Bigelf

Bigelf
Bigelf live in Paris in 2010. From left to right: Duffy Snowhill, Damon Fox and Ace Mark. Steve Frothingham is just behind Fox.
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, California, US
Genres	Progressive rock, progressive metal, psychedelic rock, hard rock, heavy metal
Years active	1991–present
Website	http://www.bigelf.com
Members	Damon Fox Duffy Snowhill Luis Maldonado
Past members	Richard Anton Thom Sullivan A.H.M. Butler-Jones Steve "Froth" Frothingham Ace Mark
Notable instruments
Mellotron, Hammond C3, 1961 Gibson SG/Les Paul, Minimoog, Orange amplifiers

Bigelf is a progressive rock/progressive metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1991. They have since released four studio albums.

Bigelf were formed as a psychedelic/glam-tinged hard rock outfit in 1991 in Los Angeles, California by Damon Fox and Richard Anton. They initially gained a large underground following. Bigelf's original line-up included Damon Fox (vocals/keyboards/guitar), Richard Anton (vocals/bass), A.H.M. Butler-Jones (vocals/guitar) and Thom Sullivan (drums).

The quartet recorded 6-track EP Closer To Doom in spring 1995 co-produced by Sylvia Massy. Closer To Doom was released in 1996 and established them as 'fathers' of the psychedelic doom movement that spawned the L.A. stoner-rock scene. The first line-up change came when Steve Frothingham replaced Sullivan in late 1995; soon afterward founding member Richard Anton would exit the band.

Continuing on as a three-piece, they recorded Money Machine in summer 1997, which Swedish prog & heavy metal label Record Heaven would eventually release in 2000. This led the band to tour Scandinavia where they would become a quartet again with the addition of Finnish bass player Duffy Snowhill, he debuted on their 6-track EP Goatbridge Palace. Recorded in Stockholm in December 2000 it featured the singles, (Another)Nervous Breakdown and Side Effects plus four live tracks, one being a cover of the Black Sabbath classic, Sweet Leaf. Serjical Strike Records also released a limited pressing of Money Machine in the United States after System Of A Down frontman Serj Tankian took an interest in the band. In summer 2001, Butler-Jones fell into a diabetic coma while on tour in Sweden (he would remain in this unconscious state until his death on December 31, 2009). Ace Mark (also from Helsinki, Finland) took his place on guitar, leaving Fox as the sole singer and songwriter.

Regaining focus with a new, solid foundation, Bigelf signed with Warner Music Sweden in 2002 and released Hex the following year. The band attained cult status overseas, most notably in Northern Europe.