The Aints

The Aints is a band name used by Ed Kuepper during his prolific early 1990s period for loud, feedback-drenched three-piece performance and recordings.

The name is a variation on The Saints, the band Kuepper had formed with Chris Bailey in Brisbane in the early 1970s. It apparently derived from an old Saints bass drum head on which the initial letter "S" had worn off.

Kuepper has stated his aim with the Aints was to recapture the energy of the Saints in the late 1970s. Although the band's set started with Saints material, the sound of the band was more a driving three-piece with Neil Young-style feedback. The later original material featured saxophone and a more free-form approach.

History

The band started playing around Sydney on 13 April 1991 with Kuepper (guitar, vocals), Kent Steedman (bass) and Tim Reeves (drums). They quickly released a recording of this first show, S.L.S.Q — Very Live!, recorded on cassette, sold at shows as well as in shops. (The name stands for "Strictly Limited Sound Quality" or "Slightly Limited Sound Quality.") This recording and the Australian tour shows of 1991 consisted of old Saints material.

In this period, Kuepper was releasing new albums at a rate of roughly three a year. The Aints were quickly added to this release cycle. With Artie Sledge (bass), Mark Dawson (drums) and Tim Hopkins (sax), the Aints released two albums of original songs: Ascension in November 1991 and Autocannibalism in 1992, both on Hot Records.

Hot issued a five-track CD EP compilation, Cheap Erotica, in November 1993, and a compilation, Shelflife Unlimited!!! — Hotter Than Blazing Pistols!!!, in August 1995. A third Aints album called Afterlife was recorded but never issued.

Discography

• S.L.S.Q — Very Live! (Aint Records AINT ONE)
  1. Intro (2.03)
  2. This Perfect Day (3.50)
  3. Erotic Neurotic (5.33)
  4. Runaway (10.15)
  5. Know Your Product (3.45)
  6. River Deep, Mountain High (5.22)
     Audience Rain Chant
  7. Messin' With The Kid (6.34)
  8. Nights In Venice (13.13)

Early copies included a 7" single, "(I'm) Stranded".

• Ascension (Hot Records HOT-1035)
  1. It's Still Nowhere (7.21)
  2. What's It Like Out There? (5.50)
  3. A Good Soundtrack (5.01)
  4. Like An Oil Spill (3.55)
  5. Both Worlds (5.10)
  6. Ascension (11.00)

• Autocannibalism (Hot Records HOT-1037)
  1. You Can't Please Everybody (8.22)
  2. Other Side of The Creek (5.38)
  3. Linda and Abilene (10.25)
  4. Ill Wind (5.55)
  5. Red Aces (8.20)
  6. The Aints Go Pop-Camping (3.40)

• Shelflife Unlimited!!! — Hotter Than Blazing Pistols!!! (Hot Records HOT-1054)
  1. Like An Oil Spill
  2. Ill Wind
  3. River Deep*
  4. It's Still Nowhere
  5. Erotic Neurotic*
  6. The Aints Go Pop-Camping
  7. What's It Like Out There?
  8. Linda and Abilene

References

• 'The Aints' entry in Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop by Ian McFarlane
• The Aints at Australian Rock Database by Magnus Holmgren

External links

• The Aints on Myspace
• The Kuepper Files (current Ed Kuepper info page)