Worm Quartet

Last updated
Shoebox of Worm Quartet performing in 2012. Worm Quartet 2012.jpg
Shoebox of Worm Quartet performing in 2012.

Worm Quartet is a comedy music project created by Timothy F. Crist who uses the stage moniker ShoEboX and performs fast, synth-driven, pseudo-metal punk/pop. The band was formed in 1991 and its name is a reference to cartoons Crist used to draw. [1]

Contents

Worm Quartet's I Bit William Shatner was featured as a Top 5 song on the Dr. Demento Show in 2001, [2] Frank's Not In The Band Anymore was Dr. Demento's 2nd most requested song of the year in 2002, [3] Great Idea For A Song was the most requested song in 2004, [4] You Were Wrong Cabinet Sanchez reached #15 in 2006, [5] and Fueled By Angst reached #7 in 2014. [6] The Ballad of Doctor Stopp was nominated for a Logan Award in 2013 [7] after having previously won the Outstanding Original Comedy Song award in 2011, [8] Fueled by Angst, and Math is Bulls**t (featuring Insane Ian) were both nominated in 2015, [9] and I Don't Matter (featuring Chris Mezzolesta) was nominated in 2017. [10]

History

Pre-Music

While in high school, Crist created a cartoon featuring four worms which were depicted at various times singing songs with silly lyrics, or on mock record covers such as Worm Quartet Sings The Songs Of Barry Manilow While Puking And Pissing On Lobsters. [11]

Early years

Around 1991 Crist decided to begin producing music under the Worm Quartet name. He recorded the album Pass the Potatoes on cassette using a Yamaha PSR-6 keyboard. Despite being disappointed in the quality of the first album, Crist went on to record 10 more tapes of Worm Quartets very different style of music. In 1993, upon graduating high school and entering college, Crist was joined by Tony "Coffee" Roche on guitar, and Kevin Morgan on drums and recorded No Talent Implied which was to be a demo recording. Roche left the band shortly after and was ostensibly replaced by a drum machine. Crist and Morgan went on to record the first official Worm Quartet tape, "Urine Sampler". [12]

Current era

Crist moved to Syracuse, NY for software engineering work in 1997. Morgan left the band shortly after, so Crist began recording solo with the use of digital studio software, keyboards, and effects pedals, creating the first full-length Worm Quartet CD, Sumophobia. Worm Quartet was played several times on the Syracuse radio stations WXXE, and WERW. He continued working in this manner while he moved to nearby Rochester, NY in 2001. [13]

He returned to Syracuse on August 18, 2001 for his first live performance, part of "TorpedoFest", a benefit for Torpedo Magazine at the Old Parochial League where he sang over a prerecorded CD of the instrumental parts of the music. [14]

Worm Quartet released Stupid Video Game Music on December 19, 2001 which featured the award-winning song Frank's Not In The Band Anymore. For the next several years, he would regularly play live performances. In January, 2004, he released the album Faster Than A Speeding Mullet. [15]

Crist collaborated with Rob Balder under the name "Baldbox" [16] in 2009 to release one CD ("The Dumb Album") and several follow-up songs, which have also been played frequently by Dr. Demento and other radio shows. [17] From that album, the track USF'nA was the 12th most requested song on Dr. Demento in 2009. [18]

Discography

Studio albums

Other releases

Members

Current

Past

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dr. Demento</span> American radio broadcaster and record collector (b. 1941)

Barret Eugene Hansen, known professionally as Dr. Demento, is an American radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present. Hansen created the Demento persona in 1970 while working at the Pasadena, California, station KPPC-FM. After he once played "Transfusion" by Nervous Norvus on the radio, DJ "The Obscene" Steven Clean said that Hansen had to be "demented" to play it; this event inspired his stage name. His weekly show went into syndication in 1974 and was syndicated by the Westwood One Radio Network from 1978 to 1992. Broadcast syndication of the show ended on June 6, 2010, but the show continues to be produced weekly in an online version.

