Free digital single for “Live With Myself” is up here now:

http://chaosandterror.bandcamp.com/

To get it “free” put in “$0″ in the name your price thing. I’ll gladly accept donations too.

More news to come soon.

-Ben

C/A/T is now booking a U.S. Tour with END: the DJ. Called the “END Of LINE” U.S. Tour, this will take place between late July 2010 and August 2010.

Ben Arp, who started C/A/T over a decade ago (early 1999) feels the name of the tour is straight forward. “Well, this tour really is the “end of line” for C/A/T as in 2011 we’ll be converting our name from C/A/T to Chaos And Terror. Also, I always like to tour with labelmates whenever possible. END: the DJ is the newest addition to Crunch Pod and he has the same desire to hit the road and promote music that we do so it seems like a natural fit.”

For End, this will be a great way to get to know another well respected artist that he supports. “I’ve been a fan of C/A/T since discovering Ben’s work online a number of years ago, when I just moved away from a few years I spent in Sacramento, actually! As driven to the music as we both are, I really think this will be a highlight in what already seems a banner year.”

C/A/T has a new album set for release in June 2010. END: the DJ’s new album “Endtrovert” is set for a March 2010 release date.

C/A/T was started in early 1999 by Crunch Pod label head, Ben Arp, as an experimental industrial project. Over the next 10 years C/A/T released four albums and four EPs and has made a number of compilation and guest remix appearances. C/A/T has also been very active as a live act – including a US Tour in 2008 supporting Unter Null and having shared a stage with a diverse range of acts ranging from Haujobb, Terrorfakt, Manufactura, Architect, Hocico, Babyland, Noisex and Caustic to name just a few. From the ashes of 2009, which proved to be one of the most challenging years of Arp’s career, came the “We Are Still Alive” EP which marked the beginning of a new era for C/A/T.

Newly signed with the Crunch Pod music label and part of Komor Kommando live (with Sebastian Komor), END: the DJ is known for his hard hitting club DJ sets in the hard EBM, Rhythmic Noise, Hardstyle, Aggrotech & Industrial Dance genres. Breaking down boundaries in the Electronic music fields on dance floors while promoting the best independent artists is what motivates End to tour each year since 2006. This year, End will be touring for his new mix album “Endtrovert” plus with some of the U.S.’ most acclaimed artists such as Angels On Acid and C/A/T. End will also be both DJ and as Komor Kommando at this year’s Kinetik Festival in Montreal, the largest Industrial music festival in North America.

To receive a rider and information for the “END of LINE” U.S. Tour, please contact C/A/T directly: cat@crunchpod.com

Thank you,

C/A/T & END: the DJ

http://www.myspace.com/cat

http://www.crunchpod.com/cat/

http://www.myspace.com/endthedj

http://www.endthedj.com/

First off, I just did a remix for the new (and free) Bitch Brigade “Pastel Aggressive” remix album that Crunch Pod just released to promote the debut Bitch Brigade album Dendrite. Grab the remix album here (put in $0 as your price to get it free):

Bitch Brigade “Pastel Aggressive” @ Bandcamp

Next, since several have asked – yes, the End: the DJ mix album was postponed due to a rights issue with 4 of the songs on it. End is putting together a new mix right now and we’re shooting for a late March release with “ENDtrovert”. I mention this here instead of the label blog because it’ll become relevant in a moment.

So, here is the plan with C/A/T since several have asked:

• Late Feb. – I release the “Left For Dead” remix single as a digital only single
• Feb – April – I write the new album
• June – new album is released
• July – August: End Of Line tour to support new albums by C/A/T and END: the DJ. We’ll be beginning the booking process for the tour in mid-March but anyone who already knows they want to grab a date on this tour can send an email to me and I’ll get you more info.

I’m also open to any one off or festival offers between now and the tour (and after the tour up through the end of 2010) so PLEASE get in touch if you want to include C/A/T in your event and we’ll make something happen!

