Headless Chickens
Encyclopedia
The Headless Chickens were a New Zealand
band. Going against the grain of the Dunedin sound
that dominated the Flying Nun Records
roster at the time, the Headless Chickens made extensive use of electronic instruments (or in their own words, "abused technology" ) in their music.
for Flying Nun Records
in the 1980s and 1990s.
The band first became known in New Zealand when they won the 1987 Rheineck Beer Rock award. The prizemoney from the award went into the funding for their innovative (for its use of sampling) 1988 debut album Stunt Clown.
The 1988 CD release of Stunt Clown compiled the vinyl release of this name with the 1986 Headless Chickens EP.
A second album, Body Blow, appeared in 1991 which featured singer Fiona McDonald
. It was during this time with McDonald that the Headless Chickens would attract their widest audience. Two versions of Body Blow were released, with the revised and expanded 1993 version going double platinum in New Zealand.
This album spawned the single "Cruise Control" which became a hit in New Zealand and (in a remixed form) Australia
. "Cruise Control" was notable for its sampling, particularly for elements of Shona Laing
's 1973 single "1905" and The Crocodiles
' 1980 single "Tears".
At the time, the band's use of electronic elements and sampling in a "rock" setting was out of the ordinary and probably had an influence that outweighed the band's modest sales success; certainly the band Garbage
credit the Headless Chickens as a major influence and they were sampled on that band's debut album.
The followup 1997 Greedy album took several years to complete, and during that time several band members left, including singer McDonald. Greedy contained the track "George" which became a No. 1 hit single in their home country; "George" was the first (and so far, only) track from the Flying Nun Records label to achieve No. 1 status.
The Headless Chickens split up soon after the release of Greedy.
In 2002 Flying Nun Records released a 2CD best-of compilation named ChickensHits.
In July 2008 it was announced that the band would reform to play the Homebake
Festival in Sydney, Australia on December 6. The line-up would feature both Chris Matthews
and Fiona McDonald
. They played further concerts in Australia and New Zealand and were scheduled to play at the Auckland Big Day Out
in January 2009.
and Australia
. The following is a list of these albums that have featured tracks by the Headless Chickens.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
band. Going against the grain of the Dunedin sound
Dunedin Sound
The Dunedin sound was a style of indie pop music created in the southern New Zealand university city of Dunedin in the early 1980s.-Characteristics:...
that dominated the Flying Nun Records
Flying Nun Records
Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
roster at the time, the Headless Chickens made extensive use of electronic instruments (or in their own words, "abused technology" ) in their music.
History
The Headless Chickens recorded three albums, Stunt Clown (1988), Body Blow (1991), and Greedy (1997), plus various EPsExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
for Flying Nun Records
Flying Nun Records
Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
in the 1980s and 1990s.
The band first became known in New Zealand when they won the 1987 Rheineck Beer Rock award. The prizemoney from the award went into the funding for their innovative (for its use of sampling) 1988 debut album Stunt Clown.
The 1988 CD release of Stunt Clown compiled the vinyl release of this name with the 1986 Headless Chickens EP.
A second album, Body Blow, appeared in 1991 which featured singer Fiona McDonald
Fiona McDonald
-Singer:McDonald was the lead singer of the band Headless Chickens in the early 1990s. In addition she was a singer and one of the songwriters for Strawpeople...
. It was during this time with McDonald that the Headless Chickens would attract their widest audience. Two versions of Body Blow were released, with the revised and expanded 1993 version going double platinum in New Zealand.
This album spawned the single "Cruise Control" which became a hit in New Zealand and (in a remixed form) Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. "Cruise Control" was notable for its sampling, particularly for elements of Shona Laing
Shona Laing
Shona Laing is a New Zealand musician. She has had several hits in her native country, as well as a few minor international hits, most notably " Not a Kennedy" and "Soviet Snow". Laing also contributed to the Manfred Mann's Earth Band album Somewhere in Afrika...
's 1973 single "1905" and The Crocodiles
The Crocodiles
The Crocodiles was a New Zealand pop band formed in 1979 with lead singer Jenny Morris, who went on to commercial success as a solo artist in Australia; and later included drummer Barton Price who subsequently joined Sardine v and then Models...
' 1980 single "Tears".
