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Pitchshifter - Biography


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1998-

1995-1998

1991-1995

Biography

PITCHSHIFTER have been a mainstay in the British music scene for over 13 years. below is an abridged biography of their achievements to date.

In printed media the band has graced the covers of magazines such as Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Rocksound, Big Cheese and many more. They have recorded numerous sessions for the infamous John Peel Show (RIP) as well as become staples on XFM and the Radio 1's rock shows in the UK. Frontman J.S. Clayden was also the longest staring guest columnist for Metal Hammer Magazine.

On TV the band have graced the small screen all over the world from MTV's Fashionably Loud in Jamaica to Japan's Fuji TV. Pitchshifter's music has even been used by industry giants such as Volkswagen to promote the release of their new Vortex edition Beetle.

In movies Pitchshifter's music has been used in major motion pictures, trailers and soundtracks, from Mortal Kombat (which earned the band their first platinum sales disc) and Paycheck (starring Ben Affleck & Uma Thurman, directed by John Woo) to cult classic The Crow and oddball Sci-Fi thriller Brainscan starring Edward Furlong.

Video games are no strangers to the music of Pitchshifter. Hot titles such as Test Drive, Twisted Metal, SX Superstar & Rallisport Challenge 2 have all used the music of Pitchshifter to dramatically enhance the gaming experience.

In the live arena Pitchshifter's show is legendary. From the now infamous band-induced stage invasion at the Phoenix Festival to a piano solo with a sledgehammer at the Garage Club in London, Pitchshifter's live show has always been incendiary. They have played main stage at the Reading Music Festival and toured the UK, USA & Europe on Ozzfest and Warped Tour. In fact, Pitchshifter have wrecked havoc in over 25 countries worldwide alongside touring partners: Deftones, Quicksand, Tool, Fugazi, Static X, Black Sabbath, Incubus, Taproot, Hundred Reasons, Limp Bizkit and many more. Pitchshifter even gave bands like Lost Prophets and Therapy? their first breaks as support acts on the road in the UK.

In the studio Pitchshifter have recorded nine albums. many singles (and their accompanying videos) and made their own DVD. They have collaborated with Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys), John Stanier (Helmet/Tomohawk), machine (Hed-PE/SEV/Lamb of God) and Dave Jerden (Alice In Chains/Jane's Addiction/Offspring). On the production side, Pitchshifter have commissioned remixes from an eclectic mix of bands & DJs from Biohazard to Fuzz Townshend to DJ Punk Roc. They have also been asked to remix many bands from Clawfinger to Stereophonics to Pigface.

In the office Pitchshifter took the band/fan relationship to a new level by starting their own record company PSI Records. Why? To give the fans a better deal on both sides of the Atlantic (- try a DOUBLE CD for the price of a regular album for their first release 'Bootlegged, Distorted, Remixed & Uploaded!') PSI Records continues to this day with the recent release of the Pitchshifter 'PSIentology' DVD. New comers This Is Menace featuring Mark Clayden and Jason Bowld from Pitchshifter are currently in the studio set for a mid-to-late '05 release of their debut album 'No End In Sight.'

On the random side: there was once an alien crop circle fashioned in the Pitchshifter image (although to this day nobody has come forward as to its origin). Singer J.S. was once assaulted on stage by right wing fanatics for his antifascist beliefs. And last but not least, Pitchshifter had one of their album covers banned in Poland!?

To cut a long story short - no one can deny that Pitchshifter have lived it like no others. Always innovative, never compromising, Pitchshifter have stamped their own unique blend of guitar-laden digital chaos all over the scene, indelibly marking their place in British music history.

<i>Note: Taken from official website</i>