The Silent League: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• The Flaming Lips
• The Polyphonic Spree
• Grandaddy
• Galaxie 500
• Mazzy Star
• Ben Folds Five
• Broken Social Scene

• George Harrison
• Todd Rundgren

• Hopewell
• Grand Mal
• Mercury Rev

Formed:

Jan 1, 2002 in Brooklyn, NY

Genre:

Rock Music

Decades Active:

2000's

In the late 1990s, New York native Justin Russo imagined forming a pop group fronted with an orchestra. He played keyboards and added backing vocals to his brother Jayson Russo's band, Hopewell. During that time, Russo was also touring as a keyboardist for Mercury Rev, supporting their critically acclaimed Deserter's Songs and All Is Dream albums. The time was right in 2002 when Russo founded The Silent League. Hailing from Brooklyn, the experimental chamberpop ensemble consists of Russo (vocals/piano/guitar), Rich Meyer (bass/vocals), Shannon Fields (guitar/vocals), Phil Williams (drums), Megan Loomis (viola), and Michael Adzich (keyboards). Mercury Rev's Sean "Grasshopper" Mackowiack, Interpol drummer Sam Fogarino and Bill Whitten of Grand Mal joined The Silent League in the studio for the recording of their File13 debut. The majestic storm that is The Orchestra, Sadly, Has Refused was released in spring 2004.

- MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide