THE ILLNESS

The Illness biography
THE ILLNESS was formed in 2008 when guitarist Carlos VILLARREAL started writing songs to play with drummer Chris THALMANN. Long time best friends from Pasadena, the two merged vastly different musical backgrounds: Carlos grew up listening to metal, while Chris had immersed himself in jazz and funk grooves. Guitarist Matthew ZIPKIN and bassist Cyrus WONG-WEISSMAN joined the band later that year. Their partnership had began more than 10 years ago, in the music department at UC Berkeley, and developed mostly within the jazz/funk jam-band genre. Singer Josh VIERS was soon selected from a series of open auditions for his energy and raw talent. Josh brought a lifetime of metal addiction into the group, completing the balance of heavy riffs and cool grooves that defines the dynamic ensemble of THE ILLNESS. Their debut album, "A Monument to Our Gilded Age", was released in June 2011.



The five members of THE ILLNESS are united by their common interest in unique bands like FAITH NO MORE, TOOL, and DEFTONES while bands such as RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, THE MARS VOLTA, MASTODON and OPETH are quoted as influences.



Biography kindly provided by the band and edited by aapatsos