'The Cloud Upon the Sanctuary' by Maniac Squat
In 1995 Maniac Squat, a punky alternative rock band from Colchester, UK, had a surprise minor hit and Kerrang! single of the week with 'Fuck Off'. They made their last record in 1996. After a challenging period of extreme emotional turmoil and personal upheaval, the three founder members of the band had nothing, and they all hated each other.
And they hated themselves.
Iggy Pop and David Bowie's guitarist, Kevin Armstrong, has been a fan of Maniac Squat for over 30 years.
Kevin paid a private detective to track down the original members - Tom Wilcox, Scott Pearce and Michael Giaquinto - so he could persuade them to make a new record with him as producer.
After months of rehab and the teachings of Christian mystic Karl von Eckartshausen, eventually they were able to pick up their instruments again.
Kevin used Iggy Pop's drummer Mat Hector, PJ Harvey's sax player Terry Edwards, Manchester rapper El Zeeko and himself to supplement the band on the new music.
After a three week songwriting and recording session laced with strong LSD and game theory workshops in a rural shack in Essex, they emerged with the most exciting, ground breaking and most spiritual work of their career.
The Cloud Upon the Sanctuary.
Written by Michael Giaquinto/Scott Pearce/Tom Wilcox/El Zeeko
Lyrics adapted from A Cloud Upon the Sanctuary by Karl Von Eckartshausen
Maniac Squat:
Tom Wilcox - vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards, percussion
Scott Pearce - guitars, keyboards, percussion
Michael Giaquinto - bass, guitar, keyboards, tenor sax, percussion
Featuring special guests:
El Zeeko - rap vocals
Kevin Armstrong - guitars, bass
Terry Edwards - baritone Sax
Alan Newcombe - tenor Sax
Mat Hector - drums
Produced by Kevin Armstrong
Engineered by Kevin Armstrong and Mat Hector Mastered by Ed Woods
Video directed and filmed by Robert Russell
Posted August 22, 2022
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