Ray and Wimpie have had a long standing collaboration as musicians and are close friends. The two have been playing metal together for bands such as New Hope Melody, Resonance and Suffer the Children. The two form an aggressive powerhouse of gut-wrenching screams and brutal beats. With their combined experience and history it was only natural that they became the first two members of Tripwire.
After a few small forays into the band scene Sven had been holding down bass duties for an instrumental progressive metal band by the name of Schema for a year or so in 2003 and the band – looking for a second guitarist – brought in Ryan to take up the rhythm and second lead reigns. Sven and Ryan instantly hit it off and became good friends. After the break-up of Schema, Sven and Ryan continued to write music together while looking out for a new project. The two began to work as a rhythmic and melodic unit, swapping leads and rhythms in complex passes creating a dynamic team of guitar and bass that break the rules as and when they see fit.
Late in 2010 Ray got in contact with Ryan and asked him about forming up a new band, Ryan agreed but the two never seemed to be able to fit it into their schedules. After a while Ray contacted Ryan and told him that there is a new project he is starting and that Ryan is a part of it whether he likes it or not. Ryan, feeling motivated, contacted Sven and told him that he had just been recruited into a new heavy metal outfit and that Sven was their bassist.
In 2012 Ryan left Tripwire to pursue his career interests, which left a gaping hole in the line-up.
Before long though Daniel Gerber of Sweating Blood and also a previous member of Suffer the Children offered his Jackson Guitar's screaming pinched harmonics and joined up with the band. By adding his aggressive yet melodic riffs they decided in late 2012 that the band needed a name change as the style progressed into something with a new heartbeat and energy. The musical direction is harder than ever and the shape of the new material made the band realise that something new was being born and not just a continuation of Tripwire.
My Columbine was born.
With the new musical direction offering far more diverse song options it quickly became clear that what My Columbine needed was a second guitarist. While working on new material the band looked at a few potential guitarists and after what seemed to be an eternity they stumbled upon Gehart Kalmeier. From the first note he played in the studio it was clear that Gehart had the same passion and drive as Ray, Sven, Wimpie and Daniel. Gehart hails from Nostalgic Dimness and who is involved on acoustic collaborations like Nag van die Pakdonkie. Gehart is the rhythmic powerhouse with the melodic and technical ability to take My Columbine to new heights, while breaking a few necks along the way.
With the line-up complete the band shifted focus towards preparation to return to the stage. The sparks of a new fire had begun to burn and My Columbine would soon reveal itself to the world...
in 2013 My Columbine exploded onto local stages and was growing rapidly when Ray Watson decided that he would be forced to leave the band due to him relocating. All was not lost as during the last months Ray and the band began auditions to find the next voice of My Columbine...
Enter Drikus Behrens, Drikus put forward the same energy and intensity that the band was looking for screaming like a banshee and growling deeper that an Kodiak bear. My Columbine hit the rehearsal studio with renewed vigour with one goal in mind... to return to their home on stage!
My Columbine release they're latest single Man Without Honour in audio and lyric video!
Check out our latest interview with the lovely Lilith Seaborne
http://meetyourband.blogspot.com/2014/02/my-columbine_24.html
The wait is over! We have been running auditions for almost 3 months now and we have finally found the man to step up on stage with us... so without further delay, My Columbine have the pleasure of introducing Drikus Behrens on lead vocals!
This man is ready to tear you a new one with growls low enough to shake the floor and screams that will blow you away!
We are hitting the rehearsal studio hard so that we can thrash out with you real soon, so watch this space for upcoming gigs in your area!
My Columbine is taking their unique brand of metal to the City of Gold for...
Metal Xmas in July at Rumours has 13 bands in action on Saturday 13 July!
2 alternating stages!
Doors open at 15:00 with the first band on stage at 15:40.
Come meet Santa Squire and let your hair down as the merry metal Xmas festivities reign supreme in the mosh pit.
Entrance is R40 per person
15:00 – doors open
15:40 – Inceria Band
16:20 – State Dependency
17:00 – Story of a Stranger
17:40 – We Will Remain
18:20 – Victim of Arson
19:00 – Avenging Anarchy
19:40 – Casket
20:20 - Therapyne
21:00 – Forfeit Thee Untrue
21:40 – Mudd Pony
22:20 – Thee Untitled
23:00 – My Columbine
23:40 – Nerve Zero
Make sure to come and party with us, it's gonna be a big one!
A big thank you to Swamphoud Tritet, Mercury Child, 11th Hour and Riddlebreak for a rocking time last night. Extra thanks go out to David Lomax and all the crazy fuckers that joined us last night for the first of many awesome shows - From the My Columbine Crew
We are finally finishing our set list.
It has been a long hard road with alot of changes along the way but we have finally reached the point where we are happy to say that we should start gigging within the next month. First some warmup-underground gigs to get us stage ready.....
High school was the beginning of many things. Between pimple-faced awkward moments and killer house parties I decided to pick up a guitar in my first year of post-primary. One of my best friends, Jonathan and I started learning together but after a month of killjoy lessons I can’t exactly say I felt inspired. My strings were strung tight but they were collecting dust. But just before my fingers could soften once more Jonathan bought himself some half-priced piece-a-shit electric and the devils horns split through my skull as I felt a fissure of great fucking music tear my juvenile idea ‘hardcore’ to shit. It’s been almost 10 years since then. Our first band Nostalgic Dimness became a self-fulfilling prophecy after school, but I started collaborating on some acoustic vibes with old friends and new friends from varsity. Nag van die Pakdonkie is a work in progress, but I had mainly been playing at corporate-type functions for the last year. Finally… I was arbitrarily introduced to Sven through a mutual friend from work and here I am today, drinking brandy and contemplating our plans for world domination with the My Columbine family. Let's break some necks!!
A nuclear powered gig to combat the cold with Opium Child, Mercury Child, My Columbine and Stone Griffin with lots of vodka based specials and dj david lomax
Rock vs. Metal! Stamp Your IndepenDANCE on the 4th of July at Zeplins Rock Shack in Centurion.
The showdown of the season will be taking place between two rock and two metal bands on the 4th of July. Which genre will dominate? Be there to find out!
Lineup:
20:00 - The Carolina Bridal Party
21:00 - My Columbine
22:00 - State Society
23:00 - Octanium
R30 before 20:00 and R40 after 20:00.