Electric Six
Encyclopedia
Electric Six is a six-piece metro Detroit-based band that plays what has been described as a brand of rock music infused with elements of "garage, disco, punk, new wave, and metal." The band met recognition in 2003 with the singles "Danger! High Voltage
" and "Gay Bar
", and subsequently recorded eight full-length albums: Fire
, Señor Smoke
, Switzerland
, I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master
, Flashy
, KILL
, Zodiac
and Heartbeats and Brainwaves
. They have also released a rarities album, Sexy Trash
.
trip hop
collective of the same name
. Throughout the later half of the '90s, they played regularly at the Old Miami and the Gold Dollar in Detroit, the center of a scene that produced breakout acts like the White Stripes.
The band was originally composed of Tyler Spencer, (vocals), Rock and Roll Indian (Anthony Selph, guitar), Surge Joebot (Joe Frezza, guitar), Disco (Steve Nawara, bass, former member of The Detroit Cobras
), and M (Cory Martin, drums). Dick Valentine is and has always been the primary songwriter (both music and lyrics) of Electric Six. During the band's temporary split at the end of the 1990s, Tyler Spencer formed his own band called The Dirty Shame
and released one CD entitled Smog Cutter Love Story which featured, among other tracks, a first version of Fire
track "Vengeance and Fashion." The band reformed by 2001 to record and release the first release of "Danger! High Voltage" and record the track "Dealin' in Death and Stealin' in the Name of the Lord" with Troy Gregory
for his Sybil album.
" (produced and mixed by Damien Mendis and Stuart Bradbury) proved a massive hit, particularly in the United Kingdom. The single also garnered the band public attention after a rumor got out that a pre-fame Jack White
from The White Stripes
sang backup vocals on single track "Danger! (High Voltage)" when it was recorded. Although this was presented as fact in multiple sources, then-guitarist Surge said in an interview:
In another interview, former drummer M. said: "My attorney has advised us to neither confirm nor deny the presence of Jack White."
Still, the rumor persisted that Jack White was featured on the song "Danger! High Voltage
." Initially both he and the Electric Six denied this, and the vocal work was credited officially to the unknown John S O'Leary. Later it was learned that "John S O'Leary" is merely the pseudonym used by White when checking into hotels.
The band's 2003 breakout album Fire
(also produced and mixed by Damien Mendis and Stuart Bradbury) earned the group significant critical success, landing the "Danger! High Voltage" single at number 2 on the UK singles chart
. Their second single, "Gay Bar
", released in 2003, reached No. 5 in the UK charts.
The album made it into several best-of-2003 lists, as well as reaching the top 10 in the UK album chart, and another single "Dance Commander", which gave Electric Six its third Top 40 single in the UK.
, The Atomic Numbers and Mood Elevator), John R. Dequindre (Chris Peters, bass/guitar) and Frank Lloyd Bonaventure (Mark Dundon, bass) (both-ex members of Ann Arbor's whirlingRoad, Getaway Cruiser and Six Clips) subsequently joined the group, though they had been associated with the group for some time. In time, Johnny Na$hinal (John Nash) joined the group on guitar, Dequindre switched to bass, replacing Bonaventure.
In early 2004, Electric Six played at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
.
, was released in the United Kingdom on February 14, 2005. Since the band had been dropped from their previous American record label, a North American release of the album was delayed until February 7, 2006, when it came out on Metropolis Records
.
The first single from the album put the band at the center of controversy, especially with Queen
fans following a cover of the Queen hit song "Radio Ga Ga
." The controversial music video shows lead singer Dick Valentine as the ghost of Queen's flamboyant lead singer Freddie Mercury
and a backing band of poodles. Queen drummer Roger Taylor
, who wrote the song, said that he was "unimpressed" with the video; Queen guitarist Brian May
reportedly liked it.
According to Dick Valentine
Electric Six finished recording their third major album, titled Switzerland
, in November 2005 and released it in North America on September 12, 2006. The band intends to record a video for every song on the album, "a lot of them...low budget." At present, eight videos have been released.
I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master
, Electric Six's fourth studio album, was released October 9, 2007. It has sixteen tracks. In the UK the album was released on October 22.
16 out of 18 tracks recorded were used on the album. There were no singles in support of this album, however the band have had several music videos produced and spread over the internet for a number of tracks on the album.
, was released on October 21, 2008.
The band promoted the album in the US, the UK and Spain on their 'Hitting the Walls and Working the Middle' tour. A 30 track album of demos and previously unreleased material entitled Sexy Trash
was released and made available at those shows.
