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November 2009: WATCHTOWER is featured in the current issue of DECIBEL Magazine as part of their Hall of Fame album series. Read the intro to The Making of 'Control and Resistance' online by clicking on the Hall of Fame logo above; you can order a copy of the magazine by clicking the Decibel logo below!

1983:
The band is approached by Chris Gates of the Big Boys (and later Junkyard fame) to start doing shows at The Ritz in downtown Austin and also contribute an original song to 'Cottage Cheese From The Lips of Death - A Texas Hardcore Compilation' (Ward-9 Records) alongside future HC legends such as D.R.I., The Offenders, Big Boys, and the Butthole Surfers whose Gibby Haynes also designs the cover art. WATCHTOWER are the only metal band on the compilation. Barely 18 years old, they record an extremely raw version of their future live classic 'Meltdown' at B.O.S.S. studios in San Antonio, TX with Bob O'Neill and Rick Shreves behind the boards. Other early originals from that period include 'Fighters of the End' and 'Tricks of the Trade' as the foursome hone in on their sound. Recalls Jason McMaster: "By the end of 1983, we had a set of unbelievable, technical, fast, crazy, time changing, sophisticated sounds coming out of the mill we had created, making a planet that we didn't feel had been fully instigated. The more original and weird we got, the more people came out to shows and really freaked. Something was happening on a small and humble level. That was definitely exciting for us."

1984:
Things hit a temporary snag when the release of WATCHTOWER's debut album, 'Energetic Disassembly', recorded in the summer of '83 at B.O.S.S. (short for 'Bob O'Neill Sound Studios'), is pulled. O'Neill, who had signed the band to his Rainforest Records label, decides to shut down operations after only a singular release (the 'Prepare To Die' EP by San Antonio locals Slayer), leaving 'Tower high and dry. Although the tapes are shelved, a re-worked 'Meltdown', 'Tyrants In Distress', 'Argonne Forest', and 'Cimmerian Shadows' are put into circulation as the 'Meltdown' demo and heavily traded in underground circles. WATCHTOWER are featured in the pages of UK metal bible Metal Forces, who describe the Texans' sound as "Rush at 200 mp/h", and start to garner a steadily growing, rabid following among both American and European metal heads. Aside from headlining their own gigs, the quartet also lands opening slots for the likes of Slayer, Anthrax, Trouble, and later King Diamond and Yngwie Malmsteen (who would try to steal Doug for his own band ca. '88!), among others.

1985:
WATCHTOWER move from guitarist Billy White's bedroom into a new rehearsal space in South East Austin which is run by Fred Mitchum. He becomes the band's manager and sets up studio time for the second version of 'Energetic Disassembly' (the government term for the detonation of a nuclear warhead). The album is recorded locally at Cedar Creek Studio with engineer Fred Remmert, with the exception of 'Tyrants In Distress' and 'Meltdown', which are cut with Kerry Crafton at Earth And Sky Studio. Opting to go the Do-It-Yourself route, the band tap into drummer Rick Colaluca's savings and press up 3.000 vinyl copies and 1.500 cassettes that bear the Zombo Records logo (named after Zombo, Mitchum's mute dog). 'Energetic Disassembly' is released in the fall of 1985 and the band's mix of frantic, jazzoid techno thrash and apocalyptic, socially aware lyrics hits the scene with a vengeance and elicits rave reviews around the globe. WATCHTOWER are now the biggest local metal draw and fans from as far away as Europe make the pilgrimage to Austin to witness with their own eyes what they had only heard/read about in magazines.

1986:
Despite selling well, packing venues all over Texas, getting tons of press worldwide, and being recognized by the Austin Chronicle and glossy Texas Monthly, founding member and main songwriter, Billy White, decides to leave the band in order to pursue other styles of music. However, White agrees to play the previously booked out-of-state shows in California, set up by Ron Quintana, editor for Metal Mania and a DJ at college radio station KUSF (also the man who coined the word 'Metallica'). WATCHTOWER play two shows in San Francisco, October 4 at the Rock on Broadway and October 6 at Mabuhay Gardens, both attended by a who's who of the local scene, including members of Testamant and Exodus as well as guitarist Marty Friedman who offers Rick and Doug to join his new, in-the-works project, Cacophony, after Friedman had earlier been approached by Jason to join WATCHTOWER in place of White! Both decline but Keyser tries out for the vacant bass slot in Metallica after the recent death of Cliff Burton - an audition set up by Jason via Kirk Hammett while staying at Gene Hoglan's place in Cali looking for a new guitar player! Similarly, McMaster himself is approached by fellow Texans Pantera after the departure of original frontman, Terry Glaze. Eventually, things settle down when San Antonio native Ron Jarzombek (ex-S.A.Slayer) agrees to take over for Billy White (who would team up with Don Dokken on 'Up From The Ashes' before releasing a pair of solo records in the mid '90s). Says Jason: "Ron and Billy were friends, and we all knew there was no auditions to be had. Ron was the man necessary to fill Billy's shoes - he knew it and the band knew it. Even though he wouldn't join immediately, feeling a bit strange about taking his friend's place in one of the bands that he had played many shows with and shared respect for."

