Thinking Plague is a United States avant-garde progressive rock group founded in 1982 by guitarist Mike Johnson and bass guitarist/drummer Bob Drake.
While never directly related to Rock in Opposition (RIO), Thinking Plague was strongly influenced by this movement. In spite of Johnson's dislike of the term, the band has often been categorized as a "RIO" band.
Having limited funds they did all the tracking and mixing themselves, and released their first album, "...A Thinking Plague" in 1984 on their own Endemic label.
In 1986 Thinking Plague recorded their second album, "Moonsongs". As with their first album, "Moonsongs" was praised in "progressive" circles and Thinking Plague enhanced their stature as an avant-rock band.
Their third (and first widely distributed) album, "In This Life" was finished in mid-1988. Music on the album featured several "new" instruments, including sampler, tabla, various African and Balinese percussion instruments, and a fiddle (courtesy Bob Drake). But Thinking Plague's euphoria was short lived when singer Susanne Lewis moved to New York City. Attempts to replace her with a local singer were unsuccessful and working "long distance" with her proved impractical at the time. Disillusioned, Drake relocated to Los Angeles to work as an engineer and producer, leaving Thinking Plague at the point of disintegrating.
Johnson joined another local avant-rock band, Hamster Theatre in 1996, and suggested to its leader, accordionist and bassist Dave Willey that he join a new incarnation of Thinking Plague. Willey agreed and recommended Deborah Perry as a singer. With existing members Harris and Hotle the new Thinking Plague began recording new material that Johnson had written. In early 1998 the finished tracks were sent to Drake (now living in France) for mixing and production, and the result was Thinking Plague's fourth album, "In Extremis", released in 1998 by Cuneiform Records. "In Extremis" was rated the top album in 1998 by "Gnosis", and its success resulted in new concert appearances for the band.
After the concerts in Europe work began on a new album, "A History of Madness", which was released in September 2003 by Cuneiform Records. It was recorded over a period of two years, with half the band members flying into Denver from across the United States to add their contributions. "A History of Madness" was the first Thinking Plague album that Bob Drake did not produce; Johnson and Mark McCoin, of the Brave New Audio studio where the album was recorded, did all the mixing.
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Having limited funds they did all the tracking and mixing themselves, and released their first album, "...A Thinking Plague" in 1984 on their own Endemic label.
In 1986 Thinking Plague recorded their second album, "Moonsongs". As with their first album, "Moonsongs" was praised in "progressive" circles and Thinking Plague enhanced their stature as an avant-rock band.
Their third (and first widely distributed) album, "In This Life" was finished in mid-1988. Music on the album featured several "new" instruments, including sampler, tabla, various African and Balinese percussion instruments, and a fiddle (courtesy Bob Drake). But Thinking Plague's euphoria was short lived when singer Susanne Lewis moved to New York City. Attempts to replace her with a local singer were unsuccessful and working "long distance" with her proved impractical at the time. Disillusioned, Drake relocated to Los Angeles to work as an engineer and producer, leaving Thinking Plague at the point of disintegrating.
Johnson joined another local avant-rock band, Hamster Theatre in 1996, and suggested to its leader, accordionist and bassist Dave Willey that he join a new incarnation of Thinking Plague. Willey agreed and recommended Deborah Perry as a singer. With existing members Harris and Hotle the new Thinking Plague began recording new material that Johnson had written. In early 1998 the finished tracks were sent to Drake (now living in France) for mixing and production, and the result was Thinking Plague's fourth album, "In Extremis", released in 1998 by Cuneiform Records. "In Extremis" was rated the top album in 1998 by "Gnosis", and its success resulted in new concert appearances for the band.
After the concerts in Europe work began on a new album, "A History of Madness", which was released in September 2003 by Cuneiform Records. It was recorded over a period of two years, with half the band members flying into Denver from across the United States to add their contributions. "A History of Madness" was the first Thinking Plague album that Bob Drake did not produce; Johnson and Mark McCoin, of the Brave New Audio studio where the album was recorded, did all the mixing.