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Frost*

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This article is about the English supergroup. For other uses, see Frost (disambiguation).
Frost*
Frost* in 2008 (l-r) Dec Burke, John Mitchell, Jem Godfrey, Andy Edwards, John Jowitt
Frost* in 2008
(l-r) Dec Burke, John Mitchell, Jem Godfrey, Andy Edwards, John Jowitt
Background information
OriginEngland
GenresNeo-progressive rock
Years active2004–2006, 2008–2011, 2011-present
LabelsInsideOut
MembersJem Godfrey
John Mitchell
Nathan King
Craig Blundell
Past membersJohn Jowitt
Andy Edwards
John Boyes
Declan Burke

Frost* is an English neo-progressive rock supergroup, formed in 2004 by Jem Godfrey and members of Arena, Kino, and IQ. Frost* released their first studio album, Milliontown, in 2006, before splitting up. In 2008, Godfrey reformed Frost*, adding Darwin's Radio vocalist and guitarist, Declan Burke, to the lineup, and released their second album, Experiments in Mass Appeal. The band disbanded again in 2011, to reunite later in September, after a brief hiatus.

Band history

Formation

Frost* was formed in September 2004,[1] by songwriter, producer and musician Jem Godfrey - better known to the wider world for his work creating chart-topping pop hits for bands including Atomic Kitten - when he made a conscious decision to return to his own musical past writing and playing progressive music,[2][3] in the band Freefall.[4][5]

After listening to a broad selection of contemporary progressive music, he first approached John Mitchell of Arena, The Urbane and Kino,[2] (and currently lead guitarist and singer for It Bites). Mitchell then introduced Godfrey to John Jowitt (also of Arena, and additionally IQ and Jadis), subsequently leading to meeting Andy Edwards (of The Wikkamen, Priory of Brion, IQ and the Ian Parker Band).[3][2] John Boyes, Godfrey's former band-mate in Freefall in the 1990s, and from the band Rook, had already performed significant rhythm guitar work on the early recordings.[3][2]

Recording and performance

Frost*'s first album was titled Milliontown, the 26 minute long eponymous final track of which was inspired by the book The Apprentice by Gordon Houghton.[2] The album was released in the United States on 18 July 2006 and in Europe on 24 July.[6] The band went on a brief tour to play a selection from the album, supporting Pallas on a four date tour of the Netherlands and Germany in October 2006.

Dissolution and re-birth

Shortly after returning from the tour, Godfrey announced - by way of an article on the band's blog on MySpace on the 29th of the month (since removed), and re-iterated by InsideOut in a bulletin on the same site two days later (expired) - that due to his increasing professional and personal commitments elsewhere, Frost* would be dissolved after fulfilling four remaining concert dates. It later emerged that an appearance at the RoSfest in 2007, in America - which was the final scheduled date - had been cancelled.[7][8] The final appearance of Frost* for the time being, in support of their album Milliontown, was back-up for The Flower Kings at The Scala in Kings Cross, London, on 10 December 2006.[9]

However, in early 2007, Godfrey revived the band name and wrote in his blog about writing material for a second Frost* album. Godfrey has throughout 2008 posted several videos on YouTube called the "Frost* Reports," under the user name Planetfrost. In between the recording in early 2008, Frost* supported Spock's Beard for a small tour. Videos documenting their tour are also included on their YouTube site.

Following the band's reformation, Godfrey recruited Declan Burke of Darwin's Radio to supplement vocals and guitars on the follow-up album, Experiments in Mass Appeal which was released on 17 November 2008.[10]

In November 2008, Andy Edwards announced that due to his new job as a college lecturer he would no longer play live with the band, although he might be involved in future recording work.

In January 2009, Nick D'Virgilio of Spock's Beard was announced as guest drummer for Frost*'s performance at RoSFest 2009. Going forward, live drumming duties were to be handled by Alex Thomas (SquarePusher, Badly Drawn Boy), but will now be handled by Craig Blundell.

In May 2009, John Jowitt announced his departure from the band. With gigs scheduled in support of Dream Theater, Jem announced bass duties would be handled by Level 42 guitarist, Nathan King.

On 29 May 2009, Jem announced via AudioBoo that a live Frost* album, recorded at ROSFest 2009, would be titled "The Philadelphia Experiment". Excerpts from that performance were released as a limited edition EP, titled "FrostFest Live CD", including a new song called "The Forget You Song", recorded at The Cube, East Sussex.

