King Missile
Encyclopedia
King Missile is an American avant-garde
band
that has been led in various disparate incarnations by poet
/singer John S. Hall
since 1986
. Currently, Hall performs with a new version of the first incarnation, King Missile (Dog Fly Religion).
, writer John S. Hall
began presenting his work at open mike
poetry reading
s. After three shows, Hall became a "featured" poet at the Backfence, a performance venue in Manhattan
's Greenwich Village. In 1986
, feeling that "20 minutes of me reading poetry would be totally boring
," Hall asked his guitarist
friend Dogbowl
to augment his performances with original music. Dogbowl agreed, and with the addition of bassist
Alex DeLaszlo
, drummer
R.B. Korbet
, and xylophonist
George O'Malley, King Missile (Dog Fly Religion) was born.
In 1987
, the band went to the Noise New York studio
and in just ten hours recorded and mixed its debut album, Fluting on the Hump
. The producer
/engineer
, Kramer
, released the album on his then-fledgling label
, Shimmy Disc
. The label sent the album to every college radio station that reported to College Media Journal, and the album subsequently performed well on the CMJ charts.
In 1988
, Hall and Dogbowl, along with cellist
Charles Curtis
and new drummer Steve Dansiger
, recorded the second King Missile (Dog Fly Religion) album, the longer, more experimental, less "jokey" They
. Like its predecessor, the album was produced by Kramer and released on Shimmy Disc. According to Hall, "[the album] wasn't well received. Dogbowl was itching to make his own records, so we went our separate ways." Dogbowl went on to record several albums for Shimmy Disc
.
In 2010, Hall and Dogbowl formed a new version of King Missile (Dog Fly Religion) with John Kruth
, Dave Dreiwitz
and Billy Ficca
.
guitarist Dave Rick
to help him put together a new band. Rick recruited multi-instrumentalist
Chris Xefos
, and Hall retained Dansiger on drums. Hall dubbed the new lineup King Missile, dropping the parenthetical "Dog Fly Religion" subtitle "since that was [Dogbowl's] idea." In late 1989
and early 1990
, the band recorded the album Mystical Shit
, and in 1990 released it on Shimmy Disc. On the strength of the single
"Jesus Was Way Cool
," the album hit #1 on the CMJ charts, and the band was signed by a major label, Atlantic Records
. This series of events led Hall to make a habit of joking
, "'Jesus' got me signed to Atlantic Records." Around this time, King Missle was featured in the 1990 documentary CutTime
which chronicled the East Village music scene of 1990.
Another lineup change occurred before the recording of King Missile's major-label debut, as Dansiger left the band and was replaced on drums by Hypnolovewheel
member David Ramirez
. The subsequent album, The Way to Salvation
, was released on April 16, 1991, and reached #2 on the CMJ charts. Atlantic promoted the album with the release of a single, "My Heart Is a Flower
," and accompanying video
.
After Ramirez left the group and was replaced by yet another drummer, Roger Murdock
, the band recorded its second major-label album, Happy Hour, released on December 15, 1992. The album debuted at #1 on the CMJ charts, and its accompanying first single, "Detachable Penis
," became a modest hit
, reaching #25 on the Billboard
Modern Rock Tracks chart. Atlantic released videos for "Detachable Penis" and the subsequent singles "(Why Are We) Trapped?
" and "Martin Scorsese
," but neither follow-up single achieved the chart success of "Detachable." According to Hall, the band realized that its hit song
had drawn in many casual fans
who didn't care about the rest of the group's material; thus, the band began to play the song "early in the set
, so that the people who didn't like us could leave, and we could play for the people who cared. That worked out well. People did leave."
The band's third and final album for Atlantic was the eponymous King Missile
, released April 19, 1994. Neither the album nor its lead single, "Love Is...
," was a commercial success; consequently, the band was dropped from Atlantic, and broke up shortly thereafter because, according to Hall, "there was no reason to stay together."
