Spiderworks
Spiderworks is a heavy experimental rock band from Riverside, California that has existed off and on since 1988. The band was founded by Chris Vigil (vocals) and Monte Williams (bass), two central figures in the hardcore underground art and music scene in Riverside. Vigil and Williams later recruited Dan Hill (drums), Joe Hill (guitar), and Mike McKinnon (guitar); this lineup has remained intact. Spiderworks made their debut as an aggressive metal-tinged hardcore punk band, but soon morphed into an experimental punk-metal project heavily influenced by bands such as Kiss, Voivod, Celtic Frost, Iron Maiden, Black Flag, and The Melvins.
After releasing a cassette EP, Spiderworks were signed to the fledgling Alchemy Records label. The band recorded their debut "Black" album, but became entangled in a dispute with the label, which folded soon after. Left without a record contract, Spiderworks released the album independently around 1990. The album represented a musical evolution of sorts and featured a much more technically precise form of thrash/metal/punk. Lyrically the album was loosely conceptual, exploring the ambiguities of corporate biotechnology, urban expansion, and religious thought. The album was moderately successful and helped build a strong following for the band. By the end of 1990, Spiderworks began a string of performances supporting bands such as Kreator, Sacred Reich, the Cro Mags, and Excel, among others. At the same time, Spiderworks became one of the largest drawing act within Riverside, playing oversold shows at venues such as Spanky's Cafe.
Soon after the release of the Black Album, Spiderworks underwent another stylistic change, incorporating into their sound elements of free form improvisation, blues, gothic electronica, and post-punk drone, all heavily soaked by an intense psychedelia. In 1992 the band entered Altar Studios (formerly Radio Tokyo) in Venice, CA, to record their second album. The sessions were co-produced by the band and Dan Rothchild (son of Paul Rothchild, producer of The Doors), and resulted in "Shiver," a highly atmospheric and psychedelic album documenting this period. With the release of Shiver, Spiderworks expanded their audience, and spent the next three years honing their live sound and incorporating extended improvised jams into their set. But interpersonal conflict between band members resulted in the dismissal of Chris Vigil. Immediately afterward, the band recruited vocalist Jon Zamora (formerly of The Color Red), but in the end decided to disband.
By 1998, continued sales of the album "Shiver" prompted Spiderworks to reunite for a series of live performances. The positive response from these shows resulted in a recording contract with the small independent label Lucky 13 Records, which provided a generous advance enabling the band to record an entire album, again, with Dan Rothchild producing. The outcome of this project was Spiderwork's third album, "Relatively Clean". The final product was true to its intention: capturing a hard-rock psychedelic band at the peak of its creative and improvising powers. "Relatively Clean" was released in 2000, and was followed by a short West Coast tour in 2001.
Since that time, Spiderworks has remained a working unit - with all original members - doing occasional performances as need or demand has required. All band members have since been involved in a number of musical projects - Dan Hill has played with the Alt-Country band Bucksworth, the neo-jam band Justin Black and the Light, and his own jazz combo, Like Minds; Joe Hill has played with Bucksworth, Like Minds, and Alien Ant Farm; Mike McKinnon has played with the post-grunge band Wagner, and is now a member of the stoner-rock outfit Who Rides the Tiger; Spiderworks co-founders Chris Vigil and Monte Williams have kept a lower profile, working together on the experimental noise collective, The 47th Star.
Monte Williams died suddenly in his sleep on February 14, 2011. His memorial was held the following Monday where hundreds of close friends, family, staff, students joined to honor his short but adventurous life.