Machines of Loving Grace

Machines of Loving Grace was an American industrial rock band from Tucson, Arizona, formed in 1989 by vocalist Scott Benzel, keyboardist Mike Fisher, and guitarist Stuart Kupers. The band released three albums in the 1990s before disbanding in 1999.

History

Formation, Machines of Loving Grace, and label signing (1989–1992)

In 1989, vocalist Scott Benzel recruited guitarist Stuart Kupers and keyboardist Mike Fisher to work on music for a film project. All three attended the University of Arizona together. The result was the track "Terminal City". Pleased with the song, the trio continued to work together, and formed a band named Machines of Loving Grace. The name came from the Richard Brautigan poem "All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace". During recording, the band brought in drummer Brad Kemp and bassist Andrew Stewart to record on one track ("Lipstick 66").

The band circulated the songs as a self-produced demo. In 1991, Mammoth Records signed the band to a label contract based on the demo; however, instead of allowing the band to record a proper album, the label released the demo as their debut album with minimal changes under the name Machines of Loving Grace in October 1991. The band protested the decision but ultimately relented. Around the same time, Kemp and Stewart joined the band on drums and bass respectively. Despite landing a deal with a label, the band did not play their first live show until later on in 1991 as they opened for Pigface in Hollywood, California. Machines of Loving Grace then went on their first major tour in the US alongside Swans and also Peter Murphy. The remixed version, with a "radio edit" subtitle, was released as a single in 1992. Due to legal troubles with Reznor's label, the single was not heavily promoted nor was a video made for it. For the tour in support of Concentration, the band added Ray Riendeau to the lineup as bassist. Along with various headlining shows, they also opened for My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult towards the end of the year. They were involved with the film early on since they were the first band contacted for the soundtrack. Ultimately, the soundtrack peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and went on to receive multiple sales certifications from the US, Australia, Canada, and the UK. Also in 1994, "Butterfly Wings" appeared in an episode of the show Due South.

Gilt, disbandment, and The Machines project (1995–1999)

In 1995, Kemp departed from the band. The remaining four members then started work on their third album with Sylvia Massy (who had previously worked with bands such as Green Jellö and Tool) as producer. Influenced by the extensive touring behind Concentration, the band opted for a rawer sound more akin to a live setting for their third album. During the recording process, Kupers left the band. Around the same time, a slight remix of the Gilt track "Richest Junkie Still Alive" appeared on the soundtrack to the film Hackers. Both the remix version and the original version were released as singles. Shortly after the release of Gilt, Coffeen was replaced on guitars by Greg Suran. In late 1995, Machines of Loving Grace opened for Jim Rose Circus. From the end of 1995 to the beginning of 1996, Machines of Loving Grace toured alongside Korn, Grotus, and Chemlab throughout the US. Later on in 1996, "Tryst" (off of Gilt) appeared on the soundtrack to Mega Man (a TV show adaption).

After the touring cycle for Gilt ended, Suran departed from the band, and he was replaced by Tom Melchionda (a friend of the band who had previously co-written "Golgotha Tenement Blues" from The Crow and also served as the band's guitar tech). The lineup of Benzel, Fisher, Suycott, Riendeau, and Melchionda then commenced recording the band's fourth album. It was given the working title of Love Scenes at the Slave Market. In 1997, "Richest Junkie Still Alive" appeared on a compilation which promoted the European release of the video game Command & Conquer: Red Alert.

Throughout 1997 and 1998, the band members gradually moved away from Love Scenes at the Slave Market. Riendeau joined the band 2wo as a touring bassist, Suycott focused on session work for a wide variety of artists such as Verbow and Butterfly Child, and Benzel shifted towards technical work for other artists. By the beginning of 1999, Machines of Loving Grace had effectively disbanded. Benzel, however, started a project simply named The Machines. The band's sound was changed into a beat-oriented electronic direction. Ben Grosse, Jim Waters, and Jack Dangers were working on the untitled album as well. Song names mentioned included "Superfuck", "Transgression", and "Never Learn Not to Love" (a Beach Boys cover). Unfortunately for the band, their label (Mammoth Records) went through a transition as they were purchased by The Walt Disney Company. Due to the restructuring, Benzel halted The Machines project by 2000.

