed"), and serial murder ("Behave"). The album also included a new, angrier version of "Remember It Day" with cleaner production that descends into screaming choas.
Feed-Us also established a band staple: the final track contains an extended, sample-based noise collage following the last song.
Download This! (1996-1998)
1996's Download This! saw the departure of female vocalist Tamera Slayton and bassist Scat Elis. With new bassist Purdy Spackle, the band shifted to a fusion of funk metal and industrial rock, with more rapping and screaming than ever before and more extensive sampling and use of electronics. This song "Bulimia Blowjob" features an appearance by vocalist Aimee Echo of
Human Waste ProjectHuman Waste Project was a band from Huntington Beach, California with Aimee Echo on vocals, Mike Tempesta on guitar, Jeff Schartoff on bass, and Scott Ellis on drums. They released their album E-lux in 1997 and broke up soon after.- History :...
and
TheSTARTTheStart is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1998. Their current lineup includes Aimee Echo, Jamie Miller, Lance Webber and Chelsea Davis...
and Jeff Schartoff also of
Human Waste ProjectHuman Waste Project was a band from Huntington Beach, California with Aimee Echo on vocals, Mike Tempesta on guitar, Jeff Schartoff on bass, and Scott Ellis on drums. They released their album E-lux in 1997 and broke up soon after.- History :...
and
Professional Murder MusicProfessional Murder Music is a Alternative Rock band, from Los Angeles, California.They are currently signed and own indie label, Wormhole Records. Their music has been used for such film soundtracks as End of Days, Ginger Snaps, Valentine, and even a video game for Sega Dreamcast called Jet Grind...
. Schartoff is also touring bassist for Peter Murphy.
Name Change and Videodrone (1998-2000)
For their fourth album, bassist Purdy Spackle was replaced by Mavis and the band dropped most of the funk elements and fully embraced a more pop-oriented industrial rock sound. They renamed themselves Videodrone after the film
VideodromeVideodrome is a Canadian psychological thriller film written and directed by David Cronenberg and starring James Woods and singer Debbie Harry from Blondie.-Plot:...
. The twelve track self-titled CD was released in 1999 with appearances from
KornKorn is an American rock band from Bakersfield, California, which formed in 1993. The band's catalogue consists of nine consecutive debuts in the top ten of the Billboard 200. To date, Korn has sold over 30 million albums worldwide while earning six Grammy nominations—two of which they have won...
's
Jonathan DavisJonathan Houseman Davis is the lead vocalist and frontman for the alternative metal band Korn. As well as being Korn's lead singer, he has also recorded and played drums, guitar, and bagpipes in many of Korn's albums...
on "Ty Jonathan Down",
Limp BizkitLimp Bizkit is an American nu metal band from Jacksonville, Florida. The band achieved success with over 30 million albums sold worldwide. The members of the band include vocalist Fred Durst, guitarist Wes Borland, bassist Sam Rivers, drummer John Otto and DJ Lethal...
's Fred Durst & DJ Lethal on "Human Piñata", and
Psycho RealmPsycho Realm is a Latin political hip hop supergroup started in 1989 by brothers Sick Jacken and Big Duke from the Downtown, Pico-Union area of Los Angeles. The first recorded Psycho Realm song, "Scandalous", was released on the soundtrack of the film Mi Vida Loca in 1993...
on "Pigs In A Blanket". Also from Korn,
HeadBrian Phillip Welch , better known as Head, is an American musician best known as the former lead guitarist/co-founder of the band Korn. Welch left the band in 2005 due to personal beliefs and to focus on life as a father....
played guitar on "Power Tools For Girls" and
FieldyReginald "Fieldy/Reggie" Arvizu is the bass guitar player for the band Korn.-Musical career:...
produced the album. In high school, Vocalist Ty Elam often collaborated with friends
Jonathan DavisJonathan Houseman Davis is the lead vocalist and frontman for the alternative metal band Korn. As well as being Korn's lead singer, he has also recorded and played drums, guitar, and bagpipes in many of Korn's albums...
(later of
KornKorn is an American rock band from Bakersfield, California, which formed in 1993. The band's catalogue consists of nine consecutive debuts in the top ten of the Billboard 200. To date, Korn has sold over 30 million albums worldwide while earning six Grammy nominations—two of which they have won...
) and
Ryan ShuckRyan Christopher Shuck , better known as Ryan Shuck, is the guitarist for alternative rock band Orgy. He also has a side project with fellow Orgy Member Amir Derakh called Julien-K...
and their band
SexartSexart was an American hard rock band that formed c. 1989. They are best known for being the band that Jonathan Davis was in, before being found by Korn's guitarists while Sexart was performing in a bar in Bakersfield, California. David DeRoo played bass, Ray "Chaka" Solis, Ryan Shuck played guitar...
. Shuck who would go on to play for
OrgyOrgy is a synth rock band from Bakersfield, California. Orgy describes their music as "death pop".-History:Orgy was formed in 1996 by vocalist Jay Gordon and guitarist Ryan Shuck, once of Jonathan Davis' original band Sexart, assisting in their eventual signing to Korn's label Elementree...
, another one-time Elementree Records band. After touring with
KornKorn is an American rock band from Bakersfield, California, which formed in 1993. The band's catalogue consists of nine consecutive debuts in the top ten of the Billboard 200. To date, Korn has sold over 30 million albums worldwide while earning six Grammy nominations—two of which they have won...
