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Dwayne Goettel
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==Life and career== ===Early ventures and Skinny Puppy (1980β1988)=== [[File:KORG MS-20 Kit - 2014 NAMM Show (by Matt Vanacoro).jpg|thumb|left|alt=A photo of the Korg MS-20, Dwayne Goettel's first synthesizer|The [[Korg MS-20]] was Goettel's first synthesizer]] Goettel's interest in making music developed when his family moved from [[High Level, Alberta]], where he played trumpet for his high school band, to [[Edmonton]]. While there, he learned to play [[piano]] and began participating in the local music scene.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Dwayne Goettel, 31, Canadian Rock Artist |journal=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |date=August 26, 1995 |page=C7}}</ref> His first piece of equipment was the [[Korg MS-20]], which he bought for $800. "I didn't even tell my parents. I'm up in my room, my mom walks in and she's like 'What's that!' And I'm sitting there with all these little keys and buttons going 'piszzshew'".<ref name="24hours">{{cite magazine|title=24 Hours in Vancouver|magazine=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|date=February 1991|issue=35|pages=40β46|url=http://litany.net/interviews/altpress91.html|access-date=19 February 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011062850/http://litany.net/interviews/altpress91.html|archive-date=11 October 2016}}</ref> He met Darrin and Stephen Huss in 1982 and formed the band [[Psyche (band)|Psyche]], one of only a handful of electronic acts in Edmonton at the time.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Murray |first1=Tom |title=Psyche Reunites with Long-Lost Electronic Friends and Fans in 9910 Concert (July 18, 2018) |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/music/psyche-reunites-with-long-lost-electronic-friends-and-fans-in-9910-concert |website=[[Edmonton Journal]] |publisher=Postmedia |access-date=17 February 2019}}</ref> He contributed keyboards for the group<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jeffries |first1=David |title=Psyche Biography & History |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/psyche-mn0000369211/biography |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=17 February 2019}}</ref> and joined them for their live debut in December that year.<ref>{{cite web |title=First 3 Psyche Albums Re-Released with Lots of Etra Rare Material - We Talked with Darrin Huss (May 12, 2016) |url=http://www.side-line.com/first-3-psyche-albums-re-released-with-lots-of-extra-rare-material-we-talked-with-darrin-huss/ |website=Side-Line |publisher=Side-Line Music Magazine |access-date=17 February 2019}}</ref> He was also involved with the band Voice,<ref name=ExclaimEveryDog>{{cite web|last1=Wolanski|first1=Coreen|title=Skinny Puppy: Every Dog Has Its Day|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/skinny_puppy-every_dog_has_its_day|website=[[Exclaim!]]|publisher=exclaim.ca|access-date=8 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918154802/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/skinny_puppy-every_dog_has_its_day|archive-date=18 September 2016}}</ref> helping them record their debut [[Extended play|EP]], ''Anno di Voce'',<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Metella |first1=Helen |title=EP Blooms after Year's Germination |journal=[[Edmonton Journal]] |date=May 23, 1985 |page=C1}}</ref> before they changed their name to Office.<ref name="SeeMagazine">{{Cite web|url=http://www.seemagazine.com/Issues/2005/0811/mus7.htm|title=Infectious bite|access-date=17 February 2019|website=[[See Magazine]]|date=August 11, 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223033702/http://www.seemagazine.com/Issues/2005/0811/mus7.htm|archive-date=23 February 2007}}</ref> Goettel formed the band Water with longtime acquaintance Mandy Cousins (also known as Sandy Weir) in 1985. The duo recorded demos in an Edmonton night club called Krieg, but never released their material commercially.<ref name=Cousins>{{cite web |last1=Goldberg |first1=Corey |title=Interview with Mandy Cousins (May 11, 2007) |url=http://www.litany.net/interviews/mandy_interview |website=Litany |publisher=Litany.net |access-date=17 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224211015/http://www.litany.net/interviews/mandy_interview |archive-date=February 24, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Goettel met [[Skinny Puppy]] in 1985 when Water opened for the band as part of their ''[[Bites (album)|Bites]]'' tour.