Eric Moore (drummer)

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Eric Moore
King Gizzard & The LIzard Wizard (45669988235).jpg
Moore playing at a concert in Sydney in 2019
Background information
Occupation(s)Drummer, manager
Instrument(s)Drums, percussion, theremin, keyboards
Years active2009–2020, 2022 (musician)
2010–present (manager)
Labels Flightless Records
Formerly of Love Migrate
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Moore wearing a Mac DeMarco shirt playing at Rough Trade East in London on December 1, 2014 King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard at Rough Trade East (15925693382).jpg
Moore wearing a Mac DeMarco shirt playing at Rough Trade East in London on December 1, 2014

Eric Moore is an Australian music manager, label runner and former drummer who was part of the founding three members of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, before departing from the band on August 25, 2020.

Biography

Starting in 2009 Moore was in a band named Goodnight Owl along with Joey Walker and his sister Bella led by frontman Eddie Alexander that in 2011 was renamed to Love Migrate. Eric would be a member of Love Migrate until sometime after the release of their EP Shimmer Through The Night in 2015. [1]

Moore was a founding member of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard in 2010, going to school with fellow band members in Geelong and Deniliquin. [2] The band was initially a group of students of a Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Bachelor of Contemporary Music Performance course; Moore, Stu Mackenzie, Joey Walker, Lucas Harwood, and Michael Cavanagh. [3] The band continued to grow to a stable seven members, including Cook Craig and Ambrose Kenny-Smith. [3] [4]

Both Moore and Cavanagh were drummers, however, Moore started as the band's manager, before shifting to also playing drums. [5] Oftentimes the band would initially record with just Cavanagh on the initial track, with Moore's drums being overdubbed on top. [5] As such, Moore had limited practice for live shows and had limited rehearsals, instead "adapting" to Cavanagh's playing style. [5]

As the band's manager, Moore founded Flightless Records in 2012 when no other record label would sign them in order to get their music out to audiences. [6] [7] [8] During the label's early years he would ship albums in any old container, including pizza boxes, before signing a deal with ATO Records for an exclusive label and distribution partnership. [8] [9] During his time at both King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and Flightless, Moore also signed the Murlocs, Stonefield, Orb, The Babe Rainbow, Tropical Fuck Storm, and Amyl and the Sniffers to the record label. [7] It was Moore's idea to release the band's 12th album, Polygondwanaland , for free. [10] Moore was also one of the principal supporters of Gizzfest, the band's former festival. [11]

On August 25, 2020, Moore posted to Flightless Records that he would be departing from the band without giving a specific reason why. [2] [12] The departure came after the release of Chunky Shrapnel , while the band was working on K.G. . [7] Moore stated that he would continue to work with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard as a member of Flightless. [2] Shortly after the band released a statement that they were "sad to see him go" and that Eric would be focusing on Flightless full-time. [13] [14] [15]

In an interview in 2021 the band said of Moore's departure; "In terms of the music creation process, it hasn’t changed a huge amount" and that Moore "was always the label guy." [16] Shortly after Moore's departure in 2020, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard pulled out of Flightless Records, opting instead to independently release their albums under their own label KGLW, which would later be replaced by p(doom) Records. The sole exception was L.W. , which was contractually obligated to be released by Flightless. [17] [18] King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard would be joined shortly by most of Flightless' other acts, including The Murlocs, on their own label. [18]

In 2022, Moore made a brief return to music when he filled in on drums for Shannon and the Clams on their Australian tour. [19]

References

  1. Mahina, Kat. "The AU Interview: Eddie Alexander of Love Migrate, formerly Goodnight Owl (MEL)". theaureview. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Martin, Josh. "King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard drummer Eric Moore leaves the band". NME . Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Dunworth, Liberty. "Check out how an early King Gizzard sounded with newly unearthed footage". Guitar.com . Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  4. Sirisuk, J.L. "King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Enter Your Mind Fuzz". Interview . Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 Li-Pino, Marian. "King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's Eric Moore and Michael Cavanagh". Modern Drummer . Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  6. Cashmere, Paul. "King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Spent 2022 Breaking The Rules". Noise11 . Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 "King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's drummer and manager departs band". ABC News . Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Graves, Wren. "Eric Moore, Drummer/Manager of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Leaves Band". Consequence . Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  9. Milligan, Kaitlin. "Flightless & ATO Records Form Exclusive Label and Distribution Partnership". bwwmusic. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  10. Broerman, Michael. "Eric Moore, Drummer/Manager Of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Announces Departure From Band". liveforlivemusic. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  11. Mack, Emmy. "King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard's Drummer & Manager Eric Moore Exits The Band". Music Feeds . Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  12. Monroe, Jazz. "King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Part Ways With Drummer/Manager Eric Moore". Pitchfork . Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  13. Slingerland, Calum. "King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Drummer Eric Moore Leaves Band". Exclaim! . Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  14. Thomas, Lee. "King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard drummer Eric Moore leaves the band". Far Out . Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  15. Kenneally, Cerys. "King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's drummer and manager Eric Moore announces departure from band". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  16. Cartledge, Luke. "Reactivating the soul: the first interview with King Gizzard about new album LW". Loud and Quiet . Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  17. Cohen, Jonathan. "King Gizzard Crown New Label With Jay Watson/Ambrose Kenny-Smith LP". Spin . Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  18. 1 2 "Gizz announces new p(doom) record label". gizzhead. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  19. "Shannon and the Clams…Just Splendourful". Music Festivals Australia. Retrieved April 9, 2025.