. He graduated
cum laude from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
in Manhattan, and after graduation co-founded Heraty Hall, a firm
specializing in entertainment law
.
In 1996
, Hall released a "solo album
," The Body Has a Head
, on the German
label Manifatture Criminali. The album featured considerable input from multi-instrumentalists Sasha Forte
, Bradford Reed
, and Jane Scarpantoni
. With these musicians, as well as They cellist Curtis, Hall formed a new band, King Missile III. On September 15, 1998, the new lineup released its "debut" album, Failure, on Shimmy Disc.
Curtis and Scarpantoni left the band after the release of Failure, and King Missile III continued as a trio, releasing two more albums: The Psychopathology of Everyday Life (Instinct Records
, January 21, 2003) and Royal Lunch
(Important Records, September 21, 2004).
and harmonica
, was widely dubbed "anti-folk
." In King Missile, electric guitar
s and keyboards
were more prominent, and the music contained elements of psychedelic rock
, alternative rock
, and pop rock
. King Missile III's sound is broadly experimental, and features a wide array of instruments
, including violin
, synthesizer
s, and the pencilina, a string instrument
designed by Reed himself.
The central element of each group's sound has been Hall's lyrics, which vary in format from straightforward narrative
to abstract, disjointed free verse
. Hall's performance style is also eclectic, his delivery ranging from a deadpan
monotone to melodic
tenor
singing
to overwrought screaming
.
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
that has been led in various disparate incarnations by poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
/singer John S. Hall
John S. Hall
John S. Hall is an American poet, author, singer and lawyer perhaps best known for his work with King Missile, an avant-garde band that he co-founded in 1986 and has since led in various disparate incarnations....
since 1986
1986 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1986.-January-June:*January 23 – The first induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame takes place...
. Currently, Hall performs with a new version of the first incarnation, King Missile (Dog Fly Religion).
King Missile (Dog Fly Religion)
In 19851985 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV...
, writer John S. Hall
John S. Hall
John S. Hall is an American poet, author, singer and lawyer perhaps best known for his work with King Missile, an avant-garde band that he co-founded in 1986 and has since led in various disparate incarnations....
began presenting his work at open mike
Open mike
An open mike or open mic is a live show where audience members may perform at the microphone. Usually, the performers sign up in advance for a time slot with the host or master of ceremonies. These events can be focused on poetry and the spoken word, music, comedy, and the open format of open...
poetry reading
Poetry reading
A poetry reading is a performance of poetry, normally given on a small stage in a café or bookstore, although poetry readings given by notable poets frequently are booked into larger venues to accommodate crowds...
s. After three shows, Hall became a "featured" poet at the Backfence, a performance venue in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
's Greenwich Village. In 1986
1986 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1986.-January-June:*January 23 – The first induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame takes place...
, feeling that "20 minutes of me reading poetry would be totally boring
Boredom
Boredom is an emotional state experienced when an individual is without any activity or is not interested in their surroundings. The first recorded use of the word boredom is in the novel Bleak House by Charles Dickens, written in 1852, in which it appears six times, although the expression to be a...
," Hall asked his guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
friend Dogbowl
Dogbowl
Dogbowl is an American artist and musician. He was a founding member of the avant-garde band King Missile and has recorded many albums as a solo act....
to augment his performances with original music. Dogbowl agreed, and with the addition of bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Alex DeLaszlo
Alex DeLaszlo
Alex DeLaszlo is an American musician. He contributed bass harmonica, harmonica, saxophone, and backing vocals to King Missile , the first incarnation of avant-garde band King Missile.-Discography:...
, drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
R.B. Korbet
R.B. Korbet
R.B. Korbet is an American musician living in the United Kingdom. She contributed drumming and vocals to King Missile , the first incarnation of avant-garde band King Missile...
, and xylophonist
Xylophone
The xylophone is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets...
