Gus Chambers

Gary Chambers (1956 – 13 October 2008), known as Gus Chambers, was a musician from Coventry, England. He was well known as lead vocalist of the groove metal band Grip Inc.

Life and career

He took over vocals (from Terry Hall (singer) who left to form The Specials) in Coventry punk band The Squad (formed late 1977). They released their first single Red Alert in 1978. Terry Hall had helped pen several of the tracks on the first single (before he left).

After relocating to Los Angeles, Chambers formed band Sons of Domination. During summer 1993, Gus Chambers met Waldemar Sorychta, who along with former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo formed Grip Inc.. The band released four critically acclaimed groove metal albums.

Chambers' parents lived for a period of time in northern Nevada. As such, he visited the region periodically. After the Grip Inc. tour in support of Power of Inner Strength, Gus spent several months with new-found friends in Reno, Nevada (including a spontaneous performance with local band The Magic Nose Goblins (Pete Noble, Paul Richardson, Ty Hagar, and Joe Sands) at the famed "Moon Rocks". It was during this time that Chambers enlisted the services of Pete Noble (bass), Romney Ruppel (guitar), and Scott Loring (drums) to revisit and re-record some of The Squad's classics. A four-song EP was produced. Shortly thereafter, Gus was recalled to Los Angeles to work on the second Grip Inc. album.

Following the Grip Inc. release of Solidify, Chambers returned to Reno. Reuniting with Pete Noble, he joined Jeff Dunn, Kevin Kolstad, and Ian Anderson in a new project entitled Kill Kelly. Gus was instrumental in helping to form the initial sounds of Kill Kelly, although he was called back to Germany to fulfill contractual obligations to produce a fourth Grip Inc. album (Incorporated). In fact, many of the songs on Incorporated had been slated to be recorded with Kill Kelly.

Because of the lack of Grip's touring, Chambers formed punk-rock band Squad 21, based in Dortmund, Germany, releasing an album. The band's name is a play of The Squad and 21 Guns, where Chambers played during his early career. Later, he joined German power metal band Squealer and released one album under moniker Squealer A.D. in 2006. Later, he played in Coventry-based punk-rock band Mantra Sect.

Death

Gus Chambers was found dead on 13 October 2008. Initial reports indicated suicide, but an official inquisition report proved it was accidental death because of mixture of his medication and alcohol.

On 27 October 2009, over a year after Gus Chambers' death, his son Nolan Gary Chambers, committed suicide at his mother's home in American Fork, Utah. Nolan was 25 years old.^[1]

Discography

With The squad

• Red Alert / £8-A-Week (Single, 1978)
• Millionaire / BrockHill Boys (Single, 1979)

With 21 Guns

• 21 Guns (Single, 1981)

With Grip Inc.

• Power of Inner Strength (1995)
• Nemesis (1997)
• Solidify (1999)
• Incorporated (2004)

With Squad 21

• Skullduggery (2004)

With Kill Kelly

• Faster (melodies – 2005)
• Devil Girl (melodies – 2005)

With Squealer

• Confrontation Street (2006)

References

• "The Squad". Punk77.co.uk. 
• "Squealer". The BNR Metal Pages. 
• "Spuealer". Encyclopaedia Metallum. 

External links

• Mantra Sect MySpace website