Biography
In 1994 Pat Briggs, a former member of glam rock act R.U.Ready who was then running the modest New York City club Don Hill's, launched the industrial goth outfit Psychotica with bassist Tommy Salmorin, a bartender at the same venue, specifically to increase attendance. The lineup quickly expanded to include guitarist Ena Kostabi, once of White Zombie, cellist Enrique Tiru Velez from Nine Ways to Sunday, backing vocalist Reeka, and drummer Buz. Following their debut concert the group landed a contract with the American label and issued its first album in 1996 only weeks after commencing an opening slot on that summer's Lollapalooza tour. By 1997 Salmorin and Buz had left to start Numb while Reeka also departed, leaving the core trio of Briggs, Kostabi, and Velez to recruit synth player Doug DeAngelis, pianist Bette Sussman, bagpipe player Richard Markoff, and koto player Mark Stanley for the recording of the second album, 1998's Espina. Briggs, the band's vocalist and leader, died on December 27, 2022.
Albums
