Volcano Suns

Last updated
Volcano Suns
Pete Prescott Rathskeller.jpg
Pete Prescott playing drums at the Rathskeller in Boston
Background information
Origin Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Genres Alternative rock
Years active1984–1991, 2005
Labels SST, Homestead, Quarterstick
Past members Peter Prescott
Bob Weston
David Kleiler
Gary Waleik
Steve Michener
Jeff Weigand
Jon Williams
Chuck Hahn
Website Official website

Volcano Suns was an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts formed by Mission of Burma drummer Peter Prescott in 1984. [1]

Contents

History

The band was founded in Spring 1984 by former Mission of Burma and Molls drummer Peter Prescott, the only founding member of the Suns to remain until their break-up in 1991. [1] [2] Prescott had auditioned for the position of drummer with Disneyland, but took two of that band's members to form Volcano Suns; [2] The other original members were Gary Waleik and Steve Michener who would leave after a few months, before the release of the first Suns album, to form Big Dipper. [1] [3] Prescott then added Jeff Weigand on bass guitar and Jon Williams on guitar. This second line-up created the band's debut album The Bright Orange Years (1985), as well as its follow-up, All-Night Lotus Party (1986), both released on the now-defunct Homestead Records. [1] In 1987, Bob Weston and Chuck Hahn replaced Weigand and Williams respectively for Bumper Crop , the band's final release on Homestead. [1] [4] Other contributors included Roger Miller on piano and Gary Waleik on sitar.

In 1988, the band moved to Greg Ginn's SST Records for their 4th release, Farced . [1] The line-up however was the same as on Bumper Crop , including Miller on piano and Waleik on sitar. 1989 brought their most experimental release, Thing of Beauty , also on SST, on which David Kleiler (formerly from the band Sorry) replaced Chuck Hahn on guitar. [5] This would be the Volcano Suns' final line up. The band moved to Chicago-based indie label Quarterstick Records for their final release, Career in Rock in 1991. [1] The album was engineered by Steve Albini, who would later work with Bob Weston in their band Shellac.

Musical style and the Din

The music of the Volcano Suns is often compared to the works of bands like Hüsker Dü and Mudhoney. [6]

From 1985-1987, the Volcano Suns second lineup also doubled as the Din, the backing band for vocalist Dredd Foole (a.k.a. Dan Ireton), who had previously collaborated with Mission of Burma. The Volcano Suns used stage names in the Din: Din Wanna (Prescott), Bonus "The Bone Man" McGinty (Weigand) and Webb Finga (Williams), with The Kaiser (Kenny Chambers from Moving Targets) rounding out the lineup. The collaboration produced two albums, Eat My Dust Cleanse My Soul (Homestead, 1985) and Take Off Your Skin (PVC, 1988).

Post-Suns and reunion

The band split up in 1991. In 1994, Prescott went on to form Kustomized. [1]

Prescott reformed Volcano Suns in 2005 with Weston and Kleiler for some reunion shows. [3] [7]

The band's first two albums were reissued by Merge Records in 2009, remastered by Weston and including bonus material. [3] [8] [9] Merge also released a live album in 2014, recorded at City Gardens in New Jersey during the summer of 1986 featuring the Bright Orange/Lotus lineup, entitled "Old Pain(t)."

Members

Final lineup
Past members

Discography

Albums

Singles

Compilation appearances

song: "Tree Stomp"
song: "Silvertone"
song: "Polythene Pam"
song: "White Elephant"
song: "Ultravixen"
song: "Kick Out the Jams"

As the Din, backing band for Dredd Foole

Related Research Articles

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

Meat Puppets are an American rock band formed in January 1980 in Phoenix, Arizona. The group's original lineup was Curt Kirkwood (guitar/vocals), his brother Cris Kirkwood, and Derrick Bostrom (drums). The Kirkwood brothers met Bostrom while attending Brophy Prep High School in Phoenix. The three then moved to Tempe, Arizona, where the Kirkwood brothers purchased two adjacent houses, one of which had a shed in the back where they regularly practiced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mission of Burma</span> American post-punk band

Mission of Burma was an American post-punk band from Boston, Massachusetts. The group formed in 1979 with Roger Miller on guitar, Clint Conley on bass, Peter Prescott on drums, and Martin Swope contributing audiotape manipulation and acting as the band’s sound engineer. In this initial lineup, Miller, Conley, and Prescott all shared singing and songwriting duties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naked Raygun</span> American punk band

Naked Raygun is an American punk rock band that formed in Chicago in 1980. The band was active from 1980 to 1992, along with reunion shows in 1997, and since 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homestead Records</span> Record label

Homestead Records was a Long Island, New York–based sublabel of music distributor Dutch East India Trading that operated from 1983 to 1996. The label was known for not paying its artists and not spending any money on promotion.

<i>Somery</i> 1991 compilation album by the Descendents

Somery is a compilation album by the American punk rock band the Descendents, released in 1991 through SST Records. It compiles songs from their Fat EP (1981) and the albums Milo Goes to College (1982), I Don't Want to Grow Up (1985), Enjoy! (1986), and All (1987).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Weston</span> Musical artist

Bob Weston is an American musician, producer, recording engineer, and record mastering engineer. Critic Jason Ankeny declares that "Weston's name and fingerprints are all over the American underground rock of the post-punk era, producing and engineering dates for a seemingly endless number of bands." As a performer, Weston is best known as the bass guitarist in the groups Volcano Suns and Shellac.

