The Aggression
Frequently Asked Questions File - Version 2.0
I. TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. General Questions
A1-0. What is The Aggression?
A2-0. How did The Aggression decide upon their name?
A3-0. Chronology And Personnel
A3-1. When and where was The Aggression formed?
A3-2. Who was in the band then?
A3-3. Who is in the band now?
A4-0. What other projects have members of The Aggression been involved in?
A5-0. The Aggression Live
A5-1. Who has The Aggression played with?
A5-2. What can one expect when seeing The Aggression live?
A6-0. The AggressioNet
A6-1. Is The Aggression on the internet?
A6-2. Does The Aggression have a website?
A6-3. How can one subscribe to The Aggression e-mail list?
A7-0. I want Aggression swag! Where can I get it?
A8-0. What equipment do the members of The Aggression use in the studio and live?
B. Musical Questions
B1-0. The First Album
B1-1. What is the title of the first album?
B1-2. What songs are on the first album?
B1-3. Who produced the first album?
B1-4. Who released the first album?
B1-5. Who appeared on the first album?
B1-6. What is "The Chicago Drinking Song?"
B2-0. The Second Album
B2-1. What is the title of the second album?
B2-2. What songs are on the second album?
B2-3. Who produced the second album?
B2-4. Who released the second album?
B2-5. Did any mixes recorded for the second album not make it to the final version?
B3-0. What is "Altamont"?
B4-0. What is "Damaged" a.k.a. "The Red Tape"?
B5-0. Where can I get more information about The Aggression's independent recorded output?
C. Miscellaneous Queries
C1-0. Where the hell is Mark these days?
C2-0. Why the hell does Mark like tour buses so much?
C3-0. Why and how the hell does Tom know everyone?
C4-0. What the hell does "F.J." stand for?
C5-0. Just how the hell old is "The Kid"?
C6-0. Who the hell is "G"?
C7-0. How the hell does one classify The Aggression musically?
C8-0. Why the hell must everyone have a nickname?
C9-0. What the hell were you three idiots doing on stage with HEll3Ent in Washington, D.C.?
C0-0. Why must every question in this section include the word "hell"?
D. The Fine Print
D1-0. Who wrote this document?
D2-0. Who helped write this document?
D3-0. Where does the information in this document come from?
D4-0. Where can I get the latest version of this document?
II. THE SUBSTANCE
A. General Questions
A1-0. What is The Aggression?
The Aggression is a group of guitar wielding, synth programming, drummer shunning, alcohol abusing rock stars from New York and Los Angeles.
A2-0. How did The Aggression decide upon their name?
The original band name, The Pirates Of The Aggression, was taken from an interview with Ministry leader Al Jourgensen. When Mark Mohtashemi joined the band, he forced them to shorten it to simply The Aggression after declaring how stupid the old name was. When asked in a recent interview if he named the band, F.J. DeSanto responded, "I did, but honestly, I wasn't really thinking when I named the band. I think if the current lineup was the original incarnation of the band, the name would be different. But what can you do..."
A3-0. Chronology And Personnel
A3-1. When and where was The Aggression formed?
It varies depending on who you ask, but from the band's standpoint (and the legal standpoint), it began when F.J. DeSanto met Mark Mohtashemi in New York City in 1992. There are also some bizarre little league connections between Tom Whitfleet and F.J. DeSanto, and it is rumored that each band member at one time babysat Michael "The Kid" Hess.
A3-2. Who was in the band then?
Originally the band was a four piece consisting of F.J. DeSanto on vocals/bass, Mark Mohtashemi on guitar, a mysterious man named Dr. Michael Fury on vocals, and the legendary T.W. Duke on keyboards, as well as the occasional Jagger-esque vocal. At one point, a guy named Mike "Ash" Venezia played keyboards as well.
A3-3. Who is in the band now?
The band is now a four piece consisting of F.J. DeSanto (occasionally referred to as Hype Factor) on vocals/bass/programming, Mark Mohtashemi (often referred to as Phingers or PH7) on guitar/vocals, Tom Whitfleet (rarely called Whit) on guitars/bass/programming/vocals, and the very young Michael Hess ("The Kid") on keyboards and programming. Live and studio engineer Kieran Pardias also fills in on live guitar when Mark is out on the west coast practicing law.