George O'Malley, King Missile (Dog Fly Religion) was born.
In 1987
1987 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987.See also:Record labels established in 1987-January-February:*January 3 – Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
, the band went to the Noise New York studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
and in just ten hours recorded and mixed its debut album, Fluting on the Hump
Fluting On The Hump
Fluting on the Hump is the first album by avant-garde band King Missile, first released exclusively in LP format in 1987 and later included on the CD compilation Mystical Shit & Fluting on the Hump.-Track listing:All lyrics by John S...
. The producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
/engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, Kramer
Mark Kramer
Mark Kramer , known professionally as Kramer, is a musician, composer, record producer and founder of the New York City record label Shimmy-Disc...
, released the album on his then-fledgling label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Shimmy Disc
Shimmy Disc
Shimmy Disc was an influential New York City based record label founded in 1987 by Mark Kramer. Before it was sold to the Knitting Factory, it was responsible for providing a mass audience for acts including Bongwater, Daniel Johnston, Fly Ashtray, Galaxie 500, King Missile, Boredoms, Ruins, Ween,...
. The label sent the album to every college radio station that reported to College Media Journal, and the album subsequently performed well on the CMJ charts.
In 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....
, Hall and Dogbowl, along with cellist
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
Charles Curtis
Charles Curtis (musician)
Cellist Charles Curtis is an internationally renowned performer and composer of a wide variety of music, with particular emphasis on the avant-garde...
and new drummer Steve Dansiger
Steve Dansiger
Steve Dansiger is an American drummer and member of the first two incarnations of avant-garde band King Missile and of the band Pianosaurus.Dansiger is now a therapist with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with ONE80CENTER and has appeared on comedian Marc Maron's "WTF" podcasts.-Discography:...
, recorded the second King Missile (Dog Fly Religion) album, the longer, more experimental, less "jokey" They
They (album)
They is the second album by avant-garde band King Missile, released in 1988.-Track listing:# "Now" – 1:53# "I'm Open" – 2:21# "Mr...
. Like its predecessor, the album was produced by Kramer and released on Shimmy Disc. According to Hall, "[the album] wasn't well received. Dogbowl was itching to make his own records, so we went our separate ways." Dogbowl went on to record several albums for Shimmy Disc
Shimmy Disc discography
A complete discography as released by Shimmy Disc....
.
In 2010, Hall and Dogbowl formed a new version of King Missile (Dog Fly Religion) with John Kruth
John Kruth
John Kruth is a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist best known for his highly energetic “Banshee Mandolin” style of playing. He is also proficient on guitar, banjo, harmonica and various flutes. Kruth is also a music journalist and author....
, Dave Dreiwitz
Dave Dreiwitz
-Biography:Dave Dreiwitz was born on January 2, 1966 in New York City, New York to traditional jazz musician parents, Richard and Barbara Dreiwitz. In 1985 at the age of nineteen, Dave joined the Hoboken, NJ based psych rock band Tiny Lights, his first professional band out of high school...
and Billy Ficca
Billy Ficca
Billy Ficca is a punk rock drummer who has played with the bands Television, Nona Hendryx & Zero Cool, 40 Familys, The Washington Squares, The Waitresses and The Neon Boys...
.
King Missile
After Dogbowl's departure, Hall asked BongwaterBongwater (band)
Bongwater was a psych rock band formed in 1985 and dissolved in 1992. The group was founded by Ann Magnuson and Mark Kramer , who had worked together previously in Pulsallama. The group also featured drummer Dave Licht and guitarists [Dave Rick] and later Randolph A. Hudson III...
guitarist Dave Rick
Dave Rick
Dave Rick is an American guitarist and former member of underground rock bands B.A.L.L, Bongwater, King Missile, Phantom Tollbooth, When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water, Wide Right, Wonderama, and Yo La Tengo . He is a current member of Atlantic Drone, Dew-Claw, The Martinets, Overcat...
to help him put together a new band. Rick recruited multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
Chris Xefos
Chris Xefos
Chris Xefos is an American multi-instrumentalist musician/engineer/producer and former member of band King Missile. He plays various instruments such as accordion, bass, piano, and synthesizer, among others. He began recording/producing various groups in New York during the 1980s, including...
