Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a Canadian experimental music collective which originated in Montreal, Quebec in 1994. The group releases recordings through Constellation, an independent record label also located in Montreal. After the release of their debut album in 1997, the group toured regularly from 1998 to 2003. Their second album, 2000's Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven, received great critical acclaim and has been named as one of the best albums of the decade.[3] In 2003, the band announced an indefinite hiatus in order for members to pursue other musical interests. In the intervening period, the group was occasionally rumored to have broken up,[4][5] but finally reconvened for a tour which began in late 2010. Since reforming, they have released three more albums, the most recent being Luciferian Towers in September 2017.

For the film, see God Speed You! Black Emperor.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Godspeed You! Black Emperor performing live in Roadburn festival in 2018
Background information
Also known asGodspeed You Black Emperor!, Godspeed, GY!BE, God's Pee, Pee'd Emp'ror
OriginMontreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres
Years active1994–2003, 2010–present
LabelsConstellation, Kranky
Associated actsThee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, Set Fire to Flames, Fly Pan Am, HṚṢṬA, Esmerine, Hiss Tracts
Websitebrainwashed.com/godspeed/
Members
Past members
  • John Littlefair
  • Thea Pratt
  • Bruce Cawdron
  • Norsola Johnson
  • Roger Tellier-Craig
  • Grayson Walker
  • James Chau
  • Peter Harry Hill
  • Fluffy Erskine

The band has gained a dedicated cult following and remains very influential in the post-rock genre.[6][7][8][9] In September 2013, their fourth album and their comeback release after 10 years, 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!, won the 2013 Polaris Music Prize.

The band is also known for their song "East Hastings" from the 1997 album F♯ A♯ ∞, which was used in the film 28 Days Later in an edited version,[10] although "East Hastings" does not appear on the soundtrack album because the rights to the song could not be obtained.[11]

History

Godspeed You! Black Emperor was formed in 1994 in Montreal, Quebec, by Efrim Menuck (guitar), Mike Moya (guitar), and Mauro Pezzente (bass).[12][13] The band took its name from God Speed You! Black Emperor, a 1976 Japanese black-and-white documentary by director Mitsuo Yanagimachi, which follows the exploits of a Japanese biker gang, the Black Emperors.[12] The band initially assembled after being offered a supporting act for another local band named Steak 72.[14] Thereafter, the trio performed live on a few separate occasions.

The band quickly expanded and continued to perform live periodically. According to Menuck, joining the group was quite simple: "It was like if anyone knew anybody who played an instrument and seemed like an okay person, they would sort of join up."[15] In short order, the group's numbers ebbed and flowed. Local musicians would often join the band for a handful of performances, then depart. The revolving door nature of the group's membership frequently caused it strain before the release of F♯ A♯ ∞.[15] After that release, the group stabilized around a nine-person lineup with Menuck, Moya and David Bryant on guitars, Pezzente and Thierry Amar on bass guitars, Aidan Girt and Bruce Cawdron on drums, and Sophie Trudeau and Norsola Johnson on violin and cello respectively. Moya would depart in 1998 to focus on HṚṢṬA, being replaced by Roger Tellier-Craig of Fly Pan Am.[16]

Although various members of the band are often pinned down as anarchists, for a rather long time no one in the band explicitly subscribed to this label;[17] however, as of 2014, Menuck was calling himself an anarchist.[18] In any case, there is a strong political component to the band's music.[19] Much of the band's music exudes left-wing themes. For example, the liner notes to Yanqui U.X.O. describe the song "09-15-00" as "Ariel Sharon surrounded by 1,000 Israeli soldiers marching on al-Haram Ash-Sharif & provoking another Intifada,"[20] and the back cover of that album depicts the relationships of several major record labels to the military–industrial complex.[21] Several of its songs also incorporate voice samples which express political sentiments, most notably "The Dead Flag Blues" (on F♯A♯∞) and "BBF3" (on Slow Riot for New Zerø Kanada).

