Eugenius (band)
Encyclopedia
Eugenius was an indie rock
band from Glasgow
, Scotland
that existed from 1990–1995, centred around former Vaselines
singer/guitarist Eugene Kelly
and featuring members of BMX Bandits
and Teenage Fanclub
.
of Teenage Fanclub. The line-up later changed, with Sheenan replaced by Raymond Boyle, and Roy Lawrence replacing Bollen. Joe McAlinden also contributed bass and violin, and Francis MacDonald
drums.
Kelly recruited the band after the separation of The Vaselines
. Kelly didn't take the band seriously at first until the band Nirvana
invited them to open dates on their 1991 European Tour (Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain
having been a fan of The Vaselines). Kelly also joined Nirvana on stage during their 1991 Reading Festival performance, with Nirvana's Krist Novoselic
later saying "My favourite part came when Eugene Kelly from The Vaselines came on stage. Eugene's just so cool - he can turn weed into marijuana, sugar into cocaine and diet pills into amphetamines". Kelly said of the Nirvana link, "They also liked Captain America and they just happened to be in a position to help us out, so they did by giving us a bit of promotion whenever they could".
In 1991 the Band released an EP under the name "Captain America", called EP on British independent label Paperhouse, then in 1992 they released their second EP, Flame On, on the same label. The band were forced to change their name due to legal threats from Marvel Comics
, and decided on Eugenius. Flame On also landed the band in legal trouble, due to the use of the C&A
clothing chain's logo on the sleeve.
After Cobain's countless recommendations, and being renamed in Eugenius the band attracted the attention of Atlantic Records
and signed up with them. In 1992, after delays due to the legal situation surrounding their band name, they released their first album, Oomalama
, which received highly favourable reviews, although Kelly was less positive about the album, saying "I think the lyrics on this album are shite". But with their harmonic "pop" sound they failed to catch on with fans of grunge
.
In 1994, Eugenius released three EPs, Caesar's Vein, Easter Bunny and the six-song live EP It Ain't Rocket Science, It's Eugenius!. The same year saw the release of the band's second full-length album, Mary Queen Of Scots, but once again they were unable to extend their audience to a significant extent, and in 1995 Kelly disbanded Eugenius, later re-emerging as a solo artist.
Sheenan formed The Painkillers, who released a single, "Tropical Zodiac", for Human Condition Records
in 1994.
Andy Bollen is now a successful freelance comedy writer and columnist.
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 Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
that existed from 1990–1995, centred around former Vaselines
The Vaselines
The Vaselines are an alternative rock band from Glasgow, Scotland. Formed in 1986, the band was originally a duo between its songwriters Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee, but later added James Seenan and Eugene's brother Charlie Kelly on bass and drums respectively from the band Secession. McKee had...
singer/guitarist Eugene Kelly
Eugene Kelly
Eugene Kelly is a Scottish musician who is a member of the group The Vaselines, a founding member of the now disbanded Eugenius and has had a number of solo releases....
and featuring members of BMX Bandits
BMX Bandits (band)
BMX Bandits are a Scottish 1960s-influenced guitar pop band who have been making music from 1986 to the present day. They have shared members with other Bellshill bands Teenage Fanclub and The Soup Dragons....
and Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub are an alternative rock band from Bellshill, Scotland. The band is composed of Norman Blake , Raymond McGinley , Gerard Love and Francis MacDonald , with songwriting duties shared equally among Blake, McGinley and Love...
.
History
The band members changed several times throughout the course of its duration. The initial line-up was Eugene Kelly (guitar and vocals), Gordon Keen (of BMX Bandits, guitar), James Sheenan (bass), and Andy Bollen (drums), who replaced guest live drummer Brendan O'HareBrendan O'Hare
Brendan O'Hare is a Scottish musician, best known as drummer in the Scottish rock band Teenage Fanclub from 1990 until early 1994.-Career:...
of Teenage Fanclub. The line-up later changed, with Sheenan replaced by Raymond Boyle, and Roy Lawrence replacing Bollen. Joe McAlinden also contributed bass and violin, and Francis MacDonald
Francis MacDonald
Francis Macdonald is a drummer and sometime member of British alternative rock band Teenage Fanclub and used to play with BMX Bandits and Eugenius...
drums.
