Ian Stephen
Encyclopedia
Ian Stephen is an Australian musician living in the USA.
In 1984, with bass player Mark Ferrie, guitarists Terry Doolan and Andrew Pendlebury
, and drummer Des Hefner, he formed the Slaughtermen
in Melbourne, a mid eighties post-punk
alternative Southern gospel
group (albeit 12,000 miles away from their original source of inspiration, America's Deep South
Bible Belt
). Prior to the Slaughtermen, Ian's checkered career included The Armchairs, a satirical four piece outfit co-founded with Johnny Topper which had its debut in 1979 at the infamous Crystal Ballroom
in St Kilda
. Other members included guitarist Pierre Jaquinot, Andrew Snow, drums, and Fred Cass, bass. Later incarnations featured Rod Haywood, guitar, and Sue Parncutt, bass. The Armchairs released a 7 inch Ep, Ski Lo Lo, and a 12" album, Party Time, on Missing Link Records
with the entire B side taken up by a 20 minute version of "La Bamba
". The Armchairs, later with the help of Stephen Cummings
, who in the early 1980s Ian had struck up a songwriting partnership with, morphed into the mildly successful, yet short lived 11 piece group, Go Wild in French, which featured songs of Elvis Presley
, as well as original compositions.
Fed up with the claustrophobic Melbourne
scene, Ian moved to Sydney
in 1989 and recorded a solo album with some members of The Danglin' Bros and others, entitled Workin' on The Nightshift, which was released on Agape records through EMI
. This was followed in 1996 by King Of the Cross, released on the Massive label. A collection of original and Southern gospel songs, including a new version of "Jesus Saves White Trash", a 1984 Ian Stephen composition made popular by The Slaughtermen.
In 1998, he recorded and self-released Cementville
, the title inspired after visiting the town of the same name while driving through Indiana
en route to Memphis, Tennessee
. in 1997. The album contained bleak and acerbic observations of Australian life.
In 2000, Ian moved to San Francisco and while living in the Mission District continued recording and releasing a number of left of center albums. In 2003 Ian, together with Broadway and cabaret star, Houston Allred, (the son of James Allred, 33rd Governor of Texas
), "Genetically Challenged Drag queen
" Anita Cocktail, her partner Sharon Boggs and Norman Anderson collectively known as The Shakers, performed at various venues in San Francisco, Millbrae and their hometown bar, in Brisbane, California
, the infamous 23 Club. The group split somewhat acrimoniously in 2006, and Ian returned to creating new music in the Brisbane environment.
In 2004, Ian, along with Brisbanite Sharon De Milo and Australian singer/guitarist, Sally De Jesus recorded and released the self titled album Capital Expressway. Capital Expressway was recorded in four days and largely improvised. The CD contains original compositions, and has been described as "The Shaggs
meet The Stooges
". A San Francisco Indie Music Festival review panel described it in so many words, "It seems as though the band is purposefully singing and playing badly, so if this is the intention, why not make it worse?" Since 2006 a compilation series, Eden vol 1 and Eden vol 2, featuring Ian Stephen musical highlights from the past 25 years has also been commercially available.
In June 2006, Ian moved to Orange County
, in upstate New York
recorded and released a new CD, Singing Is A Hobby And A Waste of Time, which featured right of center musical content such as "Cuntry Music Makes Me Puke", "U Two Suck On Wheels" and "Welcome to the New Facism" under a musical banner described as Psychedelic
existential
urban alternative rock
.
In Nov 2009 Ian released "War is Peace" an album of Anti-communist psychedelic comedy music
, featuring the musical and instrumental contributions of fellow Australians now residing in the USA, Keith Glass and Randy Bulpin. John Cobbin and MaryAnne Slavich from Sydney, Australia contributed as well.
In Dec 2006, at Federal Hall
in New York City
Ian became a US citizen
.