The Dividing Line

On 2 February 2010, Jem announced via his blog that he had been invited to participate in the 10th anniversary party of The Dividing Line Broadcast Network, Vancouver, British Columbia's internet-based progressive rock radio station. Godfrey accepted, and, to thank them for their support of Frost*, tasked himself to write and record a new Frost* song, aptly titled, "The Dividing Line," to be completed within the eight weeks then remaining until the party.

Godfrey gathered not only fellow Frost* mates John Mitchell (It Bites), Andy Edwards, Dec Burke and Nathan King, but also enlisted the talents of Tara Busch, Mark "madfiddler" Knight, Lyndon Connah and original Frost* guitarist, John Boyes, for the one-off project. A special Frost* Report, Dividing Line edition, was posted on Godfrey's blog, as well as PlanetFrost*, the band's YouTube channel, providing a video chronicle of the song's status.

Jem announced on 31 March on the Frost* forum that the track was completed and would be included as a bonus track on the 2-disc live album, "The Philadelphia Experiment."

"The Dividing Line" premiered during The Dividing Line's 10th anniversary broadcast on Saturday, 3 April 2010.

Indefinite hiatus

Frost* played some select shows in December 2010. On 1 March 2011, Godfrey announced that he had put the band on indefinite hiatus. He stated that the main reasons for his decision were that he felt uncomfortable as the band leader, and that the increased workload from running the band was having a negative impact on his health.[11] On 14 April 2011, Godfrey announced that he is writing new material, this time without a band. The name of the project is yet unknown.

Return of Frost* and third album

On 16 September 2011, Godfrey announced via his blog, that Frost* would once again be returning for a third album, stating "As yet I have no idea of the form, shape, personnel or sound of this new album, but it will definitely be Frost* shaped. I'll once again be making Frost* reports available online during the process and it'll no doubt be a bloody madhouse throughout, but that's Frost*".[12] Frost* performed a sold-out Christmas show at the House of Progression, Kingston upon Thames on 16 December 2011.

Throughout the rest of 2012, Frost* uploaded video reports on the album's progress and have now currently fully started production on the new album, teasers can viewed through their official YouTube page, with monthly reports to follow, leading up to the album due for release during the second quarter of 2016.

On 12 May 2013, Frost* played at Celebr8.2 Prog Festival at the Hippodrome. In December 2013 Frost* released 'The Rockfield Files' DVD and CD.

In December 2015, Frost* announced a UK tour for June/July 2016.[13] The tour will promote the band's currently untitled third studio album, tentatively scheduled for release in May 2016. The tour will include an appearance on the Prog Stage at the 2016 Ramblin Man Fair, Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent, UK on either 23 or 24 July 2016, the exact date had at that point not been decided. On 17th January 2016, Jem Godfrey announced the album title as 'Falling Satellites'.

Discography

Studio Albums

Other

Line-up

References

  1. ^ "Band profile, Frost". InsideOut Music. Archived from the original on 15 October 2006. Retrieved 24 June 2006.
  2. ^ a b c d e Godfrey, Jem (23 June 2006). "Prog Special" (Interview). Interviewed by Jon Patrick (aka Twang), Cain Mosni. {{cite interview}}: Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |subjectlink= ignored (|subject-link= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b c "Interview with Jem Godfrey from Frost (30-06-2006)". Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Freefall band profile - Lazy Gun Records". Retrieved 23 July 2006.
  5. ^ "Freefall band profile - New Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock". Retrieved 23 July 2006.
  6. ^ "Album listing, Frost: Milliontown". InsideOut Music. Archived from the original on 15 October 2006. Retrieved 24 June 2006.
  7. ^ "Frost". Rites of Spring festival. Archived from the original on 26 October 2006. Retrieved 27 November 2006.
  8. ^ "FROST BOWS OUT REPLACEMENT GALAHAD ROSFEST 2007". Rites of Spring festival. 26 November 2006. Archived from the original on 26 October 2006. Retrieved 27 November 2006.
  9. ^ "DAVE LING - MUSIC JOURNALIST". Dave Ling. 11 December 2006. Retrieved 11 December 2006. So I arrive in the foyer of the Scala (where the band are due to open for The Flower Kings) to interview their leader, Jem Godfrey, and the first words he says to me are: "Nice to meet you, this is our last gig."
  10. ^ F Catalog @ progrock.co.uk
  11. ^ Godfrey, Jem (1 March 2011). "Important - Please Read". frost-music.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "The View From The Cube". 7 March 2012. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "Frost* 2016 UK Tour". 17 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
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