Deadstar Assembly
American industrial rock/metal band formed in 2001 in Florida.
Deadstar Assembly is an American industrial rock/metal band that got its start in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2001. The group began when vocalist Dearborn teamed up with techno producer Luis Duran. They brought in MuBo, formerly of Basic Humans, to handle keyboards. Seeing they had a similar creative direction, MuBo and Dearborn worked together to fill out the lineup with The Dro (ex-DeSaad) and Cygnus (ex-The C60's). The band played its first show on March 30, 2002, at the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale. Later that year, original guitarist Jay—a high school friend of Dearborn—was let go and replaced by DreGGs, a graduate of the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.
Their self-titled debut album featured 13 tracks, including a cover of the 1980s pop hit "Send Me An Angel" by Real Life. In 2004, Real Life's David Sterry reached out to the band and gave his personal approval of their version. Deadstar Assembly sold more than 15,000 copies of the album on their own. In 2003, they released their first DVD, "The Dark Hole Sessions: Vol. 1," a collection of tour footage and behind-the-scenes clips from their first two years. Between 2004 and 2006, the band toured heavily in support of these releases, opening for acts like Bella Morte, Crossbreed, Celldweller, Genitorturers, The Birthday Massacre, and Wednesday 13. While on tour with Wednesday 13, they began writing material for their next album, originally planned for a 2004 release. In 2005, Deadstar Assembly picked up endorsements from B.C. Rich Guitars and Kustom Amplification during a visit to NAMM.
Their second album, "Unsaved," was produced by the band themselves along with Jeremy Staska. The record was more personal in tone and was mastered by Grammy-nominated Adam Ayan at Bob Ludwig's Gateway Mastering in Portland, Maine. It came out on July 11, 2006, through Pure Records Sony/Red and Fontana/Universal Distribution, with an international release on April 28, 2006, via Germany's The A Label, later reissued by Dockyard1. "Unsaved" was the first album recorded with input from all current members at the time. MuBo left before the North American release, leaving the band without a touring keyboardist. His replacement, sKuz, was introduced at the "Unsaved" release party at the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale.
Quick Facts
- Alias
- DSA
- Origin
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
- Genre
- Industrial metal, industrial rock
- Years Active
- 2001–present
- Label
- Pure, Dockyard1, Somatic, Spiralchords
- Current Members
- Dearborn / The Dro / DreGGs / Kriz D.K. / Mubo
- Past Members
- Jay / sKuz / Cygnus
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Deadstar Assembly formed in 2001 from a collaboration between Dearborn and techno producer Luis Duran. They recruited MuBo (ex-Basic Humans) on keyboards, and with Dearborn and MuBo sharing a creative vision, they assembled the remaining members: The Dro (ex-DeSaad) on bass and Cygnus (ex-The C60's) on drums. The band performed their debut show on March 30, 2002, at the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale. Original guitarist Jay was dismissed later that year and replaced by DreGGs, a graduate of the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.
Their self-titled debut album, released in 2002, included a cover of the 1980s pop hit 'Send Me An Angel' (originally by Real Life). In 2004, David Sterry of Real Life contacted the band and personally endorsed their version. The album sold over 15,000 copies independently. In 2003, they released their debut DVD 'The Dark Hole Sessions: Vol. 1', a collection of tour and behind-the-scenes videos. Between 2004 and 2006, the band toured extensively, opening for acts such as Bella Morte, Crossbreed, Celldweller, Genitorturers, The Birthday Massacre, and Wednesday 13.
Their second album, 'Unsaved', was released on July 11, 2006, by Pure Records Sony/Red & Fontana/Universal Distribution, with an international release on April 28, 2006, via German-based The A Label. The album was produced by the band and Jeremy Staska, and mastered by Grammy-nominated Adam Ayan. MuBo left before the North American debut of 'Unsaved', and sKuz replaced him at the album's release party. The band's third album, 'Coat of Arms', was released April 13, 2010, in North America exclusively at Hot Topic stores and iTunes, with a European debut on May 7, 2010, via Berlin's Spiralchords Music / Alive Distribution.
Reader's Guide
Deadstar Assembly's significance lies in their sustained presence in the American industrial rock/metal scene since 2001, achieving independent success with over 15,000 copies sold of their debut album. Their music has appeared in various media, including the soundtrack for Project Gotham Racing 3 and the 2008 film Picture This, as well as MTV shows such as Punk'd and Making the Video. The band's ability to maintain a consistent lineup core—Dearborn, The Dro, and DreGGs—while navigating member changes (notably the departure and return of keyboardist MuBo) demonstrates their resilience. Their inclusion in festivals like Summerbreeze in Germany and Triton Festival in Brooklyn, alongside acts such as GWAR, Celldweller, and Clan of Xymox, underscores their relevance within the industrial and gothic metal communities. The band's legacy is further marked by multiple DVD releases documenting their early years and tours, and by endorsements from companies like Schecter Guitar Research, Kustom Amplification, and Jägermeister.
Did You Know?
- The band's cover of 'Send Me An Angel' was personally endorsed by David Sterry of Real Life in 2004.
- Keyboardist MuBo left the band before the North American debut of 'Unsaved' in 2006 but returned in 2009.
- Their song 'Undone' (from their debut album) appears as 'All You Ever Wanted' on the soundtrack for Project Gotham Racing 3.
- The band performed at the Summerbreeze Festival in Dinkelsbühl, Germany on August 20, 2010, alongside GWAR and The 69 Eyes.
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