Deadweight (band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Alternative rock music |
Deadweight was a San Francisco-based alternative rock trio, composed of Ben Barnes on electric violin and vocals, Sam Bass handling the electric cello, and drummer Paulo Baldi. The band originated as a duo with Barnes and Bass, both alumni of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, before Baldi became a member.
Their debut demo, created in 1994, was produced by Jason Newsted from Metallica. Deadweight performed tours across the United States and abroad, serving as the opening act for Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade. The group's third studio album, Stroking the Moon (2003), was issued under Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles label. Their recordings are characterized by the use of violin and cello modified with guitar effects, resulting in a sound that leans toward hard rock. In contrast, their live shows exhibited a diverse range of musical styles, earning them critical descriptions such as "Beethoven’s most twisted hallucinations," "Eastern European Gypsy songs," and "Charlie Daniels in hell playing a combination of Bartok and Zeppelin." Barnes acknowledged inspirations from artists like Jimmy Page and Charlie Daniels. In 1998, Deadweight received the Wammy in the "Beyond" category.
Discography
- Opus 1 (1997)
- Half-Wit Anthems (1999)
- Stroking the Moon (2003)