Deathray
| Company type | Independent record label, Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 in Sacramento, California, United States |
| Founder | Greg Brown, Victor Damiani, Dana Gumbiner |
| Headquarters | Sacramento , United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs |
Deathray originated in Sacramento, California, in 1998, founded by ex-Cake members Greg Brown and Victor Damiani, along with Dana Gumbiner from the indie group Little Guilt Shrine. The band’s roster also featured drummer James Neil and keyboardist Max Hart. After independently selling more than 3,000 copies of their EP, Deathray secured a contract with Capricorn Records.
Their eponymous first album, produced by Eric Valentine and released in 2000, received favorable reviews from critics. Unfortunately, the collapse of Capricorn Records combined with an intense national tour disrupted the band’s momentum. Following their release from Capricorn, Deathray reclaimed ownership of their master recordings and reissued the album under their own imprint, Doppler Records.
Continuing to perform throughout Northern California, the group unveiled the EP White Sleeves in 2002, which was recorded at their own Brighton Sound studio. The track "Let's Be Friends" was later included on their sophomore album Believe Me.
Not long after this period, keyboardist Max Hart departed to establish The High Speed Scene, initially releasing material through Doppler before signing with Star-Trak Records. Drummer James Neil also exited after the debut album to pursue various musical ventures such as The Golden Cadillacs. Subsequently, Todd Roper—formerly Cake’s drummer—joined Deathray.
Greg Brown (who released a solo EP in June 2023) and Dana Gumbiner (who records solo electronic music as Night Night and manages Station To Station Media + Production) remained the principal songwriters, with Victor Damiani contributing several compositions.
Deathray’s track "I Wanna Lose Control" was featured on the soundtrack of the 2006 animated movie Open Season, alongside a rendition of Paul Westerberg’s "Wild as I Wanna Be," marking their first major-label exposure since their earlier albums.
The band officially ceased activities on July 1, 2007.
Studio albums
- Deathray (2000)
Produced by Eric Valentine (known for work with Third Eye Blind and Smash Mouth), this debut was released through Doppler Records—an independent label created by designer Keara Fallon and bassist Victor Damiani following Capricorn Records’ dissolution. Classified within the pop or post-punk genres, the album gained significant traction on college radio and achieved chart recognition. Drummer Michael Urbano made guest appearances on the record. The album’s artwork, inspired by Warhol, was designed by Fallon.
- Believe Me (2005)
Released independently in 2005, Deathray’s second studio effort again involved producer Eric Valentine and featured drummer Todd Roper. Despite receiving positive critical feedback, it did not garner attention from major record labels.
Extended Plays (EPs)
- White Sleeves (2002)
Lineup
- Dana Gumbiner – vocals, keyboards, guitar
- Greg Brown – guitar, vocals
- Victor Damiani – bass guitar
- Todd Roper – drums, vocals
- previously James Neil
- previously Max Hart