In May 2009, Metropolis records released "Covered in Gas" by Evil Cowards
, a project by Valentine and Fall On Your Sword's William Bates.
was released on October 20, 2009 in the US with the UK release following on November 2, 2009.
Dick Valentine told the audience at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia on April 30, 2009 that the new fall release would be titled "Jared Styles"; however the final name for the album simply became KILL
.
A music video for first track on the album, "Body Shot", has been released on the internet.
Valentine also mentioned that this album would contain a cover song that they have been contemplating for a long time. This cover has since been confirmed as "The Rubberband Man
" by The Spinners.
On April 30, 2010 Dick Valentine confirmed at a concert at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana that the seventh album would be a twelve-track compilation titled Zodiac
. It was released on September 28, 2010.
as announced through their official website on June 22, 2011. It was released on October 11.
Previews of 5 tracks from the album were posted on the band's official Facebook page
vocals of disco, laden with "rampant solos, be they guitar riffs, synth wails, or strutting drums" that enforce the band's "energetic sound." However, the band members themselves have rejected such genre classifications as "disco-metal" and "disco-punk."
Critics have termed their lyrics as "disaffected, angry, ironic and lustful," expressing "macho flippancy" and "tongue-in-cheek pomposity." Dick Valentine has estimated that "90 percent of our songs, maybe even higher than 90 percent" are "about absolutely nothing." Songs by Electric Six are often concerned with subjects such as human sexual behavior
, masculinity
, dancing, hypersexuality
, fast food and fire (The band's official biography states that their debut album Fire
was so named because they "noticed an abundance of the word fire on this record and...decided to go with it."). Lead singer Dick Valentine had commented on the aforementioned lyrical tendencies in song content with regards to the band's third album:
Valentine cites Freddie Mercury
, Talking Heads
, Falco
, Devo
, and Captain Beefheart
as his musical influences, as well as Black Sabbath
, Queen
and KISS
for the rest of the group.
Danger! High Voltage
"Danger! High Voltage" is a song by Electric Six, released as a single on 6 January 2003 through XL Recordings. It was the band's debut single, and reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and was named Single of the Week by the NME. It was also released on the band's debut album Fire .Jack White...
" and "Gay Bar
Gay Bar (song)
"Gay Bar" is a song written and performed by the Detroit-based rock band Electric Six. It was the second single off their debut album, Fire released in 2003....
", and subsequently recorded eight full-length albums: Fire
Fire (Electric Six album)
Fire is the debut album of Electric Six, released in 2003.The album received generally positive critical reviews. Rolling Stone called the album "the summer's most brilliantly demented party record" and Blender hailed the music as "convincingly ferocious"...
, Señor Smoke
Señor Smoke
Señor Smoke is the second album from Electric Six, following Fire in 2003. It was released in the UK February 14, 2005 by Warner Music imprint Rushmore Records...
, Switzerland
Switzerland (album)
Switzerland is the title of the third album by Detroit rock band Electric Six.The album consists of thirteen new tracks. The band commented that:...
, I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master
I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master
I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master is the fourth album by the Detroit rock band Electric Six.Music videos were made for the tracks "Down at McDonnelzzz" and "Randy's Hot Tonight!".-Track listing:...
, Flashy
Flashy (Electric Six album)
Flashy is the title of the fifth album by Detroit rock band Electric Six.The album was accompanied by a music video for track "Formula 409" which appeared online on July 30, 2008...
, KILL
KILL
KILL is the sixth album by Detroit rock band Electric Six.In initial press releases, the band described the album as being a return to a sound more akin to their debut album, but this was later revealed by front-man Dick Valentine to be more gimmick than truth.An explicit video was released for...
, Zodiac
Zodiac (Electric Six album)
Zodiac is the seventh studio album by Detroit rock band Electric Six.It was released on September 28, 2010. According to an official statement by the band, the songs on the album have been arranged to correspond with the signs of the Zodiac....
and Heartbeats and Brainwaves
Heartbeats and Brainwaves
Heartbeats and Brainwaves is the eighth album by Detroit rock band Electric Six. It was released on October 11, 2011. It was released as a CD, digital download and a colored double vinyl set which is sold at the band's live shows.-Track listing:...
. They have also released a rarities album, Sexy Trash
Sexy Trash
Sexy Trash is a demos, B-sides and rarities album by Electric Six available exclusively on their "Hittin' The Walls and Workin' The Middle" tour. It includes 30 tracks covering the band's career as well as brief liner notes from lead singer Dick Valentine, it is expected to be available at the...
