Cradle of Thorns

Formation and Remember It Day (1988–1990)

In 1988 vocalist Ty Elam formed the gothic rock band Cradle of Thorns. With a combination of male and female lead vocalists, a dark, atmospheric sound, and environmentally and socially conscious lyrics ("Remember It Day" especially is about pollution, violence, and ignorance), they toured extensively and won an underground following. They released an independent record entitled Remember It Day in 1990.

Feed-Us (1994–1995)

The band signed with Triple X Records (label of Jane's Addiction and Social Distortion) and in 1994 released Feed-Us, produced by Ross Robinson. This was a more aggressive album with hip hop elements (emcee-style vocals and lyrics about race on "Ignore-Your-Race"), drug addiction ("Lullaby for the Dead", "Dysfunctional Brady Bunch"), S&M and voyeurism ("Flesh" and "My Sister Sam (Bleed)"), and serial murder ("Behave"). The album also included a new, angrier version of "Remember It Day" with cleaner production that descends into screaming chaos. Feed-Us also established a band staple: the final track contains an extended, sample-based noise collage following the last song.

Download This! (1996–1998)

1996's Download This! saw the departure of female vocalist Tamera Slayton and bassist Scat Elis. With new bassist Purdy Spackle, the band shifted to a fusion of punk, rap, metal, and industrial rock, with more rapping and screaming than ever before and more extensive sampling and use of electronics. The song "Bulimia Blowjob" features an appearance by vocalist Aimee Echo of Human Waste Project and TheSTART, and Jeff Schartoff, of Human Waste Project and Professional Murder Music. Schartoff is also touring bassist for Peter Murphy.

Name change and Videodrone (1998–2000)

For their fourth album, bassist Purdy Spackle was replaced by Mavis and the band dropped most of the punk elements and fully embraced a more pop-oriented industrial rock sound. They renamed themselves Videodrone, after the film of the same name. Their twelve-track, self-titled CD was released in 1999 with appearances from Korn's Jonathan Davis on "Ty Jonathan Down", Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst and DJ Lethal on "Human Piñata", and Psycho Realm on "Pig in a Blanket". Also from Korn, Head played guitar on "Power Tools for Girls" and Fieldy produced the album.

In high school, vocalist Ty Elam had often collaborated with friends Jonathan Davis (later of Korn) and Ryan Shuck and their band Sexart. Shuck would go on to play for Orgy, another one-time Elementree Records band. After touring with Korn, Rob Zombie, Orgy, and Machine Head, lack of label support and drug problems spelled the end for Videodrone (as detailed in the interview with Elam on the "All Over Again" maxi-single).

Break up and post-Videodrone projects (2000–2006)

Drummer Kris Kohls went on to play for Adema and vocalist Ty Elam would go on to play in local Bakersfield bands Karmahitlist, Three Chord Whore, and Arrival of Fawn after Videodrone's demise in 2000.

Reformation (2006–present)

In 2007, Ty Elam resurrected the band under its original moniker Cradle of Thorns with all new members. The song "All Over Again" was released as a single, which can be heard on the band's official MySpace page. Elam later appeared on metal band Mastiv's album, End of the Silence, released in 2011.

Style, influences and legacy

The band has a mixed style. The first album offers calm music, but after that the musicians use elements from grunge, punk rock and gothic rock. Feed-Us is their most colourful work. When nu-metal got popular, Cradle Of Thorns started to add rapcore elements in their music. When they changed the band name, their music stayed industrial.

Cradle Of Thorns has influenced bands including Deadsy, Flame Of Life, and Evanescence.

Current members

Former members

Cradle of Thorns

Videodrone