Beast (South African band)

In late 2011, with a mutual desire to learn bass, Rian Zietsman and Louis Nel (guitarist and drummer of Taxi Violence, respectively) purchased two bass guitars and began practising in the basement of a house they shared.{{cite magazine|last1=Welsyn|first1=Willim|url=http://www.rollingstone.co.za/artists/item/1137-qaa-george-van-der-spuy |title=Q&A: George van der Spuy|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=9 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722051254/http://www.rollingstone.co.za/artists/item/1137-qaa-george-van-der-spuy|archive-date=22 July 2012|access-date=2 April 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last1=Stone|first1=Jasmine|url=http://www.2oceansvibe.com/2013/03/22/the-jack-daniels-music-reporter-featuring-cape-town-band-beast-video/ |title=Featuring Cape Town Band, Beast|publisher=2OceansVibe|date=22 March 2013|access-date=22 October 2013}} Rian described these early sessions as experiment, because "no one had tried [the two-bass set-up] before".{{cite news|last1=Cornwell|first1=David|title=Could this be SA's finest live rock act?|url=http://mg.co.za/article/2015-04-09-could-this-be-sas-finest-live-rock-act|access-date=2 April 2016|work=Mail & Guardian|date=10 April 2015}} Early into the experiment, the duo approached Sasha Righini (drummer of The Plastics) to join them and, later, he became a full member of the group.{{cite news|last1=Bosch |first1=Rick |url=http://www.news100.co.za/news/beast-smoke-swig-swear-9762 |title=BEAST: Smoke Swig Swear |publisher=Bangers and Nash |date=6 February 2013 |access-date=19 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193123/http://www.news100.co.za/news/beast-smoke-swig-swear-9762 |archive-date=29 October 2013 }} Soon after, they booked their first performance under the band name "Kombass". This early name is a word play on the Afrikaans word "kombuis", which translates to kitchen.

{{Quote box

| quote = "I think we're definitely filling a hole in the market. We're sick of fucking indie and electro and soft cock rock. We're making music that we want to listen to and that we want to watch live."

| source = —Inge Beckmann, on joining BEAST

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After recording their first session at Kill City Blues Studios, Rian and Louis set out to find a female vocalist. Inge Beckmann (vocalist of Lark) was in touch with Rian and Louis during the experimentation phase, but only wanted to invite her when "the sound was right".{{cite news|title=11 Days Left To Make BEAST Heard|url=http://www.recordingstudios.co.za/south-african-music-news/11-days-left-make-beast-heard/|access-date=2 April 2016|publisher=Recording Studio|date=2 October 2014}}{{cite web|first1=Melina|last1=Meletakos|url=http://www.perdeby.co.za/sections/entertainment/2625-10smoke-swig-swear-rock-n-roll-beast-unleashed|title=Smoke Swig Swear: rock 'n' roll Beast unleashed|publisher=Perdeby|date=18 February 2013|access-date=19 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013162325/http://www.perdeby.co.za/sections/entertainment/2625-10smoke-swig-swear-rock-n-roll-beast-unleashed|archive-date=13 October 2013|url-status=dead}} It was after announcing Lark's "semi-permanent" hiatus, Inge joined the band for their first live performance.{{cite news|last1=Rasch|first1=Mirac|title=Top 10 South African Bands/Artists You Should Know|url=http://theculturetrip.com/africa/south-africa/articles/top-10-south-african-bands-artists-you-should-know/|access-date=3 April 2016|publisher=The Culture Trip|date=13 November 2015}} She originally wanted to change the band name to "Bow Beast", as she enjoyed the " interesting visual effect in [her] mind". The band eventually settled on the name BEAST.

