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Chemlab

From Alfawiki
Chemlab
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1989
FounderDylan Thomas More, Joe Frank, Jared Louche
Headquarters
New York City
,
United States
ProductsIndustrial rock music

Chemlab is a U.S.-based industrial rock group that originated in Washington D.C. in 1989, founded by Dylan Thomas More, Joe Frank, and Jared Louche (formerly Hendrickson). Drawing inspiration from industrial trailblazers such as Throbbing Gristle, Chemlab fused experimental elements with rock and metal within an electronic context. Their debut EP, 10 Ton Pressure (1990), was followed by Joe Frank’s departure and the band's relocation to New York City, which remained their primary base. The release of their first full-length album, Burn Out at the Hydrogen Bar (1993), paved the way for tours alongside acts like White Zombie, KMFDM, Nine Inch Nails, 16volt, and GWAR.

Early output (1990–2004)

Chemlab’s first official release came with the 1990 EP 10 Ton Pressure. They supported Nine Inch Nails during the 1990–91 Sin tour promoting Pretty Hate Machine. Following this, they released Burn Out at the Hydrogen Bar in 1993 and East Side Militia in 1996 through Fifth Colvmn Records. The band dissolved in 1997 but was reassembled in 2004 with Jared Louche as the lone founding member to produce the album Oxidizer.

Sporadic live performances (2004–2012)

After a seven-year break from performing, Jared Louche revived Chemlab with support from electro-industrial act mindFIELD for a Boston gig in August 2005. Additional shows took place in New York City in January 2006 and San Francisco in March 2006, where they shared the stage with coldwave groups Babyland and Deathline International.

Chemlab also performed at the Detroit Electronic Music Festival and Blacksun Festival. In late 2007, they embarked on a U.S. tour featuring multi-instrumentalist/programmer Gabriel Shaw (mindFIELD), Wade Alin (Christ Analogue) and Jason Bazinet (SMP).

During spring 2010, Chemlab toured across North America alongside 16volt and Left Spine Down. At a Chicago concert on September 7, 2012, Jared Louche declared it would be the band’s final show.

Recent period (2012–present)

In early 2018, Chemlab announced their comeback for Cold Waves VII events held in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, where they performed Burn Out at the Hydrogen Bar entirely to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The band also took part in Cold Waves VIII and several other isolated concerts. In 2019, they released Tape Decay, a compilation containing previously unreleased tracks from demos of East Side Militia, Burn Out at the Hydrogen Bar, and 10 Ton Pressure, as well as fresh material. That September, Chemlab performed at Denver’s Oriental Theater alongside Pop Will Eat Itself and Scifidelic.

Dylan Thomas More died on January 4, 2025.

Former members and collaborators

Appearances in Popular Media

  • A poster for Chemlab is featured in the 1995 motion picture 12 Monkeys, visible during an outdoor sidewalk scene.
  • A comparable poster can be spotted at the conclusion of Aerosmith's music video for "Amazing."
  • In the first episode of the third season of MTV's The State, a Psych Fest poster promoting Chemlab and Sister Machine Gun is displayed above Michael Ian Black's bed.

Albums

Compilation Collections

Remix Projects

Extended Plays

Singles

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