Dallas based ASKA was formed in
1990 by childhood friends, George
Call and Darren Knapp. The pair
had decided to put together the
coolest band they could come up
with. They had already played
together in every one of each
other's past bands and felt that it
was hightime they got serious about
their musical lineups. They wanted
a band that could play well, sing
great, and that also looked like they
belonged together. A band that
sounded cool and looked that way
too! With this in mind the band
recruited George's brother, Damon,
(who had been drumming with local
favorites, PEGASUS) and
auditioned a number of bass
players before deciding on Michigan
born Keith Knight.
They wasted no time in writing and
recording what was to become their
self-titled,debut...ASKA. The disc
was released inlate '91
accompanied by a flurry of band
activity. In the ensuing months, a
talent agent discovered the band
while headlining a show at the
infamous BASEMENT in Dallas
(immortalized in a PANTERA video)
and offered them the opportunity of
a lifetime; Tour military bases
around the world for the U. S. Dept.
of Defense. They accepted.
The next few years saw ASKA settle
into a pattern of international
touring, then returning to Dallas
where they'd spend their time
gigging throughout Texas and
working on new material for future
releases.
Their second CD, entitled
IMMORTAL, was released in
December of 1994. The disc was
well received and went on to win
the band many accolades with the
ever-cynical Texas music press.
IMMORTAL was awarded CD of the
year '95 and ASKA was given an
honorable mention for band of the
year in the longrunning BUDDY
music magazine. The band
continued to tour and returned in
time to see more kudos thrown their
way. Ever-charismatic Damon was
awarded Drummer Of The Year
'96and the band was nominated
Metal Band Of The Year '96 by the
prestigious Dallas Observer. They
were also one of the very few bands
(definitely the only metal band!)
selected to participate in
Ticketmaster's national, annual,
1996 music showcase . As if this
wasn't enough, ASKA soon learned
that their song, YOU SUCK, was
getting radio airplay on Louisiana's
99X station. This bit of news had
ASKA venturing across state lines
for the first time since the band's
inception (Ironic, considering this
band had played the world over!) to
play rock festivals with the likes of
COAL CHAMBER, SEVENDUST,
and POWERMAN 5000. 1996 was
also the year in which ASKA signed
a recording and distribution deal
with Los Angeles based indie label,
Statue Records. (Note: STATUE
has refused to promote or distribute
ASKA in what the band terms "a
clear breach of contract". ASKA's
lawyers are in the process of
terminating legal holdings to
STATUE.)
Not wanting to lose any of the
ground they had gained, ASKA
quickly began work on their third
CD, NINE TONGUES. In the midst
of recording, they were offered a
tour of Japan and the South Pacific
which they eagerly accepted. There
was no way that NINE TONGUES
was going to be ready by the tour's
projected departure date so they
opted to release an EP version of
the disc.
Called, SIX TONGUES, this EP
featured 5 songs from the
forthcoming record and included
one bonus track recorded years
earlier on a jam box at a band
rehearsal! This EP triggered the
most enthusiastic reviews ASKA
had ever seen thrown their way.
The subsequent release of NINE
TONGUES confirmed that what had
been recorded at thesesessions is
ASKA's best work to date. If you've
never heard ASKA you're in for a
classic metal treat! Enjoy!