{{Listen

|filename = Fill_The_Hole_audio_sample.ogg

|title = "Fill The Hole"

|description = "Fill The Hole" is the "most abrasive track" on their debut album, featuring their twin-bass setup.{{cite web|url=http://www.slicktiger.co.za/2013/03/13/album-review-beast-smoke-swig-swear/ |title=Album Review: Beast – Smoke, Swig, Swear |publisher=Them Fighting Words|date=13 March 2013 |access-date=19 October 2013}}

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BEAST recorded its debut album, Smoke Swig Swear, over four days in September 2012 at Sound and Motion Studios in Cape Town. It was self-released as a free download to widespread local critical acclaim. The album had its official launch at The Assembly in Cape Town on 23 February 2013.{{cite web|title=Smoke Swig Swear Launch|url=http://theassembly.co.za/events/beast-smoke-swig-swear/|website=The Assembly|access-date=3 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415131519/http://theassembly.co.za/events/beast-smoke-swig-swear/|archive-date=15 April 2016|url-status=dead}} Two weeks after the launch, the band released a short experimental documentary on Vimeo. It chronicles their rehearsals, recording session and live performances to create an "authentic look at the personalities behind the music". Before and after the success of their album launch, the band toured South Africa extensively. Their notable performance on the main stage at Oppikoppi,{{cite news|last1=Kruger|first1=Henno|title=BEAST on stage @ Oppikoppi 2012 Sweet Thing|url=http://rwrant.co.za/beast-on-stage-oppikoppi-2012-sweet-thing/|access-date=3 April 2016|publisher=Running Wolf Rant|date=16 August 2012}} Up The Creek,{{cite news|last1=Auld|first1=Kati|title=10 things I learnt at Up the Creek|url=http://www.getaway.co.za/event-blogs/festivals-events/10-learnt-creek/|access-date=3 April 2016|publisher=Getaway|date=5 February 2013}} Rocking The Daises,{{cite news|last1=Ciolfi|first1=Tecla|title=Review: Rocking The Daisies 2012|url=http://texxandthecity.com/2012/10/review-rocking-the-daisies-2012|access-date=3 April 2016|publisher=Texx and The City|date=12 October 2012}} and Splashy Fen.{{cite news|title=Splashy Fen – debuting the best new artists in the country|url=http://maritzburgsun.co.za/20463/splashy-fen-debuting-the-best-new-artists-in-the-country/|access-date=3 April 2016|publisher=Maritzburg Sun|date=27 March 2015}}

In mid-2013, Sasha left the band to pursue his own music. The band invited Werner von Waltsleben (drummer of Kobus!) to join the band. In an interview, he spoke about his fantism for both Taxi Violence and Lark, explaining it "was like a dream come true" to play "the music [he] wanted too".{{cite news|last1=de Ridder|first1=Chutney|title=Wanneer die 'beast' uiting kry|url=http://www.netwerk24.com/Vermaak/Musiek/Wanneer-die-beast-uiting-kry-20150303|access-date=3 April 2016|publisher=Netwerk24|date=25 March 2015|language=Afrikaans|trans-title=When the 'beast' comes in}}

{{Quote box

| quote = "In the end, the crowdfunding thing was very telling. I’m not sure if the general SA music fan is ready for it yet. But we most certainly learned exactly who our biggest and most loyal fans are."

| source = —Louis Nel, on crowdfunding{{cite news|last1=Jankiewicz|first1=Vicky|title=Get To Know Beast Before Park Acoustics|url=http://samusicscene.co.za/wp/get-to-know-beast-before-park-acoustics/|access-date=3 April 2016|publisher=SA Music Scene|date=26 March 2015}}

