Assemblage 23

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Assemblage 23 got its start in 1988, when at a Depeche Mode concert, founder Tom Shear heard the opening DJ spinning industrial dance music. Prior to hearing this type of music, Shear had been creating primarily synth-pop and post-punk type music, as well as playing bass in a punk band. Hearing industrial music for the first time proved to be something of an epiphany for Shear, as he had finally found a form of music that combined the electronic sounds he loved from his synth-pop background with the heavier, darker aggression punk represented.

Prior to discovering industrial, Shear recorded at home under the moniker Man On A Stage. The music of Man on a Stage was very simplistic and poorly constructed, as are most musician’s first attempts. At this point, the majority of the music was instrumental as Shear was too intimidated to try singing very often. As time went on, however, vocals became a regular part of these early tracks. At the same time Shear was playing bass for a punk-influenced band with some friends from high school. This band (who changed names with almost every gig, but was known collectively as the Advocates) would provide Shear with his first ever live performance experiences.

When Shear entered college, he was doing Assemblage 23 almost exclusively, but soon ended up collaborating with two friends, Mike Ukstins and Matt Guenette, on music as well with the hope of doing some live performances eventually. The music Shear did with Ukstins and Guenette treaded more back to the-synth-poppier side of the spectrum, but as time went on, became more aggressive as Shear’s interest in industrial grew. The group (who was also impaired when it came to choosing a proper name… Procession was the one that stuck the longest) would never end up performing live, but the practices provided Shear with still more performing experience that would prove valuable further down the road.

First and foremost, Depeche Mode probably had more to do with Tom Shear getting into electronic music than anyone else. Not only was the band Shear’s introduction to electronic music, but indirectly, they also served as Shear’s introduction to industrial dance music. During Shear’s initial interest in electronic music, some of the favored bands included New Order, the Cure, Fad Gadget, early Human League, & Soft Cell. At the same time, Shear had an affinity for punk music and was a big fan of bands such as the Clash, the Buzzcocks, the Sex Pistols, the Circle Jerks, and others. As Shear’s interest in electronic grew, he began discovering some of the less accessible electronic composers such as Phillip Glass and Carl Stone, as well as becoming addicted to just about anything that came out on the then-thriving Wax Trax! label.