Gaza (band)

Last updated

Gaza
Origin Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Genres Metalcore, sludge metal, [1] grindcore [2] [3]
Years active2004–2013
Labels Black Market Activities
Spinoffs Cult Leader
Past membersCasey Hansen
Anthony Lucero
Michael Mason
Jon Parkin
Chris Clement
Dustin Dransfield
Dreu Hudson
Matt Nanes
Luke Sorenson
Website gazamusic.net

Gaza was an American metalcore band from Salt Lake City, Utah.

Contents

Formed in 2004, they were signed to Black Market Activities and released one extended play and three full-length albums. They are known for their complex and heavy sound, as well as their outspoken anti-religious and political views. [4] [5]

History

The band formed in Salt Lake City intending to be an indie rock band but, according to frontman Jon Parkin, that "lasted about half a practice". [4] According to Parkin, the band was named after "perhaps the most obvious example of religious turmoil," and he said "we don’t affiliate ourselves with either side of the conflict." [4]

The original lineup consisted of Casey Hansen on drums, Parkin on bass, and Michael Mason and Luke Sorenson on guitars. With this lineup they played their first two shows with different vocalists  first with Dustin Dransfield and then with Dreu Hudson. After their departure, Parkin switched to lead vocals, and bass player Matt Nanes was added. [6] With this lineup, the band recorded their debut EP East in 2004, which was distributed by Exigent Records. [7]

Nanes left the band after the EP release, and Chris Clement joined as bass player.

In 2006, the band signed to label Black Market Activities, on which they have released I Don't Care Where I Go When I Die .

Clement was unable to tour and turned bassist role fully over to Bird Eater band mate Anthony Lucero, who retained the spot for the duration of the project. Gaza’s new permanent lineup recorded He Is Never Coming Back . After the release of He Is Never Coming Back, Sorenson left the band, leaving them as a four-piece group. The final lineup recorded No Absolutes in Human Suffering . [8]

In late 2012, an unnamed woman alleged that a member of Gaza had raped her, later identifying the member as vocalist Jon Parkin. In January 2013, the band posted a statement denying the allegations and the matter was later resolved by the two parties. [9] Despite resolving the issue, the band later announced that it would be breaking up, with the other members citing tension between them and Parkin. [10] Bassist Anthony Lucero stated:

It started to become really frustrating, and tours were getting cancelled, and all kinds of stuff was happening, so when that stupid, horrible shit blew up on the Internet, then it had reached the point where the three of us said that we'd had enough of this, it's done, and so we decided to actually kick Jon [Parkin] out of the band. Then we sat with Gaza for a while, trying to figure out what we were going to do, and eventually it felt like the only right thing to do was just start from scratch. [11]

In May 2013, Michael Mason, Casey Hansen and Anthony Lucero started a new band called Cult Leader. [12]

Band members

Final lineup

Former members

Timeline

Gaza (band)

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

See also

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References

  1. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Gaza Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  2. Mason, Stewart. "I Don't Care Where I Go When I Die - Gaza|Review". AllMusic . Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  3. Stousy, Brandon (September 14, 2012). "Gaza: No Absolutes in Human Suffering". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Cook, Toby (August 25, 2011). "Never Coming Back: An Interview With Gaza". The Quietus . Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  5. Brown, Kit (June 11, 2012). "Interviewing GAZA; Dirty Music, Nice Dudebros!". metalinjection.net. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  6. Official Facebook Page, see 2011.
  7. Exigent Records on Last.fm.
  8. Gaza on Black Market Activities.
  9. Scheurs, Jason (January 16, 2013). "Gaza Singer Jon Parkin Responds to Allegations of Rape". Exclaim! . Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  10. Newsdesk, (writer). ""GAZA Calls It Quits"". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  11. Adams, Gregory (April 22, 2014). "Cult Leader: Forging Ahead". Exclaim! . Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  12. Adams, Gregory (May 28, 2013). "Gaza Members Reunite as Cult Leader". Exclaim! . Retrieved May 11, 2022.