CyberTrybe
was formed by Sean Mooer and Bryant Bedwell in 1995 under the name
“Industrial
Chaos.” Originally setting out to build
a studio techno project, the two quickly realized that, with a few
changes, the
project would be better as a live act. With
bands like Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, and others as
their
influences, the two started writing songs and experimenting with
different
beats, guitar riffs, and vocal melodies that were somewhat unorthodox
compared
to the “norm” in mainstream song writing.
When the
group first debuted at the Hamtramck Pub in late 1995, they were a two
man
group using keyboards and drum machines as the main stay of their
sound, and
overlaying that with rhythm and lead guitar. The
two released “I Want You” on the “Kick Start Detroit”
compilation CD
(Zhambee-Karlt/Deutschland Records – 1996), which became a local and
isolated
hit in places like Mississippi, Florida, and overseas…not to mention
Detroit. This version generated
primetime airplay and interviews, plus eventually earned CyberTrybe
their first
Detroit Music Award nominations and, eventually, three awards. “I Want You” was also re-released on the
compilation CD’s “Motor CD” (Static Records – 1997) and “Undercurrents
– 98”
(Undercurrents Music Conference – 1998). Shortly
after, CyberTrybe was asked to record a cover of
Iggy Pop’s “Dog
Food” to be released on the Iggy Pop tribute CD “POP O.D.” (Static
Records –
1999). This CD was a huge success and is
still in stores today.
After all of
this, it was time to record their first full length CD.
Sean and Bryant already had enough material
to record two CD’s, but decided to pick the best and place them on the
new
project. This is when CyberTrybe started
their transformation from being a “two man act” to being a “real band.”
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Sean Mooer,
having been in bands before CyberTrybe, really wanted to turn the
project into
a band instead of being dedicated to a bunch of midi sequenced beeps
and
whistles. This didn’t mean taking out
all the cool keyboard parts; it meant putting a live bassist and
drummer in the
mix. Sean also wanted to record the new
CD with live musicians. This proved
harder than it sounded. After several
auditions with drummers and bassists, Sean and Bryant were very
discouraged
because they could not find any musicians out there that could grasp
the music
and how it was necessary to get it together on stage.
That is, until they meet up with Perez
Morris, a seasoned drummer/percussionist with years of experience
playing in
bands such as Robb Roy, and with musicians such as Chad Smith (Red Hot
Chili
Peppers).
This version
of CyberTrybe put out several demos and played several shows together
but,
because of personal issues holding back the band, CyberTrybe had to let
Perez
go. It was a difficult decision that
pained
the band, but they felt it had to be done if they wanted to stop
spinning their
wheels. So, there they were…the same
“two,” recording a CD as a “two man act” again.
Eventually,
in 2001, “Trust in Myths” was released and distributed.
But, again, and before the actual release,
Sean felt the music needed to be represented by a real band, so they
were on
the musician search once more. A short
time later, they added Sid Hodge (Sean’s brother) as their drummer and
Paul
Biondi as their bassist. This
configuration
proved to be a good mix, and the band started to take off.
CD sales were good, and there were plenty of
shows being played. But, again, personal
issues arose and things started to fall apart…but this time between the
two
founders, Sean Mooer and Bryant Bedwell. Finally,
it came to a standstill with Paul Biondi quitting
the band and,
afterward, Sean turning his back on the whole project.
This was the end of CyberTrybe as most people
knew it. The following two to three
years were nothing but arguments about copyrights, trademarks, and so
on. But, they say everything happens for a
reason, and there is a happy ending to this story for some.
Bryant went
on struggling to keep CyberTrybe going as…something. And, it is noted
that he
kept the Detroit Music Award nominations coming (CyberTrybe was
nominated every
year from 1997 to 2004).
Sean went on
to create a solo recording project called “Grunt,” and then joined the
band
“Taint.” While in “Taint,” he met his
future wife (Kitty), and eventually became a member of her project
“Feed the
Kitty,” a cover band with a twist and a cool vision not seen in your
normal
cover projects.
For “Feed the
Kitty,” Sean and Bryant put their differences aside and worked together
again
in an effort to bring the sound and image that was once CyberTrybe into
Feed
the Kitty. This worked, but the problems
that plagued CyberTrybe earlier had never really been dealt with. That, and some sidebars and manipulation from
other members, contributed toward Sean and Bryant going their separate
ways as
well as letting go other band members. But,
Sean was not going to let all the hard work and
investment go to
waste this time, and carried the CyberTrybe name on to its present form.
CyberTrybe is
now made up of Sean and four other talented musicians. All have tons of
creative chemistry, and all consider themselves to be a real family.
CyberTrybe
is now what Sean envisioned it to be years ago.
The band is
currently working on another full length CD, and a stage/light show to
go along
with it.
Edited By
Natalie S.
Thorpe Bujak |