1987:
Ron Jarzombek makes his WATCHTOWER live debut on January 16 at The Ritz and the band proceed to write material for their sophomore album. In March, they cut a 24-track demo for 'The Eldritch' and 'Instruments of Randon Murder' with Fred Remmert at Cedar Creek and another two tracks, 'The Fall of Reason' and 'Plastic Lasagna' (later re-titled 'Hidden Instincts'), on a 4-track recorder. 'Plastic' marks the first writing collaboration with newbie Jarzombek. In October, Jason McMaster is approached by a couple of local bands to fill in on some shows as guest vocalist doing covers. One project, Onyx, quickly snowballs into Dangerous Toys who are offered a 7-album deal with Columbia Records (part of CBS, now Sony Music) in early 1988 on the strength of a two-song demo. McMaster is forced to choose between his two bands and decides to leave 'Tower. Dangerous Toys subsequently land 2 big MTV hits, 'Teasin', Pleasin'' and 'Scared', and their eponymous 1989 debut reaches near gold status.

1988:
Looking for a suitable replacement to step in for the Toys-bound McMaster, WATCHTOWER decide to give it a try with Mike Soliz, formerly with Austin locals Assalant, Militia, and earlier Fallen Angel (also McMaster's pre-WT outfit). The band record one song, titled 'Dangerous Toy' (.......), with Soliz at Fire Station studios in San Marcos, TX in January of '89. Not feeling entirely compatible, the two parties decide to go their separate ways again after less than a year and the search for a singer is back on.

1989:
'Dangerous Toy' is released on the 'Doomsday News 2' compilation on Noise Records who the band finally sign to after being courted by the German company as far back as 1986 when Celtic Frost's Tom G. Warrior returned to Europe raving about WATCHTOWER who had opened up for Frost. Enter: Alan Tecchio, frontman for New Jersey's Hades who is ready to move on to a new situation. Prodded by long-time friend and penpal, Jason McMaster, Tecchio, who is already familiar with the band, learns a few songs and flies down to Texas for the audition. Alan gets the gig and in August the band fly to (West) Berlin, Germany to record their new album at Sky Trak Studios with British engineer Alan Leeming. Leeming is dismissed due to 'health problems' and second engineer Tom Stokinger has to rescue the sessions. The band also play an impromptu gig in Berlin and another show at Live Station in Dortmund on September 4 opening up for label mates Rage. 'Control And Resistance' is released internationally to great fanfare in October of '89, featuring four co-writes each by White/Keyser and Jarzombek/Keyser. A promotional video clip for 'The Eldritch' is shot on location at Kisslegg Castle in Southern Germany but eventually rejected by MTV USA on the basis of having "too many edits"............

1990:
From March 10 through April 9, WATCHTOWER embark on a co-headline tour of Europe (watch live videos HERE!) with Swiss technical thrashers and label mates, Coroner, which sees the potent package spread their progressive gospel in a half dozen countries, including England, France, Germany, Holland, Austria, and Switzerland. Back in the US, the band undertake some limited touring, mostly on the East Coast, including a gig involving a Hades reunion show! When the members regroup at home to start writing for their third album, tentatively titled 'Mathematics', things come to a head with Tecchio who leaves the band to re-join ex-Hades band mate Dan Lorenzo in Non-Fiction. Compounding matters even further, Ron Jarzombek's hand problems, which first manifested themselves during the recording of 'Control And Resistance', are getting worse and the guitarist is forced to undergo several surgeries. Ron is out of commission for the next two years and WATCHTOWER go on hiatus for an indefinite period of time.

1993:
German indie label Institute of Art acquire the rights to 'Energetic Disassembly' and re-issue the album on CD for the first time ever. Before the appearance of a Brazilian made vinyl bootleg, prices for an original copy of the highly collectible Zombo LP had reached into the triple digits! IOA release ED as both a 'Limited Picture Disc Edition' in a red jewel case and as a regular version. The CD also comes with an array of rare band photos, lyrics, and liner notes by Doug Keyser. The running order differs from the original and has been changed to: 01. Asylum 02. Meltdown 03. Tyrants In Distress 04. Argonne Forest 05. Energetic Disassembly 06. Violent Change 07. Social Fears 08. Cimmerian Shadows.

