Particle is an American band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 2000. The original members of the band were Dave Simmons (guitar), Steve Molitz(keyboard), Eric Gould, bass and Darren Pujalet (drums). Simmons passed away shortly after the band was formed due to sudden illness. Soon after, Charlie Hitchcock was added to the band as guitarist. The group, along with Sound Tribe Sector 9 and Lotus, was the first to combine rock, jazz and electronica in the context of livetronica. This subgenre of jam band movement saw live bands mix the structures of DJ-produced sequenced digital music into a more traditional liveband setting. The band’s repertoire was primarily instrumental music before 2006. They made a name and gained a loyal fan base. The group was known as Particle People. They performed 140 shows per year to large audiences, sometimes to great success. This group was able to sell out venues like the Bowery Ballroom in New York City through word-of-mouth advertising rather than advertising before finally releasing Launchpad, their highly anticipated debut album. They worked closely with Tom Rothrock as producer. The group toured in April and May 2005 with Mickey Hart, a former Grateful Dead drummer. Many Deadheads were not familiar with Particle’s electronic-based approach. The band’s bassist Phil Lesh (also from the Grateful Dead) was there. Launchpad was followed by the EP Launchpad Remixes. This album features tracks remixed and arranged by Sugar Daddy and Groove Armada. [14] The band toured Europe in 2005 for the first-time. The band fired Hitchcock in the aftermath of their performance on the Xingolati Cruise, late 2005. Hitchcock’s departure from the group was an issue for months. The band’s website stated that it was mutually decided. Hitchcock however, disagreed strongly and made it public by saying that he was fired from the band and was not able to overcome the “hired-hand” stigma. He had only joined the band for six performances. Scott Metzger and Ben Combe were the vocalists and guitarists who replaced Hitchcock. Their February 2006 performances were recorded and filmed. The album Transformations: Live for the People was released in July 2006. The album featured guest appearances from Blackalicious, Robby of The Doors, Joe Satriani, DJ Logic and guitarist Joe Satriani. It showcased the band’s explorations in vocal-based music, as well as incorporating more rock and hip-hop influences. Scott Metzger was forced to leave Particle in July 2006 due to a family crisis that required his continued attention. Ben Combe, who had been working as a Biotech graduate at Particle from October 2007, announced his resignation. PUJA was a side project that Combe and Darren Pujalet, of Particle, started in October 2007. It included Melvin Seals from The Jerry Garcia Band, Cristian Basso from Leo Nocentelli, and Little Hercules. Molitz was also a member of the supergroup Agents of Mayhem in 2008. Since 2008, Particle has featured Josh Clark from Tea Leaf Green, Michael Kang from The String Cheese Incident and Dan Lebowitz, Animal Liberation Orchestra’s Dan Lebowitz, Lucas Bingham, Free Band Radio’s Pete Wall (sax), as well as ex-members of Particle Charlie Hitchcock and Ben Combe. Wikipedia
