Formed in 1986, Foursphere consisted of the same four members then as today: Randy-Guitar/Vocals; Terry-Drums; Phil-Bass and Barry-The Voice.
Originally concieved and executed as an unspeakable grindcore/death metal foursome, the band toured New England extensively in the late 80's/early 90's playing clubs and outdoor metalfests while perfecting their unique brand of insane, twisting death. The highlight of their journey was one any band would be proud of - a chance to play NYC's infamous CBGB's. "It was incredible", recalls Randy of the experience. "We played the loudest, fastest, most brutal music that place had ever heard."
"A lot of people got hurt that night", offers Terry. "There was blood all over the stage. Barry was growling away, like he always did, then he saw the blood. Man, I don't know what happened to him. It's like he freaked out and turned into some kind of, uh, some kind of, I don't know, man. He freaked."
Apparently Barry started getting violent. He threw down the microphone and dove into the crowd. What happened next is hazy in the performers' minds; what is known, however, is that 11 people left by way of ambulance that evening. 10 spectators and Barry.
"He had some sort of breakdown", Phil states. "I guess the music was getting to him. It was starting to get to all of us."
At the time, Tommy Victor of Prong and Danzig fame was still an unknown working sound at the club. "Hey, you guys are really out there", Tommy said as the band was leaving. "...and you can stay out there. We don't want you back here."
As the band headed for home, they played 3 more shows along the way. Portland, Lewiston, and Belfast, respectively. At each venue, the band was greeted with an enthusiastic crowd, but that soon turned sour after being exposed to Foursphere's supersonic hate. "Yeah, I was one of the unfortunates to attend an early 90's Foursphere performance", recalls "Fast Eddie" Porter of Broken Spork, "It was so utterly horrible that it hurt my face just listening to 'em. Really insanely fast blast beats, searing guitar and that guy screaming those awful things! God, I HATED those guys!"
Returning home, the band decided to take some time off from the music and each other. The boys settled into the Belfast/Morrill area, got day jobs and met the women that still share their lives.
"It's crazy", says Phil, "I used to just think about bad things. I wanted to kill everyone I met. I was really depressed all the time, and so were the rest of the guys. It was the music, man. Not like The Musicman the Broadway play, but the music, man. Heavenly God, heavenly God, I pray those urges never return. My doctor says I was lost inside during those years. But I ask myself, If lost I would be then, and discovered is what I've become, then where was I ever?"
Skip ahead to 1999. The band reformed as a slightly mellower incantation of it's previous self. Drawing from influences like Styx, Patsy Cline and Lionel Ritchie, the fearsome Foursphere foursome play heavy music and have a good time, collecting fans along the way. When asked about the bands new sound, singer Barry says only, "You know we're hot as leather."