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{{Short description|American instrumental rock band}}
{{for|the H. P. Lovecraft character|Azathoth}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Blind Idiot God
| image =
| image_size = 250
| landscape = yes
| caption = Blind Idiot God performing live at the [[Tonic (music venue)|Tonic]],<br /> [[New York City]] on August 9, 2006.
| alias = B.I.G.
| origin = [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], United States
| genre = [[Noise rock]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/blind-idiot-god-stream/|title=Tremble Before Blind Idiot God's "Wheels of Progress"|publisher=Noisey|date=December 19, 2014|access-date=September 30, 2017}}</ref> [[math rock]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| years_active = 1982–1996, 2001–present
| label = [[Avant Records|Avant]], [[Enemy Records|Enemy]], Indivisible, [[SST Records|SST]]
| associated_acts =
| website =
| current_members = [[Will Dahl]]<br />[[Andy Hawkins (musician)|Andy Hawkins]]<br />[[Tim Wyskida]]
| past_members = [[Ted Epstein]]<br />[[Gabriel Katz]]
}}
'''Blind Idiot God''' is an American [[instrumental rock]] trio formed in 1982 in [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], United States, by guitarist [[Andy Hawkins (musician)|Andy Hawkins]], bassist [[Gabriel Katz]] and drummer [[Ted Epstein]]. The phrase "blind idiot god" comes from horror writer [[H. P. Lovecraft]]'s description of the god [[Azathoth]]. Their often [[Musical improvisation|improvisational]] musical style combines influences from [[punk rock]], [[noise music]], [[20th-century classical music]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[Dub music|dub]], [[free jazz]], and [[funk]]. They are currently based in [[New York City]] and have often collaborated with musicians [[Bill Laswell]] and [[John Zorn]].<ref name="optionmag90">{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UKY4AQAAIAAJ |title=Blind Idiot God |journal=[[Option (music magazine)|Option]] |publisher=Sonic Options Network |date=1990 |volume=30-35 |pages=69–71 |access-date=September 22, 2014}}</ref>
Their self-titled debut album, ''[[Blind Idiot God (album)|Blind Idiot God]]'', was issued by [[SST Records]] in 1987 and was well received critically. Brian Olewnick described it as "an extraordinary debut [...] the three musicians exhibited startling originality and impressive technique both on their instruments and in the depth and style of their compositions".<ref name="allmusicdebut">{{cite web |first=Brian |last=Olewnick |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000675055|pure_url=yes}}|title=Blind Idiot God |website=Allmusic |access-date=September 22, 2014}}</ref> With bassist [[Bill Laswell]] handling production duties, ''[[Undertow (Blind Idiot God album)|Undertow]]'' was released in 1988 and was followed by ''[[Cyclotron (album)|Cyclotron]]'' in 1992. Ted Epstein left the band in 1996 and the remaining members put Blind Idiot God on hiatus as they searched for his replacement.
In 2001, Blind Idiot God reunited after roughly a decade of inactivity, with [[Tim Wyskida]] (of [[Khanate (band)|Khanate]]) replacing Epstein. Between 2008 and 2010, Blind Idiot God recorded the material at studios in New Jersey; Barber Shop; and Orange Sound that would comprise their fourth album, ''[[Before Ever After]]''. Gabriel Katz departed in 2012 and was replaced by New York veteran bassist [[Will Dahl]], making Andy Hawkins the only original member still performing in the band. ''Before Ever After'' was released on February 24, 2015, with the new lineup performing three live shows in New York to coincide with the release.<ref name="invismusicbio">{{cite web |url=http://www.indivisiblemusic.com/releases/blind-idiot-god-before-ever-after/ |title=Blind Idiot God - "Before Ever After" |publisher=indivisiblemusic.com |date=2014 |access-date=September 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006105732/http://www.indivisiblemusic.com/releases/blind-idiot-god-before-ever-after/ |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="newnoisemag1">{{cite web |last=columnist |url=http://newnoisemagazine.com/blind-idiot-god-announces-album-before-after/ |title=Blind Idiot God Announces New Album 'Before Ever After' |publisher=New Noise Magazine |date=November 25, 2014 |access-date=November 27, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204140244/http://newnoisemagazine.com/blind-idiot-god-announces-album-before-after/ |archive-date=December 4, 2014 }}</ref> In 2017, The band announced that they would be re-issuing their back catalog on multiple formats and that they had started work on a new album.
