Happy Refugees

Last updated

Happy Refugees
Happy Refugees 1982.jpg
The Happy Refugees lineup that released Last Chance Saloon, photographed in 1982. From left: Paul Johnston, Nick Flynn, Tim Shutt, Kevin Rodgers, Paul Lamb, Paul Harvey.
Background information
Origin London, England
Genres Post-punk, Lo-fi, DIY
Years active1981–1986, 2010–present
LabelsGymnasium, Acute
Members
  • Tim Shutt
  • Paul Johnston
  • Kevin Rodgers
  • Nick Flynn
  • Paul Harvey
  • Clive Williams
Past members
  • Paul Lamb
Website www.happyrefugees.com

Happy Refugees are a British post-punk band from London, formed in 1981. [1] The band are noted for their quirky mix of DIY garage rock, shambling post-punk, and delicate introspection. [2] They are considered to be one of the last bands of the DIY era, [3] and have been compared to The Fall, Swell Maps, and Captain Beefheart. [4]

Contents

History

1981–1986: Formation and Last Chance Saloon

After leaving Stoke-based group The Pits in 1980, Tim Shutt moved to London. In February 1981, he decided to rerecord two of The Pits' songs: "Hamburger Boy", and "Switch". Phil Bourne and Dave Robbins from The Colors Out of Time played guitar and bass for the session, Shutt's then-housemate Kevin Rodgers filled in on drums, and an old bandmate of Shutt's, Paul Johnston, came along to help out. This recording was to be the beginning of Happy Refugees. [1] [5]

Shutt has since explained their choice of name: "I [liked] the idea of us all being refugees from something. 'Happy' was added to the band name. [Paul Johnston] was adamant that it should not have 'The' added. The name of the band was to be Happy Refugees." [5]

The band was initially a four-piece, made up of Shutt, Johnston, and Rodgers, with a friend from college, Paul Lamb, playing bass. Their first formal release as a group was the double A-sided single Warehouse Sound / Enshrined in a Memory in 1982. It was released on their own imprint, Gymnasium Records, and distributed by Red Rhino, a member of the Cartel. This first single was met with acclaim, albeit underground. Nick Flynn and Paul Harvey joined later that year on keyboard and guitar, and the band began to write material for their first studio album, Last Chance Saloon, as well as playing in clubs around London. Last Chance Saloon was recorded in a single day in May 1983 to save money, and was released in early 1984. [1] [5]

Although the band split up weeks after recording the album, Shutt and Johnston carried on performing under the Happy Refugees moniker until 1986. Rodgers and Flynn formed their own band with their friend Clive Williams, called The Hotel Complex, while Harvey moved to Newcastle to join Pauline Murray's band, and was later to join the reformed Penetration in 2001. [1] [5] [6]

2010–present: Rerelease and Beyond Moth and Rust

The Happy Refugees lineup that released Beyond Moth and Rust, photographed in 2011. From left: Paul Harvey, Paul Johnston, Tim Shutt, Nick Flynn, Kevin Rodgers, Clive Williams. Happy Refugees 2011.gif
The Happy Refugees lineup that released Beyond Moth and Rust, photographed in 2011. From left: Paul Harvey, Paul Johnston, Tim Shutt, Nick Flynn, Kevin Rodgers, Clive Williams.

In 2010, after a two and a half decade hiatus from music, Shutt received a phone call from Dan Selzer, who wanted to rerelease Last Chance Saloon on New York-based Acute Records. Return to Last Chance Saloon was released in 2011, and included the band's 1982 single, as well as outtakes and demos not included on the original LP. It was made available both on vinyl and as a downloadable package, and was well received. [1] [5] [7]

Happy Refugees reformed that same year, with Hotel Complex bassist Clive Williams replacing Lamb, who had died in 2007. The group visited New York to promote the record. While there, they recorded a live session on WFMU, as well as several other live performances, one as guests of American indie-rockers Crystal Stilts at The Knitting Factory, Brooklyn. [1] [4] [5]

The band described themselves as inspired by the experience, and returned to the UK to write and record the songs for a second album, released on Gymnasium Records, with Harvey, by then a leading stuckist, providing the cover art. [8] This album, titled Beyond Moth and Rust, was made available on iTunes and Spotify on 22 December 2014, and was officially released in vinyl format on 23 February 2015. [7] [9] It includes several songs the band had written in the eighties, but never recorded, such as "What's Your Appeal", and "Ill Wind", as well as various newly penned tracks. [1] [5]

