History
The origin of Heaven's Gateway Drugs is as hazy as the music the band makes. At some point in late 2011 3 friends wrote a handful of songs that would end up being the first HGD EP. A few demos were made and some time passed and eventually the demos found their way into the hands of a local promoter who immediately asked the band to open for the Night Beats who were coming through Fort Wayne in March of 2012. Inspired, the guys found a bass player and begin working on new material for the show. In the audience that night was Ben Carr, an enigmatic - shaman-esque local with a very unique worldview. During the band's set, Ben was overcome by visions and insights into the soul of mankind. He claims that then and there he understood his calling in life and asked the band after the show if he could use the band as platform to spread his message. Over the next few years the band has developed a cult-like following throughout the midwest and beyond playing at clubs and festivals. In 2015 the band announced they would be putting out a full length vinyl record in 2016 with dizzybird records (Heaters, Cool Ghouls, Las Rosas, Gringo Star).
Notable Performances
Over the course of the past few years, Heaven's Gateway Drugs have shared the stage with bands like Flaming Lips, Morgan Delt, Elephant Stone, Night Beats, Beach Fossils, Holy Wave, Mr. Elevator, Diane Coffee, White Reaper, Heaters, Paperhead, Apache Dropout, Electric Citizen, The People's Temple, Mondo Drag, Acid Baby Jesus, The Holydrug Couple and We Are Hex.
Other notable performances include appearances at the inaugural Middle Waves Festival (Fort Wayne), Do Division Fest (Chicago), Secret Friends Fest (Detroit), Milwaukee Psych Fest, Cincinnati Psych Fest, Echo Fest (Detroit), Pinestock 2013 and a tribute to the Velvet Underground at the historic Embassy Theatre.
Releases
Summer 2016 - Rubber Nun on dizzybird records
October 2014 - Apropos on River Water Native Records
April 2013 - You Are Heaven's Gateway Drugs self released
October 2012 - CPF Cassette on Chain Smoking Records