Jason Mendonca - Salem Orchid

Salem Orchid

In 89, Mendonça and Gray teamed up with guitarist Stephen Wood and bassist Dan Temple to form what would be one of many varied line-up configurations of Salem Orchid.

Their efforts culminated in the 1991 recording of the "Sempiternal Suffering" demo. This recording would later catch the attention of Nihil from Cacophonous Records (who would later sign Cradle of Filth) who expressed an interest in signing the band. Word of this reached a former guitarist Jeff Godwin (who had invented the band's moniker) who threatened legal action if Cacophonous signed the band as Salem Orchid. Frightened by the threat of litigation, the record label directed their interest elsewhere.

By 1992, frustrated by the sonic restrictions of bass, drums and guitar but without the skills to employ a broader palette of instrumentation, Mendonça left Salem Orchid. In addition to emerging artistic differences, this split was also motivated by a falling out between Mendonça and drummer Gray when a female singer was introduced to the line-up.