Kelly recruited the band after the separation of The Vaselines
The Vaselines
The Vaselines are an alternative rock band from Glasgow, Scotland. Formed in 1986, the band was originally a duo between its songwriters Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee, but later added James Seenan and Eugene's brother Charlie Kelly on bass and drums respectively from the band Secession. McKee had...
. Kelly didn't take the band seriously at first until the band Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
invited them to open dates on their 1991 European Tour (Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
having been a fan of The Vaselines). Kelly also joined Nirvana on stage during their 1991 Reading Festival performance, with Nirvana's Krist Novoselic
Krist Novoselic
Krist Anthony Novoselic II is a Croatian-American rock musician, best known for being the bassist and co-founder of the grunge band Nirvana. After Nirvana ended, Novoselic formed Sweet 75 and then Eyes Adrift, releasing one album with each band...
later saying "My favourite part came when Eugene Kelly from The Vaselines came on stage. Eugene's just so cool - he can turn weed into marijuana, sugar into cocaine and diet pills into amphetamines". Kelly said of the Nirvana link, "They also liked Captain America and they just happened to be in a position to help us out, so they did by giving us a bit of promotion whenever they could".
In 1991 the Band released an EP under the name "Captain America", called EP on British independent label Paperhouse, then in 1992 they released their second EP, Flame On, on the same label. The band were forced to change their name due to legal threats from Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
, and decided on Eugenius. Flame On also landed the band in legal trouble, due to the use of the C&A
C&A
C&A is an international chain of fashion retail clothing stores, with its European head offices in Vilvoorde , Belgium and Düsseldorf, Germany...
clothing chain's logo on the sleeve.
After Cobain's countless recommendations, and being renamed in Eugenius the band attracted the attention of Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
and signed up with them. In 1992, after delays due to the legal situation surrounding their band name, they released their first album, Oomalama
Oomalama
Oomalama is the debut album by Scottish Pop rock band Eugenius released in 1992. The band had released one single and an EP on Paperhouse Records prior to this album, however, Oomalama was their first release under Atlantic Records....
, which received highly favourable reviews, although Kelly was less positive about the album, saying "I think the lyrics on this album are shite". But with their harmonic "pop" sound they failed to catch on with fans of grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
.
In 1994, Eugenius released three EPs, Caesar's Vein, Easter Bunny and the six-song live EP It Ain't Rocket Science, It's Eugenius!. The same year saw the release of the band's second full-length album, Mary Queen Of Scots, but once again they were unable to extend their audience to a significant extent, and in 1995 Kelly disbanded Eugenius, later re-emerging as a solo artist.
Sheenan formed The Painkillers, who released a single, "Tropical Zodiac", for Human Condition Records
Human Condition Records
Human Condition Records is an independent record label based in Edinburgh, Scotland which was founded in 1990 by Jamie Watson, ex-guitarist of Scottish punk group The Solos....
in 1994.
Andy Bollen is now a successful freelance comedy writer and columnist.
Singles/EPs
- "Wow" (1991) Paperhouse (as Captain America)
- "Flame On" (1992) Paperhouse (as Captain America)
- "Caesar's Vein" (1993) CreationCreation RecordsCreation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
/AtlanticAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz... - "Easter Bunny" (1993) Creation/Atlantic
- "Womb Boy Returns" (1996) Human Condition
Albums
- OomalamaOomalamaOomalama is the debut album by Scottish Pop rock band Eugenius released in 1992. The band had released one single and an EP on Paperhouse Records prior to this album, however, Oomalama was their first release under Atlantic Records....
(1992) Paperhouse/Atlantic - Mary Queen of Scots (1994) Creation/Atlantic