[1] Not conforming to any strict style, Goss has contributed to the hardcore, punk and acid rock scenes throughout the late eighties and nineties.
[4] After his older brother Robert moved to London, Goss would receive tapes in the mail by artists like Joy Division, Bauhaus and The Birthday Party, which only seemed to seal his fate as a career musician.
When Robert returned from London, he began to introduce Goss to live music by taking him to the Pyramid Club and after-hours parties at Save The Robots.
Music played a prominent role in his upbringing, with much of his youth devoted to tape trading, record collecting as well as forming a series of shortly lived bands.
[5] Goss formed his first successful band with his brothers Robert (Bass) and Tommy (Drums) and lifelong friend, Michael Billera (vocals) in 1987.
They found themselves at the heart of the burgeoning industrial noise scene and they signed with Bob Mould’s (Hüsker Dü), label SOL records.
[3] While the Warm Jets only lasted for two years, their short existence in New York had put them on the map, evidenced by the fact that during this time they played on the same bill as bands like The Ramones, Pussy Galore, Circle X, Live Skull and also with Jane’s Addiction on their 1989 Nothing’s Shocking tour.
By the time Goss started the band again, they had been dropped by their label, Another Planet Records, but after adding Curt Steyer on bass and Frank Ferrer (Guns N' Roses, Psychedelic Furs), who was shortly replaced by Tobias Ralph (Lauryn Hill, King Crimson, Tricky) on drums, they were signed to IndieCent Magazine's label Popsmart Records.
[5] Their next release, Gift Of Demise EP,[4] was a stronger collaborative effort between Goss and Souza and featured arguably the band's most famous song Before The Fall.
The 1998 album called Blue Collar, Black Future was engineered by Roy Cicala,(John Lennon) and produced by Genya Ravan.
[4] In their review, All Music said of the album: "Don't expect to get this one in a single spin; Blue Collar, Black Future follows in the footsteps of Lou Reed's dark classic Berlin as another sullen "film for the ear."
The album was recorded at Applehead Studios in Woodstock, New York and was produced by Mike Birnbaum and Chris Bittner (Codeseven, Coheed and Cambria, John Mayer).
Morgan Evans wrote in his review: "The Firing Line is a flowing, living, breathing storyboard illustrating the human process of dealing with loss and embracing every moment of life.
Characters and lyrics jump from the album and paint vivid pictures that evoke everything from Nick Drake to the Rolling Stones, gluing you to the record with an emotional investment in how it all will turn out.
Brian has re-emerged with confidence, showing off his mellow side, and the results are a cinematic and yet very lively poignant series of songs ranging from breathy, resigned piano balladry to country-tinged forays into marijuana country.
[1] The band's first 45 single, East of First/Savior at Night, featured Billy Fica (Television) and Eric Miles Levy (Orgy, Lit ).