Gumball (band)

Last updated

Gumball
Gumball.PNG
Background information
OriginUnited States
Genres Alternative rock, post-punk, grunge
Years active1990–1994
Labels Columbia, Primo Scree, Paperhouse
Members Don Fleming
Jay Spiegel
Eric Vermillion
Malcolm Riviera (d. 2023)

Gumball was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1990. The original lineup consisted of Don Fleming (vocals and guitar), Eric Vermillion (vocals, bass), and Jay Spiegel (drums). [1] [2] In 1992, a fourth member was added, Malcolm Riviera (guitar, keyboards) who had previously played with Fleming and Spiegel in the Velvet Monkeys. [3]

Contents

History

After Fleming and Spiegel's group B.A.L.L. broke up in 1990, the duo briefly joined Dinosaur Jr. and released one single on the Sub Pop label. The two left Dinosaur Jr. shortly after the release of the single. Jay Spiegel approached his friend Eric Vermillion, a member of Camp Hill, PA's The Stump Wizards, about playing with the two. Vemillion agreed and subsequently quit The Stump Wizards. After less than a week's rehearsal, the new trio played its first show and Gumball was born.

The fall of 1990 found Gumball in the studio, and their first release came out shortly thereafter on the Paperhouse/Sire label in England. The release was a 12 inch EP with the songs "All the Time"/"Yellow Pants"/"Gettysburg".

Gumball soon found itself with a record deal with New York City's Caroline Records. [3] They recorded and released the album Special Kiss and embarked on a tour with Mudhoney, Sonic Youth, and other similar American indie bands of the early 1990s. [4]

In 1991, Gumball was approached by Columbia Records A&R man Jim Dunbar about signing to the label for a two-album contract. Soon thereafter, the deal was signed and Gumball immediately re-entered the studio and began recording their major label debut, Super Tasty . The sessions were done in Wisconsin with producer Butch Vig, who earlier engineered Nirvana's major label debut Nevermind.

Although Gumball recorded Super Tasty as a trio, fourth member (and longtime musical associate) Malcolm Riviera joined the band shortly after the album's release. The foursome began rehearsing and in early 1993 toured in support of the album.

After a tour of the U.S., Europe, and Japan, Gumball returned to the studio in the fall of 1993 to record their second album for Columbia, Revolution on Ice. The album was released by Columbia/Sony in 1994 and the band toured in support of it throughout that year.

Columbia exercised its option to drop Gumball from its roster after low sales from Revolution on Ice. The band released a live CD on their own label in late 1994 called Tokyo Encore, but by early 1995 the band had decided to call it quits rather than begin shopping for another label.

In early August 2023, the band announced through social media that Riviera, keyboardist and guitarist for the band, died the previous weekend in July. [5]

Band members

Discography

Albums

TitleRelease dateLabel
Special Kiss 1991Primo Scree
Super Tasty 1993Columbia
Revolution on Ice 1994Columbia
Tokyo Encore 1994T.E.C. Tones

EPs

The Damage Done 1993Columbia
Wisconsin Hayride 1992Columbia

Singles

YearTitleAlbumLabel
1990"All The Time"Special KissPaperhouse
1991"Sonic Youth / Gumball / Laughing Hyenas / These Immortal Souls: Sub Pop Singles Club No. 121"Subpop
1991"This Town"Special KissPaperhouse
1991"Light Shines Through"Paperhouse/Waterfront Recordings
1992"Girl Don't Tell Me/ Strawberry Fields Forever"Get Hip Recordings
1992"New Rose"Wisconsin HayrideColumbia
1993"Accelerator"Super TastyColumbia
1993"The Damage Done"Super TastyColumbia
1993"Real Gone Deal"Super TastyColumbia
1994"Nights on Fire"Revolution on IceColumbia
1994"Whatcha Gonna Do"Revolution on IceColumbia

Music videos

YearTitleDirector
1992"New Rose" Dave Markey
1993"Accelerator"Dave Markey
1993"The Damage Done"Dave Markey
1993"Real Gone Deal"Casey Niccoli
1994"Revolution on the Rocks" Dave Markey

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stiff Records</span> British record label

Stiff Records is a British independent record label formed in London, England, by Dave Robinson and Jake Riviera. Originally active from 1976 to 1986, the label was reactivated in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mudhoney</span> American rock band

Mudhoney is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, on January 1st, 1988, following the demise of Green River. Its members are singer and rhythm guitarist Mark Arm, lead guitarist Steve Turner, bassist Guy Maddison and drummer Dan Peters. Original bassist Matt Lukin left the band in 1999, but rejoined the band in December 2000 for a tour that lasted through January 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dinosaur Jr.</span> American rock band

Dinosaur Jr. is an American rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1984. Originally called Dinosaur, the band was forced to change their name due to legal issues.

<i>1991: The Year Punk Broke</i> 1992 documentary film by Dave Markey

1991: The Year Punk Broke, released theatrically in 1992, is a documentary directed by Dave Markey, featuring American alternative rock band Sonic Youth on tour in Europe in 1991. While Sonic Youth is the focus of the documentary, the film also gives attention to Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr., Babes in Toyland, Gumball and The Ramones. Also featured in the film are Mark Arm, Dan Peters and Matt Lukin of Mudhoney, and roadie Joe Cole, who was murdered in a robbery three months after the tour ended. The film is dedicated to Cole.

