Mod Fun
Encyclopedia
Mod Fun are an American power pop
/garage punk
band from the New York City
area. Mod Fun were originally active in the early to mid 1980s, and played an integral part in New York City's burgeoning garage rock
revival scene of the time. By mid 1986 they were widely regarded as one the best known indie bands in NYC/NJ. After disbanding at the height of their career in the late 1980s to pursue other projects, the three original members reunited in 2004 and have been active since.
in 1982. Mod Fun wrote and recorded their first original songs in 1982-83 and released them only on cassette; beginning with a 4-track recording of four songs entitled "If You Are New" and subsequently, a collection called Release For The Mates. The first collection, "If You Are New", was produced by Steve Peer of the New York/New Jersey act TV Toy. During this time, Mod Fun also started performing frequently in the New York/New Jersey area. Their first club date was on January 12, 1983 at the infamous Dirt Club in Bloomfield, New Jersey. During the band's introduction that night, the club's owner, Johnny Dirt, made it a point to tell the crowd that the band members were only 16 years old.
In 1984 Mod Fun released their first single, "I Am With You" b/w "Happy Feeling" on their own label, New Records. Playing frequently at such New York City clubs as CBGB
, The Dive and R.T. Firefly, they signed a record deal with NYC's Midnight Records. They released their first album, 90 Wardour Street in 1985. Their live shows were high energy (sometimes reckless) spectacles, which have been said to have influenced many people who saw them to start bands of their own.
On the strength of their first releases, Mod Fun set out on their first United States tour in spring 1985, playing concerts from New York City to Los Angeles to San Francisco. With the bulk of their performances taking place in California, the band carved a niche in the "Paisley Underground" scene popularized by bands such as The Bangles
, The Rain Parade and The Three O'Clock. After returning from the tour, the band had a falling out with Midnight Records and released a three-song EP on their own Makin' Tyme label entitled "Hangin' Round". Shortly after the release of "Hangin' Round" they signed with New York City's Cryptovision Records
. They recorded material for a single (Mary Goes 'Round b/w Grounded) and a second album, Dorothy's Dream.
In spring 1986, after a number of "mini tours" which took them to places such as Vermont and Washington D.C., Mod Fun (who had taken to referring to themselves as The Mod Fun) set out for their second full scale US tour, which brought them to many more cities than their previous tour. It was during that second tour that Dorothy's Dream was released. After returning from the second tour, Mod Fun continued to appear in their local area, including a sold-out show at Maxwell's
and an outdoor performance for the "Liberty Weekend" celebration, both in Hoboken, New Jersey
. However, these were supposed to be their final shows as Mod Fun as the band members had decided to take an extended hiatus. Yet, during this time (summer 1986) they were featured in numerous local, national and international articles, and began talking with well known local musicians/producers such as Richard Barone
of The Bongos
and Peter Zaremba
of The Fleshtones
about producing future recordings. Thurston Moore
of Sonic Youth
and Jello Biafra
of Dead Kennedys
were fans of the band and interested in working with them as well.
After several months of doing very little with the group, the members decided to try a more conventional pop approach, adding keyboards and additional backing vocals to round out their sound. They changed the name of the band to Paintbox and, after having written several new songs, they played a number of local shows in the NYC area. Though the new sound was well received, it never lived up to the energy and spark generated by Mod Fun. Paintbox recorded a demo tape produced by Jim DeRogatis
which was never released, and, later, one track which ultimately appeared on Mod Fun's retrospective CD "Past...Forward".
In early 1987 a German concert promoter contacted the band and, based upon the rabid sales of their "Dorothy's Dream" LP in Europe, suggested they appear on a European tour. After a visit to the US by the promoter to meet the members and see them perform in their current configuration as Paintbox, the tour details were worked out. The group set out for Luxembourg in April 1987. It was only after their arrival in Europe that it became apparent that the 4-piece pop group then known as Paintbox would not fit the bill. Tour posters and other promo materials featured the name "Mod Fun" and were accompanied by 3 year old photos from the band's "90 Wardour St." LP. Tensions over this disparity rose throughout the tour and even though the group played successful shows in huge venues in Bern, Switzerland; Vienna, Austria; Rimini and San Marino, Italy; and Hamburg and Berlin, Germany, the band acrimoniously broke up after their final show in Berlin. Soon thereafter, Mick and Bobby formed Crocodile Shop
.
