Down With Me
Released September 1998
This limited 4-song demo was DISOWN’s first release and laid the foundations of what the band was destined to become. Sequencers had not been introduced into their music yet and, as a result, DISOWN hired a live violinist and cellist for “Higher”. Original members included Jason Rohrer (Vocals/Guitars), Chuck Eddy (Lead Guitars), Mark Keith (Bass) and Gerry Lakarosky (Drums). The band would later dissolve due to musical differences and opinion of direction. Rohrer and Lakarosky desired a more “electronic/industrial” approach to writing while Eddy and Keith sought to return to their roots of “metal”. The members finally made the decision to part ways in February of 1999.

The Fallen
Released December 2000
Rohrer spent the next year writing what was to become “Angels and Atheist”. Once again, he approached Lakarosky with a bit of material geared towards an electronic feel and the two re-formed DISOWN in January of 2000. They enlisted 19yo guitarist, Mitch Langford, whose influences ranged from Smashing Pumpkins to Nine Inch Nails. After a few attempts to find a bassist, Jason asked his brother Jesse to act as a stand-in bass player. Jesse would later join the band full time. DISOWN returned to the local scene in September of 2000 but were met with fans increasing demands for tangible music. To appease them, DISOWN released a promotional 6-song disc “The Fallen” as a preview to their upcoming full-length.

Angels and Atheists
Released June 2002
Two pain staking years would go by before DISOWN would be able to release “Angels and Atheists”. During that span of time, Jason would undergo some life shattering changes in personal convictions. To combat his growing sense of depression, he opted to sacrifice his employment and income to focus entirely on DISOWN. He would later change his name to Jae in order to leave everything behind and shed the negative energy surrounding his aura. In the meantime, recording was progressing slowly and finances of the album were exceeding DISOWN’s limited budget. The band rushed to complete the album for a combined sum of $5000 and were never completely happy with its outcome. “Angels and Atheists” was released in June of 2002.

Requiem Of One
Released March 2003
Jae continues to weave meaningful symbolism into music with the release of “Requiem of One”. Claiming to be an expansion of an ongoing subliminal portrait and a message that began with “Angels and Atheists” and will span through several albums, DISOWN’s second full-length is nothing short of another puzzle piece of an enigmatic work in progress. Though it has been less than a year since the bands first successful release, much has happened. Lifetime friend and drummer, Gerry Lakarosky, made the difficult decision to relinquish his position within DISOWN and step down from the drums. He is succeeded by ex-Set To Burn drummer, Scott Kaczmarek. Industry reps have taken notice of DISOWN’s unique approach to music. The seeds have been planted…DISOWNation has begun.

IUMA (old link – no longer works)
IUMA (updated link)
DISOWN’s newest mp3s off of their upcoming CD “Requiem of One”.

MP3.com (old link – no longer works)
Mp3s off of Disown’s “Angels and Atheists” CD.

mPULSE (old link – no longer works)
A few more mp3’s. Support the Nation…DISOWNation.

(Business: contact DISOWN for booking or information)
darkmedia@disown.cc

(Fanmail: contacts us! We’d love to hear from you!)
Jae Rohrer

Mitch Langford

Jesse Rohrer

Scott Kaczmarek

JAE ROHRER
Vocals/Guitars/Keyboards

DESCRIPTION
The creative mind and driving force behind DISOWN. With vocals so morose and a style so intriguing, most are captivated by his presence the moment he steps on stage. A complicated and enigmatic individual, Jae’s ability to front the band seems to not only come naturally but is unparalleled and often awe-inspiring.

INFLUENCES
Jae’s influences not only spawn from music but from life experiences as well as art, poetry, society and philosophy in a world both seen and unseen. He accredits his musical upbringing to bands like Razed In Black, Stabbing Westward, Björk and Depeche Mode.

HISTORY
At the age of 15, Jae began to feel he had exhausted all mediums of art and began searching for new forms and modes of expression. This led him to music and an entirely new level of consciousness. Unwilling to imitate other’s techniques and ideas, Jae refused lessons in fear of corrupting his creative process and original style of writing. He opted the ways of self taught and personal discovery.