Thanks for reading… the next update will be about the “Left For Dead” single’s release.

-Ben

… I finally know where the new album is heading.

It’s the album you could say has been about 3 years in the making.

It’s not going to be pretty.

So. I did an experimental power noise type deal back in early ‘05 called “Disclosure”. It was basically a one-off deal and we did like 50 copies on CD-R and a few years later I set it up to sell it as a download due to demand.

I still have the original up for sale at Crunch Pod Mail Order right now… but in March I’ll be taking it down.

Apparently a new band (formed after my project, no less) is getting really annoyed that my album still exists using the band name “Disclosure”. Considering I have no intentions of releasing with that name, it’s not worth copyrighting the name and going the same way Caustic did a year or so ago to be the “only” Caustic in U.S. So, March 1st, I’ll stop selling the Disclosure release as Disclosure to appease the other band.

I will re-issue it later this year (remastered) as a bonus to, at worst a new EP / at best a new album, under my real name “Ben Arp”. This should make everyone happy, hopefully, and keep that release in print, albeit under a different name. I’ve also decided any tracks not explicitly Captive Six or C/A/T (Chaos And Terror) material will be released under “Ben Arp” as well.

Thanks to everyone who got the Disclosure album – either way back on CDR or more recently on MP3.

I’m also incredibly busy at the moment since I’m compiling a bunch of digital EPs and doing a lot of post-production work. C/A/T album and tour news soon – once I have a chance to organize everything.

-Ben

So, I know it’s already 2010… but the gig at Das Bunker marks the end of the 2009 year for C/A/T.

What is coming is a new remix single for “Left For Dead” (very soon) and then a lead digital only single from the new album in Spring, new album and tour in Summer.

As I said on stage, again, at Das Bunker – that wasn’t the last show. We’re booking a U.S. tour with End: the DJ for this Summer. Even though the tour is currently being promoted as “C/A/T’s final tour” or something like that… it’s merely that, promotions. It’s a technical truth since after this tour we’ll be releasing and booking things under the “Chaos And Terror” name.

Also, somewhere over the course of the year will be the first “Megamix” of unreleased and b-side material. It’s one of those things that will “happen when it happens” as I’m beginning the writing for the next C/A/T album today and am also working on new EPs for Captive Six as well.

We will be gradually converting the name “C/A/T” to “Chaos And Terror” over the coming year or so. Feel free to call the band whichever name you wish – bearing in mind starting in 2011, all official digital files and CD artwork / merch will be released under the name “Chaos And Terror”.

Thanks again for your support in what was easily the roughest year I’ve ever had since I began writing music over 10 years ago.

-Ben Arp

So, some of these are repeats, but I’m still asked them a lot – others are new for 2010.

But here you go:

C/A/T FAQ 2010

1. Where can I buy your music?

- By in large, the most regularly asked question on MySpace still this past year was this one. I’ll break it down, since I do have nearly almost every place you can buy it listed on our profile… but this is a bit more clear:

A. Physical CDs can be bought from:

• Crunch Pod Mail Order – #1 preferred way since I get 100% of the money when you buy here.
• From us at a live gig – #2 preferred way because I get 100% of the money and it helps cover expenses on the road.
• A variety of other distributors like COP Intl (www.copint.com), Amazon.com, Music Non Stop, etc. – we sell to these places at a wholesale rate, so we don’t get nearly as much money as selling to you directly, but it’s important to also support our releases at these shops.
• Buy new from me at Discogs or Amazon.com Marketplace – I sell the CDs at a discount on both shops’ marketplace areas. The username is usually either “crunchpod” or “crunchpodmailorder” – so if you buy from those users, I get something like 90% of the money after listing fees, etc.

B. T-shirts / other merch can be bought from:

• T-shirts direct from us: Crunch Pod Mail Order
• At a live gig – again, your money pays for things like gas / baggage fees, food, etc.