Ian Stephen
1980 The Armchairs - Ski Lo Lo 4 track 7" EP Reverse Records
1982 The Armchairs - Party Time! 12" LP Reverse Records thru Missing Link
1984 The Slaughtermen - Live Naturally 12" LP Cleopatra Records
1985 The Slaughtermen - Still Lovin' You 12 LP Endtime Communications
1986 The Slaughtermen - Melbourne, Memphis and a Mansion in the Sky 12" LP Agape records
1994 The Slaughtermen - Gospel Gold 23 track CD Massive Records
1994 Ian Stephen - King of the Cross - CD Massive Records
1998 Ian Stephen - Cementville CD Endtime Communications
2004 Capital Expressway - Capital Expressway - Endtime Communications
2005 Ian Stephen - Eden Vol 1 Compilation 18 track CD - Endtime Communications
2005 Ian Stephen - Eden Vol 2 Compilation 16 track CD - Endtime Communications
2006 Suicide Doors - Blue Ribbon Hell - CD Endtime Communications
2007 Ian Stephen - Singing is a Hobby and a Waste of Time - CD Endtime Communications
2007 The Slaughtermen - Temptation - Compilation CD
2009 Ian Stephen - War is Peace CD Endtime Communications
2010 Ian Stephen - Tea First Then Sex - CD International Art Wankers
2011 Sabrage - This Is Very Gay - CD International Art Wankers
In 1984, with bass player Mark Ferrie, guitarists Terry Doolan and Andrew Pendlebury
Andrew Pendlebury
Andrew Pendlebury is an Australian, Melbourne based guitarist known for his membership of bands such as The Sports and Slaughtermen , as well as other projects and solo efforts.-Biography:...
, and drummer Des Hefner, he formed the Slaughtermen
Slaughtermen (band)
The Slaughtermen are an Australian post-punk alternative southern gospel group, formed in Melbourne in 1984.-History:Founder members of The Slaughtermen were Rob Eastcott , Mark Ferrie , Jans Friedenfelds , Pierre Jaquinot , Peter Linden and Ian Stephen...
in Melbourne, a mid eighties post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
alternative Southern gospel
Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
group (albeit 12,000 miles away from their original source of inspiration, America's Deep South
Deep South
The Deep South is a descriptive category of the cultural and geographic subregions in the American South. Historically, it is differentiated from the "Upper South" as being the states which were most dependent on plantation type agriculture during the pre-Civil War period...
Bible Belt
Bible Belt
Bible Belt is an informal term for a region in the southeastern and south-central United States in which socially conservative evangelical Protestantism is a significant part of the culture and Christian church attendance across the denominations is generally higher than the nation's average.The...
). Prior to the Slaughtermen, Ian's checkered career included The Armchairs, a satirical four piece outfit co-founded with Johnny Topper which had its debut in 1979 at the infamous Crystal Ballroom
Crystal Ballroom (Melbourne)
The Crystal Ballroom was a prominent alternative rock venue within the Seaview Hotel located in Fitzroy Street St.Kilda . It was run by a succession of Melbourne Rock promoters from 1978 to 1987 starting with Dolores San Miguel The Crystal Ballroom (AKA The Ballroom / Seaview Ballroom) was a...
in St Kilda
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
. Other members included guitarist Pierre Jaquinot, Andrew Snow, drums, and Fred Cass, bass. Later incarnations featured Rod Haywood, guitar, and Sue Parncutt, bass. The Armchairs released a 7 inch Ep, Ski Lo Lo, and a 12" album, Party Time, on Missing Link Records
Missing Link Records
Missing Link Records is a record store in Melbourne, Australia. The shop first opened in 1971, but was then called Archie and Jughead's, named after the comic. The shop's co-founders, David Pepperell and Keith Glass, established the shop as a much-needed rock record shop...
with the entire B side taken up by a 20 minute version of "La Bamba
La Bamba (song)
"La Bamba" is a Mexican folk song, originally from the state of Veracruz, best known from a 1958 adaptation by Ritchie Valens, a top 40 hit in the U.S. charts and one of early rock and roll's best-known songs...
". The Armchairs, later with the help of Stephen Cummings
Stephen Cummings
Stephen Donald Cummings is an Australian rock singer-songwriter and writer. He was lead singer of Melbourne-based rock band, The Sports, during 1976–1981, followed by a solo career which has met with critical acclaim but has had limited commercial success...
, who in the early 1980s Ian had struck up a songwriting partnership with, morphed into the mildly successful, yet short lived 11 piece group, Go Wild in French, which featured songs of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, as well as original compositions.
Fed up with the claustrophobic Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
scene, Ian moved to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1989 and recorded a solo album with some members of The Danglin' Bros and others, entitled Workin' on The Nightshift, which was released on Agape records through EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
. This was followed in 1996 by King Of the Cross, released on the Massive label. A collection of original and Southern gospel songs, including a new version of "Jesus Saves White Trash", a 1984 Ian Stephen composition made popular by The Slaughtermen.
In 1998, he recorded and self-released Cementville
Cementville
Cementville is a 1991 dark comedy play written by Jane Martin, a Pulitzer-nominated author and premiered at the 1991 Humana Festival of New American Plays...
, the title inspired after visiting the town of the same name while driving through Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
en route to Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. in 1997. The album contained bleak and acerbic observations of Australian life.