, and Hall retained Dansiger on drums. Hall dubbed the new lineup King Missile, dropping the parenthetical "Dog Fly Religion" subtitle "since that was [Dogbowl's] idea." In late 1989
1989 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.-Events:*January 14 – Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР exclusively in the USSR...
and early 1990
1990 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze...
, the band recorded the album Mystical Shit
Mystical Shit
Mystical Shit is the third album by avant-garde band King Missile, first released in 1990 and later included on the compilation album Mystical Shit & Fluting on the Hump.-Track listing:All lyrics by John S...
, and in 1990 released it on Shimmy Disc. On the strength of the single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Jesus Was Way Cool
Jesus Was Way Cool
"Jesus Was Way Cool" is a song by avant-garde band King Missile. It appears on the band's 1990 album Mystical Shit.-Content:In "Jesus Was Way Cool," frontman John S. Hall, over a simple piano figure, delivers a deadpan monologue in which he declares Jesus "way cool" for such skills as healing,...
," the album hit #1 on the CMJ charts, and the band was signed by a major label, 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...
. This series of events led Hall to make a habit of joking
Joke
A joke is a phrase or a paragraph with a humorous twist. It can be in many different forms, such as a question or short story. To achieve this end, jokes may employ irony, sarcasm, word play and other devices...
, "'Jesus' got me signed to Atlantic Records." Around this time, King Missle was featured in the 1990 documentary CutTime
Paul Devlin (filmmaker)
Paul Josiah Devlin is a sports editor and documentary filmmaker.A five-time Emmy winner for his work on NBC's Olympics and CBS's Tour de France, Paul Devlin's films include Power Trip, which screened in 60 countries, theatrically across the United States and on PBS's Independent Lens, was nominated...
which chronicled the East Village music scene of 1990.
Another lineup change occurred before the recording of King Missile's major-label debut, as Dansiger left the band and was replaced on drums by Hypnolovewheel
Hypnolovewheel
Hypnolovewheel was an American indie-rock band from Long Island. Despite positive critical reviews, the band's albums were never particularly successful, and they split in 1993...
member David Ramirez
David Ramirez
David Ramirez is an American multi-instrumentalist proficient at both guitar and drums. He is a former member of the bands Hypnolovewheel and King Missile, and currently performs with Dump.- References :...
. The subsequent album, The Way to Salvation
The Way to Salvation
The Way to Salvation is the fourth album by avant-garde band King Missile, and the band's first for Atlantic Records. It was released on April 16, 1991.-Track listing:All lyrics by John S...
, was released on April 16, 1991, and reached #2 on the CMJ charts. Atlantic promoted the album with the release of a single, "My Heart Is a Flower
My Heart Is a Flower
"My Heart Is a Flower" is a song by avant-garde band King Missile. It was the only single from the band's 1991 album The Way to Salvation.-Content:In "My Heart Is a Flower," a pop rock track with elements of psychedelic rock, frontman John S...
," and accompanying video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
.
After Ramirez left the group and was replaced by yet another drummer, Roger Murdock
Roger Murdock (musician)
Roger Murdock is an American multi-instrumentalist and former member of avant-garde band King Missile. His primary role in King Missile was that of drummer, but he is also proficient at such instruments as guitar, piano, and Emulator...
, the band recorded its second major-label album, Happy Hour, released on December 15, 1992. The album debuted at #1 on the CMJ charts, and its accompanying first single, "Detachable Penis
Detachable Penis
"Detachable Penis" is a song by avant-garde band King Missile. It was the first single from the band's 1992 album Happy Hour, and became a modest hit, reaching #25 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.-Lyrical content:...
