Damien Moyal

Damien Moyal (born September 25, 1976) is a Dutch-American vocalist, musician and graphic designer.[1][2][3][4] Originally from Amstelveen, Netherlands, he grew up in Miami, Florida (and later Gainesville, Florida) where he notably fronted such hardcore and metalcore bands as Shai Hulud, Morning Again, As Friends Rust, Culture and Bird of Ill Omen.[3][5][6][7] Moyal has been based in Ann Arbor, Michigan since 2006 and is the founding member of the eponymously named post-punk band Damien Done [4][8][9]

Damien Moyal
Moyal posing for As Friends Rust in 2001
Background information
Birth nameDamien Zev Moyal
Also known as
  • Damien Decline
  • Damien Done
  • Sev Burner
Born (1976-09-25) September 25, 1976
Amstelveen, Netherlands
OriginMiami, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • musician
  • songwriter
  • graphic designer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1992–present
Labels
Associated acts

Background

Moyal's first band was U.S. Decline. During his time in the band they never recorded but did play shows. He soon after moved on to short stints in Insist (in mid to late 1992, which included a demo tape), Reach and HandOverFist (both in 1993). In 1994 he joined Culture, who had previously recorded a demo tape and were looking for a vocalist.[10] The band landed a release contract with Conquer the World Records and immediately started to record material for what would become the ground breaking success Born of You. Not long after the release of the LP, conflicts between Moyal and John Wylie led to his leaving of the band. He then went on to front in the very first line-up of Shai Hulud, recording their original demo, landing the record deal with Revelation Records. However, before the band got to record any further material, he was asked to leave the band.

By late 1995, Wylie had also left Culture and was forming his new band, Morning Again (also with other ex-Culture members). Moyal was asked to join in hopes of reconciliation. This was the inspiration for the song "Turning Over" from their debut The Cleanest War. Moyal also participated on the band's sophomore release, a self-titled 7" vinyl released on Intention Records.[11] Morning Again gained international popularity and became the first American band signed to Belgian record label Good Life Recordings; the record label released a compilation of the band's first two releases as Hand of Hope.[11] During this time, he also joined up with Crestfallen's reincarnation as Bird of Ill Omen.[6] After this he joined the band Wayside, who quickly changed its name to As Friends Rust (named after lyrics from a Bird of Ill Omen song).

After being kicked out of Morning Again, he rejoined Culture, with which he would remain until their breakup in 1998. Using his connections with Good Life Recordings, he focused the attention to Culture who gained popularity in Europe during the next two years. Steve Looker from Morning Again wanted desperately to get As Friends Rust back together, and so a new line up was formed. This became Moyal's sole band during the next two years until they went under a second hiatus.

Bridgeburne R was then formed as a 1980s punk band, until As Friends Rust got back together. With a new line-up of AFR musicians, the band lasted two more years but Damien quit right before their final release on Equal Vision Records. Damien immediately started witting solo under his pseudonym Damien Done.[12] In 2003 he was featured on the Pandabite song “Painkiller” which was a never officially released. He was also featured on albums by Loyal Frisby and Grey Goose. His last band effort was with Best Wishes in 2006 before he moved to Michigan.

In 2008, As Friends Rust reunited for one week of shows (one in Florida, and 6 in Europe) to much fanfare.

In 2011, Moyal announced that new As Friends Rust songs were being written,[13] and also formed a new hardcore project with former Culture founder Rich Thurston called On Bodies.

Art history

Damien Moyal is also a graphic artist, having done artwork for many of his past bands. Some of his released work include the artwork for The Fists of Time, Heteronome and Love Thongs, as well as logos for a multitude of bands he was in including Bird of Ill Omen's early logos and shirt designs, with a multitude of Culture shirt designs and unreleased artwork. Many of the unreleased material was to be included in a book to be pressed on Good Life Recordings in the late 1990s, but by 2000 had fallen through, as Moyal was displeased with the chosen content (short stories, drawings and lyrics).

References
  1. "The Underground Sounds of America: Damien Done". Kerrang!. July 31, 2018. Archived from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  2. Yoe, Adam (February 16, 2018). "Damien Done "Roof Access" Exclusive Video Premiere". CVLT Nation. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  3. Ramirez, Carlos (June 29, 2016). "Interview: Damien Moyal (Culture, Shai Hulud, As Friends Rust, Morning Again, On Bodies, Damien Done)". No Echo. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  4. Scott, Frank (April 14, 2014). "A' Design Award and Competition Interview with Damien Moyal". A Design Award. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  5. Kamiński, Karol (January 27, 2019). "Damien Moyal Discusses As Friends Rust Reunion". Idioteq. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  6. Julien, Alexandre (January 8, 2008). "Bird of Ill Omen & Dead Mens' Theory Official Biography". Abridged Pause Blog. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  7. Walker, Matt (2016). Gainesville Punk: A History of Bands & Music. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-62619-767-1.
  8. Ramirez, Carlos (August 25, 2017). "Damien Done (As Friends Rust, Culture, Morning Again, Shai Hulud) Drops New Video | Features". No Echo. Archived from the original on September 1, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  9. Kamiński, Karol (August 16, 2016). ""I Don't Feel Here" An Interview With Damien Done". Idioteq. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  10. Julien, Alexandre (January 9, 2008). "Culture". Abridged Pause Blog. Archived from the original on January 16, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  11. Julien, Alexandre (June 28, 2014). "Intention Records Interview". Abridged Pause Blog. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  12. Ogg, Bart (March 15, 2005). "Interview with Damien Done". Hardcore Music. Archived from the original on January 1, 2008. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  13. Yancey, Bryna (August 20, 2011). "As Friends Rust Recording". Punk News. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
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