Arthur Paul Schlosser is an American artist, cartoonist, comedian, journalist, musician, poet, singer, and songwriter based in Madison, Wisconsin. He plays humorous novelty, gospel, and political songs and draws cartoons currently for the Madison Street Pulse newspaper, where he also submits poems and interviews people. Schlosser also paints and has participated in various art projects.

<i>"Weird Al" Yankovic</i> (album) 1983 album by "Weird Al" Yankovic

"Weird Al" Yankovic is the debut studio album by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic. The album was the first of many produced by former The McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer. Mostly recorded in March 1982, the album was released by Rock 'n Roll Records as an LP and on Compact Cassette in 1983.

Big Dumb Face is an American metal musical project noted for its comedic lyrics and shifts in style, encompassing multiple genres of music, including grindcore, death metal, funk, country, disco, reggae, psychedelia and pop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ookla the Mok (band)</span> American filk band

Ookla the Mok is a filk band fronted by Rand Bellavia and Adam English. The two met as undergraduates while attending Houghton College in 1988, and the majority of their performances have been at science-fiction conventions or in their hometown of Buffalo, New York. The band is named after a character from the Ruby-Spears Productions cartoon Thundarr the Barbarian, created by Steve Gerber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Bologna</span> 1979 single by "Weird Al" Yankovic

"My Bologna" is the debut single by American musical parody artist "Weird Al" Yankovic, originally released in December 1979. It is a parody of the Knack's hit song "My Sharona". Yankovic originally wrote the lyrics while he attended California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California; the original version of the parody was recorded in a bathroom across the hall from the campus radio station, KCPR, at which Yankovic had worked as a DJ. The title refers to Bologna sausage, specifically the Oscar Mayer brand popular in the United States. Yankovic sent "My Bologna" to Dr. Demento, who aired the song on his nationwide radio program, The Dr. Demento Show. The song was a hit on the program, and eventually gained the number one spot on Dr. Demento's "Funny Five" countdown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Another One Rides the Bus</span> 1981 single by "Weird Al" Yankovic

"Another One Rides the Bus" is a song by comedy musician "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was released in February 1981 and is a parody of Queen's song "Another One Bites the Dust". Yankovic's version describes a person riding in a crowded public bus. It was recorded live on September 14, 1980, on the Dr. Demento Show, hosted by Barret "Dr. Demento" Hansen. Accompanying Yankovic was Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, who would go on to be the artist's long-time drummer.

SM Town is a musical collective for the recording artists under South Korean entertainment company SM Entertainment.

"Yoda" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic from his third album, Dare to Be Stupid (1985). It is a parody of the song "Lola" by the Kinks. Inspired by the events of the movie The Empire Strikes Back, the song is told from the point of view of Jedi-in-training Luke Skywalker and concerns his dealings with Master Yoda on the planet Dagobah. The song was initially written and recorded in 1980, during the original release of The Empire Strikes Back and achieved success on The Dr. Demento Show; however, securing permission from both Star Wars creator George Lucas and "Lola" songwriter Ray Davies delayed the physical release of the song for about five years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logan Whitehurst</span> American drummer

Logan Anthony Whitehurst, was an American musician. His career began as the drummer for the band Little Tin Frog from 1995 until 2000, although he is best known as a founding member of Californian indie rock band The Velvet Teen and as a solo artist performing under the name Logan Whitehurst and the Junior Science Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pico and Sepulveda</span> 1947 single by Felix Figueroa & His Orchestra

"Pico and Sepulveda" is a 1947 song by Freddy Martin and his orchestra. Composed by Eddie Maxwell and Jule Styne, it features a Latin-style beat, and Martin used the alias "Felix Figueroa" when performing and recording the song. It was frequently played on the Dr. Demento radio show in the 1970s, serving as the show's opening theme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour (On the Bedpost Overnight?)</span> 1959 single by Lonnie Donegan & His Skiffle Group

"Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour " is a novelty song by Lonnie Donegan. Released as a single in 1959, it entered the UK Singles Chart on 6 February 1959 and peaked at number three. It was also Donegan's greatest chart success in the United States, reaching number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bicycles</span> Canadian indie pop band

The Bicycles are a Canadian indie pop quartet originally from Brantford, Ontario composed of Matt Beckett, Drew Smith, Dana Snell, and Andrew Scott.

