Penal Colony were an electro-industrial outfit based in the

Inland Empire The Inland Empire (IE) is a metropolitan area and region inland of and adjacent to coastal Southern California, centering around the cities of San Bernardino and Riverside, and bordering Los Angeles County to the west. It includes the cities o ...

section of Southern California, and fronted by Dee Madden. The original incarnation consisted of Madden, Jason Hubbard, Andy Shaw and Chris Shinkus. The touring lineup of the band featured Paris Sadonis of Premature Ejaculation,

Shadow Project Shadow Project was an alternative rock/goth metal band formed in 1987 featuring former members of Los Angeles deathrock groups Christian Death and Super Heroines. After recording two LP records the group experienced a three-year hiatus, reconven ...

, EXP and Involution, William Skye of London After Midnight, and

Justin Bennett Justin Bennett is an American studio and live session musician and producer. He has been working professionally since 1995 since his first project Professional Murder Music featured in the hit Arnold Schwarzenegger film '' End of Days'' and he h ...

Skinny Puppy Skinny Puppy is a Canadian industrial music group formed in Vancouver in 1982. The group is among the founders of the industrial rock and electro-industrial genres. Initially envisioned as an experimental side-project by cEvin Key (Kevin Crompton ...

My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult (often shortened to Thrill Kill Kult or TKK) is an American electronic industrial rock band originally based in Chicago and founded by Groovie Mann (born Frankie Nardiello) and Buzz McCoy (born Marston Daley). ...

, Nivek Ogre, Pigface and Bahntier.

History

Penal Colony were formed in the summer of 1992 by Dee Madden, Jason Hubbard, Andy Shaw and Chris Shinkus. Guitarist Andy Shaw, Bassist Chris Shinkus, and Drummer Jason Hubbard had been members of the

goth A Goth is a member of the Goths, a group of East Germanic tribes. Two major political entities of the Goths were: *Visigoths, prominent in Spanish history *Ostrogoths, prominent in Italian history Goth or Goths may also refer to: * Goth (surname) ...

/ glam rock outfit The Texas Vamps. Vocalist Dee Madden had been involved in the gothic rock band Ex-VoTo but parted ways with them after the rest of the band relocated to New Orleans. The band made their live performance debut on October 31, 1992. In 1993, the band were discovered by Cleopatra Records during a show at The Roxy in Hollywood and were signed to the label. They issued their full-length debut, titled ''

Put Your Hands Down ''Put Your Hands Down'' is the debut studio album of Penal Colony, released in February 1994 by Cleopatra Records. Reception ''Factsheet Five'' compared the music of ''Put Your Hands Down'' favorably to Hate Dept. and described Penal Colony as ...

'', in 1994. A remix album followed in 1995 and was titled ''

5 Man Job ''5 Man Job'' is a remix album by Penal Colony, released in July 1995 by Cleopatra Records. The album comprises remixed versions of tracks from ''Put Your Hands Down'', with contributions from Frontline Assembly's Bill Leeb, Genesis P Orridge, L ...

''. The album comprises remixed versions of previously released work, with collaborations by Frontline Assembly's Bill Leeb, Genesis P Orridge, Leather Strip, Spahn Ranch's Matt Green, and T.H.D. ''Aiding & Abetting'' described the album as having "a nice schizophrenic appeal" and as "a fine second by folks who refuse to take the easy road." Hubbard, Shaw and Shinkus all departed from Penal Colony immediately after the album's release and before its supporting national tour, effectively making the band Madden's solo project. The remix compilations ''

Multicoloured Shades ''Multicoloured Shades'' is a remix album by Penal Colony, released on February 13, 1995 by Zoth Ommog Records. Reception AllMusic awarded ''Multicoloured Shades'' two out of five possible stars. Track listing Personnel Adapted from th ...

'' and ''

Shadows in Blue ''Shadows in Blue'' is a remix album by Penal Colony, released on February 27, 1995 by Zoth Ommog Records Track listing Personnel Adapted from the ''Shadows in Blue'' liner notes. ;Penal Colony * Jason Hubbard – sampler, progra ...

'' were released in 1995 by Zoth Ommog Records. Activity halted in 1998 when Madden moved to Northwest to re-form his old band Simstim. Nine years after their debut, Penal Colony's follow-up studio album '' Unfinished Business'' was released on May 23, 2003 by DSBP Records.

Discography

Studio albums *''

'' (

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Philopator ( grc-gre, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ}, "Cleopatra the father-beloved"; 69 BC10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler.She was also a ...

, 1994) *'' Unfinished Business'' (DSBP, 2003) Remix albums * ''

'' (

, 1994) * ''

'' ( Zoth Ommog, 1995) * ''

'' (Zoth Ommog, 1995)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Penal Colony Musical groups established in 1992 Musical groups disestablished in 1998 1992 establishments in California Musical groups from San Francisco American electro-industrial music groups Zoth Ommog Records artists Cleopatra Records artists