| Circle Of Violence |
Article Index for Circle Of |
Website Links For Circle |
Information AboutCircle Of Violence |
|
Circle Of Violence (1987-1994) was a talented death metal band from Memphis,Tennessee that was founded by Bass player Bo Harrell in 1987. Orginally called "Schizoid", Harrell along with vocalist The Haag, guitartist Shane Glover, drummer Ron Glover, and guitarist Robbie Gatewood recorded their first demo at Beluga studios, an independant recording in Memphis, Tennessee. Schizoid was a local success, and may even can lay claim for the immergance of a death metal scene to form in Memphis at the time. The "rock" scene in Memphis at the time was glam or pop metal, and some club owners, and patrons weren't sure how to take heavy, hard hitting, Schizoid at first. Eventually, Schizoid headlined many shows locally at the well known Omni New Daisy Theatre on world famous Beale street, and would play all the local hot music clubs in their time. Schizoid was the first death metal band to perform in an all "punk" and hardcore club when that was an unheard of thing to do. The Antenna Club, which featured bands such as The Exploited, G.G. Allin, Cryptic Slaughter, Corrosion Of Comfomity, punk locals and countless others. The club eventually brought in signed death, and thrash metal acts after Schizoid proved that speed metal and hardcore crowds could co exist in this club without violence. It was known before this time that "skin heads" or the punk crowd would engage in violent fighting against "metal" fans at some of the shows that took place at this club. Schizoid also was the first death metal or "speed" act to break into the scene at a local "pretty boy bands only" hangout the "Stage Stop" who were accustomed to bands like former Pantera singer Terry Glaze and his band Lord Tracy and other metal acts who covered the hair bands of the 80's music. Schizoid did well, and was asked to do more shows there after, and they did. By the summer of 1990, Harrell found out through a friend Louis Starita, bassist for New Renissance recording artists' Blood Feast, that there was a signed band from somewhere up north, with the name Schizoid. So in order to avoid any law suits, or confrontation, the band changed it's name to Circle Of Violence along with some of it's members. Guitarist Robbie Gatewood left the band before it's name change, in 1988. David Castle replaced him for a short stint in 1988, only to be let go after a poor performance at a show, and countless poor rehearsals. The band hired Mike "Diz" Dismore to replace Castle. Drummer Ron Glover left the band sometime in 1991, and was replaced by local act Chemical Youth's drummer, Blain Hadaway. By 1991 C.O.V. was still a top local act and had done shows with bands such as Prong, and Post Mortem, as well as countless other local metal and punk bands. In 1992,The band recorded their second, and sadly their last "official" demo and recordings at Easily Studios in Memphis. The demo "Total Torture" was a local fan fav, and also got rave reviews from signed acts like Blood Feast. Songs Total Torture, Of Pure Blood, and Brain Damaged were among the few on the demo that had "record deal" potential written all over it, and the demo was to be reviewed by New Renissance records, Combat records, Noise, and other independant record labels. Before this could be done, conflicts within the band, caused vocalist Steve "the Haag" Haag, and shortly after, drummer Blain Hadaway to leave the group. The band pressed on with guitartist Mike Dismore handling the vocals, and talented 15 year old phenom drummer Michael Sprager replaced Hadaway, but things would never be the same and in early 1993, band founder, and bassist Bo Harrell had conflicting disagreements with Dismore about the bands direction, and decided to leave the group as well. Harrell joined up with local act "Black Like Me" for a few years until he dropped from the music scene all together, sometime in 1994. Circle Of Violence continued on for about a year after Harrell's departure, playing the local clubs but a change in format made the band look more like a Metallica tribute band, and less of the original success they once were. This disgrunted already disgrunted fans, and eventually C.O.V. was no more. Circle Of Violence never did get the record deal they so deserved, due in part to too many lineup changes at the wrong times, and perhaps being in Memphis, Tennessee in which the south, and Memphis in general, just didn't attract any of these speed metal recording labels to venture down that far. From 1987-1989, the band had a fun "side act" called "The Table Saw Butchers" which was a thash metal band on the comedy side, with an M.O.D/S.O.D. influence. Not to be taken serious with song titles such as "Stop aids, slay the gays" "Burn Grandma burn" and "Flip Up Skirt, Insert Dick". Schizoid's very first show was performed under the Table Saw Butchers name because guitarist Shane Glover could not make the show, so the band decided to play the Table Saw songs instead of performing as Schizoid, as guitarist Robbie Gatewood could not handle the lead solos alone in Glover's absense, and didn't want to ruin Schizoid's first live show. In 2001, there was talk of a reunion show with original members, but the details never were worked out, and some of the members couldn't be located, so the mystery remains. Schizoid/Circle Of Violence members: Bo Harrell-Bass guitar Steve "The Haag" Haag-vocals Ron Glover-drums Shane Glover-guitar Mike Dismore-guitar-vocals Mike Srpager-drums Blain Hadaway-drums David Castle-guitar Robbie Gatewood-guitar contact info: ghosts_of_mars@webtv.net |
|
|