top of page

 E.P.K. 

BIO

BI logo red black gradient.png
BLIND ILLUSION is a Progressive Thrash Metal Band

from the San Francisco Bay Area 

established in 1978!

blind-illusion-2023-777x437.jpg
The current line up features:
Andy Galeon (DeathAngel) on Drums, Doug Piercy (Anvil Chorus, Heathen) on Guitar, Bassist Tom Gears (Ancient Mariner) and Blind Illusion band leader Mark Biedermann!
 
BLIND ILLUSION's first release featured Mark Biederman, Les Claypool, Larry Lalonde, and Mig Miner on the cult classic album The Sane Asylum.
 

HISTORY

Blind Illusion was formed by-15 year old Mark Biedermann, along with drummer Bret Hern and bassist Les Claypool. The band's earliest sound had been musically rooted as progressive metal, with Biedermann citing as his main inspirations Rush, King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Van Halen and Jethro Tull. However, external input from later musicians, many with ties to the Bay Area thrash scene would add a Thrash Metal direction to the band. In 1983 live recordings traded by fans with songs like "Death Noise", "Darkness", "Kamikaze",  "World That's an Illusion", "Helter Skelter (Beatles)", and "Concerto"  were part of their set list. Blind Illusion had already released 2 demos by 1983. During this period, Blind Illusion played extensively with bands such as Exodus, Testament, Death Angel, Metallica and Possessed playing shows throughout the area through the 80's. Mark Biedermann took over vocal duties in place of former singer Dave White who left the band to join Heathen after the release of Blind Illusion's third demo Trilogy of Terror that was produced by Metallicaʼs guitarist Kirk Hammett. The first demo with Mark Biedermann as vocalist was the Bloodshower  Smash the Crystal demo. 

The band also added second guitarist John Marshall (later of Metal Church) who, in 1987, would be replaced by guitarist Larry LaLonde, formerly of pioneering death metal band Possessed. In the same year, Blind Illusion signed a record deal with Music for Nations on their Under One Flag Record/Combat division, with whom the band recorded their debut record in 1987, The Sane Asylum, which was released in 1988. The album was considered a Thrash Metal classic, featuring tracks such as Vengeance is Mine, Death Noise, Kamakazi, Smash The Crystal, Blood Shower etc.. At the same time Mark Biedermann worked with producer Sandy Pearlman in 1987 contributing rhythm and guitar leads on four songs for Blue Öyster Cult on their Imaginos album along side Joe Satriani and Robbie Krieger from The Doors. Metal Mind Productions re-distributed a limited edition pressing of The Sane Asylum in 2007 as the 1988 Combat Records released version of the album had been long out of print.

 

Mark Biedermann reformed Blind Illusion in 2009 with a new-lineup, releasing Demon Master on July 7, 2010. In December 2013, Biedermann bumped into DRIʼs Bass player and Metal Photographer Harald Oimoen in Berkeley, California. Harald called drummer and long time friend Cire to join. World in Sound Records out of Germany re-mastered and released The Sane Asylum in March 2015 with bonus tracks from"Trilogy of Terror" demo.

After the lukewarm reception to Demon Master. In April 2017 Guitar Legend Doug Piercy who has known Mark since 1982 joined Blind Illusion. Tom Gears replaced Harald O on Bass. After a successful European Tour in the Summer of 2017 Blind Illusion found itself back in rehearsals working on their new EP 2018. In 2018 Blind Illusion embarked on their second European Tour and were featured at the Keep It True Festival in Germany. After the tour Blind Illusion hit the studio with James Boblak mixing/engineering and mastered by Legendary Guru Dave Collins. "2018" EP Produced by Doug Piercy and Blind Illusion.

In 2019 the band scheduled the Slam Asylum 2019 tour of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands with Bestial Invasion. After returning from the tour the band recorded their newest album 'Wrath of the Gods' released October 7, 2023 under Malevolent Entertainment distributed by Hammerheart/Napalm/Nuclear Blast. 

WAIT TILL YOU SEE WHAT WE DO NEXT ...

DISCOGRAPHY

WRATH OF THE GODS (2022) - MALEVOLENT ENTERTAINMENT

THE DEMOS (1980-1986) ULTIMATE ANTHOLOGY VOL. 2 (2023) - CULT METAL CLASSICS

ULTIMATE ANTHOLOGY VOL. 1 (2021) - CULT METAL CLASSICS

LIKEWISE SESSIONS (2019) -

CULT METAL CLASSICS

2018 (2018) - DEATH NOISE 

DEMON MASTER (2010) -

SELF RELEASED

THE SANE ASYLUM (1987) - COMBAT/UNDER ONE FLAG

TRILOGY OF TERROR (1985) -

SELF RELEASED

WOTG album cover for 2website-p-500.jpeg
Blind_Illusion_Front_Cover_CD_3.4_1024x1024_2x-p-500.jpeg

BLIND ILLUSION

"WRATH OF THE GODS"

Available on CD and 3 different vinyl releases including a limited splatter and purple edition! 
Distributed by Hammerheart Records 
NAPALM RECORDS  & NUCLEAR BLAST

BI ALBUM COVER DEMON MASTER.jpeg
BlindIllusionsaneaslylum.jpg

BLIND ILLUSION

"Demon Master"

A softer hard rock/heavy metal sound with this release. It came 22 years after their first album,

The Sane Asylum.

BLIND ILLUSION

"THE SANE ASYLUM"

Debut album originally released in 1988 through

Combat Records. The album features guitarist

Larry LaLonde and bassist Les Claypool

before they went on to work on Primus and was

co-produced by Metallica lead guitarist

Kirk Hammett.

BLIND ILLUSION
"WRATH OF THE GODS"
FULL ALBUM

VIDEO

Blind Illusion - Protomolecule -
Official Video 2022
Blind Illusion - Straight as the Crowbar Flies - Official Video 2021
Blind Illusion - Vengeance is Mine (Live in Belgium at the Negasonic 2018)
BLIND ILLUSION Race With The Wizard Live at The Unholy Sabbath at the DNA Lounge SF CA 1.15.2023
Blind Illusion "Kamikaze" 1/15/23
Blind Illusion @ The Boardwalk Sacramento 1/20/23
Blind Illusion (Full Show) @ Negasonic, Aalst, Belgium (30-04-2018)
Blind Illusion The Sane Asylum at
Keep it True Festival 2018
Blind Illusion HOA Death Noise 1
Merry X-Mas and Gruß vom Krampus from Blind Illusion!

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Blind Illusion(Les Claypool Mike Miner Larry Lalonde Marc Biedermann) remastered DEATH NOISE
BLIND ILLUSION 1979 ROCKERS UNITE

PRESS &
MEDIA

DOCUMENTARIES

Murder In The Front Row: The San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal Story (Official Trailer)
INSIDE METAL: BAY AREA GODFATHERS Official Trailer (MetalRock Films)

INTERVIEWS

Zetro's Toxic Vault - Marc Biedermann: Blind Illusion 1 of 2
Zetro's Toxic Vault - Marc Biedermann: Blind Illusion 2 of 2
Zetro's Toxic Vault - Doug Piercy: Straight Outta S.F. Part 1 of 3
Zetro's Toxic Vault - Doug Piercy: Straight Outta S.F. Part 2 of 3
Interview with Doug Piercy from
BLIND ILLUSION Poisonedrock TV
Blind Illusion's Andy Galeon Interview with Klaus Hellmerich of 3 MINUTES ONLY
bottom of page