.
Formation and the Wildbunch years
The band formed in 1996 and was initially known as The Wildbunch, eventually dropping that name due to pressure from the BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
trip hop
Trip hop
Trip hop is a music genre consisting of downtempo electronic music which originated in the early 1990s in England, especially Bristol. Deriving from "post"-acid house, the term was first used by the British music media and press as a way to describe the more experimental variant of breakbeat which...
collective of the same name
The Wild Bunch (sound system)
The Wild Bunch was a sound system based in the St Paul's district of Bristol, England from 1983 to 1986. The group was renowned for playing sets that drew large crowds from the club scene and had performed shows as far away as London. They performed in soundclashes against other Bristol sound...
. Throughout the later half of the '90s, they played regularly at the Old Miami and the Gold Dollar in Detroit, the center of a scene that produced breakout acts like the White Stripes.
The band was originally composed of Tyler Spencer, (vocals), Rock and Roll Indian (Anthony Selph, guitar), Surge Joebot (Joe Frezza, guitar), Disco (Steve Nawara, bass, former member of The Detroit Cobras
The Detroit Cobras
The Detroit Cobras are an American garage rock cover band from Detroit, Michigan, formed in 1994.-History:The Detroit Cobras signed with Sympathy for the Record Industry and released their first full-length album, Mink Rat or Rabbit, in 1998...
), and M (Cory Martin, drums). Dick Valentine is and has always been the primary songwriter (both music and lyrics) of Electric Six. During the band's temporary split at the end of the 1990s, Tyler Spencer formed his own band called The Dirty Shame
The Dirty Shame
The Dirty Shame was a band created by Detroit rocker Tyler Spencer, famously a member of The Wildbunch as Jackson Pounder or Dick Valentine....
and released one CD entitled Smog Cutter Love Story which featured, among other tracks, a first version of Fire
Fire (Electric Six album)
Fire is the debut album of Electric Six, released in 2003.The album received generally positive critical reviews. Rolling Stone called the album "the summer's most brilliantly demented party record" and Blender hailed the music as "convincingly ferocious"...
track "Vengeance and Fashion." The band reformed by 2001 to record and release the first release of "Danger! High Voltage" and record the track "Dealin' in Death and Stealin' in the Name of the Lord" with Troy Gregory
Troy Gregory
Troy Gregory is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, filmmaker and solo artist. He is best-known for his work with The Dirtbombs, Prong, and The Witches.-Chronology:...
for his Sybil album.
Mainstream success (2001–2003)
The 2003 release of "Danger! High VoltageDanger! High Voltage
"Danger! High Voltage" is a song by Electric Six, released as a single on 6 January 2003 through XL Recordings. It was the band's debut single, and reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and was named Single of the Week by the NME. It was also released on the band's debut album Fire .Jack White...
" (produced and mixed by Damien Mendis and Stuart Bradbury) proved a massive hit, particularly in the United Kingdom. The single also garnered the band public attention after a rumor got out that a pre-fame Jack White
Jack White (musician)
Jack White , often credited as Jack White III, is an American musician, songwriter, record producer and occasional actor...
from The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
sang backup vocals on single track "Danger! (High Voltage)" when it was recorded. Although this was presented as fact in multiple sources, then-guitarist Surge said in an interview:
In another interview, former drummer M. said: "My attorney has advised us to neither confirm nor deny the presence of Jack White."
Still, the rumor persisted that Jack White was featured on the song "Danger! High Voltage
Danger! High Voltage
"Danger! High Voltage" is a song by Electric Six, released as a single on 6 January 2003 through XL Recordings. It was the band's debut single, and reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and was named Single of the Week by the NME. It was also released on the band's debut album Fire .Jack White...
." Initially both he and the Electric Six denied this, and the vocal work was credited officially to the unknown John S O'Leary. Later it was learned that "John S O'Leary" is merely the pseudonym used by White when checking into hotels.
The band's 2003 breakout album Fire
Fire (Electric Six album)
Fire is the debut album of Electric Six, released in 2003.The album received generally positive critical reviews. Rolling Stone called the album "the summer's most brilliantly demented party record" and Blender hailed the music as "convincingly ferocious"...
(also produced and mixed by Damien Mendis and Stuart Bradbury) earned the group significant critical success, landing the "Danger! High Voltage" single at number 2 on the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Their second single, "Gay Bar
Gay Bar (song)
"Gay Bar" is a song written and performed by the Detroit-based rock band Electric Six. It was the second single off their debut album, Fire released in 2003....
