Green (band)
Encyclopedia
Green is a rock and roll
band from Chicago
. The band was started by Jeff Lescher (guitar and vocals), John Diamond (bass and backing vocals), and John Valley (drums). This lineup recorded the 1984 four-song EP The Name of This Group Is Green and the band's 1986 self-titled debut album, which featured 14 songs, including re-recordings of all four songs from the earlier EP.
Green established themselves via live shows around Chicago and undertook several national tours with the assistance of manager Cindy Illig. In 1986, Diamond and Valley elected to leave the band as Lescher announced plans for a national tour. Recruited from local music papers and from among their Chicago fan base were new bassist Ken Kurson
(who had his own band, Circles, and later fronted The Lilacs
), rhythm guitarist Stuart Shea, and drummer Rich Clifton. Shea departed following a brief U.S. tour, and the remaining three-piece recorded Elaine MacKenzie, including the tracks "Heavy Metal Kids", "She Was My Girl", and "Radio Caroline".
Writing in Spin magazine, renowned rock critic Ira Robbins reviewed Elaine MacKenzie, noting, "Lescher's voice is astonishing -- a rough but melodic roar that seems to be straining for release" before concluding "The Greening of America starts here." Away From the Pulsebeat magazine's review of Elaine MacKenzie stated: "Best American band, best songwriter, best singer, best LP. Sweep year." In 1990, Green released an EP called REM, this after the band R.E.M.
released an album called Green.
The group's membership changed again when Mark Mosher (drums/vocals) and Clay Tomasek (bass/vocals) joined the group for the Bittersweet E.P. in 1993.
In 2001 Eau de Vie was released on the Jettison label, owned by Jeff Pezzati
of Naked Raygun
and Big Black
.
The group released its seventh album, the 16-track concept affair The Planets, in 2009. The group now includes Lescher, Tomasek, Mike Zelenko on drums, and guitarist Jason Mosher.
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The band was started by Jeff Lescher (guitar and vocals), John Diamond (bass and backing vocals), and John Valley (drums). This lineup recorded the 1984 four-song EP The Name of This Group Is Green and the band's 1986 self-titled debut album, which featured 14 songs, including re-recordings of all four songs from the earlier EP.
Green established themselves via live shows around Chicago and undertook several national tours with the assistance of manager Cindy Illig. In 1986, Diamond and Valley elected to leave the band as Lescher announced plans for a national tour. Recruited from local music papers and from among their Chicago fan base were new bassist Ken Kurson
Ken Kurson
Ken Kurson is the Executive Vice President of Jamestown Associates, a political consulting firm based in Princeton, New Jersey and Washington, DC...
(who had his own band, Circles, and later fronted The Lilacs
The Lilacs
The Lilacs were a four-piece rock band from Chicago, formed in Summer 1990 by Ken Kurson, David Levinsky, Tom Whalen and John Packel. Kurson had previously played bass for Green, and after leaving the fold, he and fellow Glenbrook North High School graduate David Levinsky joined together to form...
), rhythm guitarist Stuart Shea, and drummer Rich Clifton. Shea departed following a brief U.S. tour, and the remaining three-piece recorded Elaine MacKenzie, including the tracks "Heavy Metal Kids", "She Was My Girl", and "Radio Caroline".
Writing in Spin magazine, renowned rock critic Ira Robbins reviewed Elaine MacKenzie, noting, "Lescher's voice is astonishing -- a rough but melodic roar that seems to be straining for release" before concluding "The Greening of America starts here." Away From the Pulsebeat magazine's review of Elaine MacKenzie stated: "Best American band, best songwriter, best singer, best LP. Sweep year." In 1990, Green released an EP called REM, this after the band R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
released an album called Green.
The group's membership changed again when Mark Mosher (drums/vocals) and Clay Tomasek (bass/vocals) joined the group for the Bittersweet E.P. in 1993.
In 2001 Eau de Vie was released on the Jettison label, owned by Jeff Pezzati
Jeff Pezzati
Jeff Pezzati is the lead singer for a popular Chicago punk band, Naked Raygun. From 1983 to 1985, he was also the bass player for the internationally known band Big Black. In 1980, Jeff Pezzati was a member of a suburban cover band, Condor, when he was asked to audition for Naked Raygun by the...
of Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun is a Chicago-based punk rock group. Initially active from 1980 to about 1992, Naked Raygun had several short-lived reunions afterwards and a full-time reformation in 2006....
and Big Black
Big Black
Big Black was an American punk rock band from Evanston, Illinois, active from 1981 to 1987. Founded by singer and guitarist Steve Albini, the band's initial lineup also included guitarist Santiago Durango and bassist Jeff Pezzati, both of Naked Raygun...
.
The group released its seventh album, the 16-track concept affair The Planets, in 2009. The group now includes Lescher, Tomasek, Mike Zelenko on drums, and guitarist Jason Mosher.
Discography
- The Name of This Group Is Green (Gang Green) 1984
- Green (Gang Green) 1986 (Hol. Megadisc) 1989
- Elaine MacKenzie (Pravda) 1988 (Hol. Pravda/Megadisc) 1989
- White Soul (Hol. Megadisc) 1989
- R.E.M.R.E.M. (EP)R.E.M. is the 1990 EP released by the Chicago based band Green. The EP was titled as such in response to R.E.M.'s release of the album Green....
- White Soul & Bittersweet (Widely Distributed) 1991
- Bittersweet EP (Bel. Megadisc/Play It Again Sam) 1991 EP 10 (Rokchik) 1991
- The Pop Tarts (Futurist) 1992
- Pathétique EP (Widely Distributed) 1993
- The Flowers in the Grass (Bel. Megadisc) 1993
- Green 5 (B Track) 1998
- Eau de Vie (Jettison) 2001
- The Planets (Gang Green) 2009