<ref name=Cousins /> He had impressed founder and keyboardist [[cEvin Key]] with his performance<ref name="IDW6:07">{{cite interview |last=Key |first=cEvin |title=cEvin Key, Skinny Puppy β Waveshaper TV Ep.1 β IDOW Archive Series |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk3yUzlyjyg | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/Hk3yUzlyjyg| archive-date=2021-11-18 | url-status=live|publisher=Waveshaper Media |date=January 2012 |work=I Dream of Wires |access-date=17 February 2019|time=6:07}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and the two befriended each other.<ref name="SeeMagazine" /> Key asked him to join Skinny Puppy when it had become apparent that keyboardist [[Bill Leeb]] was uninterested in continuing on with the band.<ref name="Barclay p.516">Barclay et al. (2011): p. 516</ref> Goettel joined in 1986 during the recording of their second album, ''[[Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse]]'', on which he made his first contributions.<ref>{{cite web |last1=DiGravina |first1=Tim |title=Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mind-the-perpetual-intercourse-mw0000200383 |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=17 February 2019}}</ref> Goettel's extensive technical knowledge and experience in production helped to bring variety to Skinny Puppy's music<ref name=Emusician /><ref name="SeeMagazine" /> and steered them away from their [[synth-pop]] roots towards a more uniquely [[Industrial music|industrial]] sound.<ref name=AllMusicBio>{{cite web |last1=Harper |first1=Jim |title=R Dwayne Goettel Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/r-dwayne-goettel-mn0001644451 |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=18 February 2019}}</ref> He quickly immersed himself into the group and its musical approach, and began applying new techniques in the band's implementation of [[Noise in music|noise]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Walczak|first1=RenΓ©|title=Skinny Puppy: It Ain't Dead Yet|magazine=[[Propaganda (magazine)|Propaganda]]|date=1991|issue=17|url=http://www.litany.net/interviews/prop91.html|access-date=17 February 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509174257/http://litany.net/interviews/prop91.html|archive-date=9 May 2013}}</ref> Their sound continued to evolve with 1987's ''[[Cleanse Fold and Manipulate]]'', which marked the beginning of the group's exploration into more experimental territory.<ref name="allmusic6">{{cite web|last1=DiGravina|first1=Tim|title=Skinny Puppy β Cleanse, Fold and Manipulate|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/cleanse-fold-and-manipulate-mw0000651145|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=18 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716194746/https://www.allmusic.com/album/cleanse-fold-and-manipulate-mw0000651145|archive-date=July 16, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Their follow-up a year later, ''[[VIVIsectVI]]'', saw the group touring in support of [[animal rights]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Sheila |title=Band's Protest Doesn't Play with Police |journal=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]] |date=October 26, 1988 |page=F1}}</ref> On stage, Goettel assisted Key as both a keyboardist<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sullivan |first1=Jim |title=A Muzzled Skinny Puppy at Avalon |journal=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=June 10, 1992 |page=44}}</ref> and percussionist<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Craig|first1=MacInnis|title=Skinny Puppy U.S. Tour Going to the Dogs|journal=[[Toronto Star]]|date=November 4, 1988|issue=E9|url=http://litany.net/interviews/110488.html|access-date=18 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509204838/http://litany.net/interviews/110488.html|archive-date=May 9, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> while singer [[Nivek Ogre]] acted out his elaborate theatrics.<ref name=ExclaimEveryDog /> While performing in [[Cincinnati]], an audience member mistook a stuffed dog Ogre was dissecting to be a real animal and alerted the authorities. Two plainclothes officers entered the band's dressing room and arrested Ogre, Key, and tour manager Dan McGee for disorderly conduct.