Vapors of Morphine is an American

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band founded in 2009 by the remaining members of the alternative rock band

Morphine Morphine is a strong opiate that is found naturally in opium, a dark brown resin in poppies (''Papaver somniferum''). It is mainly used as a analgesic, pain medication, and is also commonly used recreational drug, recreationally, or to make ...

, saxophonist

Dana Colley Dana Colley (born October 17, 1961) is an American musician, best known as the baritone and tenor saxophonist in the alternative rock band Morphine. Early life Colley was born in Portland, Maine, but he was raised in Hanson, Massachusetts, wh ...

and drummer

Jerome Deupree Jerome Deupree (born November 9, 1956) is an American musician, based in Massachusetts. He is best known as the original drummer in the alternative rock band Morphine. Early career Deupree started playing drums at the age of six, with the hel ...

, along with blues guitarist

Jeremy Lyons Jeremy Lyons (born March 24, 1970) is an American musician, currently based in Massachusetts. Musical career Jeremy Lyons began his professional music career playing blues guitar and singing on the streets of New Orleans, and went on to make a ...

. Jerome stepped down in early 2019; Tom Arey (Peter Wolf, Ghosts of Jupiter) has taken his place.

History

The band was officially formed in 2009, when

was asked to bring a group to ''Nel Nome Del Rock Festival'' in Palestrina, Italy. Ten years earlier, Morphine's frontman

Mark Sandman Mark may refer to: Currency * Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark, the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina * East German mark, the currency of the German Democratic Republic * Estonian mark, the currency of Estonia between 1918 and 1927 * Fin ...

had suddenly died of a massive heart attack while performing in that venue. After some deliberation, Colley invited

to sing and play the 2-string slide bass, along with drummer

. Lyons asked friend "Washtub" Robbie Phillips to build a 2-string bass for him and started learning the Morphine repertoire. The process wasn't easy as Lyons had to master a new instrument while singing below his natural vocal range. In the beginning, they couldn't agree on a name, and they alternated between “Members of Morphine & Jeremy Lyons” and the “Elastic Waste Band,” which eventually morphed into “The Ever Expanding Elastic Waste Band”. Early in 2014 someone asked Lyons if he didn't “play with ... the ‘vapors’ of Morphine?”, inspiring the band's name as it is currently known. Vapors of Morphine have toured through the United States, South America, Europe and Russia. Some highlights have been successful European and South American tours in 2017 and '18; Mês Da Cultura Independente (São Paulo, Brazil, 2014), The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (USA, 2012); Virada Cultural Festival in Sao Paulo, Brazil (2012), New Orleans’ Voodoo Experience (USA, 2011); and Maquinaria Festival in Santiago, Chile (2011). Former Morphine drummer Billy Conway has played as a guest, filling in for Deupree or making the group a quartet. Studio drummer Jeff Allison filled in as drummer in 2012 when Deupree was suffering from

tendonitis Tendinopathy, a type of tendon disorder that results in pain, swelling, and impaired function. The pain is typically worse with movement. It most commonly occurs around the shoulder (rotator cuff tendinitis, biceps tendinitis), elbow (tennis elb ...

. A week after returning from Europe in November, 2018, Deupree informed his bandmates of his decision to leave the band, partly due to issues with tinnitus. He will be appearing on their upcoming album release, alongside Tom Arey.

Discography

* '' The Ever Expanding Elastic Waste Band'' (as Members of Morphine and Jeremy Lyons) * A New Low (2016)

References

External links

Vapors of Morphine's Official Website
{{Authority control Musical groups established in 2009 Musical groups from Massachusetts Alternative rock groups from Massachusetts