Influence

Crystal Stilts and Irish four-piece Girls Names have named the band as an influence. [10] [11] In 2012, NME featured Last Chance Saloon as one of 100 Great Albums You've Never Heard at the behest of Dylan Baldi of Cloud Nothings, [12] [13] and in 2014, "Hamburger Boy", a song from Last Chance Saloon, was named in The story of UK DIY: 131 experimental underground classics from 1977-1985 by FACT Magazine. [3] Additionally, the cover of their first single Warehouse Sound / Enshrined in a Memory, featuring a photocopied picture of a bush, was shown in a 2012 exhibition of great punk graphics at the Hayward Gallery, London. [14] [15]

Members

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siouxsie and the Banshees</span> British rock band

Siouxsie and the Banshees were a British rock band formed in London in 1976 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and bass guitarist Steven Severin. They have been widely influential, both over their contemporaries and with later acts. The Times called the group "one of the most audacious and uncompromising musical adventurers of the post-punk era".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Further Seems Forever</span> American rock band

Further Seems Forever is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Pompano Beach, Florida. Over its initial eight-year run the band experienced several lineup changes, resulting in a different lead vocalist performing on each of their first three studio albums. Original singer Chris Carrabba recorded The Moon Is Down (2001) with the group before leaving to start Dashboard Confessional. He was replaced by Jason Gleason, who performed on How to Start a Fire (2003) but left the band the following year. Former Sense Field vocalist Jon Bunch joined Further Seems Forever for Hide Nothing (2004). The band broke up in 2006 but reunited four years later with Carrabba on vocals. Their fourth studio album, Penny Black, was released in 2012.

Josef K were a Scottish post-punk band, active between 1979 and 1982, who released singles on the Postcard Records label. The band was named after the protagonist of Franz Kafka's novel The Trial. Although they released just one album while together and achieved only moderate success, they have since proved influential on many bands that followed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brendan Perry</span> British singer and multi-instrumentalist (born 1959)

Brendan Michael Perry is a British singer and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work as half of the duo Dead Can Dance with Lisa Gerrard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penetration (band)</span> Punk rock band from County Durham, England

Penetration is a punk rock band from County Durham, England formed in 1976. They re-formed in 2001 with several new members. Their debut single, "Don't Dictate", is now acknowledged as a classic punk rock single and their debut album, Moving Targets (1978), is still widely admired.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.K. Subs</span> English punk rock band

U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. One of the first hardcore punk bands, elements of rhythm and blues music - including harmonica - also remained an occasional element of their work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bomb the Music Industry!</span> American ska punk musical collective

Bomb the Music Industry! was an American punk rock musical collective from Baldwin, Nassau County, New York, United States, led by singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Rosenstock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">As Friends Rust</span> American melodic hardcore band

As Friends Rust is an American melodic hardcore band based in Gainesville, Florida. The original line-up, which included vocalist Damien Moyal, guitarist Henry Olmino, bass guitarist Jeronimo Gomez and drummer Matthew Crum, formed in Davie, Florida in September 1996. After recording a demo tape but failing to secure a record deal, the band parted ways in February 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damien Moyal</span> American musician (born 1976)

Damien Zev Moyal is an American vocalist, lyricist, musician, songwriter and designer. Originally from Amstelveen, North Holland, Netherlands, he moved to the United States as a child and grew up in Miami, Florida, where he notably fronted such hardcore punk, metallic hardcore and melodic hardcore bands as Shai Hulud, As Friends Rust, Morning Again, Culture, Bird of Ill Omen and Bridgeburne R. Moyal has been based in Ann Arbor, Michigan since 2006 and is the founding member of the semi-eponymously named gothic rock/post-punk band Damien Done.

<i>Won</i> (As Friends Rust album) 2001 studio album by As Friends Rust

Won is the first full-length album by American melodic hardcore band As Friends Rust. It was released on compact disc, 12-inch vinyl and digitally by American record label Doghouse Records on October 23, 2001. German record label Defiance Records licensed the rights to release the album on compact disc and 12-inch vinyl for the European market, though this edition was released a week earlier than the American one, on October 15, 2001. Japanese record label Howling Bull Entertainment also licensed the rights to release the album for the Asian market; this compact disc edition was released even earlier, on October 5, 2001, and includes two bonus tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damien Done</span> American post-punk band

Damien Done is an American post-punk/gothic rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Formed in Gainesville, Florida in 2002 as a semi-eponymously-named solo project by frontman Damien Moyal, the group has since been expanded to include other band members and co-songwriters. The current lineup features Moyal, Laura Jane Leonard and Tyler Kane.