,
Rob ZombieRobert Bartleh Cummings , better known by his stage name, Rob Zombie, is a Grammy-nominated American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the metal band White Zombie....
,
Orgy{Two other uses|ancient Greek gathering|sex orgy|Group seIn Ancient Greek religion, an orgy was a secret nighttime cultic congregation overseen by an orgiophant .-The Greek orgia:...
, and
Machine HeadMachine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California, formed in 1992. Founded by singer and guitarist Robb Flynn and bassist Adam Duce, and has only had 4 personnel changes since its inception 17 years ago. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , Phil Demmel , and...
, lack of label support and drug problems spelled the end for Videodrone (as detailed in the interview with Elam on the All Over Again maxi-single).
Break Up and Post-Videodrone Projects (2000-2006)
Drummer Kris Kohls went on to play for
AdemaAdema is a five-piece band from Bakersfield, California consisting of Mark Chavez , Tim Fluckey, Mike Ransom, Dave DeRoo, and Kris Kohls. Guitarist Ransom left in 2003 followed by Chavez later in 2004 due to conflicts between themselves and other members of the band...
and vocalist Ty Elam would go on to play in local Bakersfield bands Karmahitlist, Three Chord Whore, and Arrival of Fawn after Videodrone's demise in 2000.
Cradles of Thorns Reforms with a New Line Up (2006-Present)
Then in 2006, Elam resurrected the band under its original moniker Cradle of Thorns with all new members. The song "All Over Again" is their current release, which can be heard on the band's official
MySpaceMySpace is a social networking website. Its headquarters are in Beverly Hills, California, USA, where it shares an office building with its immediate owner, Fox Interactive Media, which is owned by News Corporation. MySpace became the most popular social networking site in the United...
.
Current Lineup
Ty Elam - vocals/drums
Steve Thiriot - guitar/keyboards/screams
Matt Wilkinson - bass
Discography
(As Cradle of Thorns)
Remember It Day (1990)
- "Days Go By"
- "Everything"
- "Lose Dimension"
- "Porcelain Hands"
- "River Flows with Ice"
- "Black"
- "Dreamland"
- "Far Away"
- "I'm Human"
- "Bury Me"
- "Remember It Day"
- "Relax in Suffocation"
(As Cradle of Thorns)
Feed-Us (1994)
- "Missing Teeth (Ass Lickin' Son of a Bitch Mix)"
- "Lullaby for the Dead"
- "Ignore-Your-Race"
- "Flesh"
- "Transparent Jesus"
- "Father's Day"
- "Dysfunctional Brady Bunch"
- "Remember It Day"
- "Behave"
- "My Sister Sam (Bleed)"
(As Cradle of Thorns)
Download This! (1996)
- "We Came 2 Wreck Everything"
- "Picture Perfect"
- "I Go 1st"
- "1 Eyed 1 Formed Blind Consuming People Eater"
- "Utah Flesh?"
- "Shout at the Devil"
- "Subtract"
- "Bulimia Blowjob"
- "End of Side 1"
- "Thirsty 4 Sex"
- "Roaches 4 Roaches"
- "Cocaine 4 Breakfast"
- "S.P.A.M."
- "Sleep With The TV On"
- "Chant of the Goat Face Tribe"
- "Buckets of Fraud"
- "Relax and Recline"
- "The Golden Butt Plug Puppet Show"
Videodrone (February 23, 1999)
- "Ty Jonathan Down" (featuring Jonathan Davis
Jonathan Houseman Davis is the lead vocalist and frontman for the alternative metal band Korn. As well as being Korn's lead singer, he has also recorded and played drums, guitar, and bagpipes in many of Korn's albums...
)
- "Closer To Coma"
- "Alone With 20 Bucks"
- "The Devil's Sweepstakes"
- "Faceplant"
- "Human Piñata"(featuring Fred Durst
William Frederick "Fred" Durst is an American musician, director and actor, known primarily as the front man of the nu metal band Limp Bizkit.-Early life:...
& DJ LethalLeor Dimant , better known as DJ Lethal, is a turntablist and producer. He is best known as a member of the band Limp Bizkit, and formerly a member of the Irish-American-influenced hip hop group House of Pain.Currently, DJ Lethal is the main producer of hip hop group La Coka Nostra, which includes...
)
- "Pig In A Blanket (featuring Psycho Realm
Psycho Realm is a Latin political hip hop supergroup started in 1989 by brothers Sick Jacken and Big Duke from the Downtown, Pico-Union area of Los Angeles. The first recorded Psycho Realm song, "Scandalous", was released on the soundtrack of the film Mi Vida Loca in 1993...
)"
- "L.S.D. (Lucifer's Stained Dress)"
- "Ant In The Dope"
- "Power Tools For Girls"(featuring Head
Brian Phillip Welch , better known as Head, is an American musician best known as the former lead guitarist/co-founder of the band Korn. Welch left the band in 2005 due to personal beliefs and to focus on life as a father....
)
- "Jesus (Lord Of The Apes)" (L.A.P.D.
L.A.P.D. was an American funk metal band that is best known for being composed of the future members of Korn L.A.P.D. (Love And Peace Dude, later Laughing As People Die) was an American funk metal band that is best known for being composed of the future members of Korn ...
cover)
- "C.O.B."
Singles
- Ty Jonathan Down
- Faceplant - #15 US Hot Dance Club Play
Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
(1999)
As Cradle of Thorns