Cradle of Thorns

Cradle of Thorns is a rock band from Bakersfield, California, United States. The band put out one record as Videodrone on Korn's Elementree Records, as well as three albums under their original name. One was independently released, and the other two were released by Triple X Records. After Videodrone broke up, drummer Kris Kohls went on to join Adema, and frontman Ty Elam performed in a number of Bakersfield bands. In 2006, Ty Elam reformed the band as Cradle of Thorns with a new lineup.

Not to be confused with the 1983 film Videodrome.
Cradle of Thorns
Background information
Also known asVideodrone (1998-2000)
OriginBakersfield, California
GenresGothic rock, industrial rock, alternative metal, nu metal[1]
Years active1988–2000, 2006–2015
LabelsTriple X, Elementree
MembersTy Elam
Steve Thiriot
Matt Wilkinson
Past membersDavid File
Kris Kohls
Rohan Cowden
Tamera Slayton
Jay Caruso
Scat Elis
Chris Goodsell
Mavis
Marianne Ray
Chris O'Brian

History

Formation and Remember It Day (1988–1990)

In 1988 vocalist Ty Elam formed the gothic rock band Cradle of Thorns. With a combination of male and female lead vocalists, a dark, atmospheric sound, and environmentally and socially conscious lyrics ("Remember It Day" especially is about pollution, violence, and ignorance), they toured extensively and earned an underground following. They released an independent record entitled Remember It Day in 1990.

Feed-Us (1994–1995)

The band signed with Triple X Records (label of Jane's Addiction and Social Distortion) and in 1994 released Feed-Us, produced by Ross Robinson. This was a more aggressive album with hip hop elements (emcee-style vocals and lyrics about race on "Ignore-Your-Race"), drug addiction ("Lullaby for the Dead", "Dysfunctional Brady Bunch"), S&M and voyeurism ("Flesh" and "My Sister Sam (Bleed)"), abuse and self-harm (“Father’s Day”), and serial murder ("Behave"). The album also included a new, angrier version of "Remember It Day" with cleaner production that descends into screaming chaos. Feed-Us also established a band staple: the final track contains an extended, sample-based noise collage following the last song.

Download This! (1996–1998)

1996's Download This! saw the departure of female vocalist Tamera Slayton and bassist Scat Elis. With new bassist Purdy Spackle, the band shifted to a fusion of punk, rap, metal, and industrial rock, with more rapping and screaming than ever before and more extensive sampling and use of electronics. The song "Bulimia Blowjob" features an appearance by vocalist Aimee Echo of Human Waste Project and TheSTART, and Jeff Schartoff, of Human Waste Project and Professional Murder Music. Schartoff is also touring bassist for Peter Murphy.

Name change and Videodrone (1998–2000)

For their fourth album, bassist Purdy Spackle was replaced by Mavis and the band dropped most of the punk elements and fully embraced a more pop-oriented industrial rock sound. They renamed themselves Videodrone, as a play on the film of a similar name. Their twelve-track, self-titled CD was released in 1999 with appearances from Korn's Jonathan Davis on "Ty Jonathan Down", Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst and DJ Lethal on "Human Piñata", and Psycho Realm on "Pig in a Blanket". Also from Korn, Head played guitar on "Power Tools for Girls" and Fieldy produced the album.

In high school, vocalist Ty Elam had often collaborated with friends Jonathan Davis (later of Korn) and Ryan Shuck and their band Sexart. Shuck would go on to play for Orgy, another one-time Elementree Records band. After touring with Korn, Rob Zombie, Orgy, and Machine Head, lack of label support and drug problems spelled the end for Videodrone (as detailed in the interview with Elam on the "All Over Again" maxi-single).

Break up and post-Videodrone projects (2000–2006)

Drummer Kris Kohls went on to play for Adema and vocalist Ty Elam would go on to play in local Bakersfield bands Karmahitlist, Three Chord Whore, and Arrival of Fawn after Videodrone's demise in 2000.

Reformation (2006–2015)

In 2007, Ty Elam resurrected the band under its original moniker Cradle of Thorns with all new members. The song "All Over Again" was released as a single, which can be heard on the band's official MySpace page. Elam later appeared on metal band Mastiv's album, End of the Silence, released in 2011. By 2015, Cradle of Thorns’s official homepage ceased, and nothing has been stated regarding the group’s future since.

Style, influences and legacy

The band has a mixed style. The first album offers calm music, but after that the musicians use elements from grunge, punk rock and gothic rock. Feed-Us is their most colourful work. When nu-metal got popular, Cradle of Thorns started to add rapcore elements in their music. When they changed the band name, their music stayed industrial.

Cradle of Thorns has influenced bands including Deadsy, Flame of Life, and Evanescence.

Members

Current

  • Ty Elam – vocals (1988–2000) vocals, drums (2006–2015)
  • Steve Thiriot – guitar, synthesizers, screams (2007–2015)
  • Matt Wilkinson – bass (2007–2015)

Former

  • David File – guitar (1988–2000)
  • Kris Kohls – drums (1988–2000)
  • Rohan Cowden – keyboards (1988–2000)
  • Tamera Slayton – vocals (1988–1995)
  • Jay Caruso – bass (1988–1992)
  • Scat Elis – bass (1992–1995)
  • Purdy Spackle – bass (1995–1997)
  • Mavis – bass (1997–2000)
Timeline

Discography

Cradle of Thorns
  • Remember It Day (1990)
  • Feed-Us (1994)
  • Download This! (1996)

Videodrone

Singles
List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Dance
[2]
"Faceplant" 1999 15 Videodrone
"All Over Again"[3] 2008 — Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos
List of music videos, showing year released and director
Title Year Director(s)
"Ty Jonathan Down"
(featuring Jonathan Davis)		 2000 Jonathan Davis[4]

References
  1. McIver, Joel (2002). Nu Metal: The Next Generation of Rock & Punk. Omnibus Press. p. back cover. ISBN 978-0-7119-9209-2.
  2. "Videodrone – Chart History: Dance/Club Play Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  3. All Over Again (track listing). Cradle of Thorns. Riot, Inc. Media. 2006. RIM-0001.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. Johnson, Tina (January 25, 2000). "Korn Frontman Shoots Videodrone Clip; Family Values CD/Video on Way". MTV News. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
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