Pitchblende (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Defunct | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
| Products | Albums, singles, EPs |
Pitchblende was a quartet from Washington, D.C. known for their contribution to the American art punk scene, featuring Justin Chearno on guitar, Scott DeSimon handling bass duties, Patrick Gough on drums, and Treiops Treyfid also on guitar.
From 1991 until 1995, the band issued three full-length albums along with multiple singles through various independent labels including Cargo, Jade Tree, Matador Records, and Simple Machines.
Style
Although originating in Washington, Pitchblende’s intricate and angular musical style bore closer resemblance to the contemporaneous movements in New York City and Chicago rather than the typical post-punk sound associated with DC. Their compositions were marked by experimentation and dynamic shifts, incorporating complex song structures, unconventional arrangements, alternative guitar tunings, and abrupt changes in time signatures.
Critics praised both their recordings and vigorous live performances, often drawing parallels to seminal groups such as Mission of Burma and Sonic Youth. The band fused punk’s raw energy with an absurdist, dada-inspired approach; subtle pop elements; and technical proficiency reminiscent of progressive rock. While their work occasionally referenced jazz influences, improvisation was seldom part of their process—a misconception they sought to clarify by adopting the name The Pitchblende Quartet for their final album in 1995, Gygax!.
Break up
Despite a busy touring schedule and a steady stream of releases, Pitchblende found their strongest support among critics and college radio audiences rather than mainstream listeners. Following a difficult last tour across the US in 1994—which included incidents such as equipment theft in San Francisco and an assault on DeSimon in Albuquerque—Chearno and DeSimon moved to Brooklyn, where they formed the instrumental trio Turing Machine alongside Jerry Fuchs. Chearno went on to establish the bands Doldrums and Panthers, later transitioning into a career within New York’s wine industry. DeSimon pursued work as a magazine editor. Gough shifted his focus to urban planning in Northern Virginia while continuing to perform with the D.C.-based trio Imperial China between 2007 and 2013. Treyfid carved out a career as a fine artist, solo musician, and graphic designer based in Los Angeles. Justin Chearno passed away on August 22, 2024, at 54 years old.
Singles and EPs
- "Sum"/"Lacquer Box" 7-inch, Landspeed - LS001, February 1992
- The Weed Slam EP 7-inch - tracks: "Weed Slam"/"Ask Rexella"/"Ursa Minor", Jade Tree - JT1008, October 1992
- Penny for the Guy Working Holiday split 7-inch (with Swirlies), Simple Machines - WH11, November 1993
- "Psychic Power Control"/"In the Flat Field" 7-inch, Cargo - Fist15, May 1994
- "Nine-Volt"/"Karoshi" 7-inch (alternative versions), limited signed edition of 400 by Pushead Fan Club, September 1994
- "Windshield Kiss" split 7-inch (with Eggs), Jade Tree - JT-16, November 1995
LPs
- Kill Atom Smasher CD/LP, Cargo - Fist12, April 1993
- Au Jus CD/CS, Cargo - Fist22, June 1994; released on CD/LP by Matador (Europe) - Ole 102, April 1995
- Gygax! CD, Cargo - HED-048, February 1996; also available on CD/LP via Matador (Europe) - Ole 190, April 1996
Appearances
- "Drop In the Big Drink" split 7-inch (with Rocket from the Crypt, Rodan, and Walleye), Compulsive - COMP12, October 1993
- Chairman of the Board - Frank Sinatra Tribute, double CD featuring "Here's to the Losers", Grass/Dutch East - GROW1212-2, Spring 1995
- Working Holiday! double CD compilation including "Penny for the Guy" and live version of "Flax," Simple Machines - SMR 26, December 1994
- WGNS Gots No Station compilation featuring "Sideling Hill" (alternate version), 1994
- Jade Tree First Five Years, "Windshield Kiss" 7-inch release from 2000