This self-styled post-industrial USA metal outfit is named after the Dope brothers, Edsel (b. USA; vocals/guitar) and Simon (b. USA; keyboards). Though now based in New York, the brothers were brought up in south Florida. Edsel Dope played drums in several local punk bands before travelling around America. Simon Dope studied chemistry at the University of Florida before relocating to New York. His brother joined him there in 1997, where their shared musical influences convinced them to form their own band. They signed up three musicians, Tripp Eisen (b. Tod Rex Salvador, 29 June 1965, USA; guitar), Acey Slade (b. 15 December 1974, USA; bass) and Preston Nash (drums), who were all concurrently leading their own bands. The newly formed quintet played a handful of live dates before signing to the major label affiliate Flip Records in October 1998. They recorded their provocatively titled debut album, Felons And Revolutionaries, at Greene Street in Manhattan with producer John Travis (Kid Rock, Sugar Ray). Informed by the Dope brothers own experiences, the lyrics to tracks such as the openers ‘Pig Society’ and ‘Debonaire’ railed against America’s hypocritical mainstream culture, over a furious soundtrack that demonstrated the enduring influence of Trent Reznor’s industrial blueprint.
Having already completed live dates with Orgy and Fear Factory, Dope landed a prime slot on a tour with Coal Chamber and Slipknot. The personnel was completely changed for the recording of the band’s second album, with Slade switching to guitar and bass player Sloane ‘Mosey’ Jentry, guitarist Virus, and drummer Racci ‘Sketchy’ Shay (ex-Genitorturers) added to the line-up. Jentry had originally played guitar with the band in their early days. Released at the end of 2001, Life failed to match the critical and commercial impact of their debut and marked the end of the band’s tenure with Flip. They relocated to the Recon imprint for their next album. Released towards the end of 2003, Group Therapy was a marked improvement on the band’s second album. Edsel Dope also conceived and directed videos to complement each of the album’s 13 songs.