Maximum Joy are an English post-punk band from Bristol, England, formed in 1981 and reunited in 2015.

Adrenalin O.D. was an American hardcore punk band from New Jersey that existed from 1981 to 1990. They are best known for playing extremely fast music accompanied by humorous lyrics.

<i>On the Impossible Past</i> 2012 studio album by The Menzingers

On the Impossible Past is the third studio album by American punk rock band The Menzingers. It was released by Epitaph Records on February 21, 2012. The album was met with widespread acclaim by music critics, with the aggregating website Metacritic calculating an average score of 93 out of 100.

Formed in January 1979, the Funboy Five were an English post-punk band from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire and originally had four members, Mick Sinclair, John McRae (keyboards), Bob Brimson (bass) and Robert Radhall (drums).

Red Monkey were an English DIY post-hardcore, post-riot grrrl band, active from 1996 to 2005. The band are notable for their political lyrics.

Carousel Kings is an American pop punk band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States, formed in late 2008 by founding member David Alexander. They started their career on CI Records and are currently signed to Victory Records. Their Victory Records debut album, Charm City, was released on February 10, 2017, entering the iTunes rock charts at number 14.

<i>Ladies and Gentlemen... The Bangles!</i> 2014 compilation album by The Bangles

Ladies and Gentlemen... The Bangles! is a compilation album of early material by The Bangles. It was released by the band on Thanksgiving Day, 2014.

<i>Greatest Hits?</i> 2014 compilation album by As Friends Rust

Greatest Hits? is a compilation album by American melodic hardcore band As Friends Rust. It was originally released on compact disc by Japanese record label Cosmic Note on June 4, 2014. Indonesian record label D'Kolektif released the compilation on compact cassette on December 27, 2014. Dutch record label Shield Recordings re-issued the compact disc and issued a 12-inch vinyl and digital editions for the European market on April 29, 2015, though this version omitted three songs due to vinyl time constraints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Simmons (guitarist)</span> American guitarist

Joseph Lee Simmons is an American guitarist, bass guitarist, songwriter and brewer. Originally from Houston, Texas, Simmons grew up in Coral Springs, Florida, where he notably played in the hardcore punk bands Dinner Time and Lock Down, the sludge metal band Bird of Ill Omen and the metallic hardcore band Morning Again. He later moved to Gainesville, Florida, where he played in the metallic hardcore bands Culture and Some Sort of Radio, the melodic hardcore band As Friends Rust, and the emotional hardcore / post-hardcore band Salem. He currently plays in the black metal band Rot in Coffins.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rodgers, Kevin. "Happy Refugees History". HappyRefugees.com. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Taylor, Rick (9 December 2011). "Happy Refugees Return from Exile". TheVinylDistrict.com. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  3. 1 2 Dale, John (1 October 2014). "The story of UK DIY: 131 experimental underground classics from 1977-1985". FACTMag.com. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  4. 1 2 Knaebel, Nate (2 December 2011). "Quality Reissue Alert: The Happy Refugees". blog.WFMU.org. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Shutt, Tim (5 December 2011). "Return To Last Chance Saloon Booklet" (PDF). HappyRefugees.com. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Milner, Frank ed. The Stuckists Punk Victorian, p.74, National Museums Liverpool 2004. ISBN   1-902700-27-9
  7. 1 2 "Happy Refugees Vinyl Shop". HappyRefugees.com. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  8. ↑ Harvey, Paul (2013). "Happy Refugees (Beyond Moth and Rust)". PaulHarveyPaintings.com. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  9. ↑ "Beyond Moth and Rust". iTunes.Apple.com. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  10. ↑ Smith, Dominic (24 March 2011). "Crystal Stilts, Audio, Brighton, March 24". TheArgus.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  11. ↑ Cummins, Chris (31 March 2010). "Emerging Artists #2 – Girls Names". AddictMusic.com. Archived from the original on 15 October 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  12. ↑ Baldi, Dylan (11 February 2012). "100 Great Albums You've Never Heard". NME Magazine. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "100 Great Albums You've Never Heard". RateYourMusic.com. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  14. ↑ "Happy Refugees - Timeline Photos". Facebook.com. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "Warehouse Sound Cover". HappyRefugees.com. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.