Idiot Flesh
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| Idiot Flesh | |
|---|---|
Promotional Photo |
|
| Origin | Oakland, California |
| Country | United States |
| Years active | 1985–1998 |
| Genres | Art Rock Experimental Music Theatre Performance Art |
| Labels | Vaccination Records |
| Members | None (Disbanded 1998) |
| Past members | Gene Jun Wes Anderson Dan Rathbun Nils Frykdahl Chuck Squier |
Idiot Flesh was a band formed in Oakland, CA in 1985 under the name Acid Rain with the demo album "We Were All Very Worried" which was released on tape only in 1987. They changed their name to Idiot flesh prior to the release of their first album.
Known to tour the US in a converted city bus with Rathbun as the driver/mechanic, with the windshield destination banner of "HELL." Besides their "rock against rock" attitude, they were also known to defy classification with marching band routines, performing puppet shows, and playing household items as instruments (in tune).
Idiot Flesh disbanded in 1998 leaving their final album unfinished (there has been some recent talk of completing it). The rumor was that when the band was offered a record contract from a label, that it would disband before selling out.
Contents |
[edit] Members
===CoreDesign/Graphics)
- Chuck Squier (1985 through 1994: Drums, Cover art)
[edit] Notes on Core Members
- Frykdahl, Rathbun, and Anderson were all members of the "Charming Hostess Big Band".
- Frykdahl and Rathbun went on to form Sleepytime Gorilla Museum with Carla Kihlstedt (with whom they had worked in Charming Hostess), Moe! Staiano, and David Shamrock.
- Frykdahl is also a core member of the duet (recently quartet) Faun Fables with Dawn McCarthy.
- Jun later formed the jam band BARGOOMA!!. As of Spring 2006 he is performing with Sun and Moon Ensemble
- Anderson went on to work with Les Claypool, Cirque du Soleil, Casino Royale and Kehoe Nation. He was also in Schloss with Michael Thorn, and Michael Mellender (currently in Sleepytime Gorilla Museum).
- Frykdahl and Jun both studied with composer Andrew Imbrie at The University of California, Berkeley [1].
[edit] Filthy Rotten Excuse Chickens
Filthy Rotten Excuse Chickens was a name given to additional stage performers at live Idiot Flesh performances:[1] "a motley bunch that enhances the Idiot Flesh experience with a variety of acrobatics, dancing and pantomime"[1], who went by the names:
- The Minotaurs of Baal
- Beefra The Cook
- Helpy The Hamburger Bee
- Mr. Punch
- Hatcha & Datcha The Siamese Twins
- Ming Tsao: Professor of Black Math
- Uro Butoh
- El Evil
- Ward C. Picnic
- The Queen of Oakland
- Mumble
[edit] Other Players & Contributors
- Penny Allman (Fancy: Photography; The Nothing Show: Voices)
- Mantra Ben Y'akova (Fancy: Vocals; The Nothing Show: Choir, Chorus)
- Erik Carter (Fancy: Guitar)
- Angela B. Coon (Fancy: Vocals)
- Katherine Copenhaver (Teen Devil Worshipper: Photography. Also: Band Photo at top of page.)
- Paul Dal Porto (Fancy: Horn, Assistant Engineer, Sitar)
- Jindra Dolansky (Fancy: Saxophone)
- Jewlia Eisenberg (The Nothing Show: Choir, Chorus)
- Matt Embrie (Fancy: Synthesizer, Piano)
- Per Frykdahl (Tales of Instant Knowledge and Sure Death, Teen Devil Worshipper, Fancy& The Nothing Show: Cover Art)
- Jab (Fancy: Trumpet)
- Peter Josheff (Tales of Instant Knowledge and Sure Death: Clarinet)
- Kris Langan (The Nothing Show: Choir, Chorus)
- Rance Mannion (The Nothing Show: Percussion; Tales of Instant Knowledge and Sure Death: Engineer)
- Lorrieann Murray (Fancy: Design, Photography)
- Daniel Roth (Tales of Instant Knowledge and Sure Death: Piano, Saxophone, Drums, Metal Percussion)
- Mark Stichman (Tales of Instant Knowledge and Sure Death: Producer, Engineer; Fancy: Assistant Engineer)
- Danny Tunick (Tales of Instant Knowledge and Sure Death: Chimes, Glockenspiel)
- William Winant (Tales of Instant Knowledge and Sure Death: Glockenspiel, Marimba)
- Tom Yoder (The Nothing Show: Tin Whistle)
[edit] Discography
- (1990) Tales of Instant Knowledge and Sure Death
- (1994) The Nothing Show
- (1995) Teen Devil/Twitch (4 Song EP)
- (1997) Fancy (Nov. 11)
The Nothing Show is available from Sleepytime Gorilla Museum's website store (as is an Idiot Flesh T-Shirt). Other recordings are out of print. Especially rare is the metal jewel case sold with the album "Fancy."
[edit] External links
- Idiot Flesh at All Music Guide
- BARGOOMA!! web site - featuring Eugene Horace Jun
- Sleepytime Gorilla Museum official web site
- Faun Fables official web site
- Let the Dog Sing and Monkey Two Idiot Flesh songs from their final unfinished album (Previously available only on Vaccination Records compilations).
- Entire Idiot Flesh Discography every Idiot Flesh song, including the Acid Rain We Were All Very Worried demos, live material, etc.
- "Idiot Song" music video - short film from 1997.
