Minus
Years Active
Group Members Rob Blakeslee Henry Franzoni Mark France Dave Trenkel
Genres Rock
Styles Alternative Metal, Iceland, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock
Tones Energetic, Menacing, Manic, Aggressive

Minus was formed in 1994. For the first year the band's focus was on free improvisation as their first self-titled album featured. As they progressed they drew their inspiration from no particular genre, they found inspiration in multiple styles ranging from free jazz to heavy metal including funk, noise, math rock, and techno-dub. Mark France (guitar, effects, and vocals for Minus) first joined Dave Trenkel when they were students in the Oregon State University Music Department. At the university they studied jazz with the trumpeter and Nine Winds recording artist, Rob Blakeslee. Trenkel (who plays bass, keyboards, and electronics for Minus) and Henry Franzoni (drummer for Minus) were in the progressive rock band Das Neonderthrall with guitarist and vocalist Eldon Hardenbrook. In 1994 the band disbanded, so Trenkel and Franzoni thought a collaboration with France a logical choice. In 1995, Minus officially released their self-titled debut album of improvisational material, mixed and editted by France and Trenkel. In 1997, Minus focused on composed material and hit the road with their new format. During this period they have shared the stage with Kilgore Trout, Tim Young's Very Special Forces, Village Idiots, Thousand Pieces, and NSP. ranzoni was a co-founder of the band Caveman Shoestore, with whom he recorded three albums for the Tim/Kerr label. Other bands he has been an associate in are Boodlers, Tone Dogs, and Face Ditch. Trenkel has always found pleasure in improvisational music. Past groups include Shovedevil and the Northwest Creative Music Orchestra. As a recording engineer and producer he has worked on releases by Tone Sharks, Rob Blakeslee Quartet, the Arrieu Wind Quintet, and many others. France performs regularly around the Northwest as a member of Thousand Pieces and in the mutant blues/R&B group Mottburger. He has also performed with Rob Blakeslee's sextet, as a solo performer on classical guitar, and appeared on singer/songwriter Aiko Shimada's first recording. France, in 2001, could be found teaching guitar at Oregon State University, as well as a full schedule of private students. In 2001 Minus released their second album, Dark Lit, which more than adequately diplayed the fresh new musical direction the band was focused upon. — Larry Belanger
<br><br>“spurningin er ekki hvad maður getur… heldur hvað maður gerir!” (Purrkur pillnikk, Einar Örn)