Moss Icon

This is an official page maintained by a friend and band archivist with full permission and help from the group. Any communication to Moss Icon will be forwarded.
Over a period of time during 1986 Jonathan Vance and Tonie Joy discussed the idea of forming a band. Tonie had known since early childhood that this was the path that his life would and must take. Jonathan Vance was the first person he had met who intuitively understood this and who seemed to be on the same page. Jon and Tonie presented the concept to friend Monica DiGialleonardo who played bass. The three agreed and with that, the initial concept of Moss Icon was born. After searching many months for a drummer, Tonie, Jon and Monica settled on Mark Laurence. They were attracted by his loose command of the drum kit which produced a highly primitive style. With Jon's guidance and vision Moss Icon was decided upon as the name for the band, and the group played its first show in the summer of 1987.
Moss Icon recorded their debut 7" in January 1988 and entered the studio on approximately four other occasions: to record the second 7", "Mahpiua Luta," the full-length LP which was not released until the mid-nineties by Vermiform (the first session for this LP was aborted, the second being the keeper), and a couple of years later to record the "Memorial" 7" and material for the split with Silver Bearing.
Most live performances occurred in the Annapolis/Washington D.C. area, as well as Baltimore. While Moss Icon never fully toured, they did play shows in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, North Carolina, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York City.
From the summer of 1987 until disbanding in spring 1991, Moss Icon would play for a span of time, usually less than a year, then disband for a few months or more. This pattern would repeat close to a half a dozen times, mostly due to Jon Vance's traveling abroad and pursuing other interests. During a Moss Icon hiatus in 1989/1990, Alex Badertscher, Jon and Mark started a new band called Breathing Walker with Zak Fusciello and Tim Horner. Eventually Monica and Tonie also joined Breathing Walker for the duration of the project.
Following the disbanding of Breathing Walker, Moss Icon reformed for its last year or so of activity. During this phase, Alex Badertscher joined the other four, playing guitar, adding another dimension which can be heard on the "Memorial"/Silver Bearing session.
After nearly a decade of inactivity, Moss Icon reformed with all original members (except Mark Laurence who was residing overseas) and the welcomed addition of family member Zak Fusciello on drums. Moss Icon played The Charles Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland in the dawn of June 9th, 2001 and the More than Music Festival in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday June 14th, 2001.



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