Chrome

Chrome is a San Francisco experimental rock group formed in 1976 by Damon Edge and Gary Spain. The band works in post-punk and industrial-influenced territory, and is also associated with acid rock, art rock, avant-garde, classic rock, electronic and experimental music. Its early line-up includes John Lambdin on guitar and bass and Mike Low on guitar and vocals, alongside Edge and Spain.

Early recordings and line-up changes

The group’s first album, The Visitation, appears with John Lambdin and Mike Low in the line-up. Mike Low then leaves and is replaced by guitarist and vocalist Helios Creed. Chrome’s next phase develops a more cut-up, collage-based approach, with heavily processed sound, tape loops, samples, noisescapes, synthesizers and unusual guitar effects. The project that becomes Alien Soundtracks begins as a soundtrack for a radical San Francisco strip show.

Core period with Damon Edge and Helios Creed

After Alien Soundtracks, John Lambdin leaves and Gary Spain gradually takes a less active role, leaving Helios Creed and Damon Edge as the central creative pair. This collaboration leads to albums including Half Machine Lip Moves, Read Only Memory, Red Exposure, Blood on the Moon, 3rd from the Sun and No Humans Allowed. Half Machine Lip Moves is later included on best-album lists by Wire magazine and Julian Cope.

Later activity

In 1983, Damon Edge moves to Paris with his wife and forms a new Chrome line-up without Helios Creed, beginning with Into the Eyes of the Zombie King. After Edge’s death in 1995, Helios Creed forms a new version of Chrome with both new and returning members. That version releases Retro Transmission in 1997 and tours from 1997 to 2001. The last Chrome album is Angel of the Clouds, assembled from unused tapes featuring Damon Edge. Both Damon Edge and Helios Creed also release solo albums under their own names.