Artist description Imagine a circus bigtop, only it's jet black. The floor is covered not with sawdust, but with an unidentifiable sticky, smelly, oily sludge, and the air is thick with cigar smoke (all Clowns love cigars). You see the spotlight shining on the center ring, where a huge, muscular man stands, the Ringmaster. His face is painted like a sad Clown, all white and red with a small black tear below one eye. He is dressed in the shredded remains of what used to be a tuxedo, his massive arms and legs obviously forced into the garment. The moment he locks your eyes with his, your guts hear the sound of huge steel doors closing and latching behind you. He smiles through his painted frown, and beckons you toward him. You want to resist, but are somehow drawn closer. Almost as though a thick iron chain had suddenly been welded to your sternum. As you approach, you notice that the bleachers are filled with Clowns. Thousands of them, virtually rioting in the stands. Screaming, spitting, cigar-smoking, plastic-bat wielding Clowns. You are here to pay back the entertainment they've given you, and payback is a bitch.

Music Style Rock

Artist History Urban Circus formed from the ashes of two other great bands, The DUX (in Boulder, CO) and Light Years Away (in LA). Drummer Kyle Comerford and guitarist Bob Sherden were lured to LA by a demo tape from bassist Ladd Story and singer Chris Doohan. That tape featured the original demos of "Maybe I" and "Alone." Bob and Kyle arrived in LA in September of 1988. The band holed up in a 10 by 15 foot guest room behind Chris' mother's house. Much of the band's material was written in this sweatbox, including "With Her Eyes," "754," and "Magnetic Personality." After six months of writing and rehearsing, the band played their first show at The Country Club, in Reseda, under the name "Nobody Else." The audience response was spectacular, and the band was eager to play more shows. Around this time, Urban Circus outgrew their cramped rehearsal space, and moved into a studio in North Hollywood, called Bill's Place. This was the most productive time for Urban Circus. They wrote most of the songs from "Lumberclown" and recorded the album live in the rehearsal room, with very few overdubs, and much help from engineer and co-producer Joe Bob Richardson. The version of their instrumental powerhouse, "754" was recorded in one take, "just to get levels." Urban Circus then stormed the Sunset Strip, playing shows at The Troubador and the Whisky, and Headlining at Gazzari's and The Roxy. With the help of their rather intimidating road crew (Jeff Bara, Chris Comerford, John Brady, and of course Braindead), the band quickly built a large and very loyal following. As is common for bands with a wealth of talent, however, tensions began to grow. Creative differences (and a general dissatisfaction with Los Angeles) led to drummer Kyle Comerford's decision to leave the band, in August of 1992. Before his departure, however, Urban Circus played a three-day stint at Van Halen's Cabo Wabo Cantina, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The band and an entourage of about twenty had what amounted to a three day farewell party. The Friday and Saturday night shows were among the best the band ever played. Shortly afterward, the band went back to Bill's Place to record all but three of the songs featured on Lumberclown, live, in their rehearsal room. Kyle moved to Colorado within days of recording his drum tracks.The band continued with a revolving door of drummers, and finally called it quits in 1994. The only track on Lumberclown that was recorded during this time is, ironically, the song that lured Bob and Kyle to LA six years before: "Maybe I." It features Andres Lopes on drums. Although Urban Circus is no longer active, its former members are very busy. Kyle now plays drums for the Chicago/Boulder based band, The Reejers. Bob Sherden is working on his third album with Mary Carves The Chicken. Chris Doohan has pursued a career in country music, appearing on The Howard Stern Show, Mark and Brian, and the TV show, "Your Big Break." Ladd Story, after a few years away from music, is now touring and recording with The Uninvited.

Group Members Kyle Comerford, Chris Doohan, Bob Sherden, Ladd Story

Instruments Guitar, bass, drums, vocals

Albums Lumberclown

Location Simi Valley, CA - USA

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