He spent the next four years mastering the art of guitar, piano and drums and soon after formed his first band, Tempest. A year later he would leave Tempest and join up with a newly forming Akron alternative band known as The Fifth Wheel. It was there that Jae would experience his first taste of performing before a large audience.

Jae would eventually break from the Fifth Wheel in order to front his own band. Desiring to communicate and express more to the audience, he left The Fifth Wheel in 1996 and formed his own group known then as Sift. It was soon changed due to the fact that another band had shared the same name. The band performed their first live show under the assumed name Mary Lies Bleeding. Afterwards, feeling the name bore no meaning, Jae would later settle on DISOWN and would thus begin to create and mold the image into what it has come to symbolize today.

THOUGHTS ON DISOWN
“DISOWN has always been a symbolic representation of myself and how I’ve felt towards a world that conforms to normality and stereotypical gender labels. DISOWN is an expression of “free thought” and the unwillingness to abide by what is considered to be the popular opinion among the social norm. It is the feeling of castration…of being casted out by a world that judges one based purely on perception rather than from within. It is my requiem to all whose ears it may fall upon.”

MITCH LANGFORD
Guitars/Sequencer

DESCRIPTION
With a background in synthesizers and guitars, Mitch was an asset waiting to be found. With influences ranging from new wave and techno to industrial and electronic rock, he was considered to be the perfect match to complete the line up. Though slightly more timid than the other members, Mitch is known for his blunt truths and willingness to speak his mind.

INFLUENCES
Mitch’s musical influences are varied and incredibly diverse. His passion for music and admiration for songwriting allow him to draw inspiration from almost anything. Among his favorites are Billy Corgan, VAST, Nine Inch Nails, and David Bowie. In addition to music, Mitch is also interested in film, photography, and art.

HISTORY
Mitch’s interest in music became apparent at an early stage in life. At age 3, he can be seen in family photos banging on drums or holding a toy guitar while mimicking the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Van Halen. Although not serious at the time, his interest in music followed him throughout childhood. By age 10, Mitch had a collection of various musical instruments, as well as a variety of tapes, records and CDs.

It wasn’t until the age of 11 that Langford would become passionate about playing guitar. Like many others before, the rise of Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Smashing Pumpkins had a profound impact on his musical direction. He began taking lessons and excelled very quickly. This eventually led Mitch to tackle everything from rock to classical guitar.

However, a trip to Berkley College of Music in Boston during the Fall of ’97 would forever open his eyes to how creatively stifling over-mathematically analyzing music can become. In light of this, the trip had sparked a much more serious interest in recording and the production process. Mitch began recording volumes of 4-track recordings using guitar, bass, drum machine and keyboards.

Soon after, Mitch hooked up with DISOWN after the not-so-brief break up of DISOWN v1.0. Jae and Gerry were looking to form a new band with a vastly different direction than the previous version was going. Mitch was asked by Gerry to try out on guitar, and quickly picked up on the vibe and direction the music was going. His knowledge of keyboards, sequencing and MIDI would thus help in the shaping of DISOWN’s signature “hybrid” sound.

THOUGHTS ON DISOWN
“All of us at some point in our live have felt used, lost, rejected and overlooked. To me DISOWN represents a family of people who are committed to looking past people’s superficial flaws, and connecting with them on some sort of spiritual or emotional level. If my performance in this band helped make a positive difference in someone’s life, then I’ve done my job. On the other hand, if someone looks at us and immediately labels us out of ignorance based on our musical style and appearance, then I’ve done an even better job – pushing the boundaries and limits of society’s norms.”

JESSE ROHRER
Bass

DESCRIPTION

Pad locks and bondage ties are the first thing that comes to mind when it pertains to DISOWN bassist, Jesse Rohrer. The aggressive style and approach that he brings to support the bottom end is matched only by his animalistic presence on stage as he hovers over his bass like a predator who has just devoured his prey.

“DISOWN is a symbol for individuality. We’re spreading a message through our music and unconfined perspectives of a reality few people chose to see. And that is: Be who you are…regardless of what other’s think of you.”