," became a modest hit
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
, reaching #25 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Modern Rock Tracks chart. Atlantic released videos for "Detachable Penis" and the subsequent singles "(Why Are We) Trapped?
(Why Are We) Trapped?
" Trapped?" is a song by avant-garde band King Missile. It was the second single from the band's 1992 album Happy Hour.-Content:...
" and "Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese (song)
"Martin Scorsese" is a song by avant-garde band King Missile, about the film director of the same name. It was the third and final single from the band's 1992 album Happy Hour.-"Clean" version:...
," but neither follow-up single achieved the chart success of "Detachable." According to Hall, the band realized that its hit song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
had drawn in many casual fans
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
who didn't care about the rest of the group's material; thus, the band began to play the song "early in the set
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
, so that the people who didn't like us could leave, and we could play for the people who cared. That worked out well. People did leave."
The band's third and final album for Atlantic was the eponymous King Missile
King Missile (album)
King Missile is the eponymous sixth album by avant-garde band King Missile, and the band's third for Atlantic Records. It was released on April 19, 1994.-Track listing:All lyrics by John S. Hall...
, released April 19, 1994. Neither the album nor its lead single, "Love Is...
Love Is... (song)
"Love Is..." is a song by avant-garde band King Missile. It was the only single from the band's 1994 album King Missile.-Content:In "Love Is...," a dirge-like track with elements of doom metal, frontman John S. Hall dryly recites several examples of what love is and is not...
," was a commercial success; consequently, the band was dropped from Atlantic, and broke up shortly thereafter because, according to Hall, "there was no reason to stay together."
King Missile III
After the collapse of the second incarnation of King Missile, Hall decided to attend law schoolLaw school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
. He graduated
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
cum laude from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law is the law school of Yeshiva University, located in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The school is named for Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo. Cardozo's success as a young school has been remarkable, leading some to characterize Cardozo as a...
in Manhattan, and after graduation co-founded Heraty Hall, a firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
specializing in entertainment law
Entertainment law
Entertainment law or media law is a term for a mix of more traditional categories of law with a focus on providing legal services to the entertainment industry. The principal areas of Entertainment Law overlap substantially with the well-known and conventional field of intellectual property law...
.
In 1996
1996 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
, Hall released a "solo album
Solo album
A solo album, in popular music, is an album headlined by a current or former member of a band. A solo album may feature simply one person performing all instruments, but typically features the work of other collaborators; rather, it may be made with different collaborators than the artist is...
," The Body Has a Head
The Body Has a Head
The Body Has a Head is an album by King Missile frontman John S. Hall, released exclusively in Germany in 1996. Though billed as a Hall "solo album," the collection features considerable input from multi-instrumentalists Sasha Forte, Bradford Reed, and Jane Scarpantoni, all of whom would become...
, on the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
label Manifatture Criminali. The album featured considerable input from multi-instrumentalists Sasha Forte
Sasha Forte
Sasha Forte is an American multi-instrumentalist and member of avant-garde band King Missile III. She is proficient at such instruments as bass, guitar, synthesizer, viola, and violin....
, Bradford Reed
Bradford Reed
Bradford Reed is an American multi-instrumentalist, experimental luthier, and member of avant-garde band King Missile III. He is proficient at such instruments as drums, guitar, melodica, piano, and synthesizer. In the 1980s he invented the pencilina, a custom-made string instrument.-Pencilina:The...
, and Jane Scarpantoni
Jane Scarpantoni
Jane Scarpantoni is a classically trained cello player who has played on a number of alternative rock albums.She was a member of Hoboken, New Jersey's Tiny Lights in the mid-'80s, then went on to play with other musicians especially those associated with the Hoboken underground rock scene of the...
. With these musicians, as well as They cellist Curtis, Hall formed a new band, King Missile III. On September 15, 1998, the new lineup released its "debut" album, Failure, on Shimmy Disc.
