Spys4Darwin
| Company type | Supergroup (band) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2001 in Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Defunct | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Seattle , United States |
| Products | Rock music, EP Microfish |
Spys4Darwin emerged as a rock supergroup from Seattle, Washington in 2001. This ensemble brought together musicians from prominent Seattle bands Queensrÿche and Alice in Chains, alongside Vin Dombroski, the lead singer of Detroit’s Sponge. The collaboration was initiated by guitarist Chris DeGarmo and drummer Sean Kinney, who had recently toured with Jerry Cantrell. Soon after, bassist Mike Inez and vocalist Vin Dombroski joined the lineup, and the group began recording at Binge Studios, a converted paint factory located in Seattle. This project marked DeGarmo’s first musical output since his departure from Queensrÿche in 1998.
Name origin
According to DeGarmo, the band's name was inspired by a man named Darwin who lived near their studio and informally kept watch over the premises. When Darwin left town and entrusted them with his belongings, DeGarmo jokingly told Kinney that they had become "spies for Darwin."
Microfish
The band independently released a six-track EP entitled Microfish, which was recorded within a single week. Although all members contributed to its creation, much of the songwriting originated from DeGarmo and Kinney, with Dombroski providing the lyrics. The EP’s lead track was "Dashboard Jesus (Follow)." DeGarmo had initially intended to produce a full-length album slated for early 2002, and the group continued developing new songs into February of that year; however, a follow-up album never came to fruition.
Recording took place at Binge Studios, with further refinement completed at DeGarmo and Kinney’s homes. The final mixing was handled by Adam Kasper at Studio X. Released through the band’s own Pied Viper Records label, Microfish was initially available exclusively via their website. The promotion strategy relied heavily on grassroots support. DeGarmo characterized the project as a personal artistic pursuit rather than a commercial endeavor.
For live shows, Spys4Darwin expanded their lineup by adding guitarist Bubba Dupree from Void. They performed a single concert at KNDD’s Endfest 10 on August 4, 2001. This performance was recorded by Krist Novoselic, former bassist of Nirvana, with plans to stream it on the band’s website. Other notable performers at Endfest included The Living End, Sum 41, Nickelback, The Offspring, Cake, and The Crystal Method.
Reception
Malcolm Dome of Classic Rock reviewed the EP favorably, describing it as "smoothly executed and highly enjoyable":
- "Listeners should not anticipate a mere fusion of the members’ original bands; Spys4Darwin presents its own distinct style. Their sound blends modern American rock influences (comparable to Matchbox Twenty and Train) with unexpected elements reminiscent of Faith No More and Pearl Jam. Featuring strong melodies and straightforward arrangements, it delivers classic rock tailored for contemporary audiences.
- "The standout track among the six is 'Dashboard Jesus (Follow)', which combines rich atmospherics with an edgy tone and an epic feel, though the remaining songs also maintain high quality.
- "This indicates that Spys4Darwin is more than just a side project of established musicians—they exhibit genuine potential as a cohesive band."
Post-Spys4Darwin
By 2002, members of Spys4Darwin had moved on to other endeavors. The passing of Layne Staley in April 2002—who had been a longtime bandmate to Kinney and Inez—resulted in Alice in Chains entering an official hiatus. Mike Inez, once rumored as a possible replacement for Jason Newsted in Metallica, joined Heart and later rejoined Black Label Society. Chris DeGarmo contributed to Jerry Cantrell’s single "Anger Rising" before briefly reuniting with Queensrÿche to participate in their 2003 album Tribe. Meanwhile, Vin Dombroski along with Sponge bandmate Joey Mazzola recruited additional musicians and released For All the Drugs in the World in 2003. Many years after Spys4Darwin dissolved and their website went offline, the EP Microfish was reissued in January 2008 via CDBaby.com.
Band members
- Vin Dombroski – lead singer (2001–2002)
- Chris DeGarmo – guitarist, backing vocals (2001–2002)
- Mike Inez – bassist (2001–2002)
- Sean Kinney – drummer (2001–2002)