It all began in 1989. Jimm Grimm (RIP) and Augustus got together and began jamming with a drum machine. Auggie wrote most of the music and lyrics and Mr. Grimm provided the ripping guitar sounds. The next year the Troll came along and added to this sonic battery. For 26 years, from 1990 to 2016, with many line-up changes and name changes, the band terrorized the Queen City with sonic destruction.  

The Early Years

Bloodstone was formed in 1989 by Augustus and Sonny after the two had met at an S.C.A. fight practice in Christoff's back yard. Sonny wasn't with a band at the time. Ralph was in the Seventh Seal. All that was needed was a drummer. This is where the Troll comes in...... They had tried out a couple of drummers and didn't feel as though they were what they were looking for. They were in Jimmy D's Music when they saw a little yellow scrap of paper on the ad wall that said simply "your drummer awaits" and a number. The shear humor of that little unprofessional note was what lead them to agree that they must call this person. So the Troll was contacted and an audition set up. He got the job. He was the only drummer that had tried out for Bloodstone that could keep up with the band and he was very easy to get along with. Bloodstone played lots of shows in the area of Cincinnati known as Corryville. at such clubs as Sudsy Malone's, Shorty's Underground and Bogart's (for a battle of the bands). It was brought to the band's attention that a funk band from years before had also gone by the name Bloodstone so it was decided to change the spelling to Bludstone. Bludstone was described as "Grunge-metal hardcore" and "political hardcore". The music was highly metal influenced with very socio-political lyrics for the most part. The band called the music "dark metal" but fans of the band described it as "punk"and "hardcore". Bludstone released Cranial Removal Operation in 1990. This recording included: Necronomicon, Crooked Cops, Slence = Death, Addicted to Pornography, Mother of the Damned and D.L.F.

The Ever Changing Line Up/Beginning of the Gojira Years

During the Troll years Chris Lee played guitar in Bludstone for a short while. Sarah Heidler played bass for a brief time also. The Troll was replaced in 1992 by Ken Becker (RIP). Ken went to jail and was replaced by Arie Vandenburg for one show in Bloomington at an anarchist gathering. Sonny left the band and Bill Williams (Captain Destiny) came in on guitar. Ken got out of jail and came back. It was at this time in 1993 that the band changed its name to Gojira. Sarah left the band and Gojira was again a three piece. Ken was replaced by Mark Wilson (Q-Ball) when Ken took another trip to jail (August 1993). In January of 1994 Bill left the band to pursue another project and Mike Stocks joined. Mike recorded, mixed and mastered a six song demo tape. During the Stocks period Sean Nielsen sang with the band for a while. Also during this time Bill played bass and Ralph just sang. Bill left again. For one show in Oxford Gojira was a duo. In 1995 musical differences caused the band to part ways with Mike and for one show Gojira was a duo again.

The First Era of Lucifer

Lucifer (Luke Scott) joined the band. In October 1995, for one show at the Southgate House (Newport, Ky.), Gojira consisted of Ralph on bass and vox, Q-ball on drums, Mike on Gtr. and Lucifer on Gtr. Mike was shortly dropped from the band and Gojira was again a three piece. The band recorded The Elmo Sessions in Nov. and Dec. of 1995. This was mixed and mastered on 4 track by Lucifer. During the Era of Lucifer there were some other musicians who played in Gojira. Sarah Heidler came back on board for a time. While Sarah was with the band guitarist Chip Bramlage also joined, making the band a whopping five-piece. This line-up played shows at Sudsy Malone's, Dag Nastie's and the Norwood VFW hall on April 11, 1998 with Anti Flag. During1998 both Sarah and Chip left and Gojira was a three piece again. In late '98 Brennon Miller joined Gojira for a short while. He played a show each at Topcat's (11Jan99) and Sudsy's (27Apr99). There is video of the Topcat's show. Brennon left the band and the remaining shows in '99 were as a three piece again. In 1999 Gojira went into the Dojo recording Studio to begin setting down on cd tracks of songs the band had been playing for years but had never gotten to record. This was the beginning of the Archive of Anger collection. This release includes Bludstone and Gojira songs written in the period of 1989 thru 1993. Lucifer decided to leave the band and Ralph decided to do a project called the Bludstone-Gojira project. The result was that Q, Ralph and former drummer Ken Becker played as a 2 drummer and bass trio. After a one show at the Mad Frog Ken left again. Luke rejoined for a few shows along with Bill Williams (Captain Destiny). Gojira played Sudsy Malone’s, a couple of basement shows and Never on Sunday. In July 2001 Captain Destiny moved out of town. At the Sudsy’s show and one at Never On Sunday, Ken filled in for Q who had hurt his shoulder. There was one more show at the Mad Frog. Then in late 2001 Gojira recorded tracks for another cd at the Sure Tone studio. Lucifer decided to call it quits again. The tracks for the cd were finished and mixed in early 2002. This was named Lucifer's Last Wail. The French band Godzilla had changed their name to Gojira in like 1999 or 2000 (after the Tri-Star movie made the name more common). They were way bigger so another name was needed.

