Who are the Cyberiam?
Comprised of some of Chicago’s most accomplished musicians, The Cyberiam have come together to create their own unique brand of hard/heavy progressive rock. The Aaron Clift Experiment has described their music as the “heavy, atmospheric prog of bands like Porcupine Tree and Tool with a good melodic and pop sensibility”. Their self-titled debut album and stunning live shows have them rapidly building a rabid following.
The Cyberiam began in 2016 when Keith Semple was looking to form a progressive rock band. At a Dream theater show at the Chicago Theater, he struck up a conversation with keyboardist, Frank Lucas. Semple had crossed paths with Lateralus drummer Tommy Murray on numerous occasions. The trio had already begun writing what would become the band first album when Murray invited Full Moon Fire band mate, Brian Kovacs, to lend his beefy bass skills. With the band fully formed, writing and recording was completed. The Cyberiam's self-titled debut was released in February 2018. That year was filled with producing videos, performing live shows including a set at Progtoberfest IV, and receiving a host of accolades.
Debut Prog Metal Album of the Year - Sonic Perspectives
Best Debut Album - Progrock.com
Best Chicago Prog - Progrock.com
Best Dr. Who Plot - Progrock.com
#6 Heavy Prog & Progressive Metal Album - Dutch Progressive Rock Page
“This is an exciting young band that gives me hope for a new generation of progressive rock. I am thinking very optimistically about prog rock’s future.” ~ ProgRock.com
“This is such a cool band, full of great concepts and brimming with brilliant ideas that all become revealed when listening to the colossal amount [of] musical output integrated into this ten track album” ~ Prog Planet
“Whether you are a fan of Tool and Opeth or like the more classic tones of Dream Theater or Symphony X, not to mention the alternative deeper feel of Porcupine Tree, this album has something for every progressive rock fan out there today.” ~ NEH Records
"Ranging from emotional to purely technical – and everything in between – and featuring a deep variety of styles, feelings, time signatures and sentiments, this is undoubtedly a promising band that will surely achieve international recognition and deserves your attention." ~ Sonic Perspectives
Following the success of 2018, The Cyberiam focused less on their live shows and headed back into the studio in 2019. They finished recording "The Butterfly Effect", an epic 21 minute track that was released as an EP on May 3, 2019. Next up, they edited footage from their full production, live performance at The Copley Theater for DVD release in September/October 2019.
"Forging Nations Live" is a 75 minute Live album recorded at their extremely successful debut performance at ProgStock 2019.
With COVID botching plans for a 2020 release, The second full studio album "Connected" was released in August 2021 and has received worldwide acclaim from endless progressive rock outlets around the globe, as can be read on the news page here. With 9 tracks clocking in at over 72 minutes of music, there is something for everyone who enjoys the prog rock genre. Available to listen to now on all streaming services and available for purchase in the USA from The band wagon USA.
The Cyberiam are:
Brian Kovacs (Bass Guitar, Vocals) is a multi-instrumentalist from the Chicago area. His voice has been heard all around the Chicago area for more than 2 decades - as a radio DJ, voiceover artist, DJ/karaoke host, festival MC, podcaster, and member of Libido Funk Circus. He can also be found around town performing as a solo artist or with The Awecoustics.
Frank Lucas (Keyboards) is a Chicago-based classically trained pianist, composer, and educator. He has been studying piano, synthesis and theory with Dream Theater's Jordan Rudess for 25 years. Frank has performed and recorded with members of well-known acts including Pat Metheny Group, Dixie Dregs, UFO, Journey, Destiny's Child, and War, as well as solo artists Brandi, Jennifer Lopez, and Dee Snider.
Tommy Murray (Drums) is a native Chicagoan who started hitting the skins when he was just 3 years old and has never stopped. He has performed in countless bands, notably Lateralus and Aziola Cry, on and managed Chicago stages for decades. After a failed attempt to join the Blue Man Group (because he was too tall), he turned to acting and landed roles on Chicago PD, Mind Games, and Chicago Fire.
Keith Semple (Vocals, Guitar) is easily the most well known member of the band, having been performing professionally since the ripe old age of 16. The native Irishman has appeared on no less than three talent shows - winning UK's Popstars: The Rivals in 2002 and appearing on American Idol in 2006 and The Voice in 2012. He has toured the world - playing in prestigious venues like London's Royal Albert Hall and O2 Arena and opening for Bon Jovi and Kid Rock.
Thoughts on The Cyberiam
Here is Dan Sackett's review. Lead singer of Lateralus. (The Midwest's biggest Tool tribute band.)
Here's my opinion: You guys have this mix of classic and new prog sound. In the classic sense, the Yes and almost early Floydy keyboard tones. And the vocals are a bit of current Emo rock sounding. Like something that will catch the ear of the 16-25 crowd. And that's a GOOD thing. It sounds very accessible to everyone, not just the deep prog geeks like ourselves.. I would not be suprised if you guys find that you broke the code (as Rush, Yes, Tool, APC, etc had) in your own way.
You may find you breached the divide that lets your style of progressive metal be gobbled up by the masses. Dare to call it Pop/Prog. It is definitely impressive.