== History ==
===Early years (1982–1986)===
Blind Idiot God was formed in 1982 in [[St. Louis, Missouri]] when its members were teenagers. Before adopting [[free jazz]] and [[Dub music|dub]] influences, they essentially played [[hardcore punk]], with their songs being roughly one minute in length. During this time, they socialized within the St. Louis hardcore scene, including members of Drunks with Guns and [[Ultraman (band)|Ultraman]]. After failing to find a vocalist that shared their musical aspirations, the band opted to continue as an instrumental outfit.<ref name="optionmag90"/> Their first live performance came in September 1983 at a basement party. After playing the first song of their set, a reggae version of "[[Hava Nagila]]", they were interrupted by the police who shut the party down after receiving complaints from the neighbors.<ref>{{cite book |first=Steven |last=Blush |author-link=Steven Blush |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7AgdUYZ6U0wC |title=American Hardcore: A Tribal History |publisher=[[Feral House]] |date=2001 |page=261 |isbn=9780922915712 |access-date=September 22, 2014}}</ref> After hearing their self-produced cassette demo, [[Greg Ginn]] of [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]] signed them to [[SST Records]], and the band moved to [[Brooklyn]] in 1986.
===Debut album and critical acclaim (1987–1988)===
{{Listen
|filename = Blind Idiot God - Wise Man Dub.ogg
|title = "Wise Man Dub" (1987)
|description = "Wise Man Dub" (''Blind Idiot God'') is one of Blind Idiot God's dub influenced compositions
}}
The band began searching for a producer who would be willing to work with their mixture of [[noise rock|noise]], [[Dub music|dub]] and [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]]. Originally, Hawkins wanted to enlist the aid of British producer [[Adrian Sherwood]], known for his work with numerous [[reggae]] groups as well as his contributions to the [[industrial hip hop]] ensemble [[Tackhead]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Hank |last=Shteamer |url=http://www.heavymetalbebop.com/post/15774647110/6-bill-laswell |title=Heavy Metal Bebop: Bill Laswell |publisher=heavymetalbebop.com |date=June 2011 |access-date=September 22, 2014}}</ref> In January 1987, Blind Idiot God entered B.C. Studios to record with producer [[Martin Bisi]], who they had met through composer [[Bill Laswell]]. Their debut album, the [[eponym]]ously titled ''[[Blind Idiot God (album)|Blind Idiot God]]'', was released on [[SST Records]] in 1987 and received critical acclaim. While categorized as [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] and [[noise rock]], the music made use of distortion techniques while hinting at [[free jazz]] and [[European classical music]] influences, with its final three tracks ostensibly belonging to the [[Dub music|dub]] genre.<ref name="reggaeandafricanbeatdebut">{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sAc5AQAAIAAJ |title=Blind Idiot God: Blind Idiot God |journal=The Reggae & African Beat |publisher=Bongo Productions |date=1987 |volume=6-7 |page=38 |access-date=September 22, 2014}}</ref> The virtuosity of the band's players was praised in an article for ''[[Electronic Musician]]'', which said "Andy Hawkins' guitar dips and swirls, chases its tail, and ultimately screams its existence, while Ted Epstein and Gabriel Katz lend form and substance on bass and drums respectively. At 19, 20, and 21, the trio is young enough to dazzle with potential. Jazz, heavy metal, reggae, art music - B.I.G. has elements of all of these, yet establishes their very own recipe."<ref name="electronicmagdebut">{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kIkJAQAAMAAJ |title=Blind Idiot God, ''Blind Idiot God'' |journal=[[Electronic Musician]] |publisher=Polyphony Publishing Company |date=1987 |volume=3 |issue=7–12 |page=104 |access-date=September 22, 2014}}</ref>
===Underground success and second album (1988–1992)===
{{Listen
|filename = Blind Idiot God - Purged Specimen.ogg
|title = "Purged Specimen" (1988)
|description = "Purged Specimen" (''Undertow''), showcases the band's mix of jazz, funk and noise rock with accompaniment by saxophonist John Zorn
