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Geartooth was one of the greatest bands ever in Rantoul, IL in the mid to late nineties. They labeled their music as "goove-metal", taking a metal guitar riff and adding more of a grunge sound to it. They were compared to bands like Living Colour, Bad Brains, Metallica, and Slayer.
Geartooth officially formed in 1993 being known as Social Deviance as a project between John Vasquez and Dave Schmuck. Their early songs were more along the lines of speed metal and punk. Later that year, they added bass player Erik Peterson and drummer Mike Meek. Vocalist Luke Taggart was also part of the original lineup for Social Deviance but left in the first year due to his busy schedule. They cut their first tape demo in 1994 and then another one in 1995. Their only official release appeared on a Loco Diablo underground metal sampler in 1996.
Geartooth's popularity spiked in 1996 when they created and headlined the first ever "Metal March" show at Rantoul Township High School. Some critics say this was their best performance to date. They then later played at more college oriented venues, most notebly the world famous Mabel's and Chubby's Pub on Green St. in Champaign.
The band played very few shows in 1999 due to guitarist Dave Schmuck's hectic schedule as a student at the University of Illinois. As a result, the band was put on hiatus indefinately. Their last show played was in late 2000.
For a short time in 2000, the remaining members of Geartooth- Vasquez, Peterson and Meek started an acoustic rock project called "Downslide Susan". They opened for fellow local rock act, Jated Cayne at the World Hot Air Balloon competition in Rantoul. It's rumoured that songs were recorded but never released.
In 2002, former Jated Cayne frontman Nathon Jones joined Downslide Susan as lead singer with John Vasquez on guitar and the band name changed again to Brother Embassy. They are still playing actively in Central Illinois.
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