Avant Garde: Difference between revisions

'''Avant Garde''' (later known as '''Zoom''') was a progressive heavy metal band from Connecticut. Featuring technical and heavy guitar solos, a dramatic production sense, and hair metal aesthetics, the band was formed by [[Rivers Cuomo]] and his childhood friends at E.O. Smith and Rockville high schools<ref name="E.O Smith Battle of the Bands">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tfnz6sTFB8 Youtube video] entitled "E.O. Smith Battle of the Bands, May 24, 1988: Avant Garde, "Tongue of Fire"". Description reads: Avant Garde, an original progressive metal band, was comprised of E.O. Smith / Rockville High School students, all between the ages of 16 and 17 years old. From [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0MJ40q-8TJPvqQAJ5m9KAA Rakkit TV] channel.</ref>. Drawing inspiration from Judas Priest and [[Kiss]], Avant Garde's lineup consisted of Cuomo on guitar, [[Justin Fisher]] on bass, [[Kevin Ridel]] on lead vocals, his brother [[Eric Ridel]] on guitar, and [[Bryn Mutch]] on drums. The band relocated to Los Angeles from Connecticut in 1988<ref name="David Dalley">[[Hartford Courant article - December 4, 1996#Cuomo's band one of three to evolve from Avant Garde|Hartford Courant article - December 4, 1996]] - written by DAVID DALLEY.</ref>, changed its name to '''Zoom'''<ref name="Recording History Zoom">[[Recording_History_-_Page_1#Zoom_.2889-early_90.29|Recording History - Page 1]]. By [[Karl Koch]].</ref>, and dissolved by the spring of [[1990]]<ref name="Details">[[Details interview with Rivers Cuomo - February 1997]] by Gavin Edwards</ref>.

{{Karl Koch quote|This was the first "pro" band that Rivers was in, and is mentioned here due to the fact that the 3 demo tapes ([[The Blue Demo|1987]], [[The Purple Demo|8]], and [[Somethin' Different!|9]]) may be the earliest "non-amateur" recording featuring Rivers... Rivers's contribution to AG was primarily guitar playing and soloing. The whole band is credited as the songwriter, but I believe Rivers mostly came up with the guitar parts.|<ref>[[Recording_History_-_Page_1#Avant_Garde|Recording History - Page 1]]</ref>}}

One year after [[Fury]]'s formation, Cuomo wanted to play a heavier metal and Fisher, a friend of his, agreed. The two began writing as members drifted in and out. At the time, Cuomo was writing his own guitar parts as well as covering Metallica and [[Fates Warning]]. Eventually, Cuomo and Fisher would call the band Avant Garde. Cuomo has since said, "We were anything but."<ref name="David Dalley" /> In 1986, [[Kevin Ridel]] was cast as the lead singer. Ridel first met Fisher and Cuomo at a local Battle of the Bands, an event they would later play as a band<ref name="E.O Smith Battle of the Bands" />. Ridel's brother Eric also joined the band as rhythm guitarist. Cuomo and Fisher's friend from high school Bryn Mutch was cast as the drummer. Even today, Fisher considers Bryn "an amazing drummer."{{citation needed}}

Avant Garde was very devoted to the music they were playing and worked meticulously. The band would typically practice four times a week for several hours at a time. Anyone who the band considered to not take the music seriously was kicked out. Eric, being a partier, was the first member to go. Even Fisher was confronted by Cuomo about his one night of partying. In an interview featured in ''[[Rivers' Edge]]''{{citation needed}} Fisher said, "We didn't really drink, smoke, or do most of the things that people usually associate with rock music. We were really focused on being musicians and the people that we saw drinking or getting high back then didn't seem to be as 'serious' as we wanted to be. One night, I'm hanging out with our friend Jim Emino and a couple of girls -- ooh! -- and I try Schnapps, pot and cigarettes all for the first time -- double ooh! Needless to say, I didn't score very well with the ladies, and when I went to Rivers' house the next day I got the third degree from Rivers, Eric and Leaves. They were all sitting around the Kitchen table -- we were practicing in Rivers' bedroom -- and saying, 'We heard what you were doing last night -- smoking pot -- and we need to know if you are going to want to do it again.' The underlying message being, 'We're not really into having a pot smoker in the band.'"

Rehearsals typically took place at either Fisher's house, Cuomo's house or "The Band Room." Fisher described the band room as, "A small, burnt-out furniture factory in Vernon. There was absolutely no adult supervision and bands like ours would just go in there and rent our own piece of the floor for three or four hundred dollars a month and build our own walls. We'd practice in there, and kids would just go in there and hang out and listen to other bands. It was really kind of neat and scary at the same time. It was incredibly cold in the winter... We were all in high school. Looking back, I don't know how the hell we came up with the rent."{{citation needed}}

Kevin Ridel, looking back, believes the band "sucked"<ref name="Catlin">[[Hartford Courant article - December 4, 1996#Weezer's worry|Hartford Courant article - December 4, 1996]] by ROGER CATLIN</ref>, striving more for technical prowess and focusing less on songwriting craft.

{{Rivers Cuomo quote|I was always a bit of an oddity [in high school]. When I was in ninth grade, we were picked on and ostracized. By 11th grade, we were tolerated. And by 12th grade, people gave us a certain amount of respect. But we were never rock stars, just the weird guys who did music."|<ref name="Catlin" />}}