The Clay People

Live @ the QE2 99' Photo by Nadine Swiger

The Clay People is an alternative rock band based in Albany, New York. Singer Daniel Neet has been the only constant member throughout the band's history, providing lyrics and a frontman persona, while an ever-changing lineup of musicians shaped the sound of the band as its style evolved from American cold wave to post-grunge rock.

Originally known as "Clay People" during their early industrial music years, the group added "The" to their name with the release of their self titled 1998 album, marking a change in direction from their dance club roots to a live rock band with a lineup featuring Neet, Brian McGarvey (guitar), Mike Guzzardi (guitar), D. Patrick Walsh (bass) and Dan Dinsmore (drums). The album was produced by Neil Kernon for Slipdisc Records and was the band's most commercially successful release. Songs from the record were included in the soundtracks to films Strangeland and Universal Soldier: The Return, as well as the soundtracks to several video games.

Internal conflicts caused the band to go on hiatus in the early 2000s as members pursued solo and side projects or launched new bands. A new album from The Clay People, Waking the Dead, was released on May 22, 2007 via Overit Records with a lineup featuring only Neet, Dinsmore and McGarvey from the 1998 band. Along with the new release was a music video for the album's first single, Supersonic Overdrive, directed by Jay Bender of Phobic Films. Following the release of Waking the Dead the band once again become inactive.

In June 2012 Neet, McGarvey, and Dinsmore revived The Claypeople with the bassist from Acumen Nation to perform at "Cold Waves: The Jamie Duffy Memorial Concert" in Chicago in honor of the guitarist from Acumen Nation who took his own life earlier that year. This show would rekindle Dan Neet's interest in performing onstage and prompt him to reactivate the band. They returned the following year with Guzzardi for Coldwaves II and were joined onstage by Burton C. Bell of the industrial metal band Fear Factory for their fan favorite track Pariah. The Cold Waves shows included a line-up never seen before of the who's who of the coldwave and industrial scene including long time friends Acumen Nation, 16 Volt, Chemlab, Hate Dept., Die Warzau and members of the Revolting Cocks. These shows encouraged The Clay People to become active in the studio once again, however continuing internal conflicts and ongoing problems associated with substance abuse led to more band member lineup changes and an unfinished album as of five years later. The Claypeople released a new album, Demon Hero, featuring a revolving-door of recording musicians, in September 2018. They continue to play shows in the Albany, New York area citing their “return” as a band.

Members

• Daniel Neet: Vocals
• Brian McGarvey: Guitar
• Dan Dinsmore: Drums
• Vegas Nacy: 2nd Vocals/percussion’s
• Eric Braymer: Bass

Discography

• The Calling b/w Nothing 7" (1990)
• Toybox EP (1991) Production credit George Hagegeorge
• Firetribe (1993) Production credit George Hagegeorge
• Cringe (Germany Release) (1995) production credit George Hagegeorge, Van Christie, Jason McNinch
• Iron Icon (1995) production credit Van Christie, Jason McNinch
• Strange Day (1996) production credit George Hagegeorge
• Stone Ten Stitches (1997) production credit George Hagegeorge
• The Clay People (1998) production credit Neil Kernon
• The Headhunter Demos (2001)
• Waking the Dead (2007)
• Demon Hero and Other Extraordinary Phantasmagoric Anomalies & Fables (2018)

References

External links

• The Clay People on MySpace