<i>More of Tom Lehrer</i> 1959 studio album by Tom Lehrer

More of Tom Lehrer was the second studio album recorded by musical satirist Tom Lehrer. The LP contains the same songs as the live album An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer, which was recorded and released earlier in the same year. The album was recorded and mixed in a single three-hour session at the RCA Studios in New York on July 8, 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Balder</span> American cartoonist

Robert T. Balder is a professional cartoonist and singer-songwriter. He graduated from Roanoke College with a major in English in 1993 and, after a variety of jobs, entered a seven-year career in IT, starting as a manager of database development, which he left for his current career.

<i>Songs & More Songs by Tom Lehrer</i> 1997 compilation album by Tom Lehrer

Songs & More Songs by Tom Lehrer is a reissue of musical satirist Tom Lehrer's two studio albums, combined with other studio sessions and a newly recorded version of "I Got It From Agnes". "Agnes" was a song from Lehrer's early live repertoire which he "polished up" for the Cameron Mackintosh-produced musical revue Tomfoolery in 1981, but which Lehrer himself never professionally recorded until 1996. The booklet notes include an essay by Dr. Demento and the original sleeve notes from the LP releases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanford Fleet Street Singers</span> Collegiate comedy a cappella group from Stanford, California, U.S.

The Stanford Fleet Street Singers is a comedy a cappella group from Stanford University. The group performs original songs and sketch comedy, and wears a uniform of black vests and red bow ties. Fleet Street is perhaps best known for having published the first collegiate a cappella album composed entirely of original music. In total, Fleet Street has released 13 studio albums and has received a dozen national awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young Dumb & Broke</span> 2017 single by Khalid

"Young Dumb & Broke" is a song by American singer Khalid. It was released as a single on June 13, 2017, by Right Hand Music Group and RCA Records as the second single from his debut studio album American Teen.

<i>Music... The Air That I Breathe</i> 2020 studio album by Cliff Richard

Music... The Air That I Breathe is the 45th studio album by British pop singer Cliff Richard, released on 30 October 2020. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 3, which has seen Richard become the first artist to make the top five of the albums chart for eight consecutive decades.

References

  1. ↑ "Details for Worm Quartet". The Demented Music Database. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  2. ↑ "The Dr. Demento Show #01-22 - June 3, 2001". The Demented Music Database. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  3. ↑ De Blase, Frank. "The Worm Quartet". City Newspaper. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  4. ↑ "The Dr. Demento Show #04-52 - December 26, 2004". The Demented Music Database. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  5. ↑ "The Dr. Demento Show #06-53 - December 31, 2006". The Demented Music Database. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  6. ↑ "The Dr. Demento Show #14-52 - December 27, 2014". The Demented Music Database. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  7. ↑ "2013 Complete Nominations". The Logan Awards. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  8. ↑ "2011 Winners". The Logan Awards. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  9. ↑ "2015 Complete Nominations". The Logan Awards. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  10. ↑ "The Dr. Demento Show #13-06 - February 9, 2013". The Demented Music Database. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  11. ↑ "The Long-Winded History of Worm Quartet". Worm Quartet. Archived from the original on April 14, 2002. Retrieved 10 October 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. ↑ "The Long-Winded History of Worm Quartet". Worm Quartet. Archived from the original on April 14, 2002. Retrieved 10 October 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ↑ "The Long-Winded History of Worm Quartet". Worm Quartet. Archived from the original on April 14, 2002. Retrieved 10 October 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ↑ "Pics from Worm Quartet's Live Debut". Worm Quartet. Archived from the original on February 27, 2004. Retrieved 10 October 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ↑ "The Long-Winded History of Worm Quartet". Worm Quartet. Archived from the original on April 14, 2002. Retrieved 10 October 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ↑ "The Official World Wide Dr. Demento Streaming Site" . Retrieved 2009-11-09.
  17. ↑ "Disc-overies: Baldbox, "The Dumb Album" - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow" . Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  18. ↑ "The Dr. Demento Show #09-52 - December 27, 2009". MadMusic.com. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
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.