The 1990's:
Bassist Doug Keyser and drummer Rick Colaluca join local funk/rock/rap crossover act Retarded Elf who manage to cultivate a sizable regional following and record an album, 'Trick Quigger', released by Pony Canyon in Japan. Guitarist Ron Jarzombek joins forces with drummer/brother Bobby Jarzombek and bassist Pete Perez (both members of Riot) in Spastic Ink whose music is akin to an instrumental version of WATCHTOWER; the trio issues 'Ink Complete' in 1997 via Germany's Dream Circle label. Ron also guests on the acclaimed Gordian Knot debut album, featuring members of Cynic, King Crimson, and Dream Theater. Vocalist Jason McMaster releases 3 more albums with Dangerous Toys, the last two on DMZ Records after getting dropped by Columbia. He also fronts KISS cover band Sikk and gigs and records with both Gahdzilla Motor Company and AC/DC worshipers Broken Teeth who would become Jason's new main band.

1999:
The members of WATCHTOWER are approached by Nuclear Blast Records about contributing a song to a planned 'Tribute to Accept'. Everybody is up for it and 'Run If You Can' off the 'Breaker' album is recorded in Austin and San Antonio on a shoe-string budget. It is the first new WATCHTOWER studio recording in some 10 years.

2000:
WATCHTOWER are invited to play the prestigious Bang Your Head!!! Festival in Balingen, Germany. The band accept the offer and Jason McMaster, Ron Jarzombek, Doug Keyser, and Rick Colaluca reunite for the first time since 1988. Preceding BYH, the group schedule two warm-up shows at San Antonio's Medieval Knights and Austin's Back Room on June 23 and 24, respectively. Both gigs are packed to the gills and attended by many out-of-towners, including the late Chuck Schuldiner, eager to witness Texas metal history first hand. WATCHTOWER play their first ever European show with McMaster on July 1, introduced on stage by Schmier of legendary German thrashers Destruction. Two more Texas shows follow on August 23 at the Aerial Theater in Houston and August 24 at the Bronco Bowl in Dallas when long-time fan Mike Portnoy asks 'Tower to support Dream Theater. On an upswing, the band consider commencing work on the long awaited 'Mathematics' album although McMaster later cautions "do not expect months to be the clock, it has been years and might take years to complete 'Mathematics'."

2002:
San Antonio-based Monster Records issue a 15-song WATCHTOWER retrospective of rare and unreleased recordings. Titled 'Demonstrations In Chaos', the album contains the original 1984 B.O.S.S. 'Energetic Disassembly' sessions (with only 'Violent Change' gone missing), the 1987 demos with Ron Jarzombek on guitar, 'Control & Resistance' and 'Cathode Ray Window' (both recorded on a boombox in Billy's bedroom!), a 1985 live version of 'Balled Assassin' from the Cameo Theater in San Antonio, as well as the 'Cottage Cheese From The Lips of Death' rendition of 'Meltdown'. Apparent bootlegs of the out-of-print 'Energetic Disassembly' CD bearing the Institute Of Art name are offered by a couple of online retailers with a release date of July 8 but then mysteriously pulled.

2004:
Jason McMaster, who contributes lead vocals on five songs, and Doug Keyser both guest on Spastic Ink's 'Ink Compatible' album, making Ron Jarzombek's latest effort a 3/4 WATCHTOWER studio reunion. On the live front, WATCHTOWER fly to Europe to headline the first night of the Headway Festival, a 2-day prog metal event held at P60 in Amstelveen, Holland on April 3 and 4. The band also play Sam's Burger Joint in San Antonio on May 1 for the second annual Robb's Metal Works showcase. Monster Records, now Monster Underground, re-issue 'Energetic Disassembly' on October 5 with slightly altered cover artwork and the original running order restored. The CD also contains a 10-page booklet, featuring lyrics, photos, liner notes from Doug and Jason, and a collage of 80's magazine quotes/articles.

2006:
Monster Underground, now Rockadrome, re-release 'Demonstrations In Chaos'.

2009:
WATCHTOWER are confirmed to co-headline the 13th edition of Germany's Keep It True Festival, set to take place in April 2010. It will be the band's first European show in some 6 years. Jason, Ron, Rick and Doug also re-commence work on 'Mathematics' with a view toward a 2010 release.

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