Members of the group have formed a number of side projects, including Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, Fly Pan Am, HṚṢṬA, Esmerine, and Set Fire to Flames.

The band released the CD versions of its first two albums and EP on the Kranky record label, and released the LPs through Constellation Records. All editions of their subsequent studio material have been released through Constellation.

In 2004, long-time guitarist Roger Tellier-Craig left the band on amicable terms to devote more time to Fly Pan Am.[22]

The group was once misconstrued as being a band of terrorists.[23][24] After stopping at a local gas station for fuel in the town of Ardmore, Oklahoma, during their 2003 tour of the United States, the station attendant working that day believed the group of Canadians to be terrorists. She quickly passed a note to another customer asking them to call the police. When the local police appeared, the group was held until it could be questioned by the FBI. Although the police were suspicious of the band's anti-government documents and some photos it had (such as those of oil rigs), they found no incriminating evidence. After background checks were run, the ensemble was released from custody and continued on its way to its next show in Saint Louis, MO. Efrim Menuck later spoke to the crowd during their appearance in Missouri about what happened to them and speculated that their origin was a motive for being released quickly ("It's a good thing we're nice white kids from Canada").[25] The incident was mentioned in Michael Moore's book Dude, Where's My Country?.[26]

In 2010, the band reported it was reuniting for an All Tomorrow's Parties music event in the UK as well as further US dates. Mike Moya re-joined the band for the reunion, while original cellist Norsola Johnson declined to participate. The band played a full North American and European tour in 2011, and more dates in the UK including an appearance at the ATP 'I'll Be Your Mirror' music festival in London.

The following year the band appeared at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago and the 2012 All Tomorrow's Parties I'll Be Your Mirror festival in New York.[27] Drummer Timothy Herzog began touring with the band after the departure of Bruce Cawdron.

In 2013, the band won the Polaris Music Prize, but it criticized the cost of the ceremony during the time of austerity, stating, "Maybe the next celebration should happen in a cruddier hall, without the corporate banners and culture overlords."[28]

On March 31, 2015, Godspeed You! Black Emperor released its fifth album, Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress. On September 22, 2017, the group released its sixth album, Luciferian Towers.

Live concerts

Film loop projections are an important aspect of the group's live show, explained by Efrim Menuck as "[putting] the whole into context".[29]

Because the band is taper-friendly, that is, it allows audience members to record its live performances. Fans often release new material before the band makes an official recording.[30]

The band toured Australia/New Zealand for the first time in February 2013, including a performance at the All Tomorrow's Parties 'I'll Be Your Mirror' festival in Melbourne on February 16.

The band toured China for the first time in April 2013, giving performances in Shanghai and Beijing,[31] and revisited China in March 2016.[32]

The band supported Nine Inch Nails on its Tension tour in October 2013, starting at the TD Garden in Boston on October 11.[33]

After a break for much of 2014 the band embarked on a busy schedule of concert and festival dates across North America, Europe and around the world during 2015 and 2016.[34] Two new songs were previewed in many of the shows picking up the fan titles "Buildings" and "Railroads" from the projections that accompanied them. The band also lent live performances of some of their older and current tracks to a revival of the 2005 work "monumental", by Canadian dance troupe, Holy Body Tattoo during 2016.[35]