A4-0. What other projects have members of The Aggression been involved in?
Mark's pre-Aggression band was a power metal outfit called Universal Discourse in which he was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist. Mark also made an appearance on some material by F-11, T.W. Duke's post-Aggression band. Mark dabbles in many different styles of music, and is quite skilled with a good acoustic. He recently produced a demo for his brother Kevin's band Velcro, who are surprisingly not in the least bit industrial.
Tom originally fronted a band called Amess, which later became Special Agent Gumby, playing an eclectic assortment of styles ranging from punk to goth to industrial. F.J.'s first band was called M.O.G., which stood for "Memory Of Doug" (we know it doesn't fit, so don't ask!) M.O.G. is what would eventually morph into the first incarnation of The Aggression. F.J. also played bass and sang back up vocals with Universal Discourse, but only when inebriated, and co-produced the unreleased F-11 album "Life In Airports." In 1995, The Aggression rejoined with T.W. Duke and Dr. Michael Fury to form The Albrecht Go's, an improvisational/experimental pop band.
A5-0. The Aggression Live
A5-1. Who has The Aggression played with?
The Aggression have played with artists from across the electronic/industrial spectrum, including Acumen Nation (formerly Acumen - Conscience Records), November 17 (N-17 - Slipdisc Records), The Clay People (Slipdisc Records), Sister Machine Gun (Wax Trax!/TVT Records), Chris Analogue (Re-Constriction Records), Android Lust (Tinman Records), Crocodile Shop (Metropolis Records), Uranium 235, Piece Machine, Mindsett, and many others who we've probably forgotten.
A5-2. What can one expect when seeing The Aggression live?
An ego-fueled, unpredictable rock and roll cyber circus of death on the good nights, and an idiot convention on the bad.
A6-0. The AggressioNet
A6-1. Is The Aggression on the internet?
Damn straight. F.J. DeSanto handles the bulk of the band's internet communications, and can be reached by e-mailing mogworld@aol.com. Mark Mohtashemi can be reached at ph7mog@aol.com, and if you really want to stalk the band, Michael "The Kid" Hess can be reached at atilla23@aol.com.
Sometimes the members will occasionally pop up on rec.music.industrial, but since that group is frequented by closed-minded fucks (are you listening Zach?), they tend to avoid posting.
A6-2. Does The Aggression have a website?
Indeed! M.O.G. Productions Online was designed by and is maintained by Brandt Gassman of Generic Productions - Chicago. M.O.G. Productions Online is located at:
http://members.aol.com/mogworld/
The original page design was courtesy of Brandt Gassman/John Nagrodski. You can find Generic Productions - Chicago online at http://www.generic-productions.net/
A6-3. How can one subscribe to The Aggression e-mail list?
Send an e-mail to mogworld@aol.com with the subject "Subscribe."
A7-0. I want Aggression swag! Where can I get it?
All Aggression music and merchandise is available through Tinman Records. Tinman Records can be contacted at:
TINMAN RECORDS
Post Office Box 1114
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903-1114
1.732.846.2667 (TINMAN7)
tinmanaux@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/tinmanaux/
To purchase Aggression merchandise, pricing and ordering information is available on both M.O.G. Productions Online and Tinman Records Online. For any other questions regarding merchandising, please contact mogworld@aol.com.
A8-0. What equipment do the members of The Aggression use in the studio and live?
In the studio, the band uses anything and anyone lying around the studio to record. If it's located in the studio, The Aggression has used it.
F.J. DeSanto plays a black Gibson Thunderbird bass through Crate amplifiers. For programming, he uses the Kurzweil K-2000S and Cubase by Steinberg, along with some Yamaha and Kwai synth modules.
Mark Mohtashemi plays a Gibson SG through a Marshall stack and, when feeling saucy, uses a Korg FX rack.
Tom Whitfleet plays a Gibson Epiphone through Marshall stacks as well. He is also using an FX rack of unknown origin, but of low price.
