Enter the world of False Icons: a new band featuring John Bechdel on guitar, Brian Broadt on keyboards, Rob Blankenship on bass, and Mark Panek on drums. False Icons delivers meaningful songs full of sleek sophisticated sounds, elegantly layered keyboards, heavy guitars, deep bass and a unique vocal style. Dark and powerful, they are a driving force, an inspirational journey of imagery and emotion that is sure to capture the attention of Industrial and Electronic music fans everywhere.
Although John has enjoyed touring the world as a keyboardist with some highly influential bands ( Ministry , Fear Factory , Prong , Killing Joke and Murder Inc. ), he always wanted to be part of a band of his own. He has been composing music most of his life and was looking for the right people to share his vision. After meeting Brian Broadt, and realizing they had similar musical styles, they began working together on the sound that would evolve into False Icons. Building upon his extensive keyboard and programming skills, John steps out from behind the keyboard to feature his vocal and guitar work. Combined with Brians fast electronic edge, unique programming style and vast technical background, False Icons was quickly developing into a force all its own.
With the addition of Rob Blankenship, False Icons' full sound began to come together. While working with Rob on other musical projects, John and Brian found he could offer another element to their sound. His heavy vocals add contrast to Johns melodic vocal style, while his bass work adds to the solid foundation upon which False Icons build their elaborate electronic structures. Brian and Rob are both graduates of Pennsylvanias underground music scene. Brian was a founder, songwriter, touring vocalist and guitar player in the seminal early nineties central PA indie rock band Deckard . Rob was a songwriter, bass player and vocalist for the thrash metal band DIE , gigging extensively on both coasts and at one time shared the stage with Cannibal Corpse at The Whiskey in LA.
Mark Panek is the most recent addition to False Icons, but he has completely changed their live sound. Mark has been a professional drummer for over 20 years, has toured with many bands ( .38 Special , Foghat , The Grass Roots , The Marcels , Jo Dee Messina ...) and has been involved with music all his life. Mark commands an amazing sense of timing and extremely wide range of rhythmic ability spanning many styles and musical genres. From the very first time they played together it was apparent that Mark was absorbed in FIs sound and shared John, Brian, and Robs musical vision. His solid, polished rhythms and tribal tom work blend seamlessly with the electronic percussive structures of FIs studio tracks, taking the songs to a whole new level and fully rounding out the bands live presentation.
Be sure to check out Ascension of the Watchers featuring John and Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory , Fade Kainer of Still Life Decay and Scott Irvine filling out the band.
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