The Slickee Boys

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The Slickee Boys
OriginWashington, D.C., United States
Genres Punk rock, garage rock, psychedelic rock, new wave, rock
Years active1976–1991
LabelsDacoit (US)
Giant (US)
Limp (US)
Line (Germany)
New Rose (France)
Twin/Tone (US)

The Slickee Boys were a Washington, D.C. area punk-psychedelic-garage rock band whose most-remembered lineup consisted of guitarist Marshall Keith, guitarist Kim Kane, singer Mark Noone and drummer Dan Palenski. The group was named after a GI slang term for the rockabilly-inspired Korean street toughs who sold black market goods to American soldiers. [1]

Contents

History

The band was founded in 1976 [2] by guitarists Kim Kane and Marshall Keith, with Kane as principal songwriter, and featured Martha Hull on vocals. The band released its first EP, Hot and Cool, that same year. Separated Vegetables, the group's full-length debut, followed in 1977, but Kane disliked the album's sound to such a degree that he limited the initial pressing to 100 copies. [3]

In 1978, Mark Noone replaced Hull as the singer, with the band reimagining itself through both Noone's showmanship and songwriting. In 1983, a music video for their song "When I Go to the Beach" placed second in MTV's Basement Tapes competition. [4] [5]

In 1988 after a short European Tour, founding member Kim Kane departed to focus on his band Date Bait. The band soldiered on with long-time roadie, John Hansen, taking over on rhythm guitar until they called it quits in 1991.

They hold the record for the most performances at 9:30 Club – 81 shows. [6]

Other work

In the mid 1980s, The Slickee Boys formed their alter ego rockabilly band, The Wanktones. At some venues, including the now-defunct DC club The Wax Museum, The Wanktones "opened" for The Slickee Boys. On their first album released as The Wanktones, "Have a Ball Y'all", the members are listed under the following pseudonyms: Del Marva, Bo Link, Mo Sloe, Ersel Wank, Floyd Glen Bernie, and Elmer Preslee. "Live At The Fontana Bowlarama" was the second album by Wanktones; released in 1999.

In 1977, four members of the Slickee Boys contributed to the debut album "Music to Kill By," by the Afrika Korps. [7]

Awards

They've won several "Wammie" awards from the Washington Area Music Association.

In 1989 the band was inducted into the WAMA Hall of Fame [9]

Reunion shows

Starting shortly after the break-up, reunion shows took place most years usually the week between Christmas and New Years, with one show each in Baltimore and D.C. Frequently the line-up changes during the course of the show, with band members taking turns playing on different songs. [10] There have been no reunion shows in the past few years.

December 2006; from left: Kim Kane, Mark Noone, Marshall Keith Slickees.jpg
December 2006; from left: Kim Kane, Mark Noone, Marshall Keith

Members

Discography

7" vinyl

Full-length albums

Compilation albums

Other

In 1987 the film Back to the Beach used the song "When I Go to the Beach" during the bar scene with Bob Denver. [11] [ unreliable source? ][ citation needed ] It is not included in the soundtrack released on CBS Records. [12]

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<i>Here to Stay</i> (The Slickee Boys album) 1982 compilation album by The Slickee Boys

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<i>Live at Last</i> (The Slickee Boys album) 1989 live album by The Slickee Boys

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Separated Vegetables is the first full-length album by Washington, D.C.'s Slickee Boys. Self-released on guitarist Kim Kane's Dacoit label, it was pressed in an edition of 100 copies. As well as songs written by the band, it includes cover versions of songs originally by Overkill, Flamin' Groovies, the Road Runners, Johnny Smith, Country Joe and the Fish, the Small Faces, Chuck Berry, and the Hangmen (whose song, "What a Girl Can't Do", the Slickee's had already released on their debut record, 1976's Hot and Cool EP. A mix of studio and live recordings, the album includes a number of tracks taped in front of an appreciative audience at D.C. punk dive the Keg.

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References

  1. Andersen, Mark; Jenkins, Mark (Soft Skull Press, 2001). Dance of Days: Two Decades of Punk in the Nation's Capital. Fourth ed., 2009. Akashic Books. ISBN   9781933354996. p. 6.
  2. Groff, Skip (July 1977). "So Slick". Hit and Run. 1: 3.
  3. Andersen, Mark; Jenkins, Mark (2009). Dance of days : two decades of punk in the nation's capital. New York, NY.: Akashic. p. 17.
  4. "Billboard Magazine March 12, 1983 (Page 74)". 12 March 1983. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  5. Denisoff, R. Serge (2017). "Inside MTV" . Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  6. Hintz, David (4 July 2011). "DC ROCK LIVE - REVIEWS: The Slickee Boys - The Factory - Nunchucks -- 9:30 Club". Dcrocklive.blogspot.com. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  7. "The Afrika Korps - Music To Kill By". Discogs.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  8. "Wamadc.com". Wamadc.com. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  9. "Wamadc.com". Wamadc.com. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  10. "Critic Review for the Slickee Boys on washingtonpost.com". www.washingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  11. "Back to the Beach (1987)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  12. CBS Records (CK-40892)