Having taken their name from Morpheus, the Greek god of Dreams, the ’90s
band Morphine pioneered a new type of music - “Low Rock” - that had fans
grooving worldwide. Seductive, sultry and intoxicating sounds flowed from their wildly
innovative lineup: a baritone saxophone, a 2-string slide bass and drums. It was their
unprecedented fusion of blues and jazz elements with alt-rock arrangements that gained
them critical acclaim and five studio albums in under a decade’s time.
Morphine burned bright and fast but their flame was snuffed out when front man, Mark
Sandman, passed away suddenly on stage in 1999. From those ashes have risen Vapors of
Morphine and they’re playing with a new fire. Following the internationally acclaimed
documentary, Morphine - Journey of Dreams (2014), this new act fully emerged. A mutual
passion for experimental & exotic music pervades Vapors of Morphine's 2016 debut album,
“A New Low”, while their love for live performances continues to fuel thrilling tours across
Europe, Russia and South America.
Original Morphine members Dana Colley (baritone sax) & Jerome Deupree
(drums) formed Vapors of Morphine with transplanted New Orleans’ blues
guitarist - vocalist, Jeremy Lyons. In 2019, upon Jerome's departure, Boston
area drummer, Tom Arey, joined the band. They continue to seduce audiences with
dreamy soundscapes, applying inventive arrangements to the unique instrumentation of
electric baritone saxophone (evocative of Jimi Hendrix’ guitar), the Sandman-style 2string
slide bass or electric guitar and mad jazz-rock drums.
A typical Vapors of Morphine show encompasses the noire-tinged Beat generation
influences of the Morphine era sound; in one evening, you’d likely hear Morphine originals,
Delta blues, heady African beats and the psychedelic jams that keep their audiences
entranced.
These ethereal soundscapes are an incense offering to Morpheus, the Greek
God of Dreams who was Sandman’s muse: “…we were dreaming, Morpheus
came into our dreams…and we woke up and started this band.” – Mark
Sandman