User:Secretphilosophy/sandbox
Dean G Smith | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Dean Gerard Smith |
| Also known as | Deangersmith, Dean of Doom Smith |
| Born | February 11, 1969 Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Genres | metal, funk rock, experimental rock, hard rock, progressive |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, producer, recording engineer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, drums |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Labels | Deangersmith Music, InHouse Records |
| Website | www |
Dean G. Smith aka Deangersmith (born February 11, 1969) is a South African born musician, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and artist. His primary instrument is guitar and vocals although he began his career as a drummer and vocalist. He is the founding member of several heavy metal bands from the 1980’s into the 2000’s, including Ragnärok, 2 Dogs Funking, Brothering, PijinFist, Mouthful of Flies. He has been involved in mixing and mastering songs with such acts as Blaise Pascal and Acoustic Roots. He is currently releasing solo albums as well as writing songs for a number of project bands including with Marq Vas of Metalmorphosis. He is also creator, producer and host of the radio show, The Metal and Hard Rock from Africa Show that broadcast throughout 2013 on Dilligaf Radio. He was born in the south of Johannesburg. He is married to actress Vanessa Zachos.
Career
[edit]In his teens, Dean formed the thrash metal band Ragnärok as vocalist and drummer along with bassist Dirk Mrozek and guitarist Stephen Kay-Clough. They were considered the initiators of Thrash Metal in South Africa ahead of the burgeoning metal and hard rock scene and went on to take second place at 1988 Battle of the Bands at Club Image in Johannesburg. The band had a residency at The Irish Club in Hillbrow for two years and at various now defunct venues around South Africa. Dirk was later replaced by Dean’s brother Robert (Robi) on bass guitar and backing vocals. Dean moved onto guitar and continued as lead vocalist adding Laurence Bailie (Band O’ Gypsies) as drummer. The band unofficially released one demo album in 1989 Troops of Thunder. During this time Dean also guest vocalled on The Blast’s 1988 self released two track 7” as lead vocalist on ‘Little Sister’ and backing on “Not Quite The Same Thing” with Mike Mills, recorded at Universal Studios Johannesburg (now defunct) and produced by Ankha Nel. Ragnärok disbanded in 1992. The album was re-released as a CDR in 2018 due to new demand from fans in Europe[1].
In 1991, Dean joined the band Odyssey as rhythm guitarist, with Brin Addison on lead guitar and vocals, Laurence Bailie on drums, Neil Ford on bass. They toured extensively around Southern Africa releasing one album Odyssey 1991 on Inhouse Records which aired regularly on 5fm.
In 1993 Dean became lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist in the hard rock/ funk band 2 Dogs Funking (2DF) with Brin Addison as lead guitarist and backing vocals. They toured South Africa and Botswana playing at major music festivals and venues. They independently released one demo album Handling Complaints and Demands under the label ToneDeaf Music in 1993 which aired on 5fm regularly by South African DJ Barney Simon. The band disbanded in 1995 as Brin moved to Seattle, Washington.
Dean and his brother Robi formed Brothering in 1997 along with Tulsa Pittaway on drums. The band toured South Africa extensively headlining at major music festivals such as Oppikoppi and released one self titled and self released demo in 1997 with producer Leon ‘Sonic Terrorist’ Erasmus at Mega Music Studios in Johannesburg. They also recorded a second unreleased album with Leon. The band was considered as progressive rock by press and peers and went on to win the 1997 Battle of the Bands at Wings Beat Bar in Johannesburg[2]. Their album aired regularly on 5fm by the late Phil Wright. They recorded a single with Philip Nel at SABC Studio 1, however it was not released. They eventually disbanded as Robi moved to Vancouver, Canada in 1998.
In 1996 Dean was invited to join the female fronted rock band, Balance, as rhythm guitarist releasing one album, Until on Silver Moon Records. The band played regularly at Wings Beat Bar and Thin Lizzy's in Johannesburg. Dean eventually left the band to concentrate on Brothering.
Dean formed PijinFist in 1998 with Tulsa Pittaway and Adam Thomas as a project band.
Dean formed Mouthful of Flies as guitarist and backing vocalist in London, UK with Dan Stephenson of Fallout from Cape Town and Bloodstone from Germany on guitars and lead vocals in 2004. The band played gigs at all major metal venues in London, such as 100 Club, Purple Turtle in Camden, The Monarch and The Boston Music Room and released Ten Negative Sixes in 2007. The album was independently released on Speeding Demon Records, recorded, mixed and produced by Dean. The album received favourable reviews by Malcolm Dome in Metal Hammer and Kerrang amongst others[3].
In 2008, a song he wrote called ‘Lamed Vav’ with Nadia Jacobsen (Balance) on vocals, was used in the movie The Secret Philosophy.
From 2010 onwards Dean has written prolifically and produced and released solo work and albums under the name Deangersmith. He created a number of project bands such as 'Mission Krokodil' with Marq Vas and his brother Robi.
In February 2010, under his own label Deangersmith Music, he self released a nine track album of previously unreleased songs called What's your Story? In September 2013 he again self released an eight track album Metal Made Me Do It.
From 2013 to 2014 Dean produced and hosted The Metal and Hard Rock from Africa Show for Diligaff Radio in order to showcase African metal and hard rock to a wider audience. In his own words, "African bands generally have a huge struggle with regards to internet access and bandwidth issues, my aim was to get them on Dilligaf Radio and expose them to a wider audience, Dilligaf has an extensive fan base and provided the perfect platform to expose these bands to listeners from all over the world."[4]
In 2020 he started recording his latest album and has been periodically releasing song by song. The album is titled, Lead Us to Your Taker (Disable the Corrupt) with the seventh song, The Bigger They Are the Harder They Fall released on 3rd April 2021. To date he has released seven out of the twelve recorded songs.