Michael "The Kid" Hess uses Alesis and Kurzweil keyboards, and also uses Cubase for programming (right on!) However, he recently purchased the latest edition of Cakewalk, so it's time to learn something new.
B. Musical Questions
B1-0. The First Album
B1-1. What is the title of the first album?
The first album is entitled "Whitelineoverride."
B1-2. What songs are on the first album?
1.01. Arena85 (The Aggression)
1.02. Disposable Memories (The Aggression)
1.03. Airily (The Aggression)
1.04. The End Of Everything (The Aggression)
1.05. Disheveled Star (The Aggression)
1.06. Cockdiesel (The Aggression)
1.07. Gemini Sky (The Aggression)
1.08. Gateway (To The Inevitable) (The Aggression/Mike Venezia)
1.09. Devil's Crossing (The Aggression)
1.10. Permanent (The Aggression)
B1-3. Who produced the first album?
The first album was produced by The Aggression and the ever complimentary Chris Randall of Sister Machine Gun.
B1-4. Who released the first album?
The first album was released by Tinman Records in the United States, Out Of Line Records in Europe, and is distributed through Metropolis Distribution in the United States.
B1-5. Who appeared on the first album?
The first album included guest appearances from Jamie Duffy (Acumen Nation/DJ? Acucrack), Jason McNinch (Lick/Pigface/Mescaline), Jason Novak (Acumen Nation/DJ? Acucrack), and others.
B1-6. What is "The Chicago Drinking Song?"
If you really want to know, let's see how smart you are first.
B2-0. The Second Album
B2-1. What is the title of the second album?
The second album, actually a compilation of four new songs and many remixes, is entitled "Pure Liquid Ego."
B2-2. What songs are on the second album?
2.01. Missionary Man (The Aggression)
2.02. Beautiful Losers (The Aggression)
2.03. Hey! (The Aggression/Ehren Kruger/Chris Link/Matt Gentile/Dan Hamill)
2.04. Cross '97 (The Aggression/Ehren Kruger/Chris Link)
2.05. Permanent (Pigs Blood Blues Mix) - Wayne Hussey
2.06. Airily (Asphyxia) - Cydonia(asphyxia) - Cydonia
2.07. Arena85 (Galaga Mix) - Murder.dk
2.08. The Disposable Remix - Jason McNinch/The Aggression
2.09. Disheveled Star (Rebirth) - Android Lust
2.10. Missionary Man (Smart Fist Mix) - Salvo
2.11. Hey! (Redemption) - I, Parasite
2.12. Airily (Cocaine You Mix) - The Fourth Level
2.13. The Cross (Stripped) - Eric Powell/16Volt
2.14. Arena85 (98-Revelation Mix) - Crocodile Shop
2.15. Beautiful Losers (Eyeamgodmix) - eyeamgod
2.16. Cross (El Flaco Mix) - Gromet
B2-3. Who produced the second album?
The second album was produced by the wildly talented George Hagegeorge of Under The Noise/Urania.
B2-4. Who released the second album?
The second album was released by Tinman Records in the United States, and is distributed through Metropolis Distribution in the United States.
B2-5. Did any mixes recorded for the second album not make it to the final version?
Yes, due to space constraints, there were a handful of remixes submitted that did not make it to the final master of "Pure Liquid Ego." George Hagegeorge did a great dub mix of "Hey!," and Murder.dk did several different remixes of "Arena85." Tom, "The Kid," and F.J. also teamed up with former bandmate Chris Link to record an ambient mix of "Gemini Sky," and the trio later paired up with the other former bandmate Mike "Ash" Venezia to do a remix of "Cockdiesel," which the boys now play live. Marc Heal of Cubanate is also in the process of remixing "Missionary Man" for a possible single release, and Chris Kelly and Leo Canetto of Gromet will be remixing another Aggression song for an upcoming compilation appearances. All of these unreleased remixes will see the light of day in the near future.
B3-0. What is "Altamont"?
