Artist description Capstone's pays homage to Public Enemy (circa '87), Rage Against the Machine, 311, Sonic Youth and more. The melodic alternative/metal band's plaintive choruses are sure to get in your head, while hip hop-inspired verses are built around excellent guitar work that often imitates synthesizers' grind and dissonance. The Onion Madison, Wisconsin Volume 32 Issue 4 1996

Music Style Part of the new breed of Rapcore

Musical Influences Korn, Tool, Rage Against The Machine, Limp Bizkit

Similar Artists Korn, Tool, Rage Against The Machine, Limp Bizkit

Artist History Capstone was formed in 1996 by a group of schoolmates and co-workers in Germantown, Wisconsin. Though they were only acquaintances in high school, when the core of Capstone was reintroduced to one another, the result was more than friendship . . . the result was the creation of something exceptional in the Midwest music scene. Deeply rooting itself in multiple genres of music, Capstone has brought together the worlds of Hip-Hop, Metal and Rock with a sound that is shaking the very foundation of the Midwest music scene.

Group Members Bill "The Kid" - Drums Glenn Kuchenbeiser - Guitar EJ Prophet - Hip Hop Vocals Michal Ashby - Vocals The MD - Bass DJ Nu-Stylez - Turntables

Albums "Unearthed" - Released April 1998

Press Reviews From cyberspace to complex sound, Capstone puts the pedal to the rap-metal By Gemma Tarlach of the Journal Sentinel staff February 12, 1999 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Handing out flyers at other people's shows? Slapping up promo posters willy-nilly? Kid stuff. Germantown's rap-metal Capstone knows that to build buzz fast, you've got to spread your cyberwings and fly. "We started a Web page to do basic promotion, like every other band does," says singer Michal Ashby, the lone Madison-based member of the band. "And it was getting noticed, but mostly by other bands." Capstone knew a couple of e-mails from kindred spirits wouldn't cut it. Ashby redid the site and packed it full of goodies: photos, sound samples, a journal and a frequently updated calendar of events. The icing on the cybercake was a link to Amazon.com, which agreed to sell the band's "Unearthed" CD. "We're ranked 1,639th," Ashby says about sales through Amazon. The number may not sound too impressive at first, "but that's out of 3 million. We're right between The Deftones and Nine Inch Nails." Capstone has also put "Unearthed" on shelves in area Exclusive Company stores and landed spots on compilation CDs by Hardknocks Records and Madison rock station WJJO. And, of course, it never hurts to know the fine art of schmoozing. "I know how to wheel and deal and get b ackstage," says bassist MD with a wink. MD has talked his way onto tour buses and into dressing rooms to pass copies of the CD to members of Garbage, Limp Bizkit and others. Capstone's multilayered marketing strategy has landed the band several high-profile shows in the last few weeks, including opening act for Kid Rock at Chicago's House of Blues and for Vanilla Ice at The Rave. No amount of self-promotion would have helped the band, however, if they didn't have the sound to back it up. The twentysomethings create a complex sound they liken to Tool and Rage Against the Machine. Grounded by drummer Bill "The Kid" Sherwin and MD, who was recently nominated as Best Underground Bassist by the online band network International House of Noise, the other members dish out a four-pronged aural assault. Glenn Kuchenbeiser, who's played everything from ska to death metal in previous bands, coaxes an endless number of squeals, screams and surging waves of sound out of his guitar. Recent addition DJ New Stylez works the turntables to give the band's sound added oomph! Ashby and rapper E.J. Prophet, yin and yang vocalists, play off each other's strengths: Ashby's higher-register power lungs sing above E.J.'s in-your-face hip-hop motormouth without fighting each other for attention. "I can't rap and E.J. can't sing," jokes Ashby, explaining how two front men can co-exist without elbowing the other off the stage. Ashby and Prophet also share writing duties, crafting insightful lyrics. "1314," for example, is a war cry that echoes the 14th-century battle for Scottish independence. "Our music hits you here," says Kuchenbeiser, thumping his chest. He taps his temple. "And then it hits you here" E.J. adds with a grin and slap of his backside, "And hopefully hits you here, too."

Location Milwaukee, Wisconsin - USA

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