The HAARP UNIT
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The HAARP Unit is currently a "one man" band. At the moment the only member is founder Brian Vaughan (myself).The concept of HAARP Unit is a free-form idea which can include having a band with several members or remain a solo performance entity (my setup is a sound system with which I can do layered loops while performing live with several instruments and use pre-recorded backing tracks if needed- so if no-one is available, I can still play good tunes with more than one part). I have done a string of live radio gigs since 1996 (an acoustic set on KKUP 91.5fm, an electronic guitar set on KKUP in November 1997- which was the first HAARP Unit gig, then on 4-30-98 I played a longer set on KFJC 89.7fm, nearly 90 minutes or so long consisting of both guitar & synth music, then another acoustic set on 10-25-98 at KKUP. My most recent radio concert was on 11-13-2002 on Larry Grant's show "'Til Morning Come", an all-nighter also on KKUP, where I played solo electric guitar with plenty of effects. The show got positive feedback from listeners). I also have recorded with Skip Spence, jammed and composed with Peter Lewis, also jammed with Bob Mosley (all from Moby Grape). All these sessions were in private- not in concert. A little bit of my history: I started playing guitar (my main instrument) seriously in june 1978 and never stopped. The passion of music kept burning in me. Being self-taught, I developed my own style early in my practice. I spent the first 5 years of practice mostly studying music & woodshedding on my own, so I didn't do hardly any jamming with other people until the 5th year. From that time on I got positive feedback from other musicians who found out what I play during sessions and parties, etc. Since 1984 I've been involved with numerous jammers, projects of various types, many have resulted in some good recordings. Even if the recording isn't always good, the ideas are worth keeping and doing again. Some of my early influences on guitar include Tony Iommi, Dave Brock, Robert Fripp, Jimi Hendrix, Alex Lifeson, Jimmy Page, John McLaughlin, & others. I've also experimented with making sounds on guitars that aren't readily recognized as guitar music, making it somewhat more "synth" like. The styles run through a very broad spectrum- from hard rock, fusion, space music, psychedelia, some jazz & blues influences, ambient, metal, progressive, folk, Celtic rock, east Indian and Middle Eastern influences in addition to Western classical influences. A short list of influences can't say enough- a lot of music I like goes back centuries ago, in addition to the modern stuff I love just as much. The HAARP Unit is my ongoing solo project. The first offering will be a live two C.D. set of the three radio concerts I did in 1997 and 1998, a mixture of older tunes with more recent ones (this is a tentative idea for now, these may actually be put out as separate releases when I get to it). The tunes "Gothic Cathedral", "Shifting Sands Of Sumer Part 1", & "Caravan To The Sacred City" on this page are from the 1998 concert on KFJC. In the studio project coming later I will likely play most instruments (but will be looking for a really good drummer who can dig what I'm into- so he or she can have this slot, so if that sounds like you, contact me!). Future plans include getting out and playing in front of an audience regularly, so if you book artists & like my tunes, contact me, I would like to hear from you.
Why this name?
I came up with the bandname because my recording outfit is HAARP Recording, & the "Unit" is me & the machines, but could include other people as members. HAARP stands for Highly Artistic Aural Recording Project in this case.
Do you play live?
Yes, I do play live whenever possible. It can be the most rewarding experience (along with playing music by itself). There are challenges & pitfalls with situations at times, but the experience from a good performance is always great.
How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry?
Both the internet & MP3 technology makes it possible for people like me (& countless others) to actually have a chance to get our material heard by some sort of general public, as well as other artists & possible music industry folks. This opening has actually gotten me out (some of my material at least). I've made friends & contacts all over (my current bandmates in the TOTM project were all in touch with me on the internet first, & now most of the people I know are from internet contact as well) . Before the internet & MP3[s], the only audience I had was mostly housemates, friends, & an occasional band I may have joined or helped form. Most of the projects I was in before going solo didn't get out of the "woodshed", so to speak. So, I've been able to go from completely unknowable to an obscure artist with a few fans. It doesn't seem like a lot, but there's a big difference from where I stand.
Would you sign a record contract with a major label?
That would depend on the contract, but anything is possible. I'm actually quite reasonable.
Band History:
The HAARP UNIT sprang into existence in late 1997,when I performed a solo concert on KKUP 91.5 f.m. Sunday,Nov. 16th. 1997 consisting of various pieces of music I had written from 1985 to Nov. '97. The broadcast was recorded & I'm planning on using some of the pieces for a live compilation. I did another radio concert on 4-30-98 at KFJC 89.7 f.m. & recorded this too, it will be the first release on C.D. This would help to establish HAARP UNIT as an entity that could play live gigs. Most of the tracks came out sounding good for live stuff (the first studio album will sound quite good from any point of view-studio is easier in most ways).
Your influences?
Hawkwind, Black Sabbath, Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Skip Spence, King Crimson, ELP, Rush, Steve Hillage, Genesis (old style mostly), Celtic, Middle Eastern & Asian musics (I'm a big fan of Indian music, also Persian, Arabic, & Kurdish), many bands from '65 to '78, & others, too- too many to mention on one page!