Curtis and Scarpantoni left the band after the release of Failure, and King Missile III continued as a trio, releasing two more albums: The Psychopathology of Everyday Life (Instinct Records
Instinct Records
Instinct Records is a New York City electronic-music record label that first gained prominence in 1990. It is best-known for releasing much of Moby's early work. The label has several sublabels, which include Evolver, Instinct Ambient, Kickin Records USA, Liquid Music, Shadow Records, and Sonic...
, January 21, 2003) and Royal Lunch
Royal Lunch
Royal Lunch is the ninth album by avant-garde band King Missile, and the band's third in its incarnation as "King Missile III." It was released on September 21, 2004.-Track listing:All songs by Sasha Forte, John S. Hall, and Bradford Reed...
(Important Records, September 21, 2004).
Musical styles
The various King Missile lineups have performed many disparate musical styles. King Missile (Dog Fly Religion)'s sound, driven by acoustic guitarAcoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
and harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, was widely dubbed "anti-folk
Anti-folk
Anti-folk is a music genre that takes the earnestness of politically charged 1960s folk music and subverts it. The defining characteristics of this anti-folk are difficult to identify, as they vary from one artist to the next...
." In King Missile, electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
s and keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
were more prominent, and the music contained elements of psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
, 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...
, and pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
. King Missile III's sound is broadly experimental, and features a wide array of instruments
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
, including violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s, and the pencilina, a string instrument
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
designed by Reed himself.
The central element of each group's sound has been Hall's lyrics, which vary in format from straightforward narrative
Narrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
to abstract, disjointed free verse
Free verse
Free verse is a form of poetry that refrains from consistent meter patterns, rhyme, or any other musical pattern.Poets have explained that free verse, despite its freedom, is not free. Free Verse displays some elements of form...
. Hall's performance style is also eclectic, his delivery ranging from a deadpan
Deadpan
Deadpan is a form of comic delivery in which humor is presented without a change in emotion or body language, usually speaking in a casual, monotone, solemn, blunt, disgusted or matter-of-fact voice and expressing an unflappably calm, archly insincere or artificially grave demeanor...
monotone to melodic
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
singing
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
to overwrought screaming
Screaming
A scream, shout, shriek, hoot, holler, vociferation, yell, outcry, or bellow is a loud vocalization in which air is passed through the vocal folds with greater force than is used in regular or close-distance vocalization...
.
King Missile (Dog Fly Religion)
| Album | Record Label | Release Year |
|---|---|---|
| Fluting on the Hump Fluting On The Hump Fluting on the Hump is the first album by avant-garde band King Missile, first released exclusively in LP format in 1987 and later included on the CD compilation Mystical Shit & Fluting on the Hump.-Track listing:All lyrics by John S... |
Shimmy Disc Shimmy Disc Shimmy Disc was an influential New York City based record label founded in 1987 by Mark Kramer. Before it was sold to the Knitting Factory, it was responsible for providing a mass audience for acts including Bongwater, Daniel Johnston, Fly Ashtray, Galaxie 500, King Missile, Boredoms, Ruins, Ween,... |
1987 1987 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987.See also:Record labels established in 1987-January-February:*January 3 – Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame... |
| They They (album) They is the second album by avant-garde band King Missile, released in 1988.-Track listing:# "Now" – 1:53# "I'm Open" – 2:21# "Mr... |
Shimmy Disc | 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.... |
King Missile
| Album | Record Label | Release Year |
|---|---|---|
| Mystical Shit Mystical Shit Mystical Shit is the third album by avant-garde band King Missile, first released in 1990 and later included on the compilation album Mystical Shit & Fluting on the Hump.-Track listing:All lyrics by John S... |
Shimmy Disc | 1990 1990 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze... |