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On 13 August 2014, the band announced on their Facebook fan page, the start of their crowdfunding on Indiegogo to raise money for their second album.{{cite news|title=make BEAST heard|url=https://www.facebook.com/BEASTBAND/posts/572592616185761|access-date=3 April 2016|via=Facebook|date=13 August 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Fourie|first1=Ruan|title=Make BEAST heard|url=http://gevaaalik.com/make-beast-heard|access-date=3 April 2016|publisher=Gevaaalik|date=18 August 2014}} The band had not signed to any major label, as their original bands had done. On their Indiegogo page, the band wrote about the importance of artistic and creative freedom, but noted that "the kind of quality album [they] want is going to be difficult" without a major label monetary support.{{cite news|last1=Sejanamane|first1=Thozi|title=Beast – Bardo|url=http://thefuss.co.za/beast-bardo/|access-date=3 April 2016|publisher=The Fuss|date=2 March 2015}} The campaign was unsuccessful, they raised {{Currency|1739|US}} of their {{Currency|8000|US}} goal.{{cite web|title=make BEAST heard|url=https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/make-beast-heard|website=Indiegogo|access-date=3 April 2016}}

{{Listen

|filename = Black_hole_audio_sample.ogg

|title = "Black Hole"

|description = "Black Hole" features a bass exchange reminiscent of RAGE with Inge using her "method singing".

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After falling short of their goal, the band was approached by a private investor who "helped tremendously". The band recorded their album in October 2014 at Heritage Sound in Cape Town, with producer Brendyn Rossouw.{{cite news|title=BEAST Releases New Album Funded by Fans|url=http://www.recordingstudios.co.za/south-african-music-news/beast-releases-new-album-funded-fans/|access-date=3 April 2016|publisher=Recording Studios|date=17 February 2015}} The second album, Bardo, was launched at The Assembly in Cape Town on 27 February 2015.{{cite news|title=Cape Town Gig Guide|url=http://www.iol.co.za/tonight/music/cape-town-gig-guide---february-27-2015-1824762|access-date=3 April 2016|work=Cape Times|date=27 February 2015}} The album's theme focuses on the Tibetan Buddhism state of Bardo, between life and death. Inge was inspired by reading Charlie Morley's book Dreams of Awakening. The album received critical acclaim for its "professionalism", with one critic describing it as "[transcending] the point of being a mere piece of music".{{cite news|last1=Pieterse|first1=Louise|title=BEAST: Bardo Review|url=http://www.louisepieterse.com/#!BEAST-BARDO-REVIEW/c2x0/558a72050cf20d45521c43f7|access-date=3 April 2016|publisher=Louise Pieterse|date=24 June 2015}}

The twin-bass setup is fairly unusual to the South African music scene. Zietsman plays in lower key as the rhythm, akin to a normal bassist. Nel employs a higher chord-based approach as the lead, akin to a lead guitar. The perform with a bass and normal guitar amp to create a "rawer, harder, and more low-fi sound".{{cite news|last1=Duvel|first1=Kurt|url=http://www.theeaglesnestza.com/tag/inge-beckmann/ |title=Primally South African |publisher=The Eagle's Nest|date=24 August 2013|access-date=19 October 2013}}

;Principal members

• Inge Beckmann – vocals {{small|(2012–present)}}
• Rian Zietsman – bass guitar {{small|(2011–present)}}
• Louis Nel – bass guitar {{small|(2011–present)}}
• Werner von Waltsleben – drums {{small|(2013–present)}}

;Past members

• Sasha Righini – drums {{small|(2011–2013)}}

;Studio albums

• Smoke Swig Swear (2012)
• Bardo (Beast album)|Bardo (2015)

;Videography

• {{Vimeo|id=59051174|title="Fill The Hole"}} (2012)
• {{Vimeo|id=61109646|title="BEAST Documentary"}} (2013)
• {{Vimeo|id=69543959|title="Smoke Swig Swear"}} (2013)
• {{YouTube|sulFtw5QLSc|"Wrong Side"}} (2014)

{{Reflist}}

• {{Facebook|BEASTBAND|BEAST}}
• {{Twitter|name=BEAST}}
• {{SoundCloud|name=BEAST}}

{{Authority control}}

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Category:South African hard rock musical groups

Category:Rock music supergroups

Category:2012 establishments in South Africa

Category:Musical groups established in 2012

Category:Garage rock groups