'Los Minstrels Del Diablo' (LMDD) is the twisted audio-visual live performance 'weapon' created by Pete Coe and Jason McCombs. The two formed the group in 2001 when they realized that a type of show they wished to experience was severely lacking, that of the desire to experience live performance combining audio rhythmic sculpture with machine-gun paced video presentations. After having experienced audio/visual assaults from the likes of Skinny Puppy, Emergency Broadcast Network, and Severed Heads, they knew they had to create something local to Detroit to represent this feverish form of entertainment.

The duo have developed their technique over many years of research and development. The musical style is a blend of electronic and industrial. The visual presentation is not just a backdrop, as the audio is tightly integrated with the video, and both are controlled live. This is made possible by an 'instrument' called VJamm, which is an audio-video sampler program originally developed for Coldcut's live shows. Los Minstrels Del Diablo are beta testers for VJamm 'Pro', having provided input towards development and functionality of the tool.

"Visuals have always been important to me", says Pete. "As a painter and illustrator, I used to do a lot of artwork to music, and performing our music with video is much like painting and sculpting with sights and sounds". The band name is also sometimes misleading, as it's purpose is to be both fun and 'evil' sounding. "The Minstrels of the Devil", laughs Jason, "the name originated from Theatre Bizarre, which is a massive Halloween event that we started to DJ at in 2000. The name was made for its 'Halloween' feel, and it stayed on with us. As for the name being in Spanish, well... it sounded better in Spanish!  Since the groups inception, we've grown into what we are today, performing our own original musical works, and not DJ'ing. We are not DJ's, not anymore".

'LMDD' shows are intense to witness, and while the work is dark, there is occasionally humor as well. "We do a song called 'Theatre Bizarre Screams', which features a lot of our friends, well, screaming" says Pete. "Another song is called 'I Love Stress', which uses video footage taken at a practice for another band that I drum for (A Mayonnaise Graveyard), we made our friends take turns on the drum, and made video clips to 'vjamm' them live, and somehow I ended up yelling how much I love stress... these songs get the crowds laughing, while still dancing along between all the other insanity we throw their way!"

LMDD, have played yearly at Detroit's infamous 'Theatre Bizarre' Halloween event; local events such as the 'Russell Industrial Center - People's Art Festival', the Metro Times Blowout X' at Planet Ant; local pubs such as The Old Miami, The Corktown Tavern, The Belmont,Mephistos, and the Magic Stick; Most recently, they've opened for 'Afrika Bambaataa'' at The Detroit Fringe Festival 2008 at the Music Hall Center for Performing Arts.

Although not originally from the same neighborhoods as kids (Pete grew up in Detroit's east side, a graduate of the Detroit Public School system, while Jason grew up further west in Garden City), they both developed open minds to diversity of cultures, and to diversity in music.