Post-breakup (2000–present)

Three songs from the band's album Concentration appeared in the 2005 film Devour. In 2007, Machines of Loving Grace was included in the documentary High and Dry: 20 Years of Tucson Music, which revolved around the music scene of Tucson, Arizona. In 2008, "Butterfly Wings" (from Concentration) was featured on the soundtrack of the film Punisher: War Zone. Original guitarist Kupers died at the age of 54 on November 14, 2021. He had ultimately died from both Gaucher's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Members

Scott Benzel – vocals (1989–1999)
Mike Fisher – keyboards, programming (1989–1999)
Stuart Kupers – guitars, bass (1989–1995); died 2021
Brad Kemp – drums (1991–1995)
Andrew Stewart – bass (1991–1993)
Ray Riendeau – bass (1993–1999)
David Suycott – drums (1995–1999)
Tom Coffeen – guitars (1995)
Greg Suran – guitars (1995–1996)
Tom Melchionda – guitars (1996–1999)

Timeline

Color denotes main live duty.

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id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals

id:Guitars value:green legend:Guitars

id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass

id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums

id:Keyboards value:purple legend:Keyboards,_programming

id:album value:black legend:Album

id:bars value:gray(0.95)

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at:10/11/1991

at:09/21/1993

at:09/19/1995

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bar:Benzel text:"Scott Benzel"

bar:Fisher text:"Mike Fisher"

bar:Kupers text:"Stuart Kupers"

bar:Coffeen text:"Tom Coffeen"

bar:Suran text:"Greg Suran"

bar:Melchionda text:"Tom Melchionda"

bar:Stewart text:"Andrew Stewart"

bar:Riendeau text:"Ray Riendeau"

bar:Kemp text:"Brad Kemp"

bar:Suycott text:"David Suycott"

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bar:Benzel from:01/20/1989 till:01/20/1999 color:Vocals

bar:Fisher from:01/20/1989 till:01/20/1999 color:Keyboards

bar:Kupers from:01/20/1989 till:04/03/1995 color:Guitars

bar:Coffeen from:06/01/1995 till:11/01/1995 color:Guitars

bar:Suran from:11/01/1995 till:08/20/1996 color:Guitars

bar:Melchionda from:08/20/1996 till:01/20/1999 color:Guitars

bar:Stewart from:10/01/1991 till:02/02/1993 color:Bass

bar:Riendeau from:10/21/1993 till:01/20/1999 color:Bass

bar:Kemp from:10/01/1991 till:02/01/1995 color:Drums

bar:Suycott from:06/01/1995 till:01/20/1999 color:Drums

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Discography

Albums

Machines of Loving Grace (1991)
Concentration (1993)
Gilt (1995)

Singles

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

! Year

! Single

! US Alt

! Album

| rowspan="2" | 1991

| "X-Insurrection"

| —

| rowspan="3" | Machines of Loving Grace

| "Rite of Shiva"

| —

| 1992

| "Burn Like Brilliant Trash"

| —

| rowspan="2" | 1993

| "Butterfly Wings"

| 13

| rowspan="4" | Concentration

| "Acceleration"

| —

| rowspan="3" | 1994

| "Perfect Tan (Bikini Atoll)"

| —

| "If I Should Explode"

| —

| "Golgotha Tenement Blues"

| —

| The Crow Original Soundtrack

| rowspan="2" | 1995

| "Richest Junkie Still Alive"

| —

| rowspan="2" | Gilt

| "Suicide King"

| —

Music videos

"X-Insurrection"
Directed by Kevin Borque
"Butterfly Wings"
Directed by Julie Hermelin
"Perfect Tan (Bikini Atoll)"
Directed by Julie Hermelin
"Golgotha Tenement Blues"
"Richest Junkie Still Alive"
Directed by John Reece