Eat Static were formed in 1989 by Merv Pepler and Joie Hinton, then drummer and synth player respectively for the band Ozric Tentacles. They were joined by Steve Everitt, a library musician and occasional Ozric member. The band made a name for themselves on the Megadog/'live' techno scene of the early '90s, playing alongside the likes of Orbital, Underworld and Aphex Twin.
They were the first signings to Megadog-offshoot Planet Dog records, releasing their debut album 'Abduction' in 1993. In 1994 Steve Everitt retired from the group's live performances, though he has continued to collaborate in the studio. Since then the band have played hundreds of gigs worldwide and become one the most respected and spectacular live dance acts around. They have been voted 'Best Dance Act' in the NME, achieved a top twenty album, headlined the first dance tent at Glastonbury in 1995 and recorded two Peel sessions. Whilst essentially a sci-fi influenced, trance/techno outfit, they have also incorporated drum and bass, breakbeat, latin, garage and ambient styles into their sound at various stages. In the past few years the band have become heavily involved with the psy-trance scene, playing parties and festivals the world over and releasing numerous tracks on trance compilations.
Merv has also recently collaborated with the likes of Steve Jolliffe (Tangerine Dream), Will White (Propellerheads) and Simon Posford (Hallucinogen). In addition, Joie plays with Here & Now, Zubzub (with ex-Ozrics bassist Zia) and Dream Machine (alongside former Ozric flautist Jumping John). Both Joie and Merv also occasionally play live with Ozrics leader Ed Wynne under the guise of Nodens Ictus and have recently been playing with the Ozrics again. Eat Static released their long-awaited new album 'De-Classified' through ..Solstice Music.. in July 2007. In February 2008 it was announced that Joie would be leaving the group in order to spend more time with his family. Now going it alone, Merv released a downtempo Eat Static album entitled 'Back to Earth' in July 2008, followed by a string of festival appearances.
The next project will be the 20th Anniversary album plus a break-beat orientated album under the name Dendron (the follow up to 2003's 'Supernatural Jazz').Mesmobeat has also sprung back into life and Merv will be releasing a string of other people's work,the first being Groovuscule with his album 'Theatre'.. Watch this (my)space for more details as well as keeping an eye on www.mesmobeat.com..
Eat Static
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