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bastien |first1=Mark |title=Bizarre Band Arrested for Mock Surgery on Dog |journal=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |date=October 27, 1988 |page=D22}}</ref> Goettel, who mistook the officers for fans and had been rolling a [[Joint (cannabis)|joint]] in the corner of the room, was able to leave before the arrests were made.<ref name="WeirdEnergy">{{cite journal |title=Weird Energy: An Interview with cEvin Key |journal=Sonic Envelope |publisher=Litany|date=1996 |url=https://www.waste.org/~skumm/weird.html |access-date=19 February 2019}}</ref> ===Growing tensions and side projects (1989β1992)=== In 1989, Skinny Puppy released the album ''[[Rabies (Skinny Puppy album)|Rabies]]'' which featured [[Ministry (band)|Ministry]] frontman [[Al Jourgensen]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=DiGravina |first1=Tim |title=Rabies - Skinny Puppy Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/rabies-mw0000654322 |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=19 February 2019}}</ref> The album was a commercial success for the group<ref name=ExclaimEveryDog /> but had received a mixed reception from fans.<ref name="Thompson (2000)">Thompson (2000): p. 624</ref> Goettel had initially been happy with the album, saying that he enjoyed working with Jourgensen and that it was his favorite Puppy album to date.<ref name="DRG1990">{{cite web|title=Interview with Dwayne Goettel, 1990|url=http://litany.net/interviews/dwayne90.html|publisher=Litany |date=1990 |access-date=19 February 2019}}</ref> "We all like it, and I can see the worry in people's eyes, but it doesn't worry us. We did it, and we like it, and I'm not worried about doing another just like it, you know?"<ref name="DRG1990" /> He thought it was natural for Skinny Puppy to team up with Jourgensen and make an album, and believed it was the best option at the time.<ref name=PeterDay>{{cite web|last1=Day|first1=Peter|title=Dwayne Goettel Interview: WMXM 88.9 Milwaukee, October 1990|url=http://litany.net/interviews/103190.html|access-date=14 May 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305090117/http://www.litany.net/interviews/103190.html|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref> He later changed his position, telling ''[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]'' in 1991 that while some of the material on ''Rabies'' was good, the completed product was "less within the Skinny Puppy vision", a sentiment his bandmates agreed with.<ref name="24hours" /> He told Peter Day of [[WMXM]] 88.9 that ''Rabies'' was simply the result of a crossroads of ideas: <blockquote> Almost in a way it allowed us to go back and re-emphasize where it is we're coming from in the first place ... I mean, at the time the way things were going, Ogre was exploring a lot of things and wanted to go out and do things and at the same time, Kevin and myself were doing other projects. It seemed natural, it seemed like the thing that was required at that time ... Skinny Puppy fans were writing us saying, 'What's happened to you guys you guys aren't gonna go all hard core on us now.' Obviously were not going to do a Ministry trip exactly. What good is it if everybody is listening to hardcore guitars right now. Skinny Puppy obviously is going to flirt with it, but that's Al's trip, so he can take it and go wherever that's supposed to go.<ref name=PeterDay /></blockquote> Conflict arose within the band, with Goettel and Key often siding against Ogre, who they felt had lost interest in working with Skinny Puppy and wanted a solo career.<ref name="AllBio">{{cite web|last1=Ankeny|first1=Jason|title=Skinny Puppy: Biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/skinny-puppy-mn0000750970/biography|website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=19 February 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312231137/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/skinny-puppy-mn0000750970/biography|archive-date=12 March 2016}}</ref> Following the production, Goettel and Key took a brief hiatus from the group and moved to [[Toronto]] to work on other projects.<ref name=Gilmore>{{cite news|last1=Gilmore|first1=Steven|title=The Peril's of Puppy|url=http://litany.net/interviews/ipso89.htm|work=Ipso Facto Magazine|issue=7|date=1989|access-date=19 February 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009115925/http://litany.net/interviews/ipso89.htm|archive-date=9 October 2016}}</ref> The duo formed [[Hilt (band)|Hilt]] with Key's longtime associate Al Nelson and released the album ''Call the Ambulance Before I Hurt Myself'' in 1990.