<i>Pretty on the Inside</i> 1991 studio album by Hole

Pretty on the Inside is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Hole, released on September 17, 1991, in the United States on Caroline Records. Produced by Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, and Gumball frontman Don Fleming, the album was Hole's first major label release after the band's formation in 1989 by vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist Courtney Love and lead guitarist Eric Erlandson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Asheton</span> American rock musician (1948–2009)

Ronald Franklin Asheton was an American musician, who was best known as the guitarist, bassist, and co-songwriter for the rock band the Stooges. He formed the Stooges along with Iggy Pop and his brother, drummer Scott Asheton, and bassist Dave Alexander. Asheton, once ranked as number 29 on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, is currently ranked at number 60.

<i>No Depression</i> (album) 1990 studio album by Uncle Tupelo

No Depression is the first studio album by alternative country band Uncle Tupelo, released in June 1990. After its formation in the late 1980s, Uncle Tupelo recorded the Not Forever, Just for Now demo tape, which received a positive review by the College Media Journal in 1989. The review led to the band's signing with what would become Rockville Records later that year. The album was recorded with producers Sean Slade and Paul Q. Kolderie at Fort Apache Studios, on a budget of US$3,500.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Falkner</span> Musical artist

Jason Falkner is an American songwriter, musician, and guitarist who was a member of the bands Jellyfish, the Three O'Clock, and the Grays. Since 1996, he has released six solo albums, starting with Presents Author Unknown. He is also a session musician and producer who has contributed to dozens of recordings by other bands and musicians as well as a touring guitar player for Beck for decades.

<i>Green Mind</i> 1991 studio album by Dinosaur Jr.

Green Mind is the fourth studio album by alternative rock band Dinosaur Jr., released in 1991. It was the band's first release after bassist Lou Barlow's departure, as well as the first released by a major label. The record is close to being a J Mascis solo album: he played most of the instruments, with founding drummer Murph only featuring on three tracks.

<i>Superfuzz Bigmuff</i> 1988 EP by Mudhoney

Superfuzz Bigmuff is the debut EP and first major release by the Seattle grunge band Mudhoney. It was released on October 20, 1988, through record label Sub Pop. The album was later re-released in 1990 in the form of Superfuzz Bigmuff Plus Early Singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockpile</span> British rock and roll band

Rockpile was a British rock and roll band of the late 1970s and early 1980s, noted for their strong pub rock, rockabilly and power pop influences, and as a foundational influence on new wave. The band consisted of Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams (drums).

<i>Special Kiss</i> 1991 studio album by Gumball

Special Kiss is the first album by Gumball. It was released in 1991 on the Primo Scree label. It contains contributions from Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth and Teenage Fanclub.

<i>Wisconsin Hayride</i> 1992 EP by Gumball

Wisconsin Hayride was the first major label release by Gumball. The EP, Recorded and Released in 1992, was a teaser set to capitalize on the Alternative rock boom of the time before they could spend time recording a proper full length. Wisconsin Hayride is an all covers EP featuring songs by Mahavishnu Orchestra, Black Flag, Foetus, Small Faces and The Damned.

<i>Super Tasty</i> 1993 studio album by Gumball

Super Tasty is the second album by Gumball. It was released in 1993 via Columbia, the band's first album for a major label.

<i>Revolution on Ice</i> 1994 studio album by Gumball

Revolution on Ice is the third and final studio album by Gumball. The album, released in 1994, was the only one featuring new member Malcolm Riviera, of Velvet Monkeys, on keyboards and guitar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Fleming (musician)</span> American musician

Donald Gene Fleming is an American musician and producer. Besides fronting a number of his own bands, Fleming has produced Sonic Youth, Screaming Trees, Teenage Fanclub and Hole.

<i>Tokyo Encore</i> 1994 live album by Gumball

Tokyo Encore was the final release by Gumball. After leaving Columbia Records at the end of 1994, the band released a live album compiled from the band's 1993 tour of Japan and sold through their fan club on their own T.E.C. Tones label. Gumball were joined on stage by members of Shonen Knife during the performance. The album features live covers of songs by The Beatles, Deep Purple, and the Germs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wagon</span> 1991 single by Dinosaur Jr.

"The Wagon" is a song by alternative rock band Dinosaur Jr., released on their 1991 album Green Mind. Featuring lyrics inspired by the band's use of station wagons for transportation in its early days, the song was written by J Mascis and was one of the three songs on Green Mind to include drummer Murph.

The Badgeman were a four-piece indie rock band from Salisbury, Wiltshire formed in 1988, although music journalist Pete Frame claims in his book Rockin Around Britain that the band hailed from Melksham. The band has been variously categorised as Alternative rock, shoegazing, indie rock, psychedelic rock, and post punk. The band released two albums on Paperhouse Records, and appeared on two compilation releases, along with artists such as Nirvana, Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, Echo and The Bunnymen, and The Wedding Present.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Proton Energy Pills</span>

The Proton Energy Pills were an Australian punk rock band formed in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales in 1986. The band released two vinyl singles and a vinyl EP in its time and is considered a very seminal and influential group as its members went on to play in many successful Australian bands over the next 25 years.

References

  1. Miller, Eric T. (July 4, 2011). "Q&A with Don Fleming". Magnet . Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  2. Mervis, Scott (April 20, 2017). "Gumball, FOOD bassist takes the lead in The Full Counts, and new music from Spinning Jenny". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Gill, J. Doug (August 5, 1994). "The years in Washington's punk underground pay off for Gumball". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  4. Penner, John (November 2, 1990). "Mudhoney: Sweethearts of Grunge Guitar : Rock: Gritty Seattle garage band carries a reputation as the Next Big Thing. They open for Sonic Youth on Saturday at UCI's Crawford Hall". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  5. https://www.instagram.com/p/CvhwR1WuNFS/