Praxis (band)
| Company type | Collective / Ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Bill Laswell |
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people | Bill Laswell, Buckethead, Brain |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
| Website | billlaswell |
Praxis represents an experimental rock ensemble spearheaded by producer and bassist Bill Laswell, commonly featuring guitarist Buckethead and drummer Brain across the majority of its configurations.
The collective has worked alongside notable musicians such as Serj Tankian (System of a Down), Iggy Pop, DXT, and DJ Disk.
Origins
The name Praxis was initially adopted by Bill Laswell for a 1984 experimental solo EP titled "1984," which was released on Celluloid Records.
1992–1996
Praxis launched their first album, Transmutation (Mutatis Mutandis),, in 1992 to critical praise. This lineup incorporated Buckethead on guitar, Bernie Worrell handling keyboards, Brain on drums, Bootsy Collins playing bass, and Afrika Baby Bam on turntables. Laswell took on production duties and co-composed much of the material, merging elements of funk, jazz, hip-hop, and heavy metal into an improvisational soundscape. The P-Funk-inspired track "Animal Behavior," featuring Collins as lead vocalist, was accompanied by a music video.
Their sophomore release, Sacrifist, appeared in 1994 under Laswell’s Subharmonic label and included collaborators like saxophonist John Zorn, drummer Mick Harris (Painkiller), and members from Blind Idiot God. This album embraced death metal influences but did not achieve the acclaim garnered by their debut.
Also released in 1994 was Metatron, performed by the trio of Buckethead, Laswell, and Brain, which featured the track "Wake the Dead."
In 1996, Praxis embarked on a European tour and produced two live albums: Live in Poland and Transmutation Live, documenting performances in Zürich and Warsaw with contributions from members of the Invisibl Skratch Piklz. Following these concerts, the group dissolved.
1997–2004
In 1997, Bill Laswell reissued his earlier Material EP 1984 under the Praxis banner. This was succeeded by the album Mold, which featured Pat Thrall, Peter Wetherbee, and Alex Haas instead of original members Buckethead, Brain, and Bernie Worrell. Effectively a remix project, Mold reinterpreted material from 1984 with limited involvement from Laswell. In 1998, Laswell contributed the track "Dreadnot" to the compilation Abstract Depressionism, credited to Praxis though essentially a solo effort.
That same year saw the release of a compilation album that included two tracks from Buckethead’s Death Cube K project—an anagram alias. In 1999, an altered edition of Live in Poland was issued as Warszawa. The band’s activity largely ceased thereafter as Brain and Buckethead joined Guns N' Roses while Laswell concentrated on dub music releases.
2004–2010
Most of the original lineup reunited briefly for a 2004 tour culminating in a Bill Laswell-focused episode on PBS’s Soundstage. Subsequently, Laswell began work on a new studio album titled Profanation (Preparation for a Coming Darkness), though its release was delayed nearly three years due to complications with Sanctuary Records.
In 2005, the live album Transmutation Live was revisited and reissued as Zurich. A further live recording entitled Tennessee 2004 was released in 2007, featuring an edited performance from the Bonnaroo festival.
On April 5, 2005, Laswell delivered a two-hour performance at WTTW Studios in Chicago with his ensembles Tabla Beat Science, Material, and Praxis—featuring Buckethead, Brain, and Toshinori Kondo—with Bootsy Collins serving as MC. An hour-long excerpt aired on Soundstage in July 2006.
The long-awaited studio album Profanation (Preparation for a Coming Darkness) finally debuted in Japan on January 1, 2008. This record showcased guest appearances from artists including Serj Tankian, Mike Patton, Iggy Pop, as well as Buckethead’s frequent collaborator Maximum Bob, among others.
2011–present: Hiatus and Sound Virus
At the beginning of 2011, Profanation was re-released by Bill Laswell's M.O.D. Technologies label, featuring two extra live recordings. During that same month, Laswell mentioned in an interview that the band's continuation seemed improbable.
M.O.D. Technologies scheduled a vinyl version of Profanation to be issued in April 2013.
The album Sound Virus was unveiled by Praxis in 2015.
In 2022, Praxis saw the reunion of Bill Laswell, Buckethead, and Brain for a pair of performances held in New York.[1][2]
Notable guests
Numerous musicians have contributed to Praxis projects, excluding some less direct collaborations on Mold:
- Afrika Baby Bam (AF Next Man Flip) – turntables
- Cindy Blackman – drums
- Bootsy Collins – bass and vocals
- DJ Disk – turntables
- DXT – turntables
- Yamatsuka Eye – vocals
- Mick Harris – drums
- Lili Haydn – violin
- Invisibl Skratch Piklz – turntables
- Toshinori Kondo – trumpet
- Maximum Bob – vocals
- Mike Patton – vocals
- Iggy Pop – vocals
- Serj Tankian – vocals
- Pat Thrall – guitars
- John Zorn – saxophone
Musical styles
Praxis’s sound incorporates elements from mid-1970s Funkadelic, Miles Davis, avant-garde hip-hop, and the jazz/metal fusion pioneered by Last Exit. Their repertoire covers avant-garde, heavy metal, funk, and jazz-fusion genres, shaped largely by Laswell’s production expertise and Buckethead’s innovative guitar work.
Studio albums
- 1992: Transmutation (Mutatis Mutandis)
- 1993: Sacrifist
- 1994: Metatron
- 1998: Mold
- 2008: Profanation (Preparation for a Coming Darkness)
Singles
- 1992: Animal Behavior
EPs and compilations
- 1984: 1984
- 1992: A Taste of Mutation
- 1998: Collection
- 2015: Sound Virus – restored, edited, enhanced, and remastered edition
Live
- 1997: Live in Poland
- 1997: Transmutation Live
- 1999: Warszawa
- 2005: Zurich
- 2007: Tennessee 2004