Convolutions of the Brain

The one constant since the inception of Donovan’s Brain has been instigator, Ron Sanchez. The Donovan’s Brain universe has expanded to include a star cluster of talent. The current recording group is staffed by Deniz Tek (Radio Birdman) and Bobby Sutliff (The Windbreakers), bassist Tom Stevens (Long Ryders), drummer Ric Parnell (Spinal Tap, Atomic Rooster), and Scott Sutherland (Model Rockets), Kris Wilkinson-Hughes (Cicero Buck) and Matt Piucci (Rain Parade). Over the past 28 years, Donovan’s Brain has been joined in the studio and on stage by many of our friends: Jason Lytle, The Young Fresh Fellows, and members of The Posies, Help Yourself, Man, The Idle Race, Plummet Airlines, and the Nomads. Donovan’s Brain also serve as the Career Records house band, having recorded with Deniz Tek, Angie Pepper, Roy Loney, The Plaintiffs, Penny Ikinger and Richard Booth.

It may seem quiet around here, but at Brain HQ 2016 has been a full on year. New songs have been written for the next album. Much of the office time has been spent managing the release of Deniz Tek’s new album Mean Old Twister. In the Fall Ron Sanchez and Bobby Sutliff met up in Ohio to plan the next Brain moves. A much discussed Donovan’s Brain archive set has been under construction since August. The original plan was to mix the 2000 Terrastock rehearsals with Richard Treece and gather up a few strays. Once all the potential material was cataloged, it became apparent that this was a much bigger project.

Most of the 47 song, three cd set has now been mixed or remixed. The 4 hours of music will include 34 previously unreleased songs. This includes the live in the studio rehearsals with Treece and two more with Deniz Tek. 8 unreleased film soundtrack songs recorded for three film projects are also previously unreleased. 7 rare compilation only tracks have been remixed for the box set. Three album tracks have been remixed. Eclipse and Debris’ Joey’s In The Pouch will appear twice, each featuring a previously unheard Richard Treece guitar track. Still Waiting Still Dreaming aka To One Who Waits has been remixed to include the original vocal track which was omitted from the released version. The cd set will also include an extensive booklet with many previously unseen band photos and complete recording details.

Expect this as yet untitled box set at the end of summer 2017. A new Donovan’s Brain album is scheduled for fall 2018.

Heirloom Varieties is now arriving in shops around the world. The vinyl release is expected on October 23rd. The new album has got radio play in the US and Australia.

Meanwhile Bobby Sutliff and Ron Sanchez have been exchanging new musical ideas. Future plans include an album of new material and another archival release. An album of material recorded with Richard Treece and Dave Walker between 1998 and 2000 will be prepared while work on a new album continues.

Heirloom Varieties is now available at The Career Records Shop. The 14 song CD is shipping now. The 11 song vinyl edition will be in stock on October 23. You can pre-order now. Heirloom Varieties is the ninth full length Donovan’s Brain album and the sixth for Career Records.

Ken Shimamoto has published the first review of the album on his Stash Dauber blog. The new album has also had airplay in Australia and The US.

Richard Treece, longtime Brain associate, passed away on May 26th at his home in London.

Richard joined Donovan’s Brain in 1996 after the collapse of the Brain MK2. Richard and Ken Whaley stepped in to salvage the sessions which became Eclipse And Drebris.

He would also contribute to the next three albums Tiny Crustacean Light Show, The Great Leap Forward and A Defeat Of Echoes.

Work on the follow up to Turned Up Later is now complete. The vinyl version has been sent off to press. Fourteen songs have been recorded with everyone contributing to the songwriting. Matt Piucci will again apprear on with the Brain. Deniz Tek has also contributed gutiar on two songs. Our newest member Kris Wilkinson-Hughes added some very important vocal parts as we were mixing.

You can expect to see the album and CD at the beginning of October.

A limited edition release of the restored 1994 Shambaholic album is now shipping. This is the first of a planned series of releases from the vast archive of unheard Brain matter.

Shambaholic is not a new Donovan’s Brain album. The fact that it is finally being released 20 years to the day after it was completed is purely coincidental. Shambaholic might have been the first Brain album, if the band were not so prolific. In the end the album was broken up into smaller pieces and most of it appeared on various Donovan’s Brain releases.

You can read more about it here.

A split EP with The Nomads is also now available from Career Records.

The Brain are heard performing a new song, Bread Man Burning, and Snow In Miami which was was recorded in 1998 for Tiny Crustacean Light Show but never used.

The Nomads cover the unreleased Donovan’s Brain hot rod instrumental No Cops, Haul Ass.

The 2013 album of new material is titled Turned Up Later. It is released as a 12 song CD and a 13 song extended album.

You can read about the three years making of this new album on the History Page.

A video preview can be seen here.

Work on the follow up has already begun.

The Brain can also be heard on the Dwight Twilley Tribute album Twilley Won’t Mind, released in July 2014. .