Christopher Lee: Fretted and Fretless Guitars, Sampling Keyboard and Keyboards
Brent Oberlin: Vocals, Fretted, Fretless and Distorted Bass, Stick, Piano, Keyboards and Harmonica
Paul Enzio: 6, 7 and 12 String Guitars
The Chalice Vermillion
Sounds Like
we weren't big on talking about other bands for many reasons. mostly, because that kind of shorthand for 'what do they sound like' didn't really work for TI- i mean, Brent's enormously accomplished lyrics against the tight-but-epic multi-layered compositions... uh- "IF YOU LIKE ______ YOU'LL LOVE 'MODS CARVE'...
nope. anyway, we listened to, loved and studied all forms of 'underground' music (especially metal), as well as 60's/70/80's's 'classic' songwriting (including u.s./british art-rock/pop/prog stuff), and inspiredly crammed it into a stylized mid-west new wave anxiety. and anyway, influence is everywhere when you're truly engaged in a creative endeavor. we really just mostly used our own experiences in our attempt to sound like ourselves.
This site is not run by any member (or ex-member) of the band, but their input is used to maintain it and they are also the main source for everything here. At least in the beginning this site is going to be devoted to their first two albums, but it may branch out in the future.
This site is simply a work in progress until the end of Summer. For now you should check out the members' post-T.I. work:
I have been a long time fan of the band. I remember seeing the band in it's earlier stages right after they changed their name to Thought Industry and put out a demo-tape. One time my old band was involved with a Battle of the Bands at the Kellog Arena. I remember how cool it was to play there. Each band had to setup on six mini stages next to each other with their own PA setup. My band Dirty Trix got to set up next to Thought Industry. Steve Spaeth was playing guitar with them at the time. I shared my Nady wireless with him. Still have it. I remember back then, I had this weird 3 combo amp guitar setup(2 Rickenbacker Road amps and a Crate G-60 amp, because I couldn't afford a half stack at the time. We had an embarrassing PA. We borrowed some Peavy SP-1's and rented some Crate PA speakers as well. We had this Dinosaur, 12 channel Peavy mixing board. We had to use a home stereo speakers for monitors. Thought Industry was great, I was boggled how they could play all those changes and play acoustic guitars on stands as well. They sounded great had nice PA. Cryonax also played, they ended up placing first, Thought Industry second and somehow my band made third? I think we were the only band with a girl bass player at the time. We had multiple singers in the band, we were playing hard rock. I can't remember for the life of me, who the other three bands were? I always felt Thought Industry was the most original and performed the best that night. Hope you enjoyed this story.
I don't think the band ever played in Atlantic Canada, but they have a solid following in this neck of the woods. Thanks for putting this site together!
88-89 A few random Thursday's in a Potter Street house. Flying in a Blue Dream, Love Shack, and Louder Than Love, playing on the main floor. Live T.I. playing in the basement. Complete with Rush covers, and Devo on cassette during the set breaks at the bar. Good Times !
Remember that time Dustin accidently let the cops in the back kitchen door ? Ooops !
Thought Industry’s first two albums were absolute masterpieces. I wish they were still around today. Their fondness for capital O’s could have translated into a perfect political tie in.
It feels so awesome to see all this activity around TI again! I intend to add my thoughts and perspective on the first two albums this week. It was an intense time for all of us... -Christopher Lee
I grew up in 'Da Creek," listening to them - my band even opened up for them at the State once - so I think all of my Thought Industry/Desecrater curiosities have been thoroughly quenched. But if I think of anything, I'll let'cha know.
As long as we're tipping our hats to TI's "first two" albums, howsabout a little Alexander vs. The Puzzle on the playlist? Can we? Huh? Can we? Please?
I didn't know "Twitch" had a myspace page. I have all of that music from that era. I even have (what I think is Thought Industry's first release) a official release cassette tape of studio songs before the first CD was released
I don't know what 111 MZD means for sure, but here's what I found over at Leons Temple:
One Hundred Eleven Million Zebras Dead. It's how Dustin's old Desecrator drumset was made, straight from the horse's mouth about 20 million years ago...
or
100% certain [it was] Brent's license plate number. The car was larger than Donald Trumps yacht.
but then there is this:
it is true that brent's licence plate had the infamous 111 mzd stamped into it, but it is NOT the actual source of the 111 mzd concept. it is only known by dustin donaldson, christopher lee and brent oberlin, and they are known to have made a pact of eternal secrecy regarding the meaning and purpose of the cipher.
