The Mr. T Experience
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Mr. T Experience | |
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 The Mr. T Experience performing live, showing members Dr. Frank (left) and Bobby J (right).
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| Background information | |
| Origin |  Berkeley, California |
| Genre(s) | Punk rock, pop punk |
| Years active | 1985–current |
| Label(s) | Lookout!, Disorder, Rough Trade |
| Associated acts | Bent Nails, Samiam, Plus Ones, The Bomb Bassets |
| Members | |
| Dr. Frank Ted Angel Bobby Jordan Jim "Jym" Ruzicka |
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| Former members | |
| Byron Stamatatos Jon Von Zelowitz Aaron Rubin Alex Laipeneiks Joel Reader Gabe Meline |
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The Mr. T Experience (sometimes abbreviated MTX) is an American punk rock band formed in 1985 in Berkeley, California and currently recording for Lookout! Records. They have released ten full-length albums along with numerous EPs and singles and have toured internationally. Their music is best classified as pop punk and is intentionally playful, comical, and satirical, often dealing with issues of love and relationships. The band's name is taken from actor and television personality Mr. T.
The Mr. T Experience serves mainly as the creative outlet for singer/guitarist "Dr. Frank" Portman, its primary songwriter and sole continuous member throughout multiple lineup changes. The band is closely associated with the Berkeley and greater San Francisco Bay Area punk rock movement of the late 1980s and the 1990s, revolving around the 924 Gilman Street venue and the Lookout! Records label, through which they have released all of their albums since 1990. They are contemporaries of numerous other groups who emerged from this same "scene," including Green Day, Operation Ivy, Rancid, Jawbreaker, The Donnas, Tilt, and NOFX. They also share stylistic similarities with other bands not native to the Bay area but closely associated with this movement, including The Queers, Screeching Weasel, and the Groovie Ghoulies. Over the years the Mr. T Experience has performed, toured, and shared a record label with many of these bands. They also share a heavy Ramones influence, which was more prevalent in the band's early albums but is still evident in their recent work.
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[edit] Band history
[edit] 1985-1989: Formation
Prior to forming The Mr. T Experience, members Frank Portman and Byron Stamatatos had played together in a band called the Bent Nails while in high school in Millbrae, California. The two kept in touch after Portman moved to Berkeley to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where he met Jon Von Zelowitz who was a fellow DJ at the university's radio station KALX. He was also introduced to Alex Laipeneiks, who had been a high school friend of Portman's younger brother. In the summer of 1985 the four formed The Mr. T Experience with Portman on guitar and vocals (under the pseudonym Dr. Frank), Zelowitz on guitar and vocals, Stamatatos on bass, and Laipeneiks on drums.
The band released their first album Everybody's Entitled to Their Own Opinion in July 1986 on local label Disorder Records. They began to build a local following through small tours and airplay on college radio stations and quickly became part of the thriving late-1980s Bay Area punk rock movement centered around the 924 Gilman Street venue. A second album, Night Shift at the Thrill Factory, followed in 1988 through Rough Trade Records. It was around this time that Portman began a tradition of introducing each of the band's songs with the throwaway line "this song is about a girl..." at each of their performances. The EP Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood followed in 1989, after which Stamatatos left the band and was replaced by Aaron Rubin. Rough Trade Records went out of business shortly after releasing the EP.
[edit] 1990-1995: Lineup changes
In 1990 the band signed to the fledgeling local punk label Lookout! Records, which they would remain on throughout the rest of their career. They collected the results of several scattered recording sessions into the album Making Things With Light, which was the first CD album released by the Lookout! label. Milk Milk Lemonade followed in 1992, after which they embarked on their first tour of Europe. While in Spain the group recorded the EP Strum ünd Bang, Live!? Shortly after returning to America Zelowitz left the band, leading to a near-breakup. They attempted a reunion with him a few months later but elected to continue on as a trio, releasing the Gun Crazy EP in 1993. The album Our Bodies Our Selves soon followed and a tour was planned, but Laipeneiks declined to tour and soon left the band. Another near-breakup ensued as Portman considered returning to graduate school and Rubin joined Samiam.
Portman continued writing songs, however, and in 1994 Rubin returned from working with Samiam and recruited drummer Jim "Jym" Ruzicka. The trio recorded the EP ...And the Women Who Love Them, which instilled some creative rejuvenation to the group. Soon, however, Rubin returned to Samiam and Joel Reader joined the band as his replacement.
[edit] 1996-2002: Middle period
The lineup of Portman, Reader, and Ruzicka became the band's most stable lineup since 1988. From this point on the group essentially became Portman's project, as he began a prolific period of songwriting. The trio released an album each year for the next four years: Love is Dead (1996), Revenge is Sweet, and So Are You (1997), Road to Ruin (1998 - a cover of the Ramones' 1978 album of the same name), and Alcatraz (1999). Portman also released a solo album in 1999 entitled Show Business is My Life.
