Founding and constant members : 1985-91
Chrismar Chayell: compose, keyboards, programming, engineer, production,
master, publish, live keyboards and live mixing
Marc Ickx: compose, write, keyboards, vocals, bass, live vocals and
bass and percussion
Temporary members :
Peter Meyvaert : guitars on tracks of 'Ballistic statues'
Swan : guitars live and on tracks of 'From the inside ...'
Kevin Mulligan : guitars on tracks of 'From the inside...' and 'Kiss
of fury'
Pete Boone : live keyboards
Fedjean Venvelt : guitars live and on tracks of 'Kiss of fury'
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[official website]
During 1985, Peter Bonne met up with Marc Ickx who was a former
schoolmate. They started recording some demos at Micrart studio
Attne D and E, and later at the newly founded Top Studio in Ghent
(Gent, Belgium). As Peter moved to Ghent, he made a deal with Peter
Gillis, the TOP Studio owner, exchanging sythesizer equipment and
recording facilities. Some tracks of Twilight Ritual, like 'The
Factory Scream' were recorded there. Peter took some sound-engineer
courses from Peter Gillis, and started working in Top Studio. From
then on, Marc and Peter (who started using the artist name 'Chrismar
Chayell') started working together on A Split Second.
During end 1985 and most part of 1986, they were experimenting in
many ways to create a new sound, a musical concept for the new project.
They mailed out some tapes to few people, just to get opinions,
as they believed not to be ready yet for the big work. But, a Micrart
Group collegue, Henk Wallays (Unovidual) mailed a tape to Antler
Records, resulting in an immediate record deal.
They finished up 4 tracks, and went mixing them at ACE studio, accompagnied
by Roland Beelen himself (general manager Antler Records). A first
12" was released by september 1986, and was an instant success
: On Command, Body Check, Burnout and Flesh.
The Flesh 12" igninted a new rage, later to be baptised 'New
Beat', which put Belgium as a dance music production nation on the
world map a few years later. Initially, it all started with some
DJ's playing the 45rmp 12" at 33rpm, forcing 'Flesh' to a huge
hit. Within the year, A Split Second became a reference for this
music style.
But right after the 12", they started recording a first full
length album, to be released by february 1987 : 'Ballistic Statues'.
With Rigor Mortis, they did better than everyone expected. Basically
each track of the LP was played in dance clubs : Drinking Sand,
Check It out, Neurobeat, Close Combat. They went on tour through
Europe and soon released a live 12" with rearranged versions
of some popular live tracks. Peter Meyvaert and Swan joined the
band on guitars.
In the mean time, the US record company Wax Trax gets interested
in the band and releases an album (US only) compiled out of the
tracks of Ballistic statues and the first 12". It became a
hit, and Rigor Mortis made it to the top of the alternative dance
charts (Rockpool) and stayed there for weeks. It prepared the way
for a significant breaktrough of the belgium based band in north
america.
As most of 1987 was filled with touring Europe, Marc and Chrismar
sat down to prepare the next album From The Inside. One track was
arranged in 4 different ways, and released as a 12" prelude
of the upcoming album. 'Scandinavian Bellydance' met with the expectations
of the audiance. The album 'From The Inside...' was to follow early
1988. Swan participated much in these tracks, joined by occasioal
guest musicians.
From the new album, Mambo Witch and Colosseum Crash were chosen
as singles, and they each made it to the top of the charts. It was
the sign for A Split Second to go on tour across North America september-october
1989. They played in all major cities raising huge crowds, which
made them focus even more to the US market. For this tour, the line-up
changed and Fedjean Venvelt (guitars) and Peter Boone (keyboards)
joined the band. Chrismar decided to do live mixing instead of stage
keyboards, as the creation of the overall new and powerful sound
is controlled from behind the mixing console.
In 1990, they released 'Kiss Of Fury', of which 'FireWalker' was
chosen as first 12". Though a revolutionaly track assisted
by a great video, it did not score as good as expected, and was
soon followed by 'The Parallax View', a track clearly more guitar
oriented. This track implied the change of sound that A Split Second
was going though : blending the industrial electronics with roch
guitars. The band's popularity kept on growing and they went for
a second tour across to the US, this time for 28 gigs in 5 weeks
all over the country. Again, the tour was very successful, but also
indicated that it was time for something new. The live line-up changed
again and Nicolas Mansy joined on keyboards.
1991 was a year of changes : Peter built the Micrart Studio (6)
in Gent, allowing to work even more and more profoundly than at
the Top Studio. He felt A Split Second was due to make changes in
style in order to keep growing. But these changes didn't come and
he prepared a remix album while Marc started working on a solo-project.
This evolution signed the end of A Split Second : Peter started
working with Wasteland, at first as a side project but soon becoming
more important, while Marc recorded his solo album. The Flesh &
Fire remix album contained very up to date and alternative remixes,
very much worth releasing, accompagned by a Rigor Mortis/ Flesh
remix 12". But, the remix period couldn't heal internal wounds,
and it finally resulted in a split : Marc continued with A Split
Second on his own.
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