Franky, Xavier, Tino and Phil first joined forces in Brussels in late 1990. The name of the band is inspired on the Public Enemy song 'She watch Channel Zero'. Their earliest collaborations resulted in the band's signing to the German label, Shark Records. Their subsequent self-titled debut album hit the stores in early 1992 and critics and fans alike were astonished by the brutality and strength of the recordings. Songs like The Pioneer' and Tales of Worship' soon became anthems to their rapidly growing fanbase in Germany and the Benelux.
The next year brought the release of Channel Zero's sophomore effort, Stigmatized, produced by W. Stach and mixed in Nashville by Vinnie Paul. Things began to come together for Channel Zero as Stigmatized showcased how lead singer Franky's powerful vocal style could complement the explosiveness of the rest of the band. Furthermore, their enthusiasm for the live medium resulted in shows with Biohazard, Obituary, Napalm Death, Life Of Agony and Pro-pain, along with support slots with both Exhorder and M.O.D. in Europe.
The album Unsafe marks a new, sharper and more focused sound with inspired song writing. Produced by Andre Gielen and mixed in New York's River Sound Studio by Michael Barbiero (Metallica, Soundgarden, L7, Guns 'N' Roses), it is Channel Zero's first album to be available in the U.S. The strident confidence of "Heroin", "Dashboard Devils", "Why" and the much reworked "Run W.T.T." (an early Channel Zero classic} are neatly balanced by the more experimental "Suck My Energy" and "Help" in order to produce a varied and original effect. American listeners will also recognize the presence of Billy Milano of M.O.D. (on "Bad To The Bone"} and Richard 23 from Front 242 within the tracks on Unsafe.
Channel Zero, armed with their stunning album Unsafe, took on the world in 1995. It was really the year of Channel Zero's breakthrough : they toured with Megadeth, Danzig, Spudmonsters, Biohazard, ... They were on the bill of most famous European festivals (Torhout/Werchter, Pukkelpop, Bourges,...) They played a headline tour in Australia.
Early 1996 Channel Zero started writing a new album. Recordings were scheduled for the summer, in the famous Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum (NL). The album was engineered and produced by Attie Bauw, a Dutch producer who worked previously with Fight, a soloproject of Rob Halford, the singer of Judas Priest.
Attie Bauw, together with Franky D.S.V.D. & Xavier Carion, mixed last month the final 12 album tracks in his own Bauwhaus studio in Amsterdam. The mastering was completed by Bob Ludwig at the Gateway Mastering in Portland, Maine USA on October 24th.
The band reached a higher level of songwriting and discovered a larger soundspectrum. Hard-hitting, aggressive, angst-ridden, full of attitude, rude and tough are only a few of the adjectives that people use to describe music in the nineties and each definition directly applies to their latest slab Black Fuel. It's an introspective, innovative evolution in Channel Zero's recording history. This is the Channel Zero that neither old fans or new will be able to do without. Every song on the album is a highlight
During spring of 1997 they did with great success a complete European tour with Bodycount and during the summer Channel Zero highlighted again on the major European festivals.
End of August 1997 Channel Zero shocked the world by anouncing the split of the band. A live album was released for the fans to remember the music of one of the greatest metal bands in world history. May it live forever....
