The band in Rich's backyard

Pure Suspension is the result of the sonic explosion of Paul Gorden and the brotherly duo of Brian and Rich Wolski. It all began in 1994 when Brian started writing songs with Rich under the name "Ben Seaver and the Technicolor Pachyderms". Brian was a serious singer-songwriter and Rich mainly just fiddled around on bass to make the songs work. Most of them were colorful outbursts of whatever sounds the two could generate in their parents' basement. The songs were recorded onto a small Vestex 4-track that Rich purchased for $30 at a pawn shop. Brian then hooked up with classmate and drummer Paul Gorden at Edsel Ford High School in Dearborn. Paul had already been on several 7 inches with the band "Children's Ice Cream". They were part of the Space Rock scene that was getting local and international (Belgium) attention around 1995. Soon the three were jamming together regularly, with Rich trying his best to learn how to play bass. This went on for about a years' time before they nailed down the name PURE SUSPENSION and started playing out. The band looked for a 2nd guitarist in hopes to meld with Brian, but that was easier said than done.

At a 3 hour show of original music at a local coffee house, PS met with folk guitarist Dirk Van Dyke. Dirk was an amazingly competent guitar player and was soon thrown into the line up. His knowledge of theory helped the band gain their wall of sound without muddying the mix. The band soon began recording with Howard Glazer at Bleedthrough Sound in Dearborn. Howard, a story all to himself, laid some guitar tracks on the recordings to "round out" the songs. This gave the band an intense wall of sound but unfortunately proved too much for live shows. These recordings were never completed. The lineup also disbanded shortly thereafter. So as a 3-piece once again, Brian started recording demos on his computer using samples and loops. It was kind of a throwback to the days of BSTP with Rich and Paul throwing in blips and dada here and there. Paul had started working with another band at the same time, the "Whoremoans". Rich was impressed with the Whoremoans' punk rock attack but especially with their guitarist Matt Rea.

The band by a window Matt was also a product of the Dearborn public schools. He toured playing sax with concert bands, was the lead guitarist in "Fallout", had been the drummer in a local rock band "The Dendrites", and sat in on guitar with the veteran bands of the area, like "Benny and the Jets". His enthusiastic approach to music is what Rich thought Brian would like best. After discussing the matter amongst the original three, Matt was definitely in. The band recorded with U-Records in Dearborn as part of a compilation with local artists. The Track "I've Heard It Before" was getting airplay on Canadian and college radio. The band then regained its power trio status with Matt leaving. They played weekly acoustic sets to sure up the new/old lineup at Buddy's Pizzeria, a local restaurant where Paul used to work.

From Michigan's Upper Peninsula, they've added Matt Birkenhier on guitar. It took a little while but Matt was able to shake off the "new guy" label. His guitar meshes quite well with the sonic elements of the band. His laid back swirls of melody have been greatly utilized in recent recordings. Matt joined the armed forces but the band hasn't necessarily reverted back to a 3-piece as they still jam together when Matt makes it back to town. In fact, he made an appearance at the last show in December 2011.

Rich has since become a father of 3 and Paul has gone back to school, so time to jam together is limited yet still productive. Brian writes most of the songs nowadays but this hasn't taken away from the creativity of the final sounds. The band is currently working on completing new material.

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