Cold Hand Chemistry

2006 saw the birth of Cold Hand Chemistry by founding member Dave Benzaquen who grew dissatisfied with his Latin music career and began scouting for likeminded musicians in bringing this project to life. First to join was Stuart Priede. Stuart came from a very colorful background of music which saw him reaching a very high-grade in piano and music theory, as well as teaching both piano and guitar in George before moving to Cape Town. Ryan Shuman soon followed on Drums. Dean Jacobs joined the band on Bass guitar and Chantel Smit on Vocals and acoustic guitar.
The name Cold Hand Chemistry is an exact representation of the band, mixing each individual’s music knowledge, background and taste in to one unit. On the 31st of March 2007 Cold Hand Chemistry played their first gig at Corner Bar in Durbanville, Cape Town. The success of their first gig saw them perform at popular venues across Cape Town and 2007 turned out to be a very busy first year for the band.
Sadly their early growth had been halted when, as attention started growing around their humble outfit, Stuart had to make a difficult decision about whether he really wanted to commit to something that was capable of consuming its constituent members completely. He left Cold Hand Chemistry later in 2007. Donovan Laughton replaced Stuart on guitar. Donovan played his first gig with Cold Hand Chemistry on the 19th of October 2007 alongside Stuart at Corner Bar, which was also Stuart last performance with the band. They ended their first year with a Cape Town to Durban tour alongside 12th Avenue for the second Rock & Roll Circus event, which saw Shaun Morgan from “Seether” making his appearance at Mercury Live on 28t of December alongside 12th Avenue. The band also played 12 gigs for the Rock & Roll Circus thus ending off 2007 with 29 gigs for their first year as a band.
Beginning of 2008 proved no different and already Cold Hand Chemistry is strongly heading toward the over 50 shows on under their belt for 2008. They also recorded their first single in March 2008 “Angel Suicide”. They have big plans for 2008 with plans of their first album to be recorded and released later the year, they have also been booked and confirmed for the next Rock & Roll Circus tour in December 2008 which will be bigger with performances all across South Africa.
Press Quotes
Tabletalk – Thursday September 6 2007
“Listening to them play one can hear their individual musical influences coming through, they gel as one solid unit. A clear indication that the chemistry between them makes it work.” “It’s energetic and it’s passionate and it’s good. At times melodic at times heavy and aggressive, the music takes you on a journey of catchy hooks, and heartfelt lyrics.”
Tabletalk – Wednesday December 5 2007
“When Cold Hand Chemistry take to the stage there is no second guessing which band is in the house.” “Their music is an eclectic mix of symphonic rock, percussion, a hint of the blues, punk, metal, a grip of grunge with a slight gothic influence. They created a symphony of sound that has their signature written all over it.”


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