| Rob Al-Issa | |
|---|---|
 Al-Issa (middle) performing with Electric Wizard in 2005. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth Name | Rob Al-Issa |
| Alias | Rob Wizard |
| Genres | Doom Metal, Occult Rock |
| Instrument(s) | Bass |
| Labels | Rise Above Records |
| Associated acts | Electric Wizard, Crippled Black Phoenix, Se Delan |
Rob Al-Issa is a bassist best known for his tenure with the Dorset doom metal band Electric Wizard and the band's second bassist. Prior to joining the band in 2003 he had worked as a roadie for the band for tours of Europe and the UK. In 2003, sometime after the original rhythm section had left the band, he would take over the bass role alongside new drummer Justin Greaves (Iron Monkey, Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine) and second guitarist Liz Buckingham (13, Sourvein). The newly-formed quartet (Also known as "The Electric Wizard" or "Electric Wizard II") would record the band's fifth album in late 2003, ultimately releasing We Live on 28 June 2004 to positive reviews.
Al-Issa's first live performances with Electric Wizard would be a BBC Radio session on 2 February 2005[1] followed by a handful of marquee shows in England and a headlining appearance at Roadburn Festival. Al-Issa would perform with the band through a tour of the United Kingdom, a tour of Europe and The Boat of Doom tour, their first ever in Australia.[2] Electric Wizard would tour with Grand Magus and Cathedral in 2006 before beginning work on a sixth studio album.
In 2007, the band would start working with producer Liam Watson, famous for working with The White Stripes among other bands. This stemmed from Oborn hearing about the studio and finding out about their vintage equipment that was 100% analog. In November 2007, Electric Wizard released Witchcult Today, recorded entirely using vintage audio equipment from the 1970s and had a sound resembling 70s occult rock. Praised by critics (Notably mainstream publications such as Pitchfork) and selling well, Witchcult Today began a new era for the band, ushering in new fans and inspiring countless similar bands in it's wake. Electric Wizard would tour Japan for the first time as part of Doom Age Festival to support it's release but by sometime in 2008 Al-Issa would leave the band, with Tasos Danazoglou taking over the bass role.
Al-Issa also performed as a live bassist for the likes of Se Delan and Crippled Black Phoenix, the latter with former Wizard bandmate Justin Greaves and from 2017 - 2018.
Discography[]
- Electric Wizard - We Live (2004, Rise Above Records)
- Electric Wizard - Radio 1 Session 1/05 (Live Album) (2005, Self-Released)
- Electric Wizard - Witchcult Today (Studio Album) (2007, Rise Above Records)
External Links[]
References[]
| V·T·E Electric Wizard | |
|---|---|
| Current Members | Jus Oborn • Liz Buckingham • Simon Poole • Haz Wheaton |
| Past and Live-Only Members | Tim Bagshaw • Mark Greening • Rob Al-Issa • Justin Greaves • Shaun Rutter • Tasos Danazoglou • Glenn Charman • Clayton Burgess |
| Studio Albums | Electric Wizard • Come My Fanatics... • Dopethrone • Let Us Prey • We Live • Witchcult Today • Black Masses • Time to Die • Wizard Bloody Wizard |
| Other Releases | Electric Wizard/Our Haunted Kingdom • Chrono.Naut • Supercoven • Radio 1 Session 1/05 • Electric Wizard / Reverend Bizarre • The Processean • Legalise Drugs and Murder • Live Maryland Deathfest 2012 • Lucifer's Satanic Daughter |
| Associated Bands, Artists, Etc. | Ramesses • 11Paranoias • Sourvein • 13 • Iron Monkey • Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine • With The Dead • Serpentine Path • Dead Witches • Hawkwind • Great Coven • Eight Hands For Kali • Sabbah Navahthani • Friends of Hell • Satan's Satyrs • Crippled Black Phoenix • Pre-Electric Wizard 1989-1994 |