Doug Carrion is an American musician, audio engineer, record producer, and music editor. He played bass guitar in the punk rock bands the Descendents and Dag Nasty during the 1980s, and in the hard rock band For Love Not Lisa in the early 1990s, and is currently in the band Field Day. He has had a long working relationship with Brad "Daddy X" Xavier, playing with him in the punk rock bands Doggy Style and Humble Gods, working with his rap rock group the Kottonmouth Kings in the 2000s, and playing on his solo albums. Carrion has also composed, edited, and recorded music for television and films, including several reality television series and game shows during the 2000s. In 2012 he started his own Americana group, Doug C and the Blacklisted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Meatmen</span> American punk band

The Meatmen are an American punk band headed by Tesco Vee, originally existing from 1981 to 1988, before reforming in the mid-1990s, and again in the 2000s. They were known for their outrageous stage antics and offensive lyrics. They reformed in 2008 and continue to tour and record.

<i>Two Things at Once</i> 1988 compilation album by the Descendents

Two Things at Once is a compilation album by the American punk rock band the Descendents, released in 1988 through SST Records. It combines the band's 1982 debut album Milo Goes to College with the 1985 release Bonus Fat, itself a compilation of 1981's Fat EP, 1979's "Ride the Wild" / "It's a Hectic World" single, and the track "Global Probing" from a 1981 compilation titled Chunks. Two Things at Once has been described by critics as an essential collection of the band's early years.

Big Dipper are an American indie rock band who formed in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, in 1985 by former members of Volcano Suns and the Embarrassment. They released four studio albums between 1987 and 1990, before splitting up. The band reunited in 2008. They were described in a New York Times article as "musical contortionists: they love to toy with extremes, juxtaposing ferocious guitar noise with celestial vocal harmonies or planting a delicate melody in jagged rhythm".

The Leaving Trains were an American indie rock band from Los Angeles, California. The Leaving Trains were founded in 1980 by singer Falling James Moreland, who became known for her chaotic performances and penchant for cross-dressing. Falling James had previously been a member of punk rock bands the Mongrels and the Downers before assembling the group with guitarist Manfred Hofer, bassist Tom Hofer, keyboardist Sylvia Juncosa and drummer Hillary Laddin. They played locally for three years before releasing their first album, Well Down Blue Highway, in 1984.

<i>Thing of Beauty</i> 1989 studio album by Volcano Suns

Thing of Beauty is a double album by the alternative rock band Volcano Suns which was released in 1989 on SST Records. The album was the group's first to feature David Kleiler Jr. as primary guitarist, with previous guitarist Chuck Hahn having exited the group.

<i>Career in Rock</i> 1991 studio album by Volcano Suns

Career in Rock is an album by the American band Volcano Suns, released in 1991. The album was recorded by the fourth lineup of the band. It was produced by Steve Albini.

<i>Farced</i> 1988 studio album by Volcano Suns

Farced is an album by the American band Volcano Suns. It was released in 1988 via SST Records.

Das Damen was an alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. The band released several albums before splitting up in 1991. The band's name is fake German and roughly translates to "the ladies".

Kustomized was an American indie rock band formed by former Mission of Burma and Volcano Suns member Peter Prescott.

<i>The Bright Orange Years</i> 1985 studio album by Volcano Suns

The Bright Orange Years is a 1985 record from the band Volcano Suns.

<i>All-Night Lotus Party</i> 1986 studio album by Volcano Suns

All-Night Lotus Party is an album by the American band Volcano Suns, released in 1986.

<i>Bumper Crop</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Volcano Suns

Bumper Crop is an album by Volcano Suns, released in 1987.

Dan Ireton, known professionally as Dredd Foole, is a vocal improviser and songwriter based in New England whose various collaborative backing bands have been known as The Din.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN   1-84195-335-0, p. 559
  2. 1 2 Coley, Byron (1987) "Under the Volcanos", SPIN , January 1987, p. 53-4, retrieved 2010-09-11
  3. 1 2 3 Klein, David (2009) "Even with two lauded reissues, Volcano Suns ducks fame: Escaping a certain fate", Independent Weekly , February 25, 2009, retrieved 2010-09-11
  4. Kellman, Andy "Bumper Crop Review", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-09-11
  5. Kellman, Andy "Thing of Beauty Review", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-09-11
  6. Robbins, Ira "Volcano Suns", Trouser Press , rfetrieved 2010-09-11
  7. True, Christopher M. "Volcano Suns Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-09-11
  8. Masters, Marc (2009) "Volcano Suns The Bright Orange Years / All-Night Lotus Party", Pitchfork Media, February 13, 2009, retrieved 2010-09-11
  9. Murray, Noel (2009) "All-Night Lotus Party / The Bright Orange Years", The A.V. Club, January 27, 2009, retrieved 2010-09-11