11 Facts About Tom Shear

Tom Shear is an American musician and music producer, and is the sole member of the electronic act Assemblage 23.

Tom Shear was born on November 12,1971, in State College, Pennsylvania, where he lived until he was about age six.

Tom Shear graduated from Syracuse University in 1994 with a degree in TV and film production.

Tom Shear worked on Assemblage 23 throughout his college years, occasionally sending out demos to little effect.

In 1992, Tom Shear self-released a collection called "Wires", which generated some buzz among minor radio stations and underground magazines, but still little interest from record labels.

Tom Shear kept writing Assemblage 23 songs and sending out demos despite his frustration over the lack of interest among record labels, later crediting the support and encouragement from his early fans for keeping him going.

That same year, Tom Shear's father committed suicide, and the resulting pain and loss is evident in the second album, Failure, released in 2001.

Tom Shear left Gashed Records to sign with Metropolis Records, which re-released Contempt and Failure, and released the third album, Defiance, in 2002, and the fourth, Storm, in 2004.

Tom Shear is producer for the band backandtotheleft, and released their album Obsolete on his own label, 23db, in 2004.

Tom Shear has been known to act as guest vocalist for other musicians.

In 2004, Tom Shear lent his talents to the band The Parallel Project.