| The Way to Salvation The Way to Salvation The Way to Salvation is the fourth album by avant-garde band King Missile, and the band's first for Atlantic Records. It was released on April 16, 1991.-Track listing:All lyrics by John S... |
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... |
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... |
| Happy 14½ Happy 14½ Happy 14½ is an EP by avant-garde band King Missile. It was released in 1992, shortly before the band's album Happy Hour. The EP was intended for promotional use only, and not supposed to be sold; nonetheless, copies are sometimes available in "used" sections of record stores because some people... (EP Extended 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... ) |
Atlantic | 1992 1992 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s.... |
| Happy Hour | Atlantic | 1992 |
| King Missile King Missile (album) King Missile is the eponymous sixth album by avant-garde band King Missile, and the band's third for Atlantic Records. It was released on April 19, 1994.-Track listing:All lyrics by John S. Hall... |
Atlantic | 1994 1994 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994.-January–February:*January 25 – Alice in Chains release their Jar of Flies album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP to do so.... |
Compilation and soundtrack contributions
| Track | Album | Record Label | Release Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Doubleback Alley" (Rutles The Rutles The Rutles are a band that are known for their visual and aural pastiches and parodies of The Beatles. Originally created by Eric Idle and Neil Innes as a fictional band to be featured as part of various 1970s television programming, the group recorded, toured, and released two UK chart hits in... cover) |
Rutles Highway Revisited | Shimmy Disc | 1990 |
| "We Can Work It Out We Can Work It Out "We Can Work It Out" is a song by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon. It was released as a "double A-sided" single with "Day Tripper", the first time both sides of a single were so designated in an initial release... " (Beatles The Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr... cover) |
Downtown Does the Beatles: Live at the Knitting Factory | Knitting Factory Works Knitting Factory The Knitting Factory is a music venue and concert house with locations in Brooklyn, Boise, Reno, and Spokane. The club originally specialized in jazz and experimental music and has expanded to showcasing all genres of music, performing arts and comedy.... |
1992 |
| "Get Up Get Up (R.E.M. song) "Get Up" was the fourth and final single to be released by R.E.M. from the band's sixth studio album Green. It was included in the limited edition Singleactiongreen box set released in November 1989. The song was released as a single only in the U.S. but failed to chart on the Billboard Hot... " (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... cover) |
Surprise Your Pig: A Tribute to R.E.M. | Staple Gun Records | 1992 |
| "Our Jungle" | Surf Ninjas Surf Ninjas Surf Ninjas is a 1993 American comedic family film involving martial arts, directed by Neal Israel and written by Dan Gordon. The film stars Ernie Reyes Jr., Rob Schneider, Nicolas Cowan, and Leslie Nielsen... : Original Soundtrack Album |
Atlantic | 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.... |
| "Still the One" (Orleans Orleans (band) Orleans is an American pop-rock band best known for its hits "Dance with Me" , "Still the One", from the album Waking and Dreaming and "Love Takes Time" . The group's name evolved from the music it was playing at the time of their formation, which was inspired by Louisiana artists such as Allen... cover) |
20 More Explosive Fantastic Rockin' Mega Smash Hit Explosions! | Pravda Records | 1994 |
King Missile III
| Album | Record Label | Release Year |
|---|---|---|
| Failure | Shimmy Disc | 1998 1998 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia... |
| The Psychopathology of Everyday Life | Instinct Records Instinct Records Instinct Records is a New York City electronic-music record label that first gained prominence in 1990. It is best-known for releasing much of Moby's early work. The label has several sublabels, which include Evolver, Instinct Ambient, Kickin Records USA, Liquid Music, Shadow Records, and Sonic... |
2003 2003 in music -January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested... |
| Royal Lunch Royal Lunch Royal Lunch is the ninth album by avant-garde band King Missile, and the band's third in its incarnation as "King Missile III." It was released on September 21, 2004.-Track listing:All songs by Sasha Forte, John S. Hall, and Bradford Reed... |
Important Records | 2004 2004 in music See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol.... |