Deadweight was an alternative rock trio from San Francisco, California. Members included Ben Barnes (electric violin and vocals), Sam Bass (electric cello) and Paulo Baldi (drums). Deadweight began as a duo of Barnes and Bass who were graduates of San Francisco Conservatory of Music later joined by Baldi.Band Biography at Alternative Tentacles website
Retrieved July 4, 2007 Their first demo (1994) was produced by Jason Newsted of

Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...

. Deadweight has toured both nationally and internationally and has opened for

Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade (also known as The Les Claypool Frog Brigade) is a musical project with rotating personnel, led by American singer/bassist Les Claypool. The Frog Brigade was formed during a hiatus from Claypool ...

.''Rock and Rosin, An interview with Ben Barnes of Deadweight'', Bob Ignizio, UtterTrash.net
Retrieved July 4, 2007 Deadweight's third album, ''Stroking The Moon'' (2003), was released on Jello Biafra's

Alternative Tentacles Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label established in 1979 in San Francisco, California. It was used by Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single " California Über Alles". After realizing the potential for an independent label, t ...

label. Playing the violin and cello through a variety of guitar effects, their studio recorded material is surprisingly hard rock. Live performances display an eclecticism that has conjured a variety of descriptions by critics. Examples include, "(howling) like something out of Beethoven's most twisted hallucinations," "Eastern European Gypsy songs sung in the back of a big rig driven across tornado country by the ghost of the Marlboro Man" and "Charlie Daniels in hell playing a combination of Bartok and Zeppelin." Barnes has stated both

Jimmy Page James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Page is prolific in creating guitar riffs. His style involves various alternative ...

and Charlie Daniels are influences for their sound. Deadweight were winners of the SF Weekly's 1998 Wammy award for the category of "Beyond."''Wammies Winners'', SFWeekly, October 21, 1998
Retrieved July 4, 2007

Discography

*''Opus One'' (1997) *''Half-Wit Anthems'' (1999) *'' Stroking The Moon'' (2003)

References

External links

Official site: Benjamin Barnes Music
(Ben Barnes)
Official site: Paulo BaldiLive Recordings at Internet Archive
Alternative rock groups from California {{US-alternative-rock-band-stub