Specimen (band)

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Specimen
Specimen
Specimen
Background information
Origin Bristol, England
Genre(s) Goth
Glam Rock
Years active 1980 – 1985
2006 – present
Label(s) Sire
Metropolis Records
Members
Jon Klein
T.bias
Stephan X
Kimba
Tim Huthert
Former members
Ollie Wisdom
Jonny Slut
Kev Mills
Jon Klein
Jonathan Trevisick

Specimen are a British band formed in the 1980s. Their music has been described as being comprised of many different genres of music, including; Glam, Goth, Punk and Post-punk and are widely credited as one of the pioneers of the Gothic movement, both musically and stylistically.

Contents

[edit] Biography

The band formed in Bristol, England during 1980. Their first show was at a street party celebrating the wedding of The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. In 1982, the band relocated to Soho, London, where they would play many shows at the infamous club known as The Batcave. Specimen's vocalist Ollie Wisdom founded and ran the club during 1982-1983. Prior to forming Specimen and opening The Batcave, Ollie was the vocalist for another band known as "The Unwanted". Unlike Specimen, The Unwanted were a traditional '77 / '78 style English garage-core punk band.

Unusual for a keyboardist, Jonny Slut became the face of the band and its most famous member, due largely to his striking image and fashion sense.

While the band were together, they never released a full album, only singles and an E.P., though in 1997 two full-length compilations would be released featuring various Specimen songs.

[edit] Post-Specimen

After the band went its separate ways, guitarist Jon Klein worked with Siouxsie & the Banshees for seven years, before working with Sinéad O'Connor. He was also in the British 1998 movie comedy Married 2 Malcolm in a non-speaking role.

Johnny Slut formed Diskord Datkord with Mark Tinley and Adam Tinley before going on to work with The KLF, Adamski and is now a member of Atomizer. He also founded the Nag Nag Nag club in London, where he is one of the house DJs.

Tim Huthert was a bartender at the Mad Dog in the Fog in San Francisco, CA.

[edit] Specimen today

In 2006 original Specimen guitarist and song writer, Jon Klein, collaborated with two past, latter Specimen members Kimba (bass) and Tim Huthert (drums), along with two new members, Stephan X (guitar) and T.bias (vocals). This collaboration resulted in the band's first full-length album, Electric Ballroom, released by Metropolis Records in the summer of 2007. The album featured collaborations with original Specimen members, Olli Wisdom and Jonny Slut.[1]

[edit] Current members

  • T.bias - Vocals, additional guitar, & keyboards
  • Jon Klein - Guitar, vocals
  • Stephan X - Guitar, Backing Vox
  • Kimba - Bass, Backing Vox
  • Tim Huthert - Drums

[edit] Former members

  • Olli Wisdom - Vocals
  • Kev Mills - Bass (Replaced by 'Kimba' after the band relocated to the US)
  • Jonny Slut - Keyboards
  • Jonathan Trevisick - Drums
  • Chris Bell - Drums

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Compilations

  • Warm Wet Cling - Film Red Velvet Crush (1997)
  • Azoic (1997)

[edit] E.P.

  • Batastrophe (1983)

[edit] Singles

  • "Returning (From A Journey)" / "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (1983) [ London Records ]
  • "Beauty Of Poison" / "Tell Tail" (1983) [ London Records ]
  • "Sharp Teeth" / "Hex" / "Holes" (1985) [ Trust Records ]
  • "Indestructible / "Brainburst" (1986) [ Rampant Records ]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Glam Goth act Specimen returns with come back album on Metropolis

[edit] External links

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