Shimmy Disc

Shimmy Disc was an influential New York City based record label founded in 1987 by Mark Kramer. Before it was sold to the Knitting Factory, it was responsible for providing a mass audience for acts including Bongwater, Daniel Johnston, Fly Ashtray, Galaxie 500, King Missile, Boredoms, Ruins, Ween, Gwar, The Semibeings, When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water and Uncle Wiggly. The label also released compilations albums such as "Rutles Highway Revisited (A Tribute To The Rutles)", 1990, which featured various artists from the label, and also introduced new artist like Paleface.

In 1992, Australian alternative rock band Tlot Tlot tried to get signed to Shimmy Disc, but were rejected. The phone call from the Shimmy Disc office was included as a B-side to their 1992 single "Old Mac".

Shimmy Disc Video Compilation V.1

Shimmy Disc Video Compilation V.1 was the first official video release to feature Gwar, this compilation included several other bands on the Shimmy Disc label.

The Gwar portion at the end opens with a video for Gwar Theme. It is a different recording from the Hell-O version, and has Oderus in the costume with the top of his head and hair, but no face mask. Also seen are original Gwar Woman Lisa Harrelson (a brunette), and Pookie the Dead Dog. You can also see Don Drakulich as Techno Destructo.

After that are some even older clips. There is some 8 mm footage of an earlier lineup (no Joey Slutman, but with Cornelius Carnage)). They are walking over a hill in the snow waving their weapons. The costumes are mostly the same as in Gwar Must Be Destroyed, mostly crude fur and bones outfits with helmets or headgear or some kind, except for Cornelius (who wore the costume that Beefcake would later make famous) and Balsac who pretty much his same style even back then. From there it goes into a news clip from a Richmond station (where the anchor mistakenly calls the band "gore") where the band are running around in the winter on the streets yelling and screaming.

From that they go to a TV studio and throw a newsman threw the desk then beat him up. Dave can be clearly seen yelling into the camera. He then holds up a bloody head and smears it into the weather map, and Cornelius breaks through the wall.

Following that is more 8 mm footage of the band eating various body parts for dinner and Dave drooling all over himself. In the background can be seen a big neon sign that says "SIN" (as can be seen in one of the comics in Mind Control Monthly #2).

From there it goes to the second video, for a demo recording of Time For Death that can be found on Let There Be Gwar. This is from the historic Earl's Court show, and features some really odd variations in costumes and props. It was a rare outdoors show, and filmed in front of a large building with the Gwar logo on it. The guitar players are Balsac, Cornelius Carnage again, Tim Harriss (who would later play in Kepone with Beefcake Mike Bishop) who has a crude version of the stegasaurus spikes on his back like would be seen in later Flattus costumes, plus giant horns sticking out the side of his head, and big hair like Sleazy. We also get to see the crude early Gor Gor that is also in the Return of Techno-Destructo video, plus an even earlier version of Cardinal Syn than the one seen in RAWGwar. It looks like he has a giant engine block for most of his body, and he has giant saw blades for his hands, like Grambo. Also seen is the jet engine that Dave said was dropped on Uncle Knobby, plus there is some unnamed character with a big cream colored head and dark glasses with a pack of TNT strapped to him.

Track listing

1. Lesbians of Russia (Bongwater)
2. Jimmy (Bongwater)
3. The Box (King Missile)
4. Take Stuff from Work (King Missile)
5. Dominique (When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water)
6. This Guy's in Love (When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water)
7. Bird (B.A.L.L.)
8. Out of the Blue (B.A.L.L.)
9. Tugboat Galaxie 500
10. Hymn (Tuli Kupferberg)
11. Maybe (Spongehead)
12. Hot Dog (Michael Cudahy)
13. Shaft (Velvet Monkeys)
14. Rock Party (Velvet Monkeys)
15. Sex Gorilla (Dogbowl)
16. Daytime (Dogbowl)
17. What Makes Donna Twirl? (Midget Planets)
18. Ain't No Crime to be Stupid (Mr. Elk and Mr. Seal)
19. Life's a Gas (Shockabilly)
20. Pile Up All Architecture (Shockabilly)
21. Gwar Theme (Gwar)
22. Time For Death (Gwar)

See also

• Shimmy Disc discography
• List of record labels

External links

• Official site
• Video Compilation from VHS on the Internet Archive
• Trouser Press article on Kramer, the Shimmy Disc founder
• Interview with Kramer about Shimmy Disc