More Line Up Chaos

There were two times in the 90's when Gojira played as a two piece and since Luke decided to leave the band again, Q and Augustus decided to gig as a two piece again, begining in early 2002. The band's name was changed to Cinerator, a CD, In The Fields, was recorded at Sure Tone, and a few gigs were played. At one of these Rich Wasson filled in for Q-Ball. Near the end of 2003, Alex Tudor joined on Gtr. and the band was a trio again, changing the name to Not Rite because an older band from Denmark or Finland had the name. There were a few gigs as Not Right, then the band's name was changed back to Bludstone. The band did lousy in a band competition, in Aug. 2004, called Cincinnati Rock Star (?). On 8/21/2004 Bludstone recorded a live album. By January 2005, Bludstone was a two piece again. 2005 consisted of a chaotic series of band member changes that included Troll, Luke, Rich, Q-Ball and Alex.

A Newish Era

On January 12, 2006 Bludstone played as a duo (Troll and Auggie) at Top Cat's. Then Lucifer joined again. Bludstone was again a trio but was doing not only regular songs but noise jams as well. On March 25, 2006 they played at the Damage. This was a benefit gig for the Freestore - Foodbank. The next gig was on 6/24/06 at a Books for Prisoners benefit. This was at a church in the Gaslight neighborhood. Then Bludstone played the Art Damage Fund Fest on 9/16/06 at the Mockbee. In 2007 Bludstone played two shows with different line ups both at the Skull Lab. The first was on 3/27 and the players were Auggie, Troll and Larry Ehrenberg. The second was on 9/12 and Bludstone was again a two piece, Auggie and Rich Wasson. There were no gigs in 2008.

A Little Light Returns

In late 2008/early 2009 Augustus began jamming with Lucifer and Troll again. Bludstone played quite a few shows in 2009, including gigs in Dayton and Louisville. Attendance at shows, never really good, began to taper off and Bludstone took a break for most of 2010 except for the reunion show where as many old members as Augustus could get to show up played at Dirty Jack's. Sunny passed away in late November 2010. Bludstone played a memorial show for him, again inviting all old members to join in on 6/3/11. There was one show on 8/1/2011 at Daniel's Pub by a Bludstone consisting of Q-Ball, Lucifer and Augustus.

The Agonizing Crawl to the End

The next show was over two years later on October 21, 2013 at The Rake's End. The line up was Augustus, Troll and Larry. This same line up played a short set at "The Shed" as Stone Komodo on October 24, 2014. Auggie and Troll became a duo again and played a show at the Rake's End on April 23, 2015 on an Art Damage Night. In April of 2016 Bludstone began recording a new album consisting of new material and songs the band had been playing for ages that were yet to be recorded. On July 29, 2016 Bludstone played again at the Rake's End and consisted of Auggie on bass and Charles Erhardt on drums. Troll joined Auggie for two more shows in 2016, both at the Rake's End, one on November 11th and one on December 5th. At that point, Augustus decided to put Bludstone to bed for the time being, due to the fact that hardly anyone was, or has ever been interested in the band, and kicking a dead horse for 26 years was long enough.