Born
in Florida in 1963, Ed Wilcox
lived around the world before attending The Pennsylvania Academy of
Fine Arts where he graduated with honors in 1985. He worked in scenery
design for theater, ballet and TV. In 1992 he tossed aside a promising
career in art and took on drumming, singing and leading Temple of Bon
Matin as well as playing with legendary saxophonist Arthur Doyle, punk
rock legend Mikey Wild, the Strapping Fieldhands, Jim Shepard &
V-3, Laundry Room Squelchers and Velocity Hopkins.
Citing
Ginger Baker, Keith Moon, Ted Parsons and Martin Atkins to name a few
as his favorite drummers, Ed has a drumming style all his own. Flailing
arms,crashing cymbals and gongs,pounding bass- all on a drum set that
looks to be designed by Peter Max and a group of rouge arc welders,
Ed is a show in his own right.
Ed
first teamed up with John Mulvaney to record the first Temple album
and lay the blueprint of what was to come. At the time only a two piece
they covered prog, avant garde territory reminiscent of Soft Machine
and Sun Ra.
Ed
teamed up later with Trevor Dixon and Mark Lux to record the highly
acclaimed "Thunder, Feedback and Confusion" album. Released
in 1993 by Siltbreeze records this album even more so defined the sound
and style of Temple. Loud, noisy psychedelic rock that destroyed hearing
and broke boundaries. The trio played shows extensively in their hometown
of Philadelphia and the surrounding area causing a stir as well as a
few eyebrows to be raised to the fact that psychedelic rock wasn't dead.
1995
saw the release of Temple's debut on Bulb Records, "Enduro, America's
Most Loudness". The players were Frank Bradley (guitar), Mark Denardo
(Bass), Rich Lamb (Bass), Angelo Madrigale (Drums) and Ed (Drums and
Vocals). The music primal and grating, feedback soaked loops of pure
sonic comfort. The best description "Merzbow meets L.A. Guns"
or "America's High Rise". With Temple's growing notoriety
as "America's Most Loudness" the band began to see some recognition
for their efforts by the means of college radio play, rave reviews in
zines and a now constant flux of shows spreading further away from the
Philly homebase.
"Bullet
in2 Mesmer's Brain" was released 1997 again on Bulb Records. The
lineup changed once again, not getting stale Temple displayed a avant
jazz feel, with live and studio tapes cut up and stuck together giving
the record a bit of a hyperventilated, vertigo swirl. Perfomers were
Charles Cohen(Synths), Elliot Levin(Sax and Flute),Linda Searnock(Guitar),Joe
Z.(Bass),Rick Brackbill(Guitar/Turntables),Steve Buchanan(Guitar and
Sax),Greg Chapman(Synths),the return of John Mulvaney(Synths) and of
course Ed being Ed. This is free jazz!!
Over
the next couple years many new faces came and went through the turnstiles
that is T.O.B.M. A lot of shows and roads were traveled.
What
do you get when a room full of musicians from different walks of life
with different tastes who never played together are conducted by Ed
Wilcox? "We've Got The Biggest Engine" released 1999 by Little
Army Records is the answer. Too many musicians to list but Ed pulled
it all together, putting yet another spin on what the world knows as
Temple of Bon Matin.
More
shows more noise... Then in 2001 "Cabin in the Sky" a Bulb
Records limited edition vinyl pressing. Folky-art-noise-rock, showing
a newer down home sound to Temple's ever eclectic array of styles.
2004
brought a new album and new label behind T.O.B.M., the album "Infidel"
was released on Spirit of Orr records. A grittier, space/punk voodoo
ritual including a whole different line up of various musicans and guest
musicans than before. "Infidel" is earning the respect of
critics, college radio and fans worldwide.
Temple
of Bon Matin are in the process of recording yet another album at the
Runnemede N.J. studio that has produced almost all previous albums.Stay
tuned for the future...