}}
The success of Blind Idiot God's first album coupled with powerful live performances earned them recognition in underground music circles. The band soon began collaborating with [[Avant-garde music|avant-garde]] composer and saxophonist [[John Zorn]]. Zorn contacted the band after attending one of their performances at [[CBGB|CBGB's]] and professed his enthusiasm for their work along with his desire to collaborate with the group. The band joined him onstage on numerous occasions to perform improvised music, Zorn compositions and even in his John Coltrane cover band "Ascension" which featured infamous 2 minute versions of Coltrane compositions like [[A Love Supreme]] and [[Ascension (John Coltrane album)|Ascension]].<ref name="optionmag90"/>
The Blind Idiot God's second album ''[[Undertow (Blind Idiot God album)|Undertow]]'' was issued the following year by Enemy Records and produced by [[Bill Laswell]]. The style remained similar to what had been represented on the band's debut, with excursions into dub territory interposing bludgeoning noise rock. Noted musical departures included the heavy metal/[[funk]] hybrid "Alice in My Fantasies", a [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]] cover, and "Purged Specimen", a short piece composed for them by [[John Zorn]] that also featured him on alto saxophone.<ref name="allmusicundertow">{{cite web |first=Brian |last=Olewnick |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000309066|pure_url=yes}}|title=Undertow |website=Allmusic |access-date=September 22, 2014}}</ref> Praising the Blind Idiot God's knack for memorable melodies and rapid tempo-changes combined with Laswell's production, [[EAR Magazine]] declared ''Undertow'' superior to their debut and "as addictive as a pot of strong coffee."<ref name="earmagundertow">{{cite journal |first=Jeff |last=Talman |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3TxLAAAAYAAJ |title=Blind Idiot God: ''Undertow/Purged Specimen'' |journal=[[EAR Magazine]] |publisher=New Wilderness Foundation |date=1987 |volume=14 |page=48 |access-date=September 22, 2014}}</ref>
===Third album and hiatus (1992–1996)===
{{Listen
|filename = Blind Idiot God - Thunderhead.ogg
|title = "Thunderhead" (1992)
|description = 30 second sample of "Thunderhead" from the band's third album ''Cyclotron''.
}}
Released four years later, the band's 1992 album ''[[Cyclotron (album)|Cyclotron]]'' was seen by some as lackluster due to the reliance on ideas previously explored and absence of distinct experimentation.<ref name="allmusiccyclotron">{{cite web |first=Brian |last=Olewnick |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000618678|pure_url=yes}}|title=Cyclotron |website=Allmusic |access-date=September 22, 2014}}</ref> In 1993, Blind Idiot God and [[Henry Rollins]] wrote and recorded the title song for the movie ''[[Freaked]]'', marking the first and only time the band collaborated with a vocalist.<ref name="newnoisemag1"/> The entire band performed on [[Praxis (band)|Praxis']] album ''[[Sacrifist]]'', released in 1993.
After Cyclotron was released, the members began pursuing their own separate musical endeavors. Andy Hawkins began a solo guitar project named Azonic, under which he released ''[[Halo (Azonic album)|Halo]]'' in 1994 and ''[[Subsonic 3: Skinner's Black Laboratories|Skinner's Black Laboratories]]'' with [[Justin Broadrick]] of [[Godflesh]] in 1995. Gabriel Katz collaborated with Bill Laswell on ''[[Dub Terror Exhaust]]'', for which he composed music and contributed bass parts. In 1996, Ted Epstein left the band to pursue other interests. Unwilling to continue without a drummer, the remaining members placed Blind Idiot God on hiatus.<ref name="invismusicbio"/>
===Return and new album (2001–present)===
Drummer [[Tim Wyskida]], known for his work in [[Khanate (band)|Khanate]], joined in 2001 and Blind Idiot God began work on their fourth studio album. However, setbacks and delays occurred as Gabriel Katz encountered problems with [[tendinitis]] and hearing loss. The line-up finally began performing in a live setting in 2006, playing a series of well-received gigs in [[New York City]]. In 2012, Gabriel Katz left the band and was replaced by [[Will Dahl]].
