About Me
Rope was formed in 1998 by guitarist Przemyslaw Krzysztof Drazek and bassist Robert Iwanik in Szczecin, Poland. The two recorded an EP entitled "Fever" in the spring of 2000 and relocated to Chicago, IL later that year. In the spring of 2002, drummer and percussionist Michael J. Kendrick joined the band and on May 30, that same year, Rope debuted live at Chicago's Hideout. Soon after that hit the road for their first U.S. tour with labelmates Darin Gray(ex-Dazzling Killmen, Grand Ulena, On Fillmore) and Unstable Ensemble. Meanwhile, "Fever" after first being released on a cassette by Polish imprint Every Color Productions in 2001, landed its U.S. release on Family Vineyard Records. Fall '02 brought a recording session of Rope's first full-length "Widow's First Dawn" with Steve Albini at his very own Electrical Audio. The album found its home with Family Vineyard again and features guest appearances by Grazyna Auguscik on vocals, Darin Gray on piano, and Unstable Ensemble's Marty Belcher on soprano saxophone. The following year was highlighted with many enthusiastic reviews, shows and a feature on MTV's "This Is Our Music" show. Rope also joined Tone Deaf Touring's roster and throughout '04 and '05 toured nationwide sharing stages with Oxbow, U.S. Maple, Lydia Lunch, Jarboe, Angels Of Light, Glenn Kotche, Cheer-Accident, Eugene Chadbourne, On Fillmore, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Skeleton Key, Grand Ulena, Sicbay, Sir Richard Bishop, Josephine Foster, Nels Cline, Joe McPhee, Mats Gustafsson, Mark Shippy, Devendra Banhart amongst many others. Summer through winter '05 took place recording sessions for the second full-length "Heresy, And Then Nothing But Tears" featuring guest appearances by Oxbow's Eugene Robinson on vocals(check out "The Financial Imperative" here), Grazyna Auguscik also on vocals and Marty Belcher on soprano saxophone("She The Assassin"). The album is out worldwide via Family Vineyard Records. For more info visit: www.family-vineyard.com