"Altamont" was the first release by what is considered the original Aggression lineup, with Mark Mohtashemi having joined the band halfway through the sessions. The cassette featured early versions of recently released songs including "Cross" and "Low And Slow," which the band is in the process of rerecording.
B4-0. What is "Damaged" a.k.a. "The Red Tape"?
"Damaged" was a limited edition cassette release by the band, recorded in 1992 before Tom Whitfleet had joined. "Damaged" is known to many as "The Red Tape" due to the fact that it was pressed on cool, blood red cassettes. Strangely, the band now refuses to play material from the "Damaged" era.
B5-0. Where can I get more information about the band's independent recorded output?
See "Submerged Truth: The Aggression's Independent Recorded Output," located in the "AUDIO.MOG" section of the band's webpage. However, please keep in mind that none of the releases from this period are available for sale or trade, so don't ask.
C. Miscellaneous Queries
C1-0. Where the hell is Mark these days?
Mark is off studying law in the bustling metropolis of Los Angeles, California. However, he flies back to the Big Apple frequently to work on new material with the band.
C2-0. Why the hell does Mark like tour buses so much?
To him, the tour bus is the epitomization of the rock n' roll lifestyle. Like F.J. and tour laminates.
C3-0. Why and how the hell does Tom know everyone?
Before Tom Whitfleet was famous for being a member of The Aggression, he was famous for just being Tom. Why and how, nobody knows, but the band has never been anywhere in the continental United States without running into somebody Tom knows. This mysterious phenomenon occurred recently in both Chicago and Brooklyn.
C4-0. What the hell does "F.J." stand for?
Frank Jeffery, which was shortened to "F.J." by his parents while he was still an infant. It does not stand for "Funky Jehovah."
C5-0. Just how the hell old is "The Kid"?
We can't tell you because we might get banned from certain clubs!
C6-0. Who the hell is "G"?
"G" is F.J.'s childhood friend and roommate Dan Hamill, a.k.a Gutterball Vinnie, who spends so much time with the band willingly you would think he was either in the band, or in serious need of a psychiatric evaluation.
C7-0. How the hell does one classify The Aggression musically?
We haven't found a way, so don't even try. The Aggression isn't just a band; it is a way of life.
C8-0. Why the hell must everyone have a nickname?
Otherwise, we would forget everybody's name while in a drunken stupor.
C9-0. What the hell were you three idiots doing on stage with HEll3Ent in Washington, D.C.?
In the words of F.J. DeSanto: "OK, so we're piss drunk at a Chemlab show in D.C., and Chemlab decides to do some HEll3Ent material with the members of 16Volt and Haloblack. Someone, it could have been Marc La Corte, said "get onstage and do something," so Mark, myself, and our loyal pal Harbour did. Since there were no microphones left to use, we just danced like morons with beer in our hands. Tom came onstage as well, and in a blinding moment of sanity, said "This is stupid!" and went back to the dressing rooms. Greg Lopez of Acumen Nation compared this incident to those three disco guys from Saturday Night Live.
C0-0. Why must every question in this section include the word "hell"?
Why the hell do you care you jagoff?
D. The Fine Print
D1-0. Who wrote this document?
This document was created by Big Daddy Hype himself F.J. DeSanto, and was developed by Brandt fucking Gassman of Generic Productions - Chicago.
D2-0. Who helped write this document?
Most importantly, Christine "DA-BOMB!" Bomski helped by writing the Acumen Nation F.A.Q., which F.J. then copied and made into his own. In addition, Jason "Pinky" Novak helped by making F.J. realize that there should be a sense of humor to this thing.
D3-0. Where does the information in this document come from?
In the words of F.J. DeSanto: "My head, and from what I have been told the morning after by various people."
D4-0. Where can I get the latest version of this document?
"The Aggression: Frequently Asked Questions File Version 2.0" can by obtained via e-mail from F.J. DeSanto (mogproduct@aol.com), via the internet from M.O.G. Productions Online (http://members.aol.com/mogworld/), or via newsgroups when it is posted to rec.music.industrial. Beautiful women can also obtain the latest version of this document from F.J.'s pants.
Two words: "Suck it!" \ /
No comments:
Post a Comment