Ape Shifter

German-based progressive-stoner rock trio APE SHIFTER will debut on North American shores this fall, featuring the extraordinary lineup of APE SHIFTER leader/guitarist Jeff Aug, legendary bassist Stu Hamm and drummer Jeremy Colson.

Stu Hamm, whose resume includes performing with Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Caifanes, says, “I have known Jeff and his music for years, and Jeremy and I are going to KICK THE SHIT out of this music on the APE SHIFTER tour!”

APE SHIFTER’s second album, Ape Shifter II, was released earlier this year to critical acclaim. Fusing a classic heavy rock sound that arcs in the stoner rock direction with technical musical prowess, APE SHIFTER is dissimilar from any other progressive instrumental band.

“It is instrumental music without sounding like nerd rock,” says Jeremy Colson, who also currently drums for Steve Vai and has worked with Billy Idol and Marty Friedman. “It is punk rock mentality with heavy grooves!!!”

Since releasing their self-titled debut in March 2017, APE SHIFTER has completed several European club tours and has shared bills with Loudness and The Skull, among others. Festival performances have included the main stage at Zytanien, Burg Herzberg Festival, OBOA, Free n Easy, Festival Kult!, and others.

Say Jeff Aug, “…Atomic Bitchwax comes close, but there is no one on the planet doing what APE SHIFTER does.”

Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in nearby Laurel, MD, Jeff Aug relocated to the foothills of the Alps in Southern Germany over 20 years ago. Since then, he has toured with notable musicians such as Allan Holdsworth, Soft Machine, Greg Howe, Alex Skolnick, Carl Verheyen, Johnny A., Albert Lee, and has performed shows with an eclectic mix of artists including Jawbox, Shudder To Think, Joan Jett, Thee Hypnotics, Scorpions, Alice Cooper and Body Count with a previous band. He's worked with John Stabb from Government Issue, has been touring and recording with Anne Clark for the last 15 years and nas been touring as a solo guitarist for more than 25 years. Aug can also be heard on the Atari Teenage Riot album Is This Hyperreal?. Not surprisingly, Aug set the world record for the "most concerts performed in different countries in 24 hours,” not once but twice in 2009 and 2012). He´s been featured on NPR´s show Morning Edition and has had a #1 selling album on iTunes Acoustic Music Charts in the U.S.