In 2000, Ian moved to San Francisco and while living in the Mission District continued recording and releasing a number of left of center albums. In 2003 Ian, together with Broadway and cabaret star, Houston Allred, (the son of James Allred, 33rd Governor of Texas
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
), "Genetically Challenged Drag queen
Drag queen
A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and...
" Anita Cocktail, her partner Sharon Boggs and Norman Anderson collectively known as The Shakers, performed at various venues in San Francisco, Millbrae and their hometown bar, in Brisbane, California
Brisbane, California
Brisbane is a small city located in the northern part of San Mateo County, California on the lower slopes of San Bruno Mountain. It is on the northeastern edge of South San Francisco, next to the San Francisco Bay and near the San Francisco International Airport.The population was 4,282 as of...
, the infamous 23 Club. The group split somewhat acrimoniously in 2006, and Ian returned to creating new music in the Brisbane environment.
In 2004, Ian, along with Brisbanite Sharon De Milo and Australian singer/guitarist, Sally De Jesus recorded and released the self titled album Capital Expressway. Capital Expressway was recorded in four days and largely improvised. The CD contains original compositions, and has been described as "The Shaggs
The Shaggs
The Shaggs were an American all-female rock group formed in Fremont, New Hampshire in 1968. The band was composed of sisters Dorothy "Dot" Wiggin , Betty Wiggin , Helen Wiggin , and later Rachel Wiggin ....
meet The Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
". A San Francisco Indie Music Festival review panel described it in so many words, "It seems as though the band is purposefully singing and playing badly, so if this is the intention, why not make it worse?" Since 2006 a compilation series, Eden vol 1 and Eden vol 2, featuring Ian Stephen musical highlights from the past 25 years has also been commercially available.
In June 2006, Ian moved to Orange County
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
, in upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
recorded and released a new CD, Singing Is A Hobby And A Waste of Time, which featured right of center musical content such as "Cuntry Music Makes Me Puke", "U Two Suck On Wheels" and "Welcome to the New Facism" under a musical banner described as Psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
existential
Existentialism
Existentialism is a term applied to a school of 19th- and 20th-century philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences, shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject—not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual...
urban alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
.
In Nov 2009 Ian released "War is Peace" an album of Anti-communist psychedelic comedy music
Comedy music
Comedy music is music that is comedic or humorous in nature, encompassing a wide variety of music genres. Popular types of comedy music include parody music, novelty songs, comedy rock and comedy hip hop.- Notable comedy musicians :...
, featuring the musical and instrumental contributions of fellow Australians now residing in the USA, Keith Glass and Randy Bulpin. John Cobbin and MaryAnne Slavich from Sydney, Australia contributed as well.
In Dec 2006, at Federal Hall
Federal Hall
Federal Hall, built in 1700 as New York's City Hall, later served as the first capitol building of the United States of America under the Constitution, and was the site of George Washington's inauguration as the first President of the United States. It was also where the United States Bill of...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Ian became a US citizen
United States nationality law
Article I, section 8, clause 4 of the United States Constitution expressly gives the United States Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. The Immigration and Naturalization Act sets forth the legal requirements for the acquisition of, and divestiture from, citizenship of...
.
Ian Stephen
Discography
1979 Ian Stephen's Schizoprenia 4 track 7" EP Reverse Records1980 The Armchairs - Ski Lo Lo 4 track 7" EP Reverse Records
1982 The Armchairs - Party Time! 12" LP Reverse Records thru Missing Link
1984 The Slaughtermen - Live Naturally 12" LP Cleopatra Records
1985 The Slaughtermen - Still Lovin' You 12 LP Endtime Communications
1986 The Slaughtermen - Melbourne, Memphis and a Mansion in the Sky 12" LP Agape records
1994 The Slaughtermen - Gospel Gold 23 track CD Massive Records
1994 Ian Stephen - King of the Cross - CD Massive Records
1998 Ian Stephen - Cementville CD Endtime Communications
2004 Capital Expressway - Capital Expressway - Endtime Communications
2005 Ian Stephen - Eden Vol 1 Compilation 18 track CD - Endtime Communications
2005 Ian Stephen - Eden Vol 2 Compilation 16 track CD - Endtime Communications
2006 Suicide Doors - Blue Ribbon Hell - CD Endtime Communications
2007 Ian Stephen - Singing is a Hobby and a Waste of Time - CD Endtime Communications
2007 The Slaughtermen - Temptation - Compilation CD
2009 Ian Stephen - War is Peace CD Endtime Communications
2010 Ian Stephen - Tea First Then Sex - CD International Art Wankers
2011 Sabrage - This Is Very Gay - CD International Art Wankers