Arab on Radar
Encyclopedia
Arab on Radar are a Providence, Rhode Island
based noise rock
band founded in 1994. They went on hiatus in 2002. Members of the band went on to form or join the bands The Chinese Stars
, Athletic Automaton, Made in Mexico, and most recently Doomsday Student. The band reformed in 2010 but promptly disbanded.
While the band was opening for Marilyn Manson
at a Providence club called Babyhead, they were chased out of the club by angry audience members.
Arab on Radar's early sound was typified by thickly distorted, repeated bass grooves, 4/4 drum beats, and two deafening guitars that employed contrasting melodies and near-unison chords that drew comparisons to the Contortions. Their live shows often featured spitting, trisomic
parody, and full nudity.
After Andrea Fiset's departure, the band developed a more abstract sound and they began to draw (often disparaging) comparisons to Sonic Youth
. Arab on Radar may be considered catalysts for the revival of no wave
(also called neo-no wave), a scene that began to gain popularity with bands like Lightning Bolt and the Locust
in the early part of the 21st century.
Three One G
released an Arab On Radar DVD entitled Sunshine for Shady People in 2008. It includes a short documentary and footage from a number of live performances.
All of Arab on Radar's album cover art was created by Matt Brinkman.
On April 13, 2010 Justin Pearson
announced on his Facebook
page that Arab on Radar has reformed. On April 26, Skin Graft Records
announced that Arab on Radar would perform at Dude Fest 2010, with more tour dates to follow. The band did tour the east coast, however they canceled west coast dates and their new albums' recording session(s) for unknown reasons.
However in an interview with the New York Press
, the band responded to a question on how their politics have changed over the years:
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
based noise rock
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
band founded in 1994. They went on hiatus in 2002. Members of the band went on to form or join the bands The Chinese Stars
The Chinese Stars
The Chinese Stars are an acclaimed noise rock band formed from the ashes of Arab on Radar in 2003. The band recently signed onto record label, which is co-owned by Eric Paul, Anchor Brain.-Discography:*Turbo Mattress – 2003...
, Athletic Automaton, Made in Mexico, and most recently Doomsday Student. The band reformed in 2010 but promptly disbanded.
History
Arab on Radar's first show was in the cafeteria on the Rhode Island College campus.While the band was opening for Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
at a Providence club called Babyhead, they were chased out of the club by angry audience members.
Arab on Radar's early sound was typified by thickly distorted, repeated bass grooves, 4/4 drum beats, and two deafening guitars that employed contrasting melodies and near-unison chords that drew comparisons to the Contortions. Their live shows often featured spitting, trisomic
Down syndrome
Down syndrome, or Down's syndrome, trisomy 21, is a chromosomal condition caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. It is named after John Langdon Down, the British physician who described the syndrome in 1866. The condition was clinically described earlier in the 19th...
parody, and full nudity.
After Andrea Fiset's departure, the band developed a more abstract sound and they began to draw (often disparaging) comparisons to Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
. Arab on Radar may be considered catalysts for the revival of no wave
No Wave
No Wave was a short-lived but influential underground music, film, performance art, video, and contemporary art scene that had its beginnings during the mid-1970s in New York City. The term No Wave is in part satirical word play rejecting the commercial elements of the then-popular New Wave genre...
(also called neo-no wave), a scene that began to gain popularity with bands like Lightning Bolt and the Locust
The Locust
The Locust is a musical group from San Diego, California, United States known for their unique mix of grindcore speed and aggression, mathcore complexity, and new wave weirdness.- Style :...
in the early part of the 21st century.
Three One G
Three One G
31G Records, or Three One G, is a San Diego, California based record label, started by grindcore and hardcore musician Justin Pearson in 1994...
released an Arab On Radar DVD entitled Sunshine for Shady People in 2008. It includes a short documentary and footage from a number of live performances.
All of Arab on Radar's album cover art was created by Matt Brinkman.
On April 13, 2010 Justin Pearson
Justin Pearson
Justin Pearson is a frontman or bassist for a number of San Diego noise rock and grindcore bands, starting off in the punk outfit Struggle in 1994. Ensuing projects included Swing Kids, The Locust, The Crimson Curse, Holy Molar, Head Wound City, Ground Unicorn Horn, Brain Tourniquet, All Leather,...
announced on his Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page that Arab on Radar has reformed. On April 26, Skin Graft Records
Skin Graft Records
Skin Graft Records is an independent record label specializing in No Wave and noise rock music, originally based in Chicago, Illinois...
announced that Arab on Radar would perform at Dude Fest 2010, with more tour dates to follow. The band did tour the east coast, however they canceled west coast dates and their new albums' recording session(s) for unknown reasons.
Origin of band name
The origins of Arab on Radar's band name are unknown.However in an interview with the New York Press
New York Press
New York Press was a free alternative weekly in New York City, that was published from 1988 to 2011. During its lifetime, it was the main competitor to the Village Voice...
, the band responded to a question on how their politics have changed over the years:
The four of us never use or view the band as a political platform. We like to keep the band separate from our views although there have been times that we've adhered to certain questionable belief systems to get through airport security.http://www.nypress.com/blog-6967-catching-up-with-arab-on-radar.html
Members
- Eric PaulEric PaulEric Paul is a noise rock singer. He is known for his disturbing vocals, lyrics and energetic stage presence. Eric Paul has played in many popular noise bands, such as Arab on Radar until their break up in 2003. His current project is a noise and experimental group called The Chinese Stars.Paul has...
(aka Mr. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder / Mr. Pottymouth) - Vocals - Steve Mattos (aka Mr. Type A) - Guitar
- Jeff SchneiderJeff SchneiderJeffrey Theodore "Jeff" Schneider is former Major League Baseball pitcher. Schneider played for the Baltimore Orioles in . He was on a rookie card with Hall of Famer Cal Ripken.-External links:*...
(aka Mr. Clinical Depression) - Guitar - Craig Kureck (aka Mr. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) - Drums
- Andrea Fiset - Bass (1995–1999)
Discography
- Untitled cassette tape (1995)
- Kangaroo single (1996)
- Queen Hygiene II (1997)
- Swimming With A Hard-On single (1998)
- Rough Day at the Orifice (1998)
- Split single with The LocustThe LocustThe Locust is a musical group from San Diego, California, United States known for their unique mix of grindcore speed and aggression, mathcore complexity, and new wave weirdness.- Style :...
(1999) - Soak the SaddleSoak the SaddleSoak the Saddle is the third full-length album by Arab on Radar. It was produced by Weasel Walter at the Parlour in Pawtucket, RI, and released in April 2000. It is the first Arab on Radar release issued by Skin Graft records, who signed the band in 1999...
(1999) - Yahweh Or The Highway (2001)
- Split single with Kid CommandoKid CommandoKid Commando was a band from Sweden founded in 1998. They were influenced by Arab on Radar and various noise rock bands. Kid Commando disbanded in 2005 after releasing several 7"s and a debut album entitled Holy Kid Commando in 2003...
(2002) - The Stolen Singles (2003)