", released in 2003, reached No. 5 in the UK charts.
The album made it into several best-of-2003 lists, as well as reaching the top 10 in the UK album chart, and another single "Dance Commander", which gave Electric Six its third Top 40 single in the UK.
Lineup changes and tour
After finishing the recording of Fire, three members left in June, leaving Dick Valentine, M, and Tait Nucleus? (Christopher Tait). The Colonel (Zach Shipps, guitar, ex member of Brendan BensonBrendan Benson
Brendan Benson is an American musician and songwriter. He sings and plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, and drums. He has released four solo albums and is a member of the band The Raconteurs....
, The Atomic Numbers and Mood Elevator), John R. Dequindre (Chris Peters, bass/guitar) and Frank Lloyd Bonaventure (Mark Dundon, bass) (both-ex members of Ann Arbor's whirlingRoad, Getaway Cruiser and Six Clips) subsequently joined the group, though they had been associated with the group for some time. In time, Johnny Na$hinal (John Nash) joined the group on guitar, Dequindre switched to bass, replacing Bonaventure.
In early 2004, Electric Six played at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a three-day annual music and arts festival, organized by Goldenvoice and held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley...
.
Señor Smoke (2005)
The band's second album, Señor SmokeSeñor Smoke
Señor Smoke is the second album from Electric Six, following Fire in 2003. It was released in the UK February 14, 2005 by Warner Music imprint Rushmore Records...
, was released in the United Kingdom on February 14, 2005. Since the band had been dropped from their previous American record label, a North American release of the album was delayed until February 7, 2006, when it came out on Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
.
The first single from the album put the band at the center of controversy, especially with Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
fans following a cover of the Queen hit song "Radio Ga Ga
Radio Ga Ga
"Radio Ga Ga" is a 1984 song performed and recorded by the British rock band Queen, written by their drummer Roger Taylor. It was released as a single with "I Go Crazy" by Brian May on the original B-side and was included on the album The Works...
." The controversial music video shows lead singer Dick Valentine as the ghost of Queen's flamboyant lead singer Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...
and a backing band of poodles. Queen drummer Roger Taylor
Roger Meddows-Taylor
Roger Meddows Taylor , known as Roger Taylor, is a British musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the drummer, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of British rock band Queen. As a drummer he is known for his "big" unique sound and is considered one of...
, who wrote the song, said that he was "unimpressed" with the video; Queen guitarist Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
reportedly liked it.
According to Dick Valentine
Switzerland (2006)
In November 2004, drummer M. called it quits, leaving Dick Valentine as the sole original member of the former Wildbunch. Their new drummer, Percussion World (Mike Alonso), has been affiliated with the band and its members for some time, and has been named as a permanent member of the band.Electric Six finished recording their third major album, titled Switzerland
Switzerland (album)
Switzerland is the title of the third album by Detroit rock band Electric Six.The album consists of thirteen new tracks. The band commented that:...
, in November 2005 and released it in North America on September 12, 2006. The band intends to record a video for every song on the album, "a lot of them...low budget." At present, eight videos have been released.
I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being The Master (2007)
In May 2007, "Swedish" bassist Smörgåsbord! (Keith Thompson, member of Johnny Headband) joined the band, replacing John R. Dequindre on the bass, who reportedly wished to spend more time on his other musical projects.I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master
I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master
I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master is the fourth album by the Detroit rock band Electric Six.Music videos were made for the tracks "Down at McDonnelzzz" and "Randy's Hot Tonight!".-Track listing:...
, Electric Six's fourth studio album, was released October 9, 2007. It has sixteen tracks. In the UK the album was released on October 22.
16 out of 18 tracks recorded were used on the album. There were no singles in support of this album, however the band have had several music videos produced and spread over the internet for a number of tracks on the album.
Flashy and Sexy Trash (2008)
A fifth album, FlashyFlashy (Electric Six album)
Flashy is the title of the fifth album by Detroit rock band Electric Six.The album was accompanied by a music video for track "Formula 409" which appeared online on July 30, 2008...
, was released on October 21, 2008.
The band promoted the album in the US, the UK and Spain on their 'Hitting the Walls and Working the Middle' tour. A 30 track album of demos and previously unreleased material entitled Sexy Trash
Sexy Trash
Sexy Trash is a demos, B-sides and rarities album by Electric Six available exclusively on their "Hittin' The Walls and Workin' The Middle" tour. It includes 30 tracks covering the band's career as well as brief liner notes from lead singer Dick Valentine, it is expected to be available at the...
was released and made available at those shows.