At the time, the band's use of electronic elements and sampling in a "rock" setting was out of the ordinary and probably had an influence that outweighed the band's modest sales success; certainly the band Garbage
Garbage (band)
Garbage are an alternative rock band formed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1994. The group consists of Scottish singer Shirley Manson and American musicians Duke Erikson , Steve Marker and Butch Vig . All four members are involved in songwriting and production...
credit the Headless Chickens as a major influence and they were sampled on that band's debut album.
The followup 1997 Greedy album took several years to complete, and during that time several band members left, including singer McDonald. Greedy contained the track "George" which became a No. 1 hit single in their home country; "George" was the first (and so far, only) track from the Flying Nun Records label to achieve No. 1 status.
The Headless Chickens split up soon after the release of Greedy.
In 2002 Flying Nun Records released a 2CD best-of compilation named ChickensHits.
In July 2008 it was announced that the band would reform to play the Homebake
Homebake
Homebake is an annual Australian rock festival, featuring an all-Australian lineup . The festival was first held on 4 January 1996 at Belongil Fields in Byron Bay, on the far north coast of New South Wales...
Festival in Sydney, Australia on December 6. The line-up would feature both Chris Matthews
Chris Matthews (musician)
Chris Matthews is a New Zealand rock musician. He has been a member of numerous bands, notably Children's Hour, This Kind of Punishment and The Headless Chickens for whom he was guitarist and lead vocalist, as well as writer or co-writer of many of their songs...
and Fiona McDonald
Fiona McDonald
-Singer:McDonald was the lead singer of the band Headless Chickens in the early 1990s. In addition she was a singer and one of the songwriters for Strawpeople...
. They played further concerts in Australia and New Zealand and were scheduled to play at the Auckland Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
in January 2009.
Discography
| Date of Release | Title | Label | Charted | Certification | Catalog Number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albums | ||||||
| 1988 1988 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1988.-January-March:* January 1 – André Rieu's Johann Strauss Orchestra plays its first concert.... |
Stunt Clown | Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s... |
- | - | FN100 | |
| 1991 1991 in music See also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year... |
Body Blow | Flying Nun Records | - | - | FN206 | |
| 1993 1993 in music This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992.... |
Body Blow | Flying Nun Records | Platinum x2 (NZ) | |||
| 1997 1997 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy... |
Greedy Greedy (album) Greedy is the final album released in 1997 by New Zealand band Headless Chickens.-Track listing:#"Dark Angel"#"Stalk of a Cherry"#"Secondtime Virgin"#"Cipher"#"Magnet"#"Fire"#"Electricity"#"Chicken Little"#"Smoking Big Ted"#"Black Water Rising"... |
Flying Nun Records/Festival Music | - | - | FNCD320 | |
| 2002 2002 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI... |
ChickensHits ChickensHits ChickensHits is a "greatest hits album" released in 2002 by the New Zealand band, Headless Chickens.-Disc 1:#"Cruise Control"#"George"#"Gaskrankinstation"#"Choppers "#"Expecting To Fly"#"Donde Esta la Pollo"#"Juice"#"Mr Moon"... |
Flying Nun Records | - | - | FNCD467 | |
Featured appearances
The group have appeared on many compilations and soundtracks since 1990 in both New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The following is a list of these albums that have featured tracks by the Headless Chickens.
- (1990) - In Love With These TimesIn Love with These TimesIn Love With These Times is a compilation of previously released songs by artists on New Zealand based Flying Nun Records. It was released by Flying Nun in 1990 and re-released in a 2CD package with the 1991 compilation Pink Flying Saucers Over the Southern Alps...
(Flying Nun RecordsFlying Nun RecordsFlying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
) - Donca - (1991) - Aotearoa: Stand Strong '91Aotearoa: Stand Strong"Aotearoa: Stand Strong" is a compilation album released in 1991 by recording label, Festival Music.-Track listing:#"Can't Control Her" – These Wilding Ways#"Two Feet Off the Ground" – Greg Johnson Set#"Red Letter" – Charlotte Sometimes...
(Festival) - Cruise Control - (1991) - Getting Older 1981-1991Getting Older 1981-1991"Getting Older" is a compilation album released in 1991 by recording label Flying Nun Records.-Track listing:#Getting Older - The Clean#Randolph's Going Home - Shayne Carter & Peter Jefferies#Something New - The Stones...