KEITH SEMPLE - More details
Keith was born in Northern, Ireland, in the small town of Larne. He started professionally playing music at the early age of 16, where he performed all throughout Europe. He played with a few different bands during that period of time, but always maintained a certain vision for his own music, which he loved to write and perform. Since 16 years old, Keith has played all over the world in small venues through large sold out shows of more than 80,000 seats.
Some f his achievements to date include:
- “Anytime Anywhere” hits #40 on I-tunes Country Album chart Feb 2016
- "Keith Semple is like Keith Urban, only better" Rambling Ray US99.5 Country Chicago
- “Anytime Anywhere” hits #08 on Midwest Billboard Charts March 2016
- Seen on Season 9 of NBC’s Emmy award winning show “The Voice.”
- Getting to the last 20 people out of 50,000 applicants on NBC's "The Voice."
- Ranked #1 on Reverbnation Chicago Rock charts 2016; 10th nationally; 15th Globally
- New EP “Anytime Anywhere” on regular radio play NOW!
- Performed 6 sold out UK arena tours to over 1 million people with
- Young Voices UK since 2003
- Lead singer of Chicago’s busiest touring band 7th heaven from 2006-2013
- Performed 2000+ shows in 10 years in the mid west area
- Performed to over 4 million people since 2006
- Written 3 #1 albums on the Chicago Billboard chart
- Opened for Bon Jovi and Kid rock at Soldier Field
- Performed live on Chicago WGN news, ABC, NBC & FOX
- Performed live on many top Chicago radio stations; The mix 101.9, 103.5 Kiss Fm,
- 102.3xlc, Star 105.5, Star 96.7, US 99.5 Country Chicago and many more
- Performed 5 sold out nights at 02 arena London with SEMPLE 23,000 people a night
- Over 50,000 followers across social media
FRANK LUCAS - More details
Frank Lucas is a Chicago-based keyboardist/composer whose background is in classical piano and voice. His studies were completed at DePaul University in Chicago with both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education / Performance and Educational Administration, respectively. Since 1994, Frank has studied piano, synthesis and theory with Jordan Rudess, the acclaimed Dream Theater keyboardist and former Juilliard child prodigy.
Frank has performed and recorded with the likes of Pat Metheny Group drummer, Paul Wertico, bassist Andy West of the Dixie Dregs, guitarists Paul Chapman (U.F.O.), Neil Zaza and Michael Angelo, Brandi, Journey's Steve Augeri, as well as acclaimed violinists Rachel Barton and Edgar Gabriel (Cirque Du Soleil). In 2006, Frank released a critically acclaimed progressive rock album on the ProgRock Records label entitled LWE -Lucas, White and Edsey with bassist Steve Edsey and drummer Chuck White.
Most recently, Frank has recorded with Fire Garden, Malik Yusef, Jennifer Lopez, Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child, Twista, American Idol's Chris Medina and legendary rockers, War. He recently finished recording keyboard tracks for the upcoming Dee Snider album, "To Hell and Back."
Frank has recently released two albums on the Tonepainter Music Label. The first is a piano jazz trio interpretation of classic Christmas songs entitled "Christmas Is..." (2014) featuring Lucas on piano, Barry Kleiber on bass and Vince Consolo on drums.
February 2015 brought about The Romantic Piano Sensation's release, "A Little Secret" just in time for Valentines Day. Piano sensation Frank Lucas takes your heart and mind on an emotional journey through 11 tracks filled with beautiful melodies, painting pictures of love, passion and romance featuring "The Promise" with Joseph Schwartz on violin and the title track "A Little Secret" featuring vocalist, Jennifer Vera.
TOMMY MURRAY - More details
Tommy started playing drums at Age 3 and got his first real drum kit at age 5. His first performances were at his aunt and uncle's house on Christmas Eve in front of the entire family. His passion for drumming continued through grade school, High School and college performing in various Jazz combos and Orchestra.
He attended University of Iowa and was in the Hawkeye marching band cymbal line and snare drum lines as well as various Jazz combos BUT he was discovering that he longed for being on stage with a band.
He would come home from Iowa City on the weekends to perform in a local hard rock band on the small stages and clubs in Chicago. After being in countless lineups and cover bands...he started a tribute to Tool (ænima and Lateralus)with a friend and continued successfully from 2001 to present day. Tommy also played with the extraordinary instrumental experimental prog rock band Aziola Cry (2006-2014). In 2012, he was invited to audition for Blue Man Group in Las Vegas to be a blue man. Out of 120 male specimens, he was selected out of the remaining four to be bald and blue! After they realized he was too tall of a specimen, he was sent to acting classes in Chicago to further his training. He landed roles on Chicago PD, Mind Games, and Chicago Fire. During this time, he also became an artist Ambassador for Vic Firth, Paiste cymbals, and Tama Drums. Back on drums... He then spent time playing in busy groups in Chicago and hitting all the big stages... Until he found his brothers in The Cyberiam! He has always had a passion for Progressive music and knew that one day he would find the right elements and people to make the music he always wanted.