C. Digital files can be bought from:

• Our Bandcamp.com page – http://chaosandterror.bandcamp.com/ – easily the best place to buy our music. I have it priced lower AND you can get out of print and special releases that won’t be available for sale anywhere else. And you get to pick the format.
• All official Crunch Pod releases are also available at Crunch Pod Mail Order
• Also, C/A/T should be on many of the major digital music sites like iTunes, AmazonMP3, eMusic, Rhapsody, Napster, etc. – The “/” throw these sites off sometimes, so if you’re having trouble finding us on, say iTunes, try searching for “C/A/T We Are Still Alive” or another one of our albums and you’ll have better luck.

2. I heard C/A/T is quitting? [insert show] is your last show, I’ll never be able to see the band live again!?!?!?!

Not exactly. 2009 was easily the worst year for C/A/T to play live since I started the band, more or less. No show listed is the “last show” as we’re currently planning a 2010 tour for July/August with END: the DJ which will be officially announced and begin booking *next week*.

I am changing the band’s name to “Chaos And Terror” after the upcoming album is released. So, technically, this summer’s album & tour will be the last thing released solely as “C/A/T” and last tour for “C/A/T”. But, the same band continues on as “Chaos And Terror” – so really, it’s just semantics and a name change – and will make it much easier to find the band on digital distribution sites and in general.

3. I went to see you play and you had different people on stage than your promo pictures from (2006, 2007, 2008, etc.) – what is the deal?

Unfortunately, due to cost, I’m not always able to take the live band I want to take to EVERY show – especially for one-off gigs that aren’t part of a larger tour. This is almost always due to the cost of bringing people out for a gig vs. what we’re being paid OR an availability thing as everyone currently in the live band has other bands they play in or “day jobs” that are demanding as well.

4. I went to see you live and/or saw live pictures and you weren’t ‘dressed up’ – what is the deal?

This question largely stems from the late 2008 photo shoot we did with Destroy Inc. where I was dressed up in a wig and did make-up or whatever. I toyed with this at a few shows and due to the amount I move around on stage it was a disaster. So, that is why – and also that image isn’t where I really see Chaos And Terror going as much – at least for me personally, so there you have it.

I guess I’m just more of a “What You See Is What You Get” kind of guy these days and don’t feel the need to dress up in a costume or whatever just for a live gig.

5. What is up with your side project Captive Six? What is up with your side project Disclosure?

Captive Six: 100% active. I’m finishing a remix for the C/A/T Left For Dead single and already completed a remix for the C/A/T Chaos And Terror megamix. I’ve decided against doing a proper album for C6 at this time and instead plan on releasing a new single or EP every 2-3 months over the course of 2010. The first one should hit in mid to late February. I’ve also started taking bookings for Captive Six as well, so hopefully before the end of the year I’ll have some live dates to announce as well.

Disclosure: 100% dead. I haven’t done any new music for the project after the 2005 release. After learning of some new band called Disclosure, I’ve decided to kill the project completely since I have no interest in battling in some “internet pissing contest” with some punk band so I’m going to reissue the “Full Disclosure” release – remastered – as a bonus with a self-titled release as “Ben Arp” later this year. I’d like to see some alt. punk band called “Ben Arp” try and challenge me there.

6. Can you remix my band or contribute guest vocals to my song?

Yes. However, unless you are on my label or a close friend, I do have to charge for these services starting this year. I have a site up already to address this with it’s own FAQ here:

Limitless Audio Production

While I’d love to be able to take on any and every remix opportunity or guest appearance – my time is also, unfortunately, valuable so a small compensation pushes your project to the top of my inbox so to speak.

7. I heard you have a feud with [insert person / band] – what is up?

Fuck what you heard. There are a few people out there in “music land” that I’ve worked with that I don’t get along with anymore – well, that’s that… I don’t get along with them, wouldn’t work with them again and so on. No “blood feud” at least on my end.

So… there you have it…

Not the “official” flyer – but I couldn’t find one and we’re two weeks out so hopefully this works.

