Artist description King Black Acid and the Starseed Transmission is not a typical band. If ever there were a musical group that was a life form in and of itself, it would be this band. Changing. Growing. Exploring. KBA, as they are acronymically known, is one of the few bands that lives to change, pushing the boundaries of their own creativity to find new creativity. They are like a butterfly that goes back into the cocoon, only to emerge again as a new butterfly. King Black Acid is the alter ego of Daniel Riddle, leader of the internationally acclaimed and now-defunct band Hitting Birth. Riddle is to KBA what Clark Kent is to Superman or, perhaps more appropriately, what Dr. Jekyll is to Mr. Hyde. Formed in late 1994, King Black Acid, along with the Wombstar Orchestra, began performing live in Portland, Oregon and eventually up and down the West Coast. The band quickly developed a cult-like base of fans from all over the world that traded tapes and CD recordings of KBA's legendary live shows, which were attended religiously.In 1997 the members of King Black Acid and the Wombstar Orchestra decided to go their separate ways. During their brief existence they built an army of loyal fans and released three albums through Cavity Search Records. Weighing in at slightly over an hour long, "Sunlit" contains only three songs, which were written in the studio while the band was on tour and orchestrated by Riddle using hand signals during the actual recording. "Royal Subjects" is made up of songs also written in the studio during recording and composed for the film "Zig-Zag". Mastered off a 90-cent cassette tape, "Wombstar Sessions" was recorded during a KBOO radio live broadcast of a largely improvised show. This performance introduced the band to Cavity Search.Riddle, along with original Wombstar Orchestra drummer Scott Adamo, resurrected King Black Acid in 1998. Sarah Mayfield (guitars), Erick Alley (bass), Pete Ficht (keyboards), and eventually Sean Farrell (keyboards) joined Riddle and Adamo to form King Black Acid and the Starseed Transmission. Three long years after the release of "Royal Subjects", KBA released "Into the Sun", an eagerly received EP meant to appease fans until their full length album, "Loves a Love Song", which will be released in October 2000."Loves a Love Song" marks a departure from such songs as Sunlit's "Think Away," a 21-plus minute epic of transcendental space grooves. In addition to being the first time King Black Acid has recorded songs that were written BEFORE going into the studio, "Loves a Love Song" is a more song-oriented album, with tighter structure, shorter compositions, linear song progressions, and what some describe as a pop sensibility. Yet the album is still uniquely KBA. A song might begin as a deceptively simple pop hook and evolve into a massive sonic wall with each brick being deftly placed by the capable hands of the Starseed Transmission. Offering a swirling array of songs recorded analog and digitally both at home and in the studio, the album, which was recorded over nearly a year's time and was engineered by Jeff Saltzman, utilizes lush vocals, keyboards, and interweaving guitar melodies to create the trademark Starseed Transmission sound of trance-inducing spaced-out jams, while simultaneously and seamlessly incorporating a classic pop format.Like all living beings, King Black Acid and the Starseed Transmission will continue to grow and develop and change, redefining itself in ways most bands can never conceive. With the release of "Loves a Love Song," KBA plans to move forward and build on the momentum that has propelled them thus far. As the future unfolds, the life and times of King Black Acid will be played out in more albums and in their devastating live shows which promise to win over new fans and satisfy the already converted.

Music Style Psychedelic Rock, Spacerock, Liquid Pop

Musical Influences Spaceman 3, Spiritualized, Can, Pink Floyd

Similar Artists Pink Floyd, Spiritualized

Group Members Daniel Riddle-Vocals, Guitar Sarah Mayfield-Guitar, B. Vocals Sean Tichenor-Bass, B. VocalsSean Farrell-Keyboards, Synth, b. vocals Joe Trump-Drums Rich Landar-Keyboards, B. Vocals

Instruments Fender Guitars, Emu-Classic Keys, Roland SH-1, XP-60, Fender Rhodes

Albums Wombstar Sessions, Sunlit, Royal Subjects, Loves A Long Song

Press Reviews Here is a band that truly rocks. I mean, lung collapsing utilizing every breath from the gut out of your mind rocks. The new album starts off with a powerful traditional rock song, Butterfly Bomber, that gets into the bones. Yet, it's backing keyboards are "tantric" and melodic making the riff very addictive. I found myself singing all day, which I hate, but it makes for a great song. Into the Sun is another classic which utilizes frontman, Daniel Riddle's powerful voice that is somewhere between Eddie Veder, Scott Weiland and Bowie. I know that doesn't make much sense, but it's the only way I can describe his appeal. His breathy backing vocals are beautiful and uplifting. There's a lot of yearning in his intonation and the kids should love this album for it's heavy guitar licks and pop hooks and leads. I'm afraid this band will go mainstream from it's "psychedelia" roots, but they may be too good to keep secret. I just hope they don't sell out by removing the interesting details from their songs (i.e. sound effects, moody keyboards, etc.) and become a top 40 rock band, which some songs hint towards. Otherwise an incredible 4th album. Classic songwriting should find this band moving into center stage sometime in the future if they can keep this up. I hear they put on a great show. Can't wait to catch them in NY sometime soon!--Privy Magazine

Additional Info Into The Sun E.P, Always Crashing in the Same Car (David Bowie Tribute Compilation),

Location Portland, OR - USA

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