Switchblade Symphony
Switchblade Symphony was an American gothic rock band from San Francisco, California. Their music combined orchestral sounds with heavy synth sequences and ethereal vocals to create a union of classical music and gothic rock.
History
Switchblade Symphony was formed in 1989 by composer Susan Wallace and vocalist Tina Root. The band's name refers to the cutting up elements of classical music to mix them with harder sounds.They released their first album in 1995 on the Cleopatra Records label. They also had two live guitarists, first Robin Jacobs and then George Earth, and three live drummers, first Eric Gebow, Justin Clayton, and then Scott van Shoick.
The band's second album, Bread and Jam for Frances, was released in 1997. The album peaked at #119 on the CMJ Radio Top 200.
They released their third and final studio album, “The Three Calamities" in May 1999, also on Cleopatra.
Switchblade Symphony disbanded in November 1999. Subsequently, Tina Root started Tre Lux. In 2008, Tina Root and George Earth formed Small Halo, a band based out of Los Angeles, California.
Their song "Clown" was featured in the 1998 film Wicked starring Julia Stiles. Their song "Gutter Glitter" was also featured in an episode of The Boulet Brothers' Dragula.
Discography
Albums and EPs
- Serpentine Gallery
- Scrapbook
- Bread and Jam for Frances
- The Three Calamities
- Sinister Nostalgia
- Sweet, Little Witches
- ''Serpentine Gallery Deluxe''
Singles
- "Clown"
- "Drool"
Other
- Fable
- Elegy
- "Girlscout"
Compilation albums
- From the Machine, featured the song: "Mine Eyes"
- Gothic Rock Volume 2: 80's Into 90's
- Gothik
- Wired Injections
- Gothic Divas Presents: Switchblade Symphony, Tre Lux, and New Skin
- Psycho Tina's Hell House Of Horrors, featured the song "Witches "
- Burning From the Outside: Retail Slut, featured the song "Clown "
- The Devil's Songbook, featured the song "Wicked"
- Virgin Voices 2, A Tribute to Madonna, featured the song "Lucky Star"