The Bliss Machine
The Bliss Machine is a post-punk band originally founded in the dorms at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1991. The band went into hiatus when signature bassist, Graham Stuart left in November 1992. Co-founders Dominic Tassone and Derrick Thompson have re-formed the project in 2021.
The band recorded a live 10-song album Ready to Roll in May of 1992; five original songs have been released online in 2021: Kuwait, Telemate, No Control, That Way and Don't Mess with a Woman.
History
The band played one performance at an invite-only house party in Pilsen on May 29,1992 that was broken-up by the Chicago Police due to noise concerns. The break-up of the band later that year was untimely as The Bliss Machine was scheduled to debut at Phyllis' Musical Inn on November 18, 1992.
Subsequent efforts to recruit a suitable replacement bassist/vocalist were unsuccessful and the project went into an extended hiatus. Co-founder Dominic Tassone launched Planet StarChild an online database of independent music in 1993; the following year he co-founded one of the first Web agency's Streams Online Media Development.
Original Line-up
- Graham Stuart, Bass Guitar & Vocals
- Derrick Thompson, Drums & Backing Vocals
- Dominic Tassone, Guitar & Vocals