Bigelf

Bigelf
Bigelf, as seen on the cover of Cheat the Gallows. From left to right: Duffy Snowhill, Damon Fox, Froth, Ace Mark.
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, CA - Helsinki, Finland
Genres	Progressive rock, progressive metal, psychedelic rock, hard rock, heavy metal
Years active	1991 - Present
Labels	Custard Records
Associated acts	Ben Jelen
Website	http://www.bigelf.com
Members
Damon Fox (vocals/keyboards) Ace Mark (guitar) Duffy Snowhill (bass) Froth (drums)
Past members
A.H.M. Butler-Jones (vocals/guitar) Richard Anton (vocals/bass) Thom Sullivan (drums)
Notable instruments
Mellotron, Hammond C3, Gibson SG/Les Paul, Minimoog, Orange amplifiers

Bigelf is a progressive rock/progressive metal band formed in Los Angeles, CA in 1991. They have since released three studio albums.

Biography

Bigelf were formed as a psychedelic/glam-tinged hard rock outfit in 1991 in Los Angeles, California by Damon Fox and Richard Anton. They initially gained a large underground following. Bigelf's original line-up included Damon Fox (vocals/keyboards/guitar), A.H.M. Butler-Jones (vocals/guitar), Richard Anton (vocals/bass) and Thom Sullivan (drums).

The quartet recorded 6-track EP Closer To Doom in spring 1995 co-produced by Sylvia Massy. Closer To Doom was released in 1996 and established them as 'fathers' of the psychedelic doom movement that spawned the L.A. stoner-rock scene. The first line-up change came when Steve Frothingham replaced Sullivan in late '95; soon afterward founding member Richard Anton would exit the band.

Continuing on as a three-piece, they recorded Money Machine in summer 1997. Swedish prog & heavy metal label, Record Heaven would eventually release it in 2000. This led the band to tour Scandinavia where they would become a quartet again with addition of Finnish bass player Duffy Snowhill. In 2001, Ace Mark (also from Finland) would join the ranks replacing Butler-Jones (he left after 6-track EP Goatbridge Palace including four live tracks recorded in Sweden in December 2000). Regaining focus with a new, solid foundation, Bigelf signed with Warner Music Sweden in 2002 and released Hex the following year. The band attained cult status overseas, most notably in Northern Europe.

August 2008 saw Bigelf release Cheat The Gallows, the band's debut release for Linda Perry's Custard Records. It includes the lead single "Money, It's Pure Evil".

In 2009, Bigelf toured with Dream Theater on their Progressive Nation 2009 tour. They were originally billed alongside Opeth and Unexpect on the European leg of the tour from September to November, but after Pain of Salvation and Beardfish were forced to drop out because of the bankruptcy of SPV, their record label's (InsideOut) distributor, Bigelf were also added to the North American tour as opening acts alongside bands Scale the Summit and Zappa Plays Zappa between July and August. The band once again supported Dream Theater as their opening act for the Mexican and South American tour, in March 2010. In April 2010, Bigelf supported Porcupine Tree on their North American Tour.

Discography

Albums

• Money Machine (May 2000 - Record Heaven, Sweden)
• Hex (Oct. 2003 - Warner Music Sweden; Oct. 2007 - Custard Records)
• Cheat The Gallows (Aug. 2008 - Custard Records; Sep. 2009 - Powerage Records UK )

EPs

• Closer To Doom (Jan. 1996 - Third Hole Records, USA; Aug. 2001 - Record Heaven, with 4 bonus tracks)
• Goatbridge Palace (May 2001 - Record Heaven)
• The Madhatter (Jun. 2003 - Warner Music Sweden)

Current line-up

• Damon Fox - vocals, keyboards
• Ace Mark - guitar
• Duffy Snowhill - bass
• Steve Frothingham a.k.a. Froth - drums

External links

• Official site
• Bigelf's Official Myspace Page