Members

Timeline
Efrim Menuck
Mauro Pezzente
David Bryant
Sophie Trudeau
Mike Moya

Discography
Main article: Godspeed You! Black Emperor discography

Studio albums

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References
  1. Staff. "Space rock". AllMusic. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  2. Godspeed You! Black Emperor at AllMusic
  3. Greer, Nick (June 11, 2010). "Top 100 Albums of the Decade". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  4. "Godspeed You! Black Emperor quit over Iraq". NME. 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
  5. Phillips, Amy (February 11, 2008). "Godspeed Still on Hiatus, Not Completely Broken Up". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on February 12, 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2009.
  6. "Just Announced: Post-rock cult faves Godspeed You! Black Emperor headlining Union Transfer | The Key". Thekey.xpn.org. September 16, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  7. Andre Paine (November 22, 2013). "Godspeed You! Black Emperor, O2 Academy Brixton - music review - Music - Going Out - London Evening Standard". Standard.co.uk. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  8. Gabrielle Dominique. "Listen To The New Godspeed You! Black Emperor LP". Cmj.com. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  9. "Review: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!". Hangout.altsounds.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  10. "Danny Boyle's Greatest Hits: From 'Trainspotting' to the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony". Rolling Stone. April 4, 2013.
  11. Empire, Kitty (November 10, 2002). "Get used to the limelight". Guardian.co.uk. London: Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  12. David Keenan (1998). "Interview in The Wire".
  13. Colin Larkin. The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press; 27 May 2011. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8. p. 1439.
  14. Keenan, David (2000). "Godspeed You Black Emperor! interview with The Wire". brainwashed.com. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
  15. St-Jacques, Marie-Douche (1998). "Godspeed You! Black Emperor interview with aMAZEzine!". aMAZEzine. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
  16. "Godspeed You ! Black Emperor en concert en France : Tournée 2015". evous. April 23, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  17. "Allusions of Grandeur: Thee Silver Mt. Zion". Expressnightout.com. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  18. Rubsam, Rob (April 2014). "The Rumpus Interview with Efrim Menuck". The Rumpus. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  19. Richardson, Mark. ""Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!" Review". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  20. "Godspeed You! Black Emperor, 'Yanqui U.X.O.' (Constellation)". Spin. June 25, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  21. "EMI Defies Fate as Predicted on Godspeed You! Black Emperor's Yanqui U.X.O., Bought Out By Terra Firma for $4.7 Billion; Sorry Warner Music Group". Tiny Mix Tapes. May 25, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
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  23. Biehr, Steve, Marion Bornas, and Stefan Claudius. "Godspeed You! Black Emperor Collage". Archived from the original (jpg) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2006.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. Biehr, Steve. "Band Members Released After Terrorist Report". The Daily Ardmoreite. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005. Retrieved November 26, 2006.
  25. Godspeed You Black Emperor! (2003). "Godspeed You Black Emperor! at Mississippi Nights (2003-03-16)" (shn). Live Music Archive. Internet Archive. Retrieved December 24, 2006.
  26. "Five Noteworthy Facts You May Not Know About Godspeed You! Black Emperor". Exclaim. April 23, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  27. "I'll Be Your Mirror USA 2012 curated by Greg Dulli & ATP - All Tomorrow's Parties". Atpfestival.com. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  28. "Godspeed You! Black Emperor criticise Polaris prize". BBC News. September 24, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  29. Visser, Menno (2001). "Interview with Godspeed You Black Emperor!". OOR Magazine. OOR. Retrieved December 24, 2006.
  30. Godspeed You Black Emperor! (2003). "Godspeed You Black Emperor! at L'Olympic (2003-05-14)" (shnf). Live Music Archive. Internet Archive. Retrieved December 17, 2006.
  31. "Godspeed You! Black Emperor China Tour". Spli-t. April 1, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  32. "Godspeed You! Black Emperor". Smart Shanghai. December 7, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  33. Minsker, Evan (2013). "Nine Inch Nails Announce Massive Tour With Godspeed You! Black Emperor". Pitchfork. Pitchfork. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  34. "Godspeed You! Black Emperor Concert Setlists". setlist.fm. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  35. "monumental". BAM.org. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  36. Carpenter, Lorraine (2003). "Easy Being Green: Frog Eyes Whip Up a Colourful Cabaret". Montreal Mirror. Archived from the original on August 16, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
  37. "A Completely Biased Ranking of the 60 Best Canadian Indie Rock Songs of the 00s Part II". Vice, Cam Lindsay April 10, 2017,
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