Ugly Gravity was a lite jizz musical act that formed in the wake of Exlis Prime's breakup. After encountering resistance from his previous bandmates, vocalist Jasper Jummmand relocated to Denon and met up with hidsuist Wendel Bhiser. While on Denon, Jummmand was able to slow down his frantic musical pace from the previous band and produce more serious works. Ugly Gravity released an EP and a full length album before parting ways.
The subject matter was more grim than that of Exlis Prime as it struck a chord with many affected by wars and mass genocides. "Chewie" was a song that immortalized the Wookiee hero, an interesting turn-around considering Jummmand's pro-bounty hunter stance with his last band.
History[]
Formation and Take Me Back to Dungeontown (45 ABY-46 ABY)[]
The name of the band is up to debate. Its origins are likely the result of a last minute decision. Bhiser had been quoted as saying that the term "ugly gravity" came from a dream he had some years prior to the band's formation. He noted that he saw actual gravitons and they looked rather ugly to him. Jummmand, on the other hand, had a different story as to the name, believing it was more a result of the actual ugly results of gravity in action, a process not too unlike his move from Exlis Prime to the new band.
Songs for Take Me Back to Dungeontown were written within a few standard weeks. Jummmand had decided to not release a full album, but to give the public a taste of what Ugly Gravity was about. Jummmand's curiosity with attracting fans of Exlis Prime was put to the test when the EP was released in late 45 ABY. Initial reaction to the EP was positive, with the release selling 500 million copies across four regions of the galaxy, an accomplishment rarely seen for an EP. A small tour, that later added planets upon request, traveled from Denon along the Perlemian Trade Route out to the Corporate Sector, before looping along the Triellus Trade Route back to the Corellian Run.
Coruscanti Paradise (47 ABY-48 ABY)[]
After touring to promote their EP, the group temporarily resided in the Hirkenglade Prefecture to write new material for their full length album. Inspired by his time on the planet, Jummmand wrote pieces on Coruscanti history and locations, as well as events during the Galactic Civil War and the Yuuzhan Vong War. Eleven works were compiled into the completed Coruscanti Paradise. The album released in mid 47 ABY to positive reviews. Ugly Gravity released a few singles from the album including "Ghosts of Ghorman", a chilling account of the Ghorman Massacre, and "Chewie" a ballad tribute to the Wookiee Chewbacca. It was both a critical and popular success, selling over 3.6 billion copies.
Dark Side of the Force and breakup (49 ABY and onward)[]
The success of Coruscant Paradise prompted the band to create a second full length album. Back on Denon, Jummmand and Bhiser conjectured the idea of a concept album. Artistically, it would have been Jummmand's most creative work of his career between the two bands. Bhiser also contributed a great deal of post-processing and technical details on the album.
In late 49 ABY, as the band was about to release Dark Side of the Force, Bhiser came down with a debilitating disease, that within a few days had killed him. Jummmand and Nvo were devastated and decided at last minute to hold the album from release. They made no public appearances, only to attend his funeral. It was only after a few months did Jummmand and Nvo agree to release the album in Bhiser's memory, dedicating it to him in the liner notes. Dark Side of the Force was received positively by the public, and the circumstances of Bhiser's death drew additional interest from those not previously familiar with Ugly Gravity. Over the course of a decade from its release, it would sell over 1.3 billion copies.
With Bhiser no longer alive, Jummmand and Nvo were certain that Ugly Gravity could not continue as they wanted it and thus parted ways at the beginning of 50 ABY. The death of Bhiser inevitably sealed the fate of the group. Jummmand and Nvo later spoke that they felt replacing Bhiser would stain the original identity of the band and refused to hire a new member.
Legacy[]
Ugly Gravity was a short-lived group that made a prominent impact on the state of the galaxy during the late 40s ABY. While its success was propelled by the name recognition of Jummmand's former band, Ugly Gravity stood out as one of a handful of acts that were grabbing attention on a galactic scale of issues involving war, genocide, poverty, overpopulation, and speciesm.
While Ugly Gravity would not regroup later in the future, Jummmand did so with his bandmates of Exlis Prime, returning with a short reunion tour attached to the Third Edition tour from 67 ABY to 69 ABY. During the tour, Jummmand recalled working with Bhiser, and as a tribute, sung a handful of material from his days with Ugly Gravity.
Discography[]
- Take Me Back to Dungeontown (45 ABY) - 5x Aurodium
- Coruscanti Paradise (47 ABY) - 3x Platinum
- Dark Side of the Force (49 ABY, released 50 ABY) - 1x Platinum