James E. Jones (March 12, 1950 – February 18, 2008) was an experimental music artist, producer, and guitarist in the rock band Pere Ubu. Jones was a member of many experimental rock bands of the 1970s and 1980s including: Easter Monkeys, Foreign Bodies, Mirrors, The Styrenes, Electric Eels, Home And Garden, and Terminal Lovers. He later recorded and performed with local bands Speaker\Cranker, Noble Rot, and KNG NXN. Jones died of a heart attack on February 18, 2008 at the age of 57.
Pere Ubu is an American rock group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975. Despite a variety of long-term band members, singer David Thomas is the only constant. Describing their sound as "avant-garage," Pere Ubu's work drew inspiration from sources such as musique concrète, 60s rock, performance art, and the industrial environments of the American Midwest. While the band achieved little commercial success, they have exerted a wide influence on subsequent underground music.
Mirrors were a rock band from Cleveland, Ohio originally active 1973 - 1975, although some accounts indicate they formed as early as 1971 or 1972. Their sound has been described as "psychedelic garage" and "proto-punk". In his review of a 2009 LP of their 1970's material for Mother Jones former Maximumrocknroll editor Mark Murrmann described them as "not as bent as the Electric Eels...nor as throttling as Rocket from the Tombs." The band's founder, Jaime Klimek, who sang and played guitar, said they "were ferociously loud." The other members were Jim Crook, guitar, Mike Weldon drums and a succession of bassists first Craig Bell followed briefly by Paul Marotta who soon switched to keyboards, then Jim Jones, then Bell again and finally Jones again. In some of their recordings Jones played drums. They played original songs and covers originally by the Velvet Underground, the Kinks, the Troggs and Brian Eno among others. After they broke up Klimek, Jones, Marotta, other former members of the electric eels and Anton Fier formed the Styrenes. In 2013 and 2014 Klimek, Crook, Bell and other musicians played some reunion shows in Cleveland.
The Styrenes are an American proto-punk rock band, formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1975, by former members of other local underground scene bands, electric eels and Mirrors.
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up includes drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist since 1995, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour. Tool has won three Grammy Awards, performed worldwide tours, and produced albums topping the charts in several countries.
Noise music is a category of music that is characterised by the expressive use of noise within a musical context. This type of music tends to challenge the distinction that is made in conventional musical practices between musical and non-musical sound. Noise music includes a wide range of musical styles and sound-based creative practices that feature noise as a primary aspect.
Rocket from the Tombs is an American rock band originally active from mid-1974 to mid-1975 in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The band was reconstituted several times with various line-ups starting in 2003.
Allen Ravenstine is an American keyboard player, most recognized for his work in the experimental rock group Pere Ubu. In 1991, he quit music to become a commercial airline pilot.
Chris Cutler is an English percussionist, composer, lyricist and music theorist. Best known for his work with English avant-rock group Henry Cow, Cutler was also a member and drummer of other bands, including Art Bears, News from Babel, Pere Ubu and (briefly) Gong/Mothergong. He has collaborated with many musicians and groups, including Fred Frith, Lindsay Cooper, Zeena Parkins, Peter Blegvad, Telectu and The Residents, and has appeared on over 100 recordings. Cutler's career spans over four decades and he still performs actively throughout the world.
The Modern Dance is the debut album by American rock band Pere Ubu. It was released in January 1978 by record label Blank.
Dub Housing is the second album by American rock band Pere Ubu. Released in 1978 by Chrysalis Records, the album is now regarded as one of their best, described by Trouser Press as "simply one of the most important post-punk recordings."
Mayo Thompson is an American musician and visual artist best known as the leader of the avant-garde rock band Red Krayola.
New Picnic Time is the third album by American rock band Pere Ubu. It was released in September 1979 by Chrysalis Records. Reportedly the album sessions were stressful and contentious, and after touring, the group disbanded. They would reform a matter of months later, with Mayo Thompson replacing founding guitarist Tom Herman. The lyrics for the song "The Voice of the Sand" are based upon the poetry of Vachel Lindsay.
The Tenement Year is the sixth studio album by American rock band Pere Ubu, and their first album after reuniting following their 1982 break-up. 'Classic lineup' members Tony Maimone and Allen Ravenstine, along with fellow Cleveland scenester Jim Jones and Henry Cow percussionist Chris Cutler found themselves playing with David Thomas for his 1987 album Blame the Messenger, and, discovering they sounded much like Pere Ubu, began incorporating a few Ubu numbers while touring for that album. Eventually, an official reunion was pursued, original drummer Scott Krauss was contacted, and thus the new lineup was completed and the old mantle assumed. The Tenement Year found the group veering in a loose, freewheeling, and decidedly more pop-oriented direction than in the past, though the pop leanings would become even more pronounced on subsequent albums.
Cloudland is the seventh studio album by American rock band Pere Ubu. Released in May 1989, the album was produced by Stephen Hague. The single "Waiting for Mary", the video for which achieved some MTV exposure, netted Pere Ubu their only Billboard chart success to date, reaching number 6 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Music to Eat is the only album ever produced by avant garde rock band Hampton Grease Band. It was released in 1971.
Andy Diagram is a British musician and trumpet player. He has worked with the instrument in a variety of bands and contexts ranging from pop and rock to experimental jazz, art rock and dance music. He is best known for his work with James, with Spaceheads and with the Pere Ubu singer David Thomas.
Tully (1968–1978) was an Australian progressive rock group of the late 1960s and 1970s which had a close association with the Sydney-based film/lightshow collective Ubu and with psychedelic light show artist Roger Foley aka Ellis D Fogg.
The Handspring Puppet Company is a puppetry performance and design company established in 1981 by Adrian Kohler, Basil Jones, John Weinberg and Jill Joubert. It is situated in Cape Town, South Africa.
Soldier-Talk is the third studio album by the American experimental rock band The Red Crayola. It was released in 1979 by the record label Radar. By this time, Thompson had moved the project to London and expanded the band for this album to include Lora Logic of X-Ray Spex and Essential Logic and all of the members of Pere Ubu.
Daved Hild is an American drummer, accordionist and singer-songwriter. He is perhaps best recognized for his collaborations with David Thomas and Kramer.
