G. C. Green

Ben George Christian "G. C." Green (Born 1964) is an English musician, best known as the co-founder and bass guitarist of the Birmingham-based industrial metal band, Godflesh.

G. C. Green
G. C. Green performing with Godflesh in 2014
Background information
Birth nameBen George Christian Green
Also known asBen Green, Vitriol
OriginBirmingham, England
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsBass guitar, synthesizer
Years active1982–2001, 2010–present
Labels
Associated acts

Biography

A native of Birmingham, Green was involved in the city's post-punk and goth scenes in early 1980s and was close friends with musicians such as Paul Neville and Diarmuid Dalton. He formed his first band, OPD (Officially Pronounced Dead), in 1982 with Neville. The band usually rehearsed at Green's house or Nevilles house. They changed their name to Fall of Because after the Killing Joke song of the same name in 1985. Initially they used a basic drum machine, with Neville playing guitar, and Green on bass and vocals, and were writing songs influenced by The Cures' 17 Seconds and Faith albums. After meeting a 15-year-old Justin Broadrick in 1984 outside their local council estate shops, above which Broadrick lived with his parents, they started their friendship over their mutual admiration for the Stranglers, and other punk bands. Soon, Broadrick started playing drums in the band, and the three of them began writing songs that were influenced by bands such as Swans and Sonic Youth, whilst still retaining the psychedelic overtones that was inherent in the earlier Fall of Because music. Green was also introduced to various artists such as Throbbing Gristle, Whitehouse and SPK at this time, by Broadrick.[1][2]

In 1986 they recorded a demo, Extirpate, at Rich Bitch studios in Birmingham, and sold a few copies to friends and other musicians in Birmingham. The band also played several gigs at The Mermaid public house in Birmingham with the likes of Napalm Death, Heresy, Amebix. In 1987 Broadrick left Fall of Because to join Head of David. When Broadrick was sacked from Head of David in 1988, he and Green, who were sharing a flat together at the time, formed Godflesh. Throughout its career, Godflesh has released eight records and pioneered the industrial metal genre.[3] After recording Godflesh's sixth album, Hymns, in October 2001, he left Godflesh. He was replaced by Prong bassist Paul Raven. Nevertheless, the band disbanded in 2002 in the midst of their European tour.[4] In following years, Green, who supported himself with various professions including as a social worker,[4] disappeared from the music scene[5] until 2010. He has significant hearing loss.

Green's only solo album, I-VII, was released under his Vitriol moniker in 1998 through Neurot Recordings. It was recorded in 1995.[6]

Green was married in 2010.[7] Green and Broadrick also reunited Godflesh in 2010 and began touring. The band's seventh album, and the first since the reunion, A World Lit Only by Fire, was released in 2014.[8] Their eighth album, Post Self, followed in 2017.

Green is scheduled to make his solo debut as Vitriol on 8 December, 2018 at Hospital Fest 2018 in Queens, New York, twenty years after the Vitriol album was first released.

Artistry

Tone, playing style and influences
Green performing with Godflesh at Roadburn 2018

Rob Haynes of The Quietus described Green's bass sound as "like the noise a glacier might make as it remorselessly ground a mountain to dust."[5] Green's basslines were essential in Godflesh's music and "freed up Broadrick to conjur the atmosphere with his droning guitar sound." Green also adapted his style to Godflesh's various influences, including electronic music, dub, breakbeat and hip hop.[3][9]

Green describes his sound as "heavy, downtuned and driving" and tunes his bass to B standard. He occasionally plays chords to "give extra weight and depth" and sometimes uses slapping to "add a percussive tone and physicality." His favourite bass guitarists include Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Jean-Jacques Burnel of the Stranglers, Paul McCartney of the Beatles and Dennis Dunaway, the original bassist for Alice Cooper Band.[10]

Equipment

Green's equipment as adapted from Bass Guitar magazine profile:[10]

Discography
G. C. Green performing with Godflesh at The Metro Lounge in Long Branch, New Jersey on 8 November 1996
With Godflesh
Main article: Godflesh discography
With Fall of Because
With Final
  • Two (1996)
  • Solaris (1996)
  • The First Millionth of a Second (1996)
  • Urge/Fail (1996)
  • Flow/Openings (1996)
As Vitriol
  • I-VII (2001)
Other contributions

References
  1. Bennett, J. "Justin Broadrick on the Secret History of Godflesh". Vice. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  2. Nasrallah, Dimitri (September 2010). "Justin Broadrick Napalm Death – Godflesh – Techno Animal – Jesu – Pale Sketcher Page 2". Exclaim!. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  3. Prato, Greg. "Godflesh". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  4. Suarez, Gary (9 February 2015). "Voidhead: Justin Broadrick on the End of Godflesh". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  5. Haynes, Rob (20 June 2010). "Godflesh To Play Supersonic. Justin Broadrick Talks Reformation". Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  6. "Vitriol". Neurot Recordings. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  7. Horsley, Jonathan (7 October 2011). "Justin Broadrick Interview: Godflesh, Growing Up And Anarcho-punk". Decibel. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  8. Falzon, Denise (1 October 2014). "Godflesh's Justin K. Broadrick Talks Returning to Their Old-School Sound on First Album in 13 Years". Exclaim!. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  9. DiVita, Joe. "Fieldy vs. G.C. Green – Greatest Metal Bassist, Round 1 Read More: Fieldy vs. G.C. Green – Greatest Metal Bassist, Round 1". Loudwire. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  10. "Bassically Speacking: Ben Green, Godflesh". Bass Guitar: 15. February 2015. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016.
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