Xorcist is the name of an American musical group whose output has ranged from electro-industrial and ambient.
Background
Peter Stone (a.k.a. DJ/VJ Bat) became interested in electronics and computers at a young age. In his young teens, Stone created and ran BBS software named "Connector" using modified versions of Apple communications software. Stone eventually left high school early to take a job at a software company. As a child he took piano and drum lessons, and later recognized the possibilities in using electronics to create music via artists such as Gary Numan and Yello.
Stone formed Xorcist as a one-man act after leaving his previous band, Belief, circa 1986-7. He stylized the name by dropping the "e" from "exorcist," partially to avoid conflation with a metal band by that name. Stone began by producing and self-releasing demo cassettes, one of which found its way to 21st Circuitry label co-founder, Don Blanchard, leading to a contract with the label. Xorcist's debut album, Damned Souls, was released in 1991; the first release on 21st Circuitry. Having the first release on the label allowed Stone the opportunity to provide assistance to the fledgling company in the guise of business consulting and development of advertising graphics. The album was quickly followed by multiple compilation appearances, including a 1993 cover of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit". In 1994, Xorcist released Phantoms, a collection of unreleased tracks dating back to 1987 which peaked at 22 on the CMJ RPM charts in the US.
Stone founded the Cyberden in 1991, a BBS focused on underground music and culture. Stone built the Cyberden using FirstClass BBS software to provide a platform for fans of goth and industrial music to connect with independent music labels and exchange files. Stone discontinued the Cyberden by 1996 due to financial issues, but transitioned the community to the web via hallucinet.com. Stone also co-founded Bay area goth-industrial club, House of Usher. The club hosted both live and DJ performances, usually split into two rooms, one for goth and darkwave music, and the other focusing on "cyber" and industrial music.
For the 1993 Lollapalooza tour, Stone produced "The CyberPit," an interactive public area in the festival's "Village" where festival attendees could interact with networked computers to consult an interactive festival directory, post messages to the main stage screen, and online chat with other attendees.
Although a solo act, Stone worked with others for live performances including Xavier Haight of Bay area industrial band, Malign, and producer Don Blanchard. By 1997, Xorcist grew to include Evoltwin. In addition to providing some vocals, Evoltwin created the cover art for Soul Reflection and other subsequent releases.
Stone also created two side projects, Xenon and Diode Fetish.
Xorcist went dormant after 2000, but re-emerged in 2017 with a pair of self-released instrumental compositions, followed in 2018 by the full-length album, God. Later that year, Stone release a remix album, Legion, featuring remixes of Xorcist tracks by Scar Tissue, Prospero, and others.
Stone still DJs and VJs under the name DJ/VJ Bat, and maintains the Xorcist.com website to promote his work.
Sound design
Stone's work in sound design has appeared in MTV's Aeon Flux, and his work creating music and sound design in the video games Iron Helix, Bad Mojo and Space Bunnies Must Die.
Discography Studio albums Title Details Notes From The HipReleased: 1990 Label: Unbelievable Music Formats: Cassette Damned SoulsReleased: January 1, 1991 Label: 21st Circuitry Formats: CD album Repossessed/Non-Aggression PactReleased: 1992 Label: GPC Productions Formats: Cassette Limited edition PhantomsReleased: 1994 Label: 21st Circuitry Formats: CD album#22 on CMJ RPM Charts Soul ReflectionReleased: April 29, 1997 Label: 21st Circuitry Formats: CD album NomadReleased: March 30, 1999 Label: Pendragon Records Formats: CD album Insects & Angels: Differences & IndifferencesReleased: September 26, 2000 Label: Metropolis Formats: CD album #30 on CMJ RPM Charts Music for the Harmonic ConvergenceReleased: 2000 Label: MP3.com (no label) Formats: CD-R EnhancedPeter Stone solo project Bad Mojo (Disc 1)Released: May 7, 2017 Label: Self-released (no label) Formats: FLAC Bad Mojo (Disc 2)Released: May 7, 2017 Label: Self-released (no label) Formats: FLAC Soundtrack SeriesReleased: May 7, 2017 Label: Self-released (no label) Formats: FLAC GodReleased: January 1, 2018 Label: CyberDen Formats: CD albumLimited edition (300 copies) ScoresReleased: February 25, 2018 Label: Self-released (no label) Formats: FLACLegion - The Remix AlbumReleased: 2018 Label: No Devotion Records Formats: DigitalBad Mojo SoundtrackReleased: July 10, 2019 Label: Ghost Ramp Records Formats: Vinyl HeavenReleased: Unknown Label: MP3.com (no label) Formats: CD-R Enhanced HellReleased: Unknown Label: MP3.com (no label) Formats: CD-R Enhanced "—" denotes no information worth noting.
