About Farflung

from The Ripple Effect... Farflung...'is a cosmic spacecraft that will take you to heights unimagined and if youre not careful, could leave you floating there all alone. Ive got my ticket . . . how about you?' from Sonic Frontiers... 'This is a fuzzed-out, spacey freak-out... Farflung is a band with one foot firmly in the past and the other set light years into the future. I can only hope that this is just the beginning of a long trip yet to come. ' from allmusicguide... 'If there were ever proof that stoner rock has become its own genre, it would be the fact that an album would have song titles like "Endless Drifting Wreck" and "Silver Shrooms" -- given the band, it would actually be more surprising if it didn't have song titles like that. Farflung have been at it often and long enough that by this point their jacked-up space boogie -- still audibly in debt to the patron saints of the whole shebang, Hawkwind, but no less enjoyable for that reason -- gives exactly what anyone who favors the approach would want: great album graphics perfect for black T-shirts, more echo slathered over the vocals than imaginable, and a feeling that everything and everyone involved in the creation of it are all collectively careening down a cosmic highway at light speed while screaming "YEEEAARRRRRGHHHH" out of the windows.' A Message from Farflung... The origins of the Monster that is Farflung Over the years there has been many misconceptions about the origin and group membership of Farflung. Here is a brief outline to set the record straight. Cheers 1992 While at Calarts Brandon Labelle (aka Gammaknife) and Michael Esther founded a band called Helianthus with fellow students Karl Petion and Michael Griffin. When Karl Petion returned to New York he was replaced by Buck McGibbony (aka Bucky Bono, A.Gnudarve Lovejoy) of Death Ride 69. When Michael Griffin left the band he was replaced by Tommy Grenas of Pressurehed. At this point the band changed it's name from Helianthus to Farflung.The year is 1994 There are a number of songs on the first two albums that were originally Helianthus songs including Open Your Mouth, Landing on Cydonia, Helianthus, Candied Electronic Atmospheres and Hot Fluffy Mind. Karl Petion was given co-writing credits for these songs. 1995 25,000 Feet Per Second was recorded @ Poop Alley by Tom Grimley. Released by Flipside Records Paul Fox of Pressurehed and Trash Can School, joined the band. line up: Brandon Labelle Tommy Grenas Michael Esther Buck McGibbony Paul Fox Also appearing on this album are: Marina Cordial aka Marina Rosenfeld, Keyboards Petra Hayden, Mandolin Brian Norman, flute and percussion Charles Morigiello, cello Paul Fox leaves the band. 1996 The Raven That Ate the Moon was recorded at Poop Alley by Tom Grimley. Released by Flipside line up: Brandon Labelle Tommy Grenas Michael Esther Buck McGibbony Also appearing on this album are: Marina Cordial aka Marina Rosenfeld, Keyboards, piano and vocals. The Band tours with Raging Slab 1997 The compilation album Some Many Minds so Little Time Time was released by Purple Pyramid. It includes rarities, singles and album cuts. line up: Brandon Labelle Tommy Grenas Michael Esther Buck McGibbony The Band Tours with Nik Turner. It is billed as: Nik Turner and Farflung as The Sons of Cydonia. Buck McGibbony leaves the band. Dan Planet-Quag Meyer (Dashboard Prophets) Doran Shelley (Death Ride 69, Pressurehed, The Cramps) join the band 1998 The Belief Module was recorded @ the Record Store by KC Staples. Released by Bad Acid 1999 line up: Brandon Labelle Tommy Grenas Michael Esther Dan Planet-Quag Meyer Doran Shelley Also Appearing on this album are: Lisa Papineau, vocals John Perara, Guitar Brittany Collins, Vocals KC Staples, atmospherics 1999 The Myth of Solid Ground was recorded by Len Del Rio Released by Brainsquid in 2000 During these sessions both Doran Shelley and Dan Meyers exit the group. They are replaced by Ryan Kirk and Skott Rusch (Hunting Lodge) Michael Esther leaves the group. line up: Brandon Labelle Tommy Grenas Ryan Kirk Skott Rusch The Band tours again with Nik Turner 2001 When Science Fails is recorded Released by Transparency 2002 line up: Brandon Labelle Tommy Grenas Ryan Kirk Skott Rusch 2002 9 Pin Body is released by Brainticket It is culled from the the Myth of Solid Ground sessions musicians include Brandon Labelle Tommy Grenas Ryan Kirk Skott Rusch Michael Esther Dan Planet-Quag Meyer Doran Shelley Lisa Papineau The Band tours Europe with Earthlings? line up: Brandon Labelle Tommy Grenas Ryan Kirk Skott Rusch 2007 The band reforms to record A Wound in Eternity. It is recorded at Cochran House and Rancho de la Luna, Produced and Engineered by Ryan Kirk. line up is Ryan Kirk Michael Esther Tommy Grenas 2008 A Wound in Eternity is released by Meteor City. The live line up is Ryan Kirk Michael Esther Tommy Grenas Paul Hischier Rodney Rodriguez Andrew Scott The Band plays Roadburn and tours Europe w/White Hills Full length Releases 1995 25,000 Feet Per Second Flipside 1996 The Raven that Ate the Moon Flipside 1997 So Many Minds so Little Time Purple Pyramid 1999 The Belief Module Bad Acid 2000 The Myth of Solid Ground Brainsquid 2002 When Science Fails Transparency 2002 9 Pin Body Brainticket 2008 A Wound in Eternity Meteor City Some notable bands Farflung has played with: Melvins Silver Apples Gong Nebula Earthlings? Raging Slab Keji HeinoFushitsusha Epic Soundtracks White Hills Hawkwind Brian Jonestown Massacre Sweet Cream USA Sonic Boom Acid King Four Carnation (The For Carnation? ed.) Foo Manchu (Fu Manchu? ed.) TransAm