Comedy of Terrors
Ask Robert Swanson, one of the three original members of Seattle’s four-piece hard rock band, Comedy of Terrors, why they are still at it after 8 years, four CDs, scores of gigs, great and humbling, rehearsals, songwriting sessions and studio recording while balancing their commitments to day jobs, family and friends, he will tell you, “After a lot of years in a lot of bands, we all still love to rock, the music elevates us and when we lock in, we all rise to the occasion and there’s truly no better feeling than that.”
London Tone Music signed Comedy of Terrors to be part of our 52x52 label launch campaign because of that kind of attitude. They are in it for the music and their new single, Not Enough, produced by longtime collaborator, producer/engineer, Jonathan Plum, of London Bridge Studio, is an honest, down to earth, loud, powerful rock track that sounds best turned up to eleven.
Here are the musicians behind Comedy of Terrors:
Robert Swanson is the guitarist for Comedy of Terrors. He was born and raised in Kirkland, Washington, a few miles east of downtown Seattle. Like so many, his first rock experience was watching the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, He also jokes that he was influenced by artists like Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison, “when the albums were new.” Robert’s been playing in bands around Seattle “since Heart was a cover band” and he still loves almost every moment of it. With a smile, he sums it up, “I’m too young to die and too stupid to quit.”
Drummer Ruppi Barnickel is originally from Wiesbaden, Gemany, where he started his playing career as a teenager before moving to the United States to attend the Drummers Institute. Ruppi has also worked as a studio engineer as well as played in the Seattle band, Symon Asher, who released two well-received CDs on the now defunct label, Miramar Records.
Curt Williams is Comedy of Terrors’ lead singer. He grew up in Alaska and moved to Seattle as a teen at a time when his powerful, deep, grungy and guttural voice was in great demand. During the 90s, he played in a variety of Seattle bands. He’s been with Comedy of Terrors for the past 8 years and he still has that power and range that other similar vocalists can only dream of. He has been known to start singing opera after a little too much to drink.
Bass player, Ken Shepard, is also from the Eastside of Seattle. He’s the newest member of the group, but by no means new to playing bass in a rock band. As a teen, he was friendly with and also played with a lot of bands around Seattle. He ran with the Queensryche boys before they were that. After a lot of fun playing bass as a teenager, he ended up pulling the plug on his career and changing direction to create a little more stability in his life. About a year ago, Comedy of Terrors needed a new bassist and after many years on the sidelines, they pulled him back into rock and roll. He’s hooked again, just like he was when he was a teenager.