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Raggett |first1=Ned |title=Hilt - Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hilt-mn0000574940/biography |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=19 February 2019}}</ref> Goettel said he preferred the atmosphere when recording with Hilt to that of Skinny Puppy, believing it to be more enjoyable experience.<ref name="Convulsion1991">{{cite journal|title=Interview with Key and Goettel |url=https://www.waste.org/~skumm/convulsion.html |journal=Convulsion |publisher=Waste |date= April 1991|access-date=19 February 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202204649/http://waste.org/~skumm/convulsion.html |archive-date=2 December 2010}}</ref> Another project, [[Doubting Thomas (band)|Doubting Thomas]], served to showcase the material the duo had written for Skinny Puppy but was considered "too mellow" to make the cut.<ref name=Gilmore /> Goettel also helped with Key and Bill Leeb's project called [[Cyberaktif]], which he said was his least favorite of the side projects.<ref name="AltHilt">{{cite magazine |last1=Woods |first1=Karen |title=Hilt Intermission |magazine=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]] |date=1990 |issue=33 |url=http://litany.net/interviews/aphilt.html |access-date=31 January 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011062907/http://litany.net/interviews/aphilt.html |archive-date=11 October 2016 }}</ref> Pleased with the work he was doing, Goettel was unsure if Skinny Puppy would ever return from the fallout of ''Rabies''. "Just the fact that there was so much satisfaction coming from outside Skinny Puppy led to that feeling of 'The End'".<ref name="24hours" /> However, the duo returned to Vancouver and reunited with Ogre at [[Mushroom Studios]] to produce 1990's ''[[Too Dark Park]]''.<ref name="Mushroom">{{cite journal |last1=Marchand |first1=Francois |title=Five Landmark Recordings From Mushroom/Hipposonic |journal=[[The Vancouver Sun]] |date=March 23, 2013 |page=58}}</ref> A year later, the group were recording their final album for [[Nettwerk Records]], ''[[Last Rights (album)|Last Rights]]''. The production was "tense and unhealthy" with the band working in shifts; Goettel and Key would use the studio by day while Ogre came in at night under the supervision of producer [[Dave "Rave" Ogilvie]].<ref name=Reed274>Reed (2013): p. 274</ref> Goettel and Key had access to new digital editing equipment which allowed them to spend more time on post-production than on previous records. For the track "Download", Goettel spent two months collecting and composing an array of sounds to be used for the song, and with the assistance of Anthony Valcic, edited them together during a 14 hour long session.<ref name="bside1">{{cite journal|last1=Garcia|first1=Sandra|title=The Guiltman Cometh|journal=B Side|date=October 1992|pages=38β43, 54|url=http://litany.net/interviews/bside92.html|access-date=May 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509214435/http://litany.net/interviews/bside92.html|archive-date=May 9, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> That same year, Goettel returned with Key and [[Legendary Pink Dots]] singer [[Edward Ka-Spel]] for the release of [[The Tear Garden]]'s ''[[The Last Man to Fly]]'',<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Muretich |first1=James |title=The Tear Garden: The Last Man to Fly (Nettwerk-Capitol) |journal=[[Calgary Herald]] |date=June 14, 1992 |page=C5}}</ref> having joined them previously for 1987's ''[[Tired Eyes Slowly Burning]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carruthers |first1=Sean |title=Tired Eyes Slowly Burning - The Tear Garden |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/tired-eyes-slowly-burning-mw0000194614 |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=31 January 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011132929/http://www.allmusic.com/album/tired-eyes-slowly-burning-mw0000194614 |archive-date=11 October 2016 }}</ref> ===''The Process'' and final years (1993β1995)=== Their contract with Nettwerk complete, the band signed to [[Rick Rubin]]'s [[American Recordings (record label)|American Recordings]] and moved to [[Los Angeles]] to begin recording their next album, ''[[The Process (Skinny Puppy album)|The Process]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Small Faces |journal=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 30, 1994 |page=71}}</ref><ref name="AllBio" /> Rather than work in shifts as they had in the past, the band decided to record the album together,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Maltezos |first1=Nicholas |title=Skinny Puppy, "The Process" (American Recordings; Running Time: 43:13 11 Tracks) |journal=[[The Record (New Jersey)|The Record]] |date=July 19, 1996 |page=11}}</ref> an idea that was pushed by Rubin.