In 1995, Get Hip Records
released a retrospective of most of the band's recorded output (omitting the Midnight Records recordings because of legal issues), called Past Forward. In 2004, Get Hip reissued the CD, and Mod Fun played a reunion show at The Saint
in Asbury Park, New Jersey
. The positive reception and renewed friendship among the members inspired Mod Fun to continue on where they had left off. Since then, Mod Fun has played extensively in the New York/New Jersey area, as well as having performed in Philadelphia, Nashville, Baltimore, Annapolis, and Chicago.
In 2007 Mod Fun released a new CD called Now...and Again on their Makin' Tyme label. A double-length CD with ten new original songs and ten re-recorded classics from their 1980s catalog, it also includes a live version of "I Believe" recorded at their highly successful July 2006 CBGB show. Continuing to play locally over the next few years, in 2009 Mod Fun began writing and recording material for another new album, entitled 'FuturePresent",.
2010 saw the release of the new 15 song CD, "Futurepresent". The majority of the songs were written by Mick Hale but, for the first time, Bob Strete and Chris Collins contributed original songs for the new CD as well. After doing a few in-store appearances during early 2010 to promote the new disc, Mod Fun took the opportunity in July to appear live at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, New Jersey
as part of the very successful "Modsbury Park IV - Mods vs. Rockers" show. This would turn out to be the group's final performance of the year as the band members have turned their focus to recording for the remainder of 2010.
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
/garage punk
Garage punk
Garage punk is a fusion of garage rock and punk rock. It is fast-paced lo-fi music characterized by a dirty, choppy guitar sound—usually played by bands who are on independent record labels or who are unsigned...
band from the 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...
area. Mod Fun were originally active in the early to mid 1980s, and played an integral part in New York City's burgeoning garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
revival scene of the time. By mid 1986 they were widely regarded as one the best known indie bands in NYC/NJ. After disbanding at the height of their career in the late 1980s to pursue other projects, the three original members reunited in 2004 and have been active since.
Career
The members of Mod Fun started playing music together as childhood friends in early 1979, and initially called their band Rage. They counted a lot of FM radio rock and early punk among their influences, before their approach to music was revitalized when they discovered The JamThe Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
in 1982. Mod Fun wrote and recorded their first original songs in 1982-83 and released them only on cassette; beginning with a 4-track recording of four songs entitled "If You Are New" and subsequently, a collection called Release For The Mates. The first collection, "If You Are New", was produced by Steve Peer of the New York/New Jersey act TV Toy. During this time, Mod Fun also started performing frequently in the New York/New Jersey area. Their first club date was on January 12, 1983 at the infamous Dirt Club in Bloomfield, New Jersey. During the band's introduction that night, the club's owner, Johnny Dirt, made it a point to tell the crowd that the band members were only 16 years old.
In 1984 Mod Fun released their first single, "I Am With You" b/w "Happy Feeling" on their own label, New Records. Playing frequently at such New York City clubs as CBGB
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
, The Dive and R.T. Firefly, they signed a record deal with NYC's Midnight Records. They released their first album, 90 Wardour Street in 1985. Their live shows were high energy (sometimes reckless) spectacles, which have been said to have influenced many people who saw them to start bands of their own.
On the strength of their first releases, Mod Fun set out on their first United States tour in spring 1985, playing concerts from New York City to Los Angeles to San Francisco. With the bulk of their performances taking place in California, the band carved a niche in the "Paisley Underground" scene popularized by bands such as The Bangles
The Bangles
The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :...
, The Rain Parade and The Three O'Clock. After returning from the tour, the band had a falling out with Midnight Records and released a three-song EP on their own Makin' Tyme label entitled "Hangin' Round". Shortly after the release of "Hangin' Round" they signed with New York City's Cryptovision Records
Cryptovision Records
Cryptovision Records, a New York City based independent record label was founded by musicians James “Sweat” Talley, Mike Linn, and Gene Wood in 1979 and dissolved in 1990...
. They recorded material for a single (Mary Goes 'Round b/w Grounded) and a second album, Dorothy's Dream.