Also, fun facts:

1. We’ll have Eric Gottesman (Everything Goes Cold) on keyboards/bass for this show

2. It’s NOT OUR FINAL SHOW EVER. Yes, I was pissed off about a month ago and said it might be… it’s not. We’re going on tour this summer. But I don’t know if we’ll be playing in California at ALL so PLEASE come to THIS SHOW in 2 WEEKS!

Since my comments in the previous post are either being partially read and/or completely taken incorrectly…

I’m not changing the band name gradually over the next year, solely due to digital networking and media sites having issues with the “/” in the band name. It is *annoying* and something that makes the music harder to find on both legal and “illegal” download sites as well as more mainstream sites as YouTube. I was recently told that there were “no live videos” of the band on YouTube of C/A/T by someone – which is incorrect, they just show up on the third or fourth page of videos after searching “C/A/T” because YouTube appears to omit the “/” and run the search as “C A T”.

So, there you have it. I’ve learned several things over the past two year and a big one is “get your band name out there”. That’s hard to do when “getting my name out there” requires an explanation and me to physically write it out, symbols and all, for random people at a bar/club/whatever to get it.

The major reason(s) behind the name change is to get the music out to the largest group of people out there. I feel this is another step in doing so. By all means still call the band “Cat” if that is what suits you. I’m not pulling some revisionist thing where I’m going to, say, re-release “The Prisoner” under the band name Chaos And Terror.

This is just a minor part of the bigger picture I’ve been planning for the band over the past year already and where I’m constantly working at heading with my music under this name. From the image change, to the name alteration to the upcoming new sound for the music… all part of the bigger picture which will be come clearer over time.

Thanks for reading and sorry for any confusion this whole ordeal has caused.

-Ben

Sorry about being a few days behind on this.

C/A/T is not “ending” in the traditional “I’m stopping the band!” sense.

C/A/T is becoming Chaos And Terror.

FAQ Time

1. “Why the name change?”

Here are a few reasons why…

A. Getting the “/” to show up on the digital distribution and networking sites is a pain in the ass. I typically have to contact at least one place per album release to change us from “Cat” or “C, A, & T” or whatever bizarre things that happen when the system can’t handle the “/” character. The “/” symbol worked in 1998/1999 when I first started, the internet was barely relevant to music and I had no idea I’d still be doing the band in 2010.

B. Calling the band the right thing should be easier since it’s harder to mess up three words. C/A/T is said “cat”, not “C A T” or C slash A slash T. I largely put the “/” in because there was already an artist in the late 90s called Cat – who, ironically, we now get lumped in with when one of the digital sites randomly messes up our album submission.

C. It’s what C/A/T has come to “stand for” for me… it’s never really “meant” anything until the past few years. So. There you have it.

2. “But, I thought you were quitting the band completely??!?!”

No. We are doing a gig at Das Bunker in Los Angeles on January 29th and then I’m taking a 6 month hiatus from live shows* until our tour with End: the DJ in July/Aug. The shows and releases in 2010 will be the final shows and releases where I use the “C/A/T” name. Everything after 2010 will be booked and billed as Chaos And Terror. The entire vocal based backcatalog will be fair game for Chaos And Terror, but I’m either retiring the instrumentals completely or will be including them in my side project, Captive Six’s, live sets.

* – the “6 month hiatus” is pending no “offers I can’t refuse” coming in that would trump a tour date in a city later on.

3. “So… is the band changing members?”

No, not if I can help it. I’ve contacted everyone still involved with C/A/T and everyone would like to stick around. We will be using Eric Gottesman from Everything Goes Cold as a back-up live keyboardist at Das Bunker, but I anticipate a regular three person line-up for the tour in Summer. Hopefully expanding to a four person line-up into 2011. The goal is to have one or two live keyboardists and a live drummer by then to further complement the evolving sound of the band.

4. “So… what does this all mean?”

Very little. I’m going to be continually updating the sound of Chaos And Terror and trying to get the music heard by wider and more diverse audience. You may like it… you may not.