(Flying Nun RecordsFlying Nun RecordsFlying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
) - Totalling Dad's Car - (1991) - Pink Flying Saucers Over the Southern Alps (Flying Nun RecordsFlying Nun RecordsFlying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
) - Railway Surfing - (1993) - Collision (WhiteWhite MusicWhite Music is the debut album by XTC. It was released on 20 January 1978 and reached No. 38 in the UK album charts. It spawned the singles "Statue of Liberty" which was banned by the BBC for the line "sail beneath your skirt" and a re-recording of "This Is Pop" .-UK LP: V 2095:-2001 Remastered...
) - Cruise Control - (1994) - AbbasalutelyAbbasalutelyAbbasalutely is a compilation album released in 1995 by New Zealand recording label Flying Nun Records as a tribute album to ABBA.-Track listing:-External links:*...
(Flying Nun RecordsFlying Nun RecordsFlying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
) - Super TrouperSuper Trouper (song)-A-Teens version:"Super Trouper" was A-Teens' second single from their 1st album The ABBA Generation, a cover of ABBA's song. When the single came out in the fall of 1999, it became a hit around the globe, just as its predecessor "Mamma Mia", also an ABBA cover...
(ABBAABBAABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
cover) - (1996) - In The Neighbourhood (Warner Music) - Cruise Control
- (1996) - Popeyed (Flying Nun RecordsFlying Nun RecordsFlying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
) - George - (1999) - ScarfiesScarfies (soundtrack)"Scarfies" is the soundtrack to the New Zealand film of the same name and has been released alongside the movie in 1999.-Track listing:#Save My Life - Bike#Outer Space - 3Ds#George - Headless Chickens#Doledrums - The Chills...
(Flying Nun RecordsFlying Nun RecordsFlying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
) - George - (2002) - Absolute BlissAbsolute BlissAbsolute Bliss is a New Zealand music compilation album released in 2002 by recording label, Festival Music.-Track listing:#"Outlook for Thursday" – DD Smash#"Something So Strong" – Crowded House#"Sweet Lovers" – Holidaymakers...
(Festival) - Cruise Control - (2003) - Give It A Whirl (Propeller RecordsPropeller RecordsPropeller Records was an independent record label formed in Auckland, New Zealand, by Simon Grigg in 1980.-1980-81:In the years prior to 1980 the New Zealand contemporary recording industry was largely moribund. The major record labels were either not recording or were confining themselves largely...
) - Gaskrankinstation - (2003) - Natures Best 3 (Sony Music Entertainment) - Cruise Control
- (2005) - V8 Supercars Australia: A Full Tank Of Rock (Festival Mushroom Records) - Cruise Control
Singles
| Year | Single | Album | NZ Charts | AUS Charts Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | "Soulcatcher"/ "Donka" | Stunt Clown | - | - |
| 1989 | "Expecting To Fly" | Stunt Clown | - | - |
| 1990 | "Gaskrankinstation"/"Crash Hot" | Body Blow | 28 | - |
| 1991 | "Cruise Control" | Body Blow | 6 | 26 |
| 1992 | "Donde Esta La Pollo" | Body Blow | 4 | - |
| 1992 | "Juice Juice (Headless Chickens song) "Juice" is a single by New Zealand rock band Headless Chickens released in 1992. The single was originally titled "Dreamchild", having been written and performed by Fiona McDonald for the Strawpeople. When McDonald later joined the Headless Chickens, the song was reworked and renamed "Juice". The... " |
Body Blow | 7 | - |
| 1993 | "Mr. Moon Mr. Moon "Mr. Moon" is a single by New Zealand rock band Headless Chickens released in 1993.-Track listings:#Mr Moon#Inside Track #Inside Track #Attack of the Killer Androids... " |
Body Blow | 22 | 93 |
| 1994 | "George George (song) "George" is a number-one hit single by New Zealand rock band Headless Chickens released in 1994.-Track listings:#George#Cruise Control #Bestiary#Milton Babbit's Rarotongan Holiday... " |
Greedy | 1 | 67 |
| 1997 | "Magnet" | Greedy | - | - |
| 1997 | "Dark Angel" | Greedy | - | - |
| 1998 | "Secondtime Virgin" | Greedy | - | - |