Pylon (band)
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Pylon is a rock band from Athens, Georgia, USA. Their most important work was done between 1979 and 1983. They were highly influential among new wave bands. They are also considered one of the seminal groups of the Athens Indie rock scene where their influence has been pervasive. The band R.E.M. is an especially notable example of a group influenced by Pylon. Pylon is probably best categorized as new wave. Their music includes punk rock elements, but might also be counted as dance music.
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[edit] History
All four members of Pylon were art students at the University of Georgia in Athens. Guitarist Randall Bewley and bass guitarist Michael Lachowski began playing music and attempting to form a band in 1978. They practiced in a studio in downtown Athens which Lachowski rented from Curtis Crowe. Crowe soon joined the band as a drummer. In February 1979 the three held auditions for a singer. Vanessa Briscoe (now Vanessa Briscoe Hay) was chosen.
Pylon played their first live show at a party in March 1979. Members of The B-52's attended Pylon's third show. Fred Schneider and Kate Pierson of the B-52's were particularly supportive and helped promote Pylon's music in New York City. Soon Pylon opened for Gang of Four in New York. Pylon's debut single, "Cool," appeared on DB Records in early 1980, and received many positive critical reviews. From 1980 to 1983 Pylon toured parts of the U.S., Canada, and the UK, playing with groups including the B-52's, Gang of Four, Mission of Burma, Love Tractor, R.E.M., the Talking Heads, and U2. Pylon was the opening act for the first part of U2's first U.S. tour. At that time the members of Pylon were beginning to feel that playing together was becoming less fun and more like a business. They decided to break up the band in 1983.
With some help from the members of R.E.M., Pylon's reputation as one of the great underground bands of the new wave era was solidified in 1987. When Rolling Stone named R.E.M. "America's Best Band" in November 1987, R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry said, "We're not the best rock 'n' roll band in America." Pylon, he said, was the best.
With the encouragement of R.E.M. and others, Pylon reunited in 1989 to open for the final leg of R.E.M.'s "Green" tour. They recorded another LP in 1990, played several more shows including the South by Southwest Festival in 1990 and 1991, and finally broke up again in 1991. Pylon came out of retirement again in 2004. They headlined the first night the Athens music festival, AthFest, in June 2005.
[edit] Members
- Randall Bewley (guitar)
- Michael Lachowski (bass guitar)
- Curtis Crowe (drums)
- Vanessa Briscoe Hay (vocals)
[edit] Discography
- "Cool"/"Dub" single (1979)
- Gyrate LP (1980)
- Pylon !! EP (1980)
- "Crazy"/"M-Train" single (1981)
- "Beep"/"Altitude" single (1982)
- Chomp LP (1983)
- Hits LP (1988)
- Chain LP (1990)
