Underrated Underground Bands Part 16: Manmade God

The path to potential is charted by he who walks it. Such is the philosophy of Manmade God, a band that is square on the road to realizing theirs.

Guitarist Craig Locicero and drummer Steve Jacobs, called by an insistent muse, founded the Bay Area band straight out of their prior project, Forbidden. Inspiration was instant, realization was distant, but imminent. "Something really clicked," says Locicero, "a bell, that rings inside you, tells you how to write a really great song. I don't know what happened, or how it really came about, but we wanted to follow our hearts to the fullest, not deviate from what brings us to the most emotional, melodic place."

Key to fruition would be vocalist Pann, who'd been Pong-ing between coasts in a frustrating search for a band. He was on the verge of surrender when he hooked up with Manmade God. "I said, I've been doing this for about five years and I've had it. I'm done. Maybe this isn't for me...but I'm going to put one more ad out in the paper...'"

The ad got bites, one of which was from Locicero, who called but failed to leave a number. Pann immediately dismissed the call, but "he called back a couple minutes later and left his phone number. I went down to the studio because Craig was so persistent. When I sat down and they started playing...I was blown away. There was so much power...it was really an intense experience."

Locicero was reciprocally awed, saying an immediate and urgent alchemy within MMG manifested at Pann's enlistment. "Before Pann joined, we were more of a fingerpainting experiment; it never felt like a band. Pann just made all the difference, having direction and emotion."

Within two weeks, MMG's predestined lineup debuted at The Boomerang Club in San Francisco. Locicero, "The reactions went from Who are these guys? to "I can't wait to see these guys in the future." Soon after, the band met up with Stone Temple Pilots' Eric Kretz, who was impressed enough to produce MMG's 3-song demo. We were getting a great response from the demo, so we decided to head to LA. and showcase for some labels, says Jacobs. We soon realized that we where not ready for that yet. Pann had only been in the band for 3 months, and we had some more growing to do. So we locked ourselves in our studio, and didn't come out until we knew who we were musically and personally. It was during this period when search for Greater Thinge and Safe Passage were born. We wrote with no inhibitions and reached for higher plains without fear, he continues. The disc subsequently caught the ear of Brian Joseph Dobbs (Echobrain, engineer with renowned producer Bob Rock), with whom the band smithed their next demo at the famed Plant in Sausalito. These demos reached American Recordings and eventually a private showcase was set-up with Rick Rubin. MMG signed to American in October 2002, their debut produced by Dobbs and executive produced by Rubin. The band broke up in early 2004 following the departure of vocalist Pann and a split from their record label. The remaining members have teamed up with former Systematic frontman Tom Narducci in a new band, Spiralarms.

(Taken from Wikipedia)

BAND MEMBERS:
Pann - vocals / Craig Locicero - guitar / Steve Jacobs - drums / James Walker - bass

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/mmg2003

http://www.spiralarms.com/

www.myspace.com/spiralarms

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ManMade
• God
• Safe
• Passage
• rock
• Spiral
• Arms

[jamesmmg]

THANKS FOR ALL THE COOL COMMENTS. CHECK OUT OUR VIDEO FOR "FLY BABY".

[dramatic778]

You can convert this to an mp3 at audiogetnow..com

[Majo99vsupra]

@Moufisto I disagree, this should definitely not be put on guitar hero, this is too good to be put on guitar hero. the only reason this music is so great is because its not mainstream. I fear if this band would have gone mainstream their sound wouldn't be the same and would sell out like most of the bands that are around now. Unfortunately for MMG, they didn't last, its a damn shame.

[leisalee]

I love this album! They rock it live!

[psychedelicfright85]

Fucking awesome! These guys came to my attention as the guitarist and drummer were in the bay area thrash band Forbidden. Great stuff.

[RATDAT3]

Its amazing the shit that gets radio play and the really good bands go by the wayside.

[RATDAT3]

Yeah, I checked also--nothing! A shame, he is great. I wonder if the guys in Spiral Arms know?

[saris093]

don't know look every place for him and is like the Earth has swallow him so sad because he is amazing!!

[anarchore]

Terrible crap

[RATDAT3]

Whatever happened to the singer? I know the others went on to Spiral Arms....