In 2013, three newly recorded tracks appeared in the HBO documentary ''[[Downloaded (film)|Downloaded]]'', a film by [[Alex Winter]] detailing the history of [[Napster]].<ref name="invismusicbio"/> It marked the first time new material by Blind Idiot God had been made available to the public in over twenty years. The band's fourth full-length album, an accumulation of thirteen years worth of recorded material, was announced in 2014. Titled ''[[Before Ever After]]'', it was the debut release of Indivisible Music, a label founded by Andy Hawkins.<ref name="newnoisemag1"/> ''Before Ever After'' was issued on vinyl on February 24, 2015, followed by a Compact Disc release on April 6, 2015.<ref name="newnoisemag2">{{cite web |last=Shrum |url=http://newnoisemagazine.com/blind-idiot-gods-before-after-today/ |title=Blind Idiot God's 'Before Ever After' Out Today |publisher=New Noise Magazine |date=February 24, 2015 |access-date=March 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150306044122/http://newnoisemagazine.com/blind-idiot-gods-before-after-today/ |archive-date=March 6, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indivisiblemusic.com/2015/04/01/blind-idiot-god-release-information/ |title=Blind Idiot God Release Information |publisher=indivisiblemusic.com |date=2015 |access-date=April 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411182802/http://www.indivisiblemusic.com/2015/04/01/blind-idiot-god-release-information/ |archive-date=April 11, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On April 13, 2016 the Blind Idiot God embarked on their "Raise the Titanic" tour, which marked the band's first live shows outside of the United States. Concurrent with their tour, ''Before Ever After'' was reissued for worldwide distribution.<ref name="newnoisemagtour">{{cite web |last=columnist |url=http://newnoisemagazine.com/blind-idiot-god-announces-raise-the-titanic-tour-dates/# |title=Blind Idiot God Announces "Raise The Titanic" Tour Dates |publisher=New Noise Magazine |date=February 5, 2016 |access-date=February 9, 2016}}</ref> In 2017, the band announced the re-issue of their second album ''[[Undertow (Blind Idiot God album)|Undertow]]''. Set to be released on October 13, the newly remastered release is to include two versions of "Freaked", a collaboration with former [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]] vocalist [[Henry Rollins]] and Blind Idiot God's sole composition to feature vocals. They also announced plans to re-issue ''[[Cyclotron (album)|Cyclotron]]''.<ref name="midlandsrocks">{{cite web |first=Jason |last=Guest |url=http://www.themidlandsrocks.com/blind-idiot-god-undertow/ |title=Blind Idiot God – ''Undertow'' |publisher=The Midland Rocks |date=August 3, 2017 |access-date=August 20, 2017}}</ref>
== Musical style ==
Though at its core [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], Blind Idiot God's music is informed by [[punk rock]], [[Dub music|dub]], and [[european classical music|classical music]] [[composers]], notably [[György Ligeti]], [[Krzysztof Penderecki]] and [[Igor Stravinsky]]. In a 1997 ''[[Guitar Player]]'' interview, Hawkins explained one reason he drew inspiration from classical music was to use more advanced [[harmony]]: "When I listen to a lot of metal and hard rock, I think 'Great Intensity! Boring [[chord (music)|chords]]!'" The band's music also heavily drew from [[free jazz]], with its members citing [[Cecil Taylor]], [[Ornette Coleman]] and [[John Coltrane]] as being early musical influences. Former drummer Ted Epstein has also commented on the role [[Funk|funk music]] plays in his music, saying "something that has been with me since I was 15 or 16 is the idea of funk as a concept, the syncopation and the push/pull thing that exists in funk, embodied in [[Funkadelic]], [[Grandmaster Flash]], [[Sly and the Family Stone]], and [[The Meters]]."<ref name="optionmag90"/> Comparisons have also been made to [[Blue Cheer]], [[Last Exit (free jazz band)|Last Exit]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[Glenn Branca]] and [[Jimi Hendrix]].<ref name="trouserpress">{{cite magazine |first=Richard |last=Gehr |url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=blind_idiot_god |title=Blind Idiot God |magazine=[[Trouser Press]] |year=2007 |access-date=September 22, 2014}}</ref> In reviewing the band's debut, a critic of ''[[Electronic Musician]]'' noted that "if you took original [[Jimi Hendrix|Hendrix]] multi-track tapes, wiped the vocals off, and handed them to [[Scientist (musician)|Scientist]], the reggae dub-mixer, the result might sound like B.l.G."<ref name="electronicmagdebut"/>
Since its inception, Blind Idiot God's music has been entirely instrumental, with its members stating their unanimous disinterest with incorporating vocals into their arrangements. Andy Hawkins has explained "when you hear a voice, it usually has such a distinct emotional quality to it. It speaks in a whole different kind of way then the music does, so it just interferes with what we are trying to do musically." However, during the early nineties the band expressed a desire to form a separate project that integrated vocals into their music.<ref name="optionmag90"/>
===Legacy===
Filmmaker and actor [[Alex Winter]] is a long-time admirer of Blind Idiot God, having used their music in his debut feature film ''[[Freaked]]'' and again in his 2013 documentary ''[[Downloaded (film)|Downloaded]]''. In 2014 he described them as "one of the most revered and influential bands to come out of the SST era [...] they are as great and bold today, as ever." Former [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]] vocalist [[Henry Rollins]] professed himself as being a fan of their work and felt honored in having collaborated with them.<ref name="newnoisemag1"/>
==Band members==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Current members'''
* [[Will Dahl]] – bass guitar <small>(2012–present)</small>
* [[Andy Hawkins (musician)|Andy Hawkins]] – guitar <small>(1982–1996, 2001–present)</small>
* [[Tim Wyskida]] – drums <small>(2001–present)</small>
{{col-2}}
'''Former members'''
* [[Ted Epstein]] – drums <small>(1982–1996)</small>
* [[Gabriel Katz]] – bass guitar <small>(1982–1996, 2001–2012)</small>
{{col-end}}
;Timeline
<div align="left">
<timeline>
ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:50
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/2021
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Colors =
id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitar
id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:Lines value:black legend:Studio_album
Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1983
ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1984
LineData =
at:03/01/1987 color:black layer:back
at:06/01/1988 color:black layer:back
at:01/01/1992 color:black layer:back
at:02/24/2015 color:black layer:back
BarData =
bar:Andy text:"Andy Hawkins"
bar:Gabriel text:"Gabriel Katz"
bar:Will text:"Will Dahl"
bar:Ted text:"Ted Epstein"
bar:Tim text:"Tim Wyskida"
PlotData=
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:Andy from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/1996 color:Guitar
bar:Andy from:01/01/2001 till:end color:Guitar
bar:Gabriel from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/1996 color:Bass
bar:Gabriel from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2012 color:Bass
bar:Ted from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/1996 color:Drums
bar:Tim from:01/01/2001 till:end color:Drums
bar:Will from:01/01/2012 till:end color:Bass
</timeline>
</div>
==Discography==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Studio albums
*
*''[[Undertow (Blind Idiot God album)|Undertow]]'' ([[Enemy Records|Enemy]], 1988)
*''[[Cyclotron (album)|Cyclotron]]'' ([[Avant Records|Avant]], 1992)
*''[[Before Ever After]]'' (Indivisible, 2015)
{{col-2}}
;EPs
*''Purged Specimen'' (Enemy, 1989)
*''Sawtooth'' (Enemy, 1989)
{{col-end}}
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
==External links==
*{{Facebook|143091995750556|Blind Idiot God}}
*[https://indivisiblemusic.bandcamp.com/ Blind Idiot God] at [[Bandcamp]]
*{{Discogs artist}}
*{{MusicBrainz artist|id=3165e9a0-c313-47ac-ab99-f36834365e9b}}
{{Blind Idiot God}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blind Idiot God}}
[[Category:American experimental rock groups]]
[[Category:American instrumental rock musical groups]]
[[Category:American noise rock music groups]]
[[Category:American post-hardcore musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1982]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1996]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2001]]
[[Category:Musical groups from St. Louis]]
[[Category:Musical groups from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American musical trios]]
[[Category:American dub musical groups]]
[[Category:Math rock groups]]
[[Category:Rock music groups from Missouri]]
[[Category:Enemy Records artists]]
[[Category:SST Records artists]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in Missouri]]
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