Compilation appearances Title Details Notes Torture Tech OverdriveReleased: 1991 Label: If It Moves... Formats: LPSide B, track no. 3: "So Big"
Limited edition (1000 copies) Adventures in Music - Cargo Electro Riot SamplerReleased: 1992 Label: Cargo Music Formats: CD Track no. 4: "The Dance" CCCC - California Cyber Crash CompilationReleased: 1992 Label: COP International Formats: CDTrack no. 4: "Hallucination" For Crying Out Loud: Edition OneReleased: 1992 Label: FCOL Magazine Formats: Cassette CompilationSide B, track no. 1: "Hallucination" track no. 2: "Hatelove" Shut Up Kitty: A Cyber-Based Covers CompilationRelease date: 1993 Label: Re-constriction Records Formats: CDTrack no. 6: "Smells Like Teen Spirit" CD Sound Compilation Vol. 1Released: 1994 Label: IndustrialnatioN Magazine Formats: CD CompilationTrack no. 9: "Xorcist (Bleeding Mix)" Cyber Core CompilationReleased: 1994 Label: COP International Formats: CDTrack no. 14: "U R the 1 (Fux Version)" The Art of BrutalityReleased: 1994 Label: Arts Industria Formats: CDTrack no. 5: "Be With Me" The Disease of Lady MadelineReleased: 1994 Label: Anubis Recordings Formats: CDTrack no. 7: "The Iron Helix" Torture Tech OverdriveReleased: 1994 Label: Cleopatra Formats: CDTrack no. 10: "So Big (Original Un-Edited Mix)" Limited Edition Reissue (1000 copies) 21st Circuitry ShoxReleased: 1996 Label: 21st Circuitry Formats: CDTrack no. 2: "Bad Mojo (Sacrosanct Mix)" The Digital Space Between Vol. 3Released: 1996 Label: Cleopatra Formats: CDTrack no. 12: "UNGDSOB (Bastard Mix)" 21st Circuitry RecordsReleased: 1997 Label: 21st Circuitry Formats: Cassette Side B, track no. 5: "Stains" Digital Wings 1Released: 1997 Label: The Cyberden Formats: CDTrack no. 1: "Bad Mojo (Satyria Mix)" 21st Circuitry Shox 2Released: 1998 Label: 21st Circuitry Formats: CDTrack no. 6: "Bomblast" Abby - The Compilation Part 2Release date: 1998 Label: Höllenfeuer Formats: 2xCDDisc 1, track no. 1: "Scorched Blood" Newer Wave 2.0Released: 1998 Label: 21st Circuitry Formats: CDTrack no. 10: "1999" Resist the CommandReleased: 2000 Label: Dystopian Records Formats: CDTrack no. 3: "GoverNet (Web Edit)" Electro RadiovengeanceReleased: 2003 Label: A.D.S.R. Musicwerks Formats: CDTrack no. 5: "Bitches" Sex, Death & Eyeliner: The SoundtrackReleased: 2005 Label: Dark Future Music Formats: CDTrack no. 1: "Nomad" "—" denotes no information worth noting.
Singles and EPs Title Details Notes Bitches EPReleased: 1993 Label: 21st Circuitry Formats: Vinyl EP/CD EP Scorched BloodRelease date: 1996 Label: 21st Circuitry Formats: CD EP "—" denotes no information worth noting.
References
External links
Official Xorcist and CyberDen website