In spring 1986, after a number of "mini tours" which took them to places such as Vermont and Washington D.C., Mod Fun (who had taken to referring to themselves as The Mod Fun) set out for their second full scale US tour, which brought them to many more cities than their previous tour. It was during that second tour that Dorothy's Dream was released. After returning from the second tour, Mod Fun continued to appear in their local area, including a sold-out show at Maxwell's
Maxwell's
Maxwell's is a music club in Hoboken, New Jersey that also has a restaurant. The intimate venue often attracts a wide variety of acts looking for a change from the New York City concert spaces across the river.-History:...
and an outdoor performance for the "Liberty Weekend" celebration, both in Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
. However, these were supposed to be their final shows as Mod Fun as the band members had decided to take an extended hiatus. Yet, during this time (summer 1986) they were featured in numerous local, national and international articles, and began talking with well known local musicians/producers such as Richard Barone
Richard Barone
Richard Barone is a rock musician born in Tampa, Florida who gained attention as frontman for The Bongos. He works as a songwriter, arranger, author, director, and producer, releases albums as a solo artist, tours, and has created major concert events at Carnegie Hall, Hollywood Bowl and New York's...
of The Bongos
The Bongos
The Bongos were a rock band from Hoboken, New Jersey, primarily active in the 1980s. With a unique blend of British Invasion-flavored power pop, jangly guitars, and dance beats they made the leap to national recognition with the advent of MTV.-Biography:...
and Peter Zaremba
Peter Zaremba (musician)
Peter Zaremba is an American singer and musician and member of the The Fleshtones. He was also the host of the MTV television I.R.S. Records Presents The Cutting Edge that aired from March 1983 to September 1987, as well as the sequel The Cutting Edge Happy Hour.-References:...
of The Fleshtones
The Fleshtones
The Fleshtones are an American garage rock band from Queens, New York formed in 1976.- 1976-1979 :The Fleshtones were formed in 1976 in Whitestone, New York by Keith Streng and Marek Pakulski The Fleshtones are an American garage rock band from Queens, New York formed in 1976.- 1976-1979 :The...
about producing future recordings. Thurston Moore
Thurston Moore
Thurston Joseph Moore is an American musician best known as a singer, songwriter and guitarist of Sonic Youth. He has also participated in many solo and group collaborations outside of Sonic Youth, as well as running the Ecstatic Peace! record label...
of Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
and Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
of Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
were fans of the band and interested in working with them as well.
After several months of doing very little with the group, the members decided to try a more conventional pop approach, adding keyboards and additional backing vocals to round out their sound. They changed the name of the band to Paintbox and, after having written several new songs, they played a number of local shows in the NYC area. Though the new sound was well received, it never lived up to the energy and spark generated by Mod Fun. Paintbox recorded a demo tape produced by Jim DeRogatis
Jim DeRogatis
James "Jim" DeRogatis is an American music critic and co-host of Sound Opinions. DeRogatis has written articles for magazines such as Spin, Guitar World and Modern Drummer, and for fifteen years was the pop music critic for the Chicago Sun-Times.He joined Columbia College Chicago as a full-time...
which was never released, and, later, one track which ultimately appeared on Mod Fun's retrospective CD "Past...Forward".
In early 1987 a German concert promoter contacted the band and, based upon the rabid sales of their "Dorothy's Dream" LP in Europe, suggested they appear on a European tour. After a visit to the US by the promoter to meet the members and see them perform in their current configuration as Paintbox, the tour details were worked out. The group set out for Luxembourg in April 1987. It was only after their arrival in Europe that it became apparent that the 4-piece pop group then known as Paintbox would not fit the bill. Tour posters and other promo materials featured the name "Mod Fun" and were accompanied by 3 year old photos from the band's "90 Wardour St." LP. Tensions over this disparity rose throughout the tour and even though the group played successful shows in huge venues in Bern, Switzerland; Vienna, Austria; Rimini and San Marino, Italy; and Hamburg and Berlin, Germany, the band acrimoniously broke up after their final show in Berlin. Soon thereafter, Mick and Bobby formed Crocodile Shop
Crocodile Shop
Crocodile Shop, , is an electro-industrial, aggrotech, EBM band formed in Berlin, Germany in 1987 by Mick Hale and R. A. Werner.-Background:...
.
In 1995, Get Hip Records
Get Hip Records
Get Hip Records is an independent Pittsburgh based music label and distributor formed by Gregg Kostelich in 1986. Kostelