Kill Switch...Klick: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:20, 23 June 2018

Revision as of 10:38, 22 September 2018

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[[Image:KSKfollow me4.jpg|thumb|Taken from the Follow Me video. Circa 1992]] [[Image:KSK94-01.jpg|thumb|KsK Circa 1994]] [[Image:KSK97-03.jpg|thumb|KsK Circa 1997]]

'''Kill Switch...Klick''', also known as KsK and Kill Switch (the original) is the name of an [[United States|American]] [[industrial music|industrial rock]] band. The band is best known for its releases on [[Cleopatra Records]] and [[Go-Kustom Rekords]]. KsK was formed in 1991 by [[D.A. Sebasstian]] (born Devin Edward Chastain on February 27, 1964), a writer, film maker, musician and artist who had relocated from [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]], [[California]], to [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], late in 1989 where he currently resides.

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=== Previous projects (1981 - 1991) ===

Sebasstian had been in numerous bands in [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]] starting in 1981 as bassist and lyricist for the hardcore punk band Xijix. This band played party and small club shows around the area, but broke up one year later when their guitarist joined the [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]]. In 1983 Sebasstian joined Latin avant-garde band Freaks Amor as trombonist, bassist and keyboard synthesist. Said Sebasstian, “That"That was way before MIDI synths and home computers had been invented or popularized. We literally had to mark each sound setting on the synth with grease pencils, then twist knobs like crazy in-between songs to get the right sounds.”" Freaks gigged regularly in Los Angeles and San Bernardino, playing alongside contemporaries [[Kommunity FK]] and the [[Suburban Lawns]]. Sebasstian left Freaks Amor shortly after their first self-titled E.P. was released to join Montage as lyricist and singer. This [[U2]]-, [[The Alarm]]- and [[Simple Minds]]-influenced band headlined some of the biggest clubs in L.A. at the time, including [[Gazzarri's]], Madam Wong’s East and Club Lingerie. In 1984 Montage released a four-song vinyl E.P. entitled ''Celebrate The Misery''. Shortly thereafter Sebasstian left to form his own electronic music project Aside/Beside. This project released several cassette albums but only played one show. Frustrated and strung out from drug and alcohol abuse Sebasstian left San Bernardino and moved to [[Waldorf, Maryland]], [[Atlanta]], and eventually [[Seattle]]. Early in 1991, Sebasstian got sober and began seriously writing music again and contemplating forming a new band.

===Sobriety and inspiration (1991 - 1993)===

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===Formation and ''deGenerate'' (1993 - 1998)===

KsK originally signed with [[Urge Ltd]] in 1993, a label founded by Russell Ziecker (former band mate of [[Charlie Sexton]] and before starting Urge working at [[Virgin Records]] Publishing). This relationship did not produce anything more than demo tapes and a rumored track "Big Dub" in the movie ''Headless Body Topless Bar''. The duo then signed to [[Cleopatra Records]] in 1994. The following year the band released the albums ''Beat it to Fit, Paint it to Match'' and ''Oddities & Versions'', and went on their first US tour with bassist Paul Wynia. The tour was entitled "Muzak for the Masses", and also included grindcore artists And Christ Wept. This tour was a success for the band and added to their growing fan base. When Sebasstian returned from tour he released his first solo CD on his own imprint INDVSTA MVSIC. The disc was entitled One Minute Endless and showcased a more classical and experimental side to Sebasstians song writing. Each disc was signed and numbered and encased in pieces of orange plastic fence material held together with electrical zip ties. The title track was a twenty-minute ambient piece that used vague movie samples and textures washed together in a stream of reverbs and delays. Said Jester in ''Sonic Boom'' Magazine, "This album is the solo work of Sebasstian the lead vocalist from Kill Switch... Klick. The CD itself arrives in a nifty package consisting of two pieces of orange barrier fence twist tied together and the CD itself is individually signed, hand numbered and inserted into a liner sleeve. The music is quite unlike anything that D.A. has written for KsK and borders more on classical piano in some places rather than the traditional grinding electronic industrial that you might expect. Overall the music is much mellower, more emotional and deeply personal compared to other material Sebasstian has been responsible for writing. D.A. utilizes an inordinately large amount of keyboard work on this album. The keyboards ranges from classical piano to other classical keyboard instruments as well as various wacky samples." In 1996 the KsK began work on its second music video for the single "Produkt (Mass Market Mix)". They hired director Brent Watanabe to animate and direct this lo-fi animated homage to "consumerist corporate America". Sebasstian had worked with Watanabe on several short film project previously as both actor and sound designer. In 1997 Kill Switch...Klick added former [[Transilvia]] bassist Jeremy Moss, releasing the highly acclaimed album ''deGenerate'' released on Cleopatra. Said ''The Stranger'', "deGenerate is not a great album in a local or industrial sense. It's a great album period!" Later that year, and right before their second US tour, Ditmore quit the band to pursue a career with American aviation giant [[Boeing]]. KsK’s 1997 tour was financially devastating to Sebasstian, when their tour van blew up just before their very first gig in [[San Francisco]]. Determined to finish the tour across the United States, Sebasstian borrowed additional money from Cleopatra Records, with the promise of a quick “no"no recording cost”cost" release when the band returned from tour. This album was ''ALT.'' a b-sides and alternative versions CD that actually garnished decent reviews and in fact paid back the borrowed tour money to Cleopatra Records.

===''Organica'' (1998 - 2001)===