Scat Opera

SCAT OPERA were a four piece funk metal band formed in 1987 in London, UK, by Ernie Brennan (vocals), Steve Yates (guitar), Michael Forry (bass) and Mark Diment (drums). They recorded several well-received demos before picking up prestigious support slots with Faith No More in the autumn of 1989. Though comparisons to that band followed, in truth Scat Opera played at greater velocity and with more precise musical definition. The pieces, however, were not entirely in place until they signed a contract with Music For Nations in the spring of 1990. They made their debut a year later with "About Time", recorded at Slaughterhouse Studios and produced by Colin Richardson. Michael Forry left the band and was replaced by Leicester’s REV HEAD John O’Reilly. A UK tour as support to GAYE BYKERS ON ACID ensued, before returning to the studio (this time Windings Studio in Wales) with Richardson for a second set, "Four Gone Confusion", to be released in October 1992. Again the music incorporated elements drawn from funk (particularly apparent in bass player O’Reilly’s slapping technique), jazz and metal. After the band split, John O’Reilly moved back to Leicestershire to co-found DEADLINE with ex-METEORS Austin H. Stones, then FUDGE during the late 1990’s. SCAT OPERA drummer and one of founding members Mark Diment passed away in 2016.