George Brigman Photo Gallery
Split 1977--From left to right--George Brigman, guitar--Ed Sellers, bass--Rick Williams, drums--Chuck Westerman, guitar with their equipment and a few friends.
Ed Sellers' bass provided a great bottom for Split's complex sound. This classic pose from 77 only hints at their ability to rock out, later confirmed by the issue of I Can Hear the Ants Dancin first in 82 and later in 95, and now the expanded edition from 2005 with all the Split recordings!
George still is writing and recording at home and playing his SG's quite a bit. He's working on the Rags in Skull CD for fall release this year!
At home in his studio with his favorite albums close by, George is working on his new Rags in Skull CD. His first release of all new material in 20 years!
Hogwash ca. 1976. Left to Right : Rick Williams, drums--Ed Sellers, bass--Ron Simms, vocals--George Brigman--guitars and vocals.\r\n\r\nAfter Jungle Rot was released George formed his first band, Hogwash, naturally named after the Groundhogs LP of the same name. Eventually Ron Simms would leave and the band would continue on as Split, but not until they made some great recordings. See the Jungle Rot CD for three great Hogwash tunes!
George's Highlandtown apartment, dubbed "the Hole" is where he started recording Jungle Rot, one song at a time.\r\nHis first song he ever recorded was in fact Jungle Rot! 32 years later people are still turned on by George's fuzz drenched boogie that he recorded when he was only 18.
This is the cover of the 300 copy cassette edition which was the first release of "I Can Hear the Ants Dancin" in 1982. This was George's first release in 5 years and acquired an international following over the years and was reissued on vinyl by Or in 1995. The current Bona Fide Records CD has an additional 10 cuts which for the first time ever collect all the Split recordings, including the amazing never before released 8 minute jam "And Then Came the Rains"
The 5 song EP Silent Bones was a tribute to George's good friend and bassist , the late Mitchell Myers. It features some amazing bass playing from Mitch who never got a chance to fulfill his great promise. Small quantities of the original EP are available. Please write for more info
Left to right--George, Allan Marcum--bass, Rick Williams drums. This mid 80s lineup lasted for a few years with both Al and Rick leaving and rejoining every so often. Al would help out with vocals as well.
George Brigman released his 1st lp on his own label, named after his fave band, the Groundhogs' Solid LP in 1975. 30 years later the LP is still attracting new fans! Side one is filled with cuts that have become underground garage classics over the years like the title cut, DMT, Don't Bother Me and Schoolgirl. The pressing plant seemed to lack any quality control and apparently even had trouble getting the labels on right!
Here stands the amp responsible for George's guitar burn on Jungle Rot. Photo from inside "the Hole" at the time of the Jungle Rot recordings.
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One more pic from the house party in Dundalk. Once the party got started it got a little too wild to take photos!
Left to Right--George, Ed Sellers, Rick Williams, Chuck Westerman. Thats friend Jack Stitz in the front looking for ants...
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These black and white photos are from around the time of George's 2nd LP--I Can Hear the Ants Dancin
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If you're gonna play a house party, you gotta have a few noisemakers with you!
The chemistry between George and and Split drummer and close friend Rick Williams would continue for years after Split split. Rick would continue to play drums with George in several more lineups of Split throughout the 80s.
Rick Williams' rock solid drumming and Chuck Westerman's rhythm guitar, sometimes dueling with George's, were instrumental in Split's powerful sound.
After they finished recording I Can Hear the Ants Dancin, Split performed the material live in the Summer of 77 in Baltimore.
Split gave a free outdoor concert for their fans and friends. Summer 1977
