Music genres, of themselves, are often so varied based on styles and artists. This cannot be more true than when you look at the American industrial music scene. It is fair to say that the scene, in and of itself, owes so much to Wax Trax! Record and the bands they signed under them. There are so many that have been there, since the beginning, and shaped the scene to what it is today.
Over the years, we have seen so many bands come and go that we often forget that there are the tried and true musicians out there, the godfathers of American industrial music. You cant create a list of who had the most impact without talking about Front Line Assembly. Join me today as we take a look at one of the most influential bands, that is still actively touring and creating music, with Front Line Assembly: Shaping Industrial Music.
- Paving the way for FLA
- Meager beginnings
- Strength in unity
- Foundations for Front Line Assembly
- Spreading into the future
Paving the way for FLA
September 21, 1966, Bill Leed was born in Austria. Bill received his education in a convent school in Vienna, while there he learned the violin. At the age of 14, Leeb’s parents decided to move to British Columbia. Here he learned English and started developing a deep interest in music. Later, he attended Camosun College and studied journalism for two years.
Leeb’s first foray into the music and industrial scene was when he joined the band Skinny Puppy in 1984. At the time, Leeb was using the pseudonym of Wilhelm Schroeder, his name came from his legal first name and the last name of the piano playing character from Peanuts. Leeb, had no formal music training, other than his violin lessons, but learned how to play synthesizer while he was doing backup vocals and bass synth for Skinny Puppy. Leeb joined the band in a year in which Skinny Puppy was doing a tour. Upon completion, Leeb realized he was not prepared for another tour and instead left the band in 1986.
From there, Leeb took the musical skill he picked up, and the experience he gained in the music industry, decided that he wanted to start his own project. This would allow him to also produce vocals. What he needed was a name that represented his opinions about strength lies in working together with others and so Front Line Assembly was born.
Meager beginnings
The early years of his personal music career was highlighted by producing a demo tape he called Nerve War. Leed distributed this in small numbers hoping to get noticed. Using the contacts he developed, while playing with Skinny Puppy, he was able to find labels that wanted to produce his music.
It wouldn’t be long before Leeb started to get noticed and he soon met and became fast friends with co-member Rhys Fulber. Fulber also had a massive interest in the underground music scene and saw the potential in what Leeb was doing. The first album the created, together, was called Total Terror, which had one of their first songs “Black Fluid” on it. They produced roughly 100 copies of this album and was mostly distributed amongst their friends. This would gain them more interest in the scene and would lead to the addition of new members.
Strength in unity
Leeb and Fulber had some great ideas about where the band would draw inspiration and hone their sound. Leeb states that bands like Kraftwerk, Cabaret Voltaire, Severed Heads, and most notably Front 242, as the inspiration for what they wanted to create. Leeb, to this day, states that FLA is an electronic body music style that leans into the electro-industrial aspects of the industrial genre.
The very first mass produced appearance of Front Line Assembly was the debut of their song “Aggression” on the compilation For Your Ears Only, released in 1987 on the British Record label Third Mind. The next year, FLA would release that song on their EP Disorder. This partnership would later strengthen over the years. Leeb didnt want the band to be tied to just one label, in the beginning, so their second album The Initial Command would be released on a Belgian label and credited to Leeb and Michael Balch, who would join the band, fully, in 1988.
By January 1988, the band was releasing their third album after switching to a German independent label called Dossier. As the success of FLA grew, Third Mind singed them to a three album deal. During this time, FLA also licensed their album Corrosion to Wax Trax! Wax Trax! would go on to be the American distributor of their music, while Third Mind released them in Europe.
It would be in 1989, with the release of their album Gashed Senses & Crossfire that lead to their first Billboard Chart success. Digital Tension Dementia came in at the impressive 45th slot on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs. Soon after, they would start their first tour. This tour would lead to Balch leaving the band to join Ministry and Revolting Cocks.
Foundations for Front Line Assembly
Balch’s departure left a void in the band, but not for long. Some could argue that the departure allowed the band to grow to where it is today and in no small thanks to Rhys Fulber finally becoming a full member of the band. Leeb and Fulber created the album Caustic Grip which would be the album that pushed Front Line Assembly’s image smack into the industrial music scene and the media. Their video for the song “Iceolate” received airtime on MTV and Melody Maker magazine nominated “Iseolate” and “Provision” as singles of the week.
Caustic Grip would be the pivotable album for Front Line Assembly. It was during its production that Leeb and Fulber started working with Greg Reely, who would become a huge asset to the duo. Later, it would see Chris Peterson join the band. But, that was not the end of the influence on this genre.
1992, Front Line Assembly, released the album that has probably changed their place in the industrial historical record as well as the industry, in and of itself. That album was Tactical Neural Implant. This album was noticed as being a massive departure from their earlier styles, including multi-layered sounds that would become the signature of Front Line Assembly.
Leeb has noted in various interviews that the band is constantly experimenting with technology and how they can make each recording different. Their main focus was on clarity and sustaining their instrumentation and structure in all of their music. The band would go through various growths of sound which has only continued to add to their popularity and success.
Spreading into the future
In its almost forty years, the band has not slowed down. They continue to adapt their musical style, while retaining their signature sound. They have lived through countless detractors of their talent, such as Trent Reznor, without letting it shake them. The only thing that has stood in the way of their many tours was Covid. In 2021, they joined together with Ministry and Helmet for the Industrial Strength Tour. Helmet was replace with KMFDM and then the tour was pushed back due to Covid. In 2021, Ministry announced that they had to push back the tour again and this time removed Front Line Assembly and KMFDM from the tour. Later, Ministry, Gary Numan, and Front Line Assembly would go on tour in what was one of the most amazing experience as I have had the pleasure to see.
It is hard to argue the amount of influence Front Line Assembly and Bill Leeb has had on the American Industrial Scene. They are a band that has weather and adapted with times, all while maintaining who they are. They stand shoulder to shoulder with other iconic Industrial giants like Ministry, KMFDM, Thrill Kill Kult, and more. The genre owes a lot to their influence. If you have not gotten a chance to see or hear them, then what in the heck are you waiting for. I have included a playlist on Spotify that highlights some of their best songs. Give it a listen.
Now, to you guys. Is this the first you have ever heard of Front Line Assembly? If now, then what was the first song/album you listened to? What do you think of their styling, in relation to other industrial artists out there. Let me know in the comments below. Thank you all, for being a part of GayintheCLE. It is because of each and everyone of you that this blog exists and I would not be able to do it without you. Thanks again.
Gay in the CLE 