Reader left the band after Alcatraz and joined the Plus Ones. He was replaced by Gabe Meline, who had contributed to the recording of Alcatraz. This lineup recorded the EP The Miracle of Shame in 2000, which also included organ and keyboardist Erik Noyes. Noyes was a semi-official band member who had contributed to Revenge is Sweet, and So Are You and Alcatraz and joined them officially for touring in the summer of 1999, but did not remain with them long. The band toured sporadically until 2002, when Meline left the group.
[edit] 2003-present: Recent activity
The band's lineup once again changed in 2003, with bassist "Bobby J" Jordan replacing Meline. Guitarist Ted Angel also joined, making the band a four-piece again for the first time in ten years. This lineup released the 2004 album Yesterday Rules. Limited touring followed, while Portman continued to perform occasionally as a solo artist and also in The Bomb Bassets.
The Mr. T Experience has been relatively inactive since 2005. Portman has instead focused on his writing career, publishing his first novel, King Dork, in 2006.
[edit] Band members
| (1985 - 1989) Everybody's Entitled to Their Own Opinion Night Shift at the Thrill Factory Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood |
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| (1989 - 1992) Making Things With Light Milk Milk Lemonade Strum ünd Bang, Live!? |
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| (1992 - 1993) Gun Crazy Our Bodies Our Selves |
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| (1993 - 1995) ...And the Women Who Love Them |
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| (1995 - 1999) Love is Dead Revenge is Sweet, and So Are You Road to Ruin Alcatraz |
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| (1999 - 2002) The Miracle of Shame |
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| (2003 - current) Yesterday Rules |
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[edit] Current members
- "Dr. Frank" Portman – vocals, guitar
- Ted Angel – guitar, keyboards
- "Bobby J" Jordan – bass, backing vocals
- Jim "Jym" Ruzicka – drums
[edit] Past members
- Byron Stamatatos - bass (1985 - 1989)
- Jon Von Zelowitz - vocals, guitar (1985 - 1992)
- Alex Laipeneiks - drums (1985 - 1993)
- Aaron Rubin - bass (1989 - 1995)
- Joel Reader - bass (1995 - 1999)
- Gabe Meline - bass (1999 - 2002)
- Erik Noyes - Hammond organ (1999 - 2000) *Noyes had acted as a studio musician with the band for several years, playing piano and organ on Revenge is Sweet, and So Are You, Alcatraz, and The Miracle of Shame. He joined the band officially for touring in the summer of 1999 but did not stay with the group long.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Title | Label | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Everybody's Entitled to Their Own Opinion | Disorder | First album. Reissued by Lookout! in 1990 and 1995. |
| 1988 | Night Shift at the Thrill Factory | Rough Trade | Last album with original bassist Byron Stamatatos. Reissued with bonus tracks by Lookout! Records in 1996. |
| 1990 | Making Things With Light | Lookout! | First album with bassist Aaron Rubin. Reissued with bonus tracks. |
| 1992 | Milk Milk Lemonade | Last album with original guitarist/vocalist Jon Von Zelowitz. | |
| 1993 | Our Bodies Our Selves | First album as a trio. Last album with bassist Aaaron Rubin and drummer Alex Laipeneiks. Reissued with bonus tracks. | |
| 1996 | Love is Dead | First album with bassist Joel Reader and drummer Jim Ruzicka. | |
| 1997 | Revenge is Sweet, and So Are You | ||
| 1998 | Road to Ruin | Clearview | Complete cover of the Ramones' 1978 album Road to Ruin. |
| 1999 | Alcatraz | Lookout! | Last recording with bassist Joel Reader. Also last recording as a trio. |
| 2004 | Yesterday Rules | First recording with guitarist Ted Angel and bassist Bobby Jordan. |
[edit] EPs
| Year | Title | Label | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood | Rough Trade | Last recording with original bassist Byron Stamatatos. Reissued with bonus tracks by Lookout! in 1997. |
| 1992 | Strum ünd Bang, Live!? | Munster | Last release with original guitarist/vocalist Jon Von Zelowitz. |
| 1993 | Gun Crazy | Lookout! | First release as a trio. Songs later re-recorded for Our Bodies Our Selves |
| 1994 | ...And the Women Who Love Them | First recording with drummer Jim Ruzicka. Last recording with bassist Aaron Rubin. Re-released with bonus tracks in 2002. | |
| 2000 | The Miracle of Shame | Only recording with bassist Gabe Meline as an official band member. |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Song | Label | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | "So Long, Sucker" | Lookout! | B-side song is "Zero." Out of print. Both songs re-released on on CD version of Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood. |
| 1990 | "Sex Offender" | Vital | Originally performed by Blondie as "X-Offender." B-side song is "Last Time I Listened to You." Out of print. Both songs re-released on on CD version of Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood. |
| 1991 | "Love American Style" | Lookout! | B-side songs are "Somebody Wants to Love You" & "Spider-Man." Out of print. All songs re-released on on CD version of Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood. |
| 1992 | "Together Tonight" | Top Drawer | Split with Sicko. Re-released in 1998. Also included on Gun Crazy EP. |
