Mark Panek/George Lucas Band
Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States
Music
Press
FALSE ICONS Debut Produced By MINISTRY's AL JOURGENSEN - Sep. 19, 2008
FALSE ICONS will release its debut CD, "God Complex", on November 11 via 13th Planet Records. The band features industrial rock veteran John Bechdel on vocals, guitar and keyboards; Brian Broadt on keyboards, vocals and guitars; Mark Panek on drums; and Dave Brown on bass. Mixed and produced by MINISTRY's Al Jourgensen, "God Complex" combines elegantly layered keyboards, heavy guitars, deep bass, sophisticated atmospheric touches and John's unique vocal style.
Dark and powerful, "God Complex" is an inspirational journey of imagery and emotion that is sure to capture the attention of fans of powerful, extreme music the world over. Each track on "God Complex" creates its own separate world - a synthetic landscape of sounds, rhythms and dark, airy melodies. Bechdel's descriptive lyrics and unique vocal style deliver an intriguing series of futuristic visions, life's journeys and mysteries. His eloquent guitar lines swirl through Broadt's hard-charging electronic beats and occasional heroic vocal rants, carving their way through plethoras of synthesizers. "God Complex" is a dense, layered and kaleidoscopic collection of songs created by a quartet of adept musicians and more importantly, music fans with an unbridled zeal and enthusiasm for creating adventurous music.
John Bechdel is one of the great behind-the-scenes figures on the international industrial rock scene. Though his name might not be immediately recognizeable to your average rock fan, a short perusal of his resume shows he is one of the great unsung heroes of the genre. From playing organ in the family funeral home as a young man to unleashing sonic keyboard assaults for 50,000 sweaty European festival goers, Bechdel is no stranger to musical performance. Bechdel has recorded and toured the world for over twenty years with an impressive array of seminal artists including MINISTRY, FEAR FACTORY, PRONG, KILLING JOKE, MURDER INC. and ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS. Through it all however, he always had a vision of leading his own band and this dream was fulfilled when he and Brian Broadt formed FALSE ICONS in 2002.
In addition to putting the finishing touches to "God Complex" this past year, Bechdel brought his musical expertise to "Numinosum", the full-length debut of Burton C. Bell's ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS, and was touring keyboardist for MINISTRY's phenomenal 2008 "C U LaTour".
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/falseicons
- Blabbermouth
Discography
Fat Vinny and The
False Icons > God Complex 2009
Wiseguys> A Different Kind Of Blues 2000
Fat Vinny and The Wiseguys> The Blues You Can't Refuse 1999
Blues Evolution>2002
Sunburn >2001
Mark Eddie And The Itch > 1992
outlash>1994
Roxxin>1988
Sunset 116>1996
Toddo>1997
Ricky Lee & Scarecrow>1990
Black Market Medallions> 1997
Mad Prophet>2001
Transit>2000
Hourglass>1998
Wyzard>1998
Joey Spedio>1993
Lin McEwan>2007
Insideout>1985
Zane Baxter>1989
Jumpstart>1987
Paradise Lost 1991
Stirling Brig>1998
Olive Carpet>1997
The Mifflin Project>1995
Love In Ruins>1999
DeSpys>2000
The Hallmarks >1975
The Paneks >1973
Johnny Paneks Orchestra >1967
Photos
Bio
Mark J Panek is an accomplished drummer, with several years Experience on the Instrument, Mark is able to play with sequencers and click tracks, Mark as a very young drummer coming up was taught tempo from his mother who was Playing Piano and Organ in the Johnny Paneks Orchestra(Mark's Father) and through her pristance got a Distrabution deal throught Capitol Records and that was Marks very First Recording at the age 5 Mark has recorded several Cd's across the United States,
Mark is an endorsed Drummer as well he's endorsed by: SONOR DRUMS, VIC FIRTH STICKS, ATTACK DRUM HEADS, AUDIX MICROHPNES, SLAUDA CYMBALS, LATIN PERCUSSION. FACTORY METAL PERCUSSION, AND GIBRALTER RACKS, Mark is a 2006 Graduate of Penn State University, and he is Currently enrolled at Berklee College Of Music online school where he's working on getting his Masters in song writing and Music Business
check out the bio on the band he's working in now
About George Lucas
Overnight success, it is said, takes years to achieve. While he has not yet achieved ultimate success in the country music world, George Lucas says the past few years have been extremely successful.
"The recording deal, the growing fan base and getting to perform in new cities and larger venues has been very satisfying," George said during a recent interview. "I would say we've accomplished more in the past two years than we have in a long, long time."
The year 2005 included performances at Knoebel's Amusement Park in Elysburg, PA, Cumberland (MD) Canal Fest/Rail Fest and Fridays After Five, Johnstown (PA) Thunder in the Valley, Geistown (PA) 75 th Anniversary Celebration, Bedford (PA) Fall Foliage Festival, and Seven Springs Autumnfest. 2006 started with a bang with performances at the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs Showcase and opening shows for country mega-stars Diamond Rio and Brooks & Dunn.
Perhaps the biggest events of the last two years, however, had nothing to do with performing. "Getting the recording deal with Red Horse Records/Dixiana Music and lining up the corporate investment group were the biggest things that happened," according to George. "Those two things vault you from the level of dreamer to realist. It makes you realize your music and talent are worthy. Not that you need to prove yourself to anyone but yourself, but it does make you feel like you've finally accomplished something."
George has been busy in Nashville recording his first full-length, commercial CD. "I am so fortunate to be working with Phil (Lister of Dixiana Music). He had several chart hits with his band, Dixiana, in the 1980's and 90's. He's been there, done that and has the t-shirt to prove it. I know with his experience and guidance big things are getting ready to happen."
Nashville songwriter Terry Brown contributed two songs to George's CD. George commented, "I met Terry at Dixiana Studio and I just love his songs. He is a gifted writer. It's almost like he's reading my mail! The songs have 'me' written all over them!" George recorded Terry's compositions She Don't Fight Fair and Teardrop, Texas (co-written by Tommy Conners) along with an updated version of I Didn't Ask (She Didn't Say) written by Reese Wilson, Van Stephenson and Tony Martin , for the new CD. " I Didn't Ask is a song I first recorded for a demo session in 1998. I've played it in my shows ever since. It's a song about a love that got away and what might have been. I think everyone has gone through that once or twice in their lives and it's a song everyone can relate to."
Overnight success takes years to achieve...and George Lucas is seeing his star rise a little higher everyday!
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