<ref name=Reed275>Reed (2013): p. 275</ref> The production was frequently stalled due to fires and floods, as well as by the [[Northridge Earthquake]].<ref name="McCaughey96">{{cite magazine|last1=McCaughey|first1=Brian F.|title=Skinny Puppy: A Difficult Process|magazine=[[RIP Magazine]]|date=1996|url=http://litany.net/interviews/rip2.htm|access-date=21 October 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309102511/http://www.litany.net/interviews/rip2.htm|archive-date=9 March 2017}}</ref> Band infighting arose once more and was exacerbated by drug problems, including Goettel's increasing reliance on heroin,<ref name=Reed276>Reed (2013): p. 276</ref> a drug he once swore to never use.<ref name="Mondo" /> Concerned with the ineffectiveness of American's producers in getting Ogre to write and sing, Goettel joined Key during band meetings to demand that Rave be brought in to assist.<ref name="WeirdEnergy" /> Tensions were fueled further by the fact that when Ogre did write, he preferred to work with Key's demos instead of Goettel's.<ref name=Terrorizer>{{cite journal |title=Through the Keyhole: Interview with cEvin Key |journal=[[Terrorizer (magazine)|Terrorizer]] |date=December 2001 |issue=95 |url=http://litany.net/interviews/terror-key.html |access-date=30 January 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308032744/http://www.litany.net/interviews/terror-key.html |archive-date=8 March 2016 }}</ref> Amid the chaos, Goettel found time to work on his more [[techno]] driven solo work, which he made under the pseudonym aDuck.<ref name="Interface" /> To release his work, he and his friend [[Phil Western]] created the independent record label [[Subconscious Communications]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gourley |first1=Bob |title=cEvin KEY Interview From Halloween 1997 Focusing on the Download Project (1997) |url=https://www.chaoscontrol.com/download-cevin-key-1997/ |website=Chaos Control |access-date=31 January 2019}}</ref> Together, they released the ''aDuck/Philth'' split [[twelve-inch single]] in 1993. Limited to 200 copies, the single featured the aDuck song "Power" on one side, and a song from Western (who used the name Philth) called "My Heart is Being Touched By Christ" on the other. Another aDuck song, "Phenethylamine Backwash", was released later in the year on a techno compilation compiled by Bill Leeb and Michael Balch.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kern |first1=Jay |title=Brap...The Skinny Puppy Discography: Other Projects |url=http://www.prongs.org/brap/other.html |website=Prongs |publisher=Mythos Press |access-date=23 February 2019}}</ref> That same year, Goettel was credited as a keyboardist on [[Sister Machine Gun]]'s debut ''[[Sins of the Flesh]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jeffries |first1=Vincent |title=Sister Machine Gun - Sins of the Flesh Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sins-of-the-flesh-mw0000179747/credits |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=23 February 2019}}</ref> In 1995, he helped Key establish the band [[Download (band)|Download]] as a side project to Skinny Puppy. Their first album, titled ''[[Furnace (Download album)|Furnace]]'', was released following Goettel's death.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bush |first1=John |title=Download - Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/download-mn0000201857/biography |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=23 February 2019}}</ref> Ogre quit Skinny Puppy in June 1995, prompting Rubin to halt funding for the album.<ref name="Reed277">Reed (2013): p. 277</ref> Goettel and Key returned to Vancouver with the master tapes in hand, intending to complete the album there.<ref name="AllBio" /> Following Goettel's death in August, Rubin allotted funds so that Key, with the help of Rave, could see to the completion of the album.<ref name="Reed277" />
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