Favorite spot?
I really like being near the water (oceans or lakes), hiking in mountains or hills, but some of my favorite cities I've been to are San Francisco, Berkeley, & Santa Cruz in California. I would like to visit many ancient cities in different places.
Equipment used:
Guitars: {1979 Gibson S.G., 1980S B.C. Rich Mockingbird, 1991 Fender Squier Strat, GTX electric (it's like a Jackson Dinky Reverse), 1995 Charvel acoustic, 1999 B.C. Rich Warlock, late 1970s or early 1980s Aria "Mach II" Les Paul copy- pretty good guitar for a copy} .
Amps: ART Attack Module stereo combo with 12AX7 pre-amp tube (kicks ass), Hafler T-2 rackmount guitar pre-amp (kicks ass), an old 1950s Supro small blues combo (all tube! A total tone monster!)- gotta get this one cleaned up & going again!, Plus 2 Fender SK-20 Stereo Chorus amps, which I use for reinforcement in my guitar sound system.
Synthesizers: A Korg MicroKorg, Kawai K-11, & a Roland Juno 60.
Bass: 1980s B.C. Rich Mockingbird bass, & an Epiphone bass
Effects:
Loopers ( Lexicon JamMan & Boss loop station), a whole list of other effects (Boss DD-5 delay, Boss BF-2 flanger, Boss octave pedal, Boss noise supressor, Boss enhancer, Boss Heavy Metal pedal, DOD digital delay, DOD stereo phaser, Snarling Dogs Black Dog distortion, Crybaby wah pedal, Rolls volume pedal, J-Station guitar amp modeling & effects box, DigiTech RP-20 effects & guitar amp modeling floor unit, & a 1995 ART FXR Elite multi-effect rack unit, one of the more amazing multi- effect units, has great sound & combos of effects (200+!).
Mixers: Tascam digital 16 channel, Ross analog 12 channel, Behringer analog 6 channel.
2 drum machines (Yamaha & Alesis), one electronic drum kit (Yamaha 7-pad).
Digital workstations: 2002 iMAC G4 with flat LCD screen, loaded with MOTU DP-3.22 software, & a MOTU 828 interface, Roland VS-880- the original from 1996, it still works!
Microphones: 3 Shure SM-57, 2 SM-58, 2 AKG C-1000S
Headphones: AKG K-240. Need to replace my old Sony 7506 headphones, I liked them for a contrast in judging my mixes.
Things I have that were used more in the past, but still have & will use again sometime:
Tascam 424 cassette 4-track, Sony cassette 3-head mastering deck, Sony DAT machine, Sony double cassette tape deck.
That's pretty much it for now!
Amps: ART Attack Module stereo combo with 12AX7 pre-amp tube (kicks ass), Hafler T-2 rackmount guitar pre-amp (kicks ass), an old 1950s Supro small blues combo (all tube! A total tone monster!)- gotta get this one cleaned up & going again!, Plus 2 Fender SK-20 Stereo Chorus amps, which I use for reinforcement in my guitar sound system.
Synthesizers: A Korg MicroKorg, Kawai K-11, & a Roland Juno 60.
Bass: 1980s B.C. Rich Mockingbird bass, & an Epiphone bass
Effects:
Loopers ( Lexicon JamMan & Boss loop station), a whole list of other effects (Boss DD-5 delay, Boss BF-2 flanger, Boss octave pedal, Boss noise supressor, Boss enhancer, Boss Heavy Metal pedal, DOD digital delay, DOD stereo phaser, Snarling Dogs Black Dog distortion, Crybaby wah pedal, Rolls volume pedal, J-Station guitar amp modeling & effects box, DigiTech RP-20 effects & guitar amp modeling floor unit, & a 1995 ART FXR Elite multi-effect rack unit, one of the more amazing multi- effect units, has great sound & combos of effects (200+!).
Mixers: Tascam digital 16 channel, Ross analog 12 channel, Behringer analog 6 channel.
2 drum machines (Yamaha & Alesis), one electronic drum kit (Yamaha 7-pad).
Digital workstations: 2002 iMAC G4 with flat LCD screen, loaded with MOTU DP-3.22 software, & a MOTU 828 interface, Roland VS-880- the original from 1996, it still works!
Microphones: 3 Shure SM-57, 2 SM-58, 2 AKG C-1000S
Headphones: AKG K-240. Need to replace my old Sony 7506 headphones, I liked them for a contrast in judging my mixes.
Things I have that were used more in the past, but still have & will use again sometime:
Tascam 424 cassette 4-track, Sony cassette 3-head mastering deck, Sony DAT machine, Sony double cassette tape deck.
That's pretty much it for now!
Anything else...?
Stay tuned, I'm working on finishing a live album & will have a collection of new live pieces & studio demos. I'm now involved in completing 2 other projects, but hopefully will have newer stuff here later in 2010.