Big Dipper (band)
Encyclopedia
Big Dipper was an indie rock
band from Boston, Massachusetts, USA
, formed in 1985 by former members of Volcano Suns
and The Embarrassment
. They released 4 albums between 1987 and 1990, before splitting up. 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".
, Gary Waleik and Steve Michener (the latter was also in Dumptruck), recruited guitarist/vocalist Bill Goffrier (formerly of The Embarrassment), and drummer Jeff Oliphant (formerly of XS and the Iron Gerbils), who was Gary's cousin. Goffrier struck up a friendship with Waleik when he attended a Volcano Suns gig in mid-1985, and the next year the band was formed. They recorded a six-song demo and one of the tracks, "Faith Healer", received regular airplay from local college radio stations. Their first release was the 1987 mini-album Boo-Boo on Homestead Records
(released on Demon Records in the UK
). The full-length album Heavens, which was released later in 1987, has been described as "one of the finest American indie albums of its era". The album sleeve featured Goffrier's painting of a UFO. Their second full-length album, Craps, followed in 1988. Three of the band contributed with songwriting. One of the tracks on the album reflected Goffrier's interest in extraterrestrial phenomena, with the song "Semjase" about a Swiss
farmer who in the 1970s claimed to have been regularly visited by Semjase, a woman from the constellation Pleides. They signed to Epic Records
for 1990's Slam. This would prove to be their final album. Michener left the band and they continued with various players for two years, splitting up in 1992 after releasing a 45 and recording more than an albums worth of material.
In 2008, Merge Records
released a 3-CD anthology of Big Dipper's Homestead recordings, with additional material,including the unreleased tracks recorded after Michener left, titled Supercluster: The Big Dipper Anthology. This renewed interest has prompted the band to reform for some live shows in April 2008.
In 2009, MTV Games released the songs "All Going Out Together", "She's Fetching", and "Younger Bums" for the Rock Band video game series. The songs are available on Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from Boston, Massachusetts, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, formed in 1985 by former members of Volcano Suns
Volcano Suns
Volcano Suns was an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts formed by Mission of Burma drummer Peter Prescott in 1984.-History:...
and The Embarrassment
The Embarrassment
The Embarrassment was an American quartet formed in 1979 in Wichita, Kansas, that made several recordings before breaking up in 1983. The band consisted of guitarist Bill Goffrier, lead singer and organist John Nichols, bassist Ron Klaus and drummer Brent Giessmann.-History:Although some people...
. They released 4 albums between 1987 and 1990, before splitting up. 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".
History
In 1986, former members of Volcano SunsVolcano Suns
Volcano Suns was an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts formed by Mission of Burma drummer Peter Prescott in 1984.-History:...
, Gary Waleik and Steve Michener (the latter was also in Dumptruck), recruited guitarist/vocalist Bill Goffrier (formerly of The Embarrassment), and drummer Jeff Oliphant (formerly of XS and the Iron Gerbils), who was Gary's cousin. Goffrier struck up a friendship with Waleik when he attended a Volcano Suns gig in mid-1985, and the next year the band was formed. They recorded a six-song demo and one of the tracks, "Faith Healer", received regular airplay from local college radio stations. Their first release was the 1987 mini-album Boo-Boo on Homestead Records
Homestead Records
Homestead Records was a Long Island, NY based sublabel of music distributor Dutch East India Trading. It was founded in 1984 by Sam Berger, who was the American Independent buyer for Dutch East India Trading. Berger was finding that many bands who had perhaps released their own first 45 were...
(released on Demon Records in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
). The full-length album Heavens, which was released later in 1987, has been described as "one of the finest American indie albums of its era". The album sleeve featured Goffrier's painting of a UFO. Their second full-length album, Craps, followed in 1988. Three of the band contributed with songwriting. One of the tracks on the album reflected Goffrier's interest in extraterrestrial phenomena, with the song "Semjase" about a Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
farmer who in the 1970s claimed to have been regularly visited by Semjase, a woman from the constellation Pleides. They signed to Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
for 1990's Slam. This would prove to be their final album. Michener left the band and they continued with various players for two years, splitting up in 1992 after releasing a 45 and recording more than an albums worth of material.
In 2008, Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
released a 3-CD anthology of Big Dipper's Homestead recordings, with additional material,including the unreleased tracks recorded after Michener left, titled Supercluster: The Big Dipper Anthology. This renewed interest has prompted the band to reform for some live shows in April 2008.
In 2009, MTV Games released the songs "All Going Out Together", "She's Fetching", and "Younger Bums" for the Rock Band video game series. The songs are available on Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.
Singles/EPs
- "All Going Out Together" (1987, Homestead RecordsHomestead RecordsHomestead Records was a Long Island, NY based sublabel of music distributor Dutch East India Trading. It was founded in 1984 by Sam Berger, who was the American Independent buyer for Dutch East India Trading. Berger was finding that many bands who had perhaps released their own first 45 were...
) - "Jet" (1989) Bucketfull of Brains (split 45 with The DroogsThe DroogsThe Droogs was an American rock group from Los Angeles, active between 1972 and 1992, with the majority of releases from the mid-1980s onwards.The band was formed by Ric Albin , Roger Clay , Paul Motter , and Kyle Raven...
) - "Impossible Things" promo (1990, Epic RecordsEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
) (b-sides: She Loves You, Rockin' In The Free World, Stranded In The Jungle)
Albums
- Boo-BooBoo-Boo (Big Dipper album)Boo-Boo is the debut EP from Boston band Big Dipper. The EP was remastered and released as part of Merge Record's Supercluster: The Big Dipper Anthology set in 2008.-Track listing:...
(1987, Homestead/Demon Records) - HeavensHeavens (Big Dipper album)Heavens is the debut full length from Boston band Big Dipper. The album was released in 1987 on Homestead Records. Heavens was remastered and rereleased as part of Merge Record's Supercluster: The Big Dipper Anthology in 2008. The song, "Mr...
(1987, Homestead/Demon) - CrapsCraps (Big Dipper album)"Craps" is the second full length from Boston band Big Dipper. The album was released in 1988 on Homestead Records. Craps was remastered and rereleased as part of Merge Record's Supercluster: The Big Dipper Anthology in 2008.-Track listing:...
(1988, Homestead/Demon) - SlamSlam (Big Dipper album)"Slam" is the third and final full length from Boston band Big Dipper. The album was released in 1990 onEpic Records.-Track listing:...
(1990, Epic RecordsEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
) - Supercluster: The Big Dipper Anthology (March 2008, Merge RecordsMerge RecordsMerge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
)
Compilation appearances
- "You're Not Patsy" on The Wailing Ultimate (1987) Homestead
- "Lou Gehrig's Disease" on None Whatsoever (1987) Vacant Lot
- "He Is God" on Human Music (1988) Homestead
- "You're Not Patsy" on Roots of NirvanaNirvana (band)Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
(2011) MojoMojo (magazine)MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...