In May 2009, Metropolis records released "Covered in Gas" by Evil Cowards
Evil Cowards
Evil Cowards is an electronic dance rock band created by Detroit rocker Tyler Spencer, famously a member of Electric Six, and William Bates of Fall On Your Sword.The band released their debut album entitled "Covered in Gas" in 2009....
, a project by Valentine and Fall On Your Sword's William Bates.
KILL (2009)
KILLKILL
KILL is the sixth album by Detroit rock band Electric Six.In initial press releases, the band described the album as being a return to a sound more akin to their debut album, but this was later revealed by front-man Dick Valentine to be more gimmick than truth.An explicit video was released for...
was released on October 20, 2009 in the US with the UK release following on November 2, 2009.
Dick Valentine told the audience at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia on April 30, 2009 that the new fall release would be titled "Jared Styles"; however the final name for the album simply became KILL
KILL
KILL is the sixth album by Detroit rock band Electric Six.In initial press releases, the band described the album as being a return to a sound more akin to their debut album, but this was later revealed by front-man Dick Valentine to be more gimmick than truth.An explicit video was released for...
.
A music video for first track on the album, "Body Shot", has been released on the internet.
Zodiac (2010)
On February 14, 2010, Dick Valentine announced via the Electric Six website that the band is in the process of recording their 7th studio album.Valentine also mentioned that this album would contain a cover song that they have been contemplating for a long time. This cover has since been confirmed as "The Rubberband Man
The Rubberband Man
"The Rubberband Man" is a song recorded by the American vocal group The Spinners .The song, written by producer Thom Bell and Linda Creed, was about Bell's son, who was being teased by his classmates for being overweight...
" by The Spinners.
On April 30, 2010 Dick Valentine confirmed at a concert at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana that the seventh album would be a twelve-track compilation titled Zodiac
Zodiac (Electric Six album)
Zodiac is the seventh studio album by Detroit rock band Electric Six.It was released on September 28, 2010. According to an official statement by the band, the songs on the album have been arranged to correspond with the signs of the Zodiac....
. It was released on September 28, 2010.
Heartbeats and Brainwaves (2011)
The bands eighth studio album will be titled Heartbeats and BrainwavesHeartbeats and Brainwaves
Heartbeats and Brainwaves is the eighth album by Detroit rock band Electric Six. It was released on October 11, 2011. It was released as a CD, digital download and a colored double vinyl set which is sold at the band's live shows.-Track listing:...
as announced through their official website on June 22, 2011. It was released on October 11.
Previews of 5 tracks from the album were posted on the band's official Facebook page
Sound, style, and influences
Electric Six incorporates a variety of styles, resulting in being termed a "genre-blurring" band. The group's sound has been described as a synthesis of "disco, synth pop, glam, and arena rock," including the falsettoFalsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
vocals of disco, laden with "rampant solos, be they guitar riffs, synth wails, or strutting drums" that enforce the band's "energetic sound." However, the band members themselves have rejected such genre classifications as "disco-metal" and "disco-punk."
Critics have termed their lyrics as "disaffected, angry, ironic and lustful," expressing "macho flippancy" and "tongue-in-cheek pomposity." Dick Valentine has estimated that "90 percent of our songs, maybe even higher than 90 percent" are "about absolutely nothing." Songs by Electric Six are often concerned with subjects such as human sexual behavior
Human sexual behavior
Human sexual activities or human sexual practices or human sexual behavior refers to the manner in which humans experience and express their sexuality. People engage in a variety of sexual acts from time to time, and for a wide variety of reasons...
, masculinity
Masculinity
Masculinity is possessing qualities or characteristics considered typical of or appropriate to a man. The term can be used to describe any human, animal or object that has the quality of being masculine...
, dancing, hypersexuality
Hypersexuality
Hypersexuality is extremely frequent or suddenly increased sexual urges or sexual activity. Hypersexuality is typically associated with lowered sexual inhibitions. Although hypersexuality can be caused by some medical conditions or medications, in most cases the cause is unknown...
, fast food and fire (The band's official biography states that their debut album Fire
Fire (Electric Six album)
Fire is the debut album of Electric Six, released in 2003.The album received generally positive critical reviews. Rolling Stone called the album "the summer's most brilliantly demented party record" and Blender hailed the music as "convincingly ferocious"...
was so named because they "noticed an abundance of the word fire on this record and...decided to go with it."). Lead singer Dick Valentine had commented on the aforementioned lyrical tendencies in song content with regards to the band's third album:
Valentine cites Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...
, Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
, Falco
Falco (musician)
Johann Hölzel , better known by his stage name Falco, was an Austrian pop and rock musician and rapper. He had several international hits: "Der Kommissar", "Rock Me Amadeus", "Vienna Calling", "Jeanny", "The Sound of Musik", "Coming Home " and posthumously, "Out Of The Dark"...
, Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
, and Captain Beefheart
Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet January 15, 1941 December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12...
as his musical influences, as well as Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
and KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
for the rest of the group.
Discography
| Year | Album | UK | US Dance | Record Label | Certification Certification Certification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or organization. This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review, education, assessment, or audit... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Fire Fire (Electric Six album) Fire is the debut album of Electric Six, released in 2003.The album received generally positive critical reviews. Rolling Stone called the album "the summer's most brilliantly demented party record" and Blender hailed the music as "convincingly ferocious"... |
7 | 5 | XL Recordings XL Recordings XL Recordings is a British independent record label owned by Richard Russell. It originated as a 1989 offshoot of Beggars Banquet Records.Though only releasing an average of six albums a year, XL Recordings has worked with The Prodigy, Radiohead, The White Stripes, Dizzee Rascal, M.I.A., Vampire... |
UK British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... : Gold |
| 2005 | Señor Smoke Señor Smoke Señor Smoke is the second album from Electric Six, following Fire in 2003. It was released in the UK February 14, 2005 by Warner Music imprint Rushmore Records... |
– | – | WEA Warner Music Group Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies... |
|
| 2006 | Switzerland Switzerland (album) Switzerland is the title of the third album by Detroit rock band Electric Six.The album consists of thirteen new tracks. The band commented that:... |
– | – | Metropolis Records Metropolis Records Metropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres.... |
|
| 2007 | I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master is the fourth album by the Detroit rock band Electric Six.Music videos were made for the tracks "Down at McDonnelzzz" and "Randy's Hot Tonight!".-Track listing:... |
– | 5 | Metropolis Records | |
| 2008 | Flashy Flashy (Electric Six album) Flashy is the title of the fifth album by Detroit rock band Electric Six.The album was accompanied by a music video for track "Formula 409" which appeared online on July 30, 2008... |
– | 14 | Metropolis Records | |
| 2008 | Sexy Trash Sexy Trash Sexy Trash is a demos, B-sides and rarities album by Electric Six available exclusively on their "Hittin' The Walls and Workin' The Middle" tour. It includes 30 tracks covering the band's career as well as brief liner notes from lead singer Dick Valentine, it is expected to be available at the... |
– | – | – | |
| 2009 | KILL KILL KILL is the sixth album by Detroit rock band Electric Six.In initial press releases, the band described the album as being a return to a sound more akin to their debut album, but this was later revealed by front-man Dick Valentine to be more gimmick than truth.An explicit video was released for... |
– | 20 | Metropolis Records | |
| 2010 | Zodiac Zodiac (Electric Six album) Zodiac is the seventh studio album by Detroit rock band Electric Six.It was released on September 28, 2010. According to an official statement by the band, the songs on the album have been arranged to correspond with the signs of the Zodiac.... |
– | – | Metropolis Records | |
| 2011 | Heartbeats and Brainwaves Heartbeats and Brainwaves Heartbeats and Brainwaves is the eighth album by Detroit rock band Electric Six. It was released on October 11, 2011. It was released as a CD, digital download and a colored double vinyl set which is sold at the band's live shows.-Track listing:... |
– | – | Metropolis Records |
Charting UK singles
| Year | Single | UK |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "Danger! High Voltage Danger! High Voltage "Danger! High Voltage" is a song by Electric Six, released as a single on 6 January 2003 through XL Recordings. It was the band's debut single, and reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and was named Single of the Week by the NME. It was also released on the band's debut album Fire .Jack White... " |
2 |
| 2003 | "Gay Bar Gay Bar (song) "Gay Bar" is a song written and performed by the Detroit-based rock band Electric Six. It was the second single off their debut album, Fire released in 2003.... " |
5 |
| 2003 | "Dance Commander" | 40 |
| 2004 | "Radio Ga Ga Radio Ga Ga "Radio Ga Ga" is a 1984 song performed and recorded by the British rock band Queen, written by their drummer Roger Taylor. It was released as a single with "I Go Crazy" by Brian May on the original B-side and was included on the album The Works... " |
21 |