| 1994 | "Tapin' Up My Heart" | Lookout! | Single from ...And the Women Who Love Them. B-side songs are "My Stupid Life" & the unlisted non-EP track "How'd the Date End?" All songs were re-released on the special edition CD of the EP. |
| 1995 | "Alternative is Here to Stay" | First recording with bassist Joel Reader. B-side song is "New Girlfriend." CD version includes bonus songs "You Today" & "Alternative is Here to Stay (alternative version)." The first 3 songs were re-released on the special edition CD of ...And the Women Who Love Them. | |
| 1995 | "Semi-OK" | Punk as Duck | Split with Goober Patrol. Also includes "God Bless America." CD version includes bonus live version of "Itching Powder in Sleeping Bags." The song "Semi-OK" was re-released on the special edition CD of ...And the Women Who Love Them. |
| 1997 | "...And I Will Be With You" | Lookout! | Single from Revenge is Sweet, and So Are You. B-side songs are "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" & "You Alone," both non-album tracks. Both were re-released on the special edition CD of ...And the Women Who Love Them. |
| 1999 | "King Dork" | G-Force | Split with Gigantor. Out of print. Song re-released on the special edition CD of ...And the Women Who Love Them. |
[edit] Non-album tracks
| Year | Title | Label | Song(s) | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | The Thing That Ate Floyd | Lookout! | "Boredom Zone" | Song re-released on CD version of Night Shift at the Thrill Factory. |
| 1989 | Every Band Has a Shonen Knife Who Loves Them | Vital | "Flying Jelly Attack" | First recording with bassist Aaron Rubin. Originally performed by Shonen Knife. Song re-released on CD versions of Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood and Making Things With Light. |
| Make the Collector Nerd Sweat | Very Small | "Psycho Girl" | Out of print. Song re-released on CD version of Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood. | |
| The Big One: San Francisco/Los Angeles | Flipside | "Fill in the Blank" | Outtake from Making Things With Light sessions. Song re-released on CD version of Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood. | |
| 1991 | Surprise Your Pig: A Tribute to R.E.M. | Staplegun | "Can't Get There From Here" | Originally performed by R.E.M.. Song re-released on CD version of Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood. |
| 1992 | Blame and Burn | Flush | "God Bless America" | Song re-released on CD version of Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood. Later re-recorded for Our Bodies Our Selves. |
| Can of Pork | "T-Shirt Commercial," "Viva la France" | Last recording with original guitarist/vocalist Jon Von Zelowitz. "T-Shirt Commercial" credited to The Mystery Experience (Zelowitz performing with friends). Both songs re-released on CD version of Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood. | ||
| 1993 | Banana Pad Riot | "Don't Go Away Go Go Girl" | Originally performed by the Banana Splits. Song re-released on CD version of Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood and as a hidden track on Our Bodies Our Selves. | |
| Soda Punx | Top Drawer | "Hello Kitty Menendez" | Last recording with drummer Alex Laipeneiks. Song re-released on CD version of Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood. | |
| 1995 | A Slice of Lemon | Lookout!/Kill Rock Stars | "Unpack Your Adjectives" | Originally performed by Schoolhouse Rocks!. Song re-released on "Special Addition" version of ...And the Women Who Love Them. |
| 1997 | Generations I: A Punk Look at Human Rights | Ark 21 | "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" | Mislabeled as "Ya, Ya, Ya, Ya". Song re-released on "Special Addition" version of ...And the Women Who Love Them. |
| Before You Were Punk | Vagrant | "Crash" | Originally performed by The Primitives. Song re-released on "Special Addition" version of ...And the Women Who Love Them. | |
| More Bounce to the Ounce | Lookout! | "We Are the Future People of Tomorrow," "Whistle Bait" | "Whistle Bait" originally performed by Joe Collins. Both songs re-released on "Special Addition" version of ...And the Women Who Love Them. | |
| The Duran Duran Tribute Album | Mojo | "Is There Something I Should Know?" | Originally performed by Duran Duran. Song re-released on "Special Addition" version of ...And the Women Who Love Them. | |
| 1998 | No Pants | Let's Go | "Sonic Reducer" | Originally performed by the Dead Boys. Recorded live on KSCU. |
| 1999 | Forward til Death | Lookout! | "King Dork" | Outtake from Revenge is Sweet, and So Are You sessions. Also appeared on a split 7" with Gigantor the same year. Alternate mix released on "Special Addition" version of ...And the Women Who Love Them. |
| Short Music for Short People | Fat Wreck Chords | "Told You Once" | Compilation of 101 bands playing 30-second songs. |
[edit] Music in film
Some of the band's music was used in the 1996 movie Glory Daze starring Ben Affleck. The film is set in Santa Cruz, California and features music by many mid-1990s southern California punk rock bands. The Mr. T Experience songs "I Just Wanna Do it With You" and "Even Hitler Had a Girlfriend" are used in the film and appear on its accompanying soundtrack album. Also, during the film's party scene, the main characters as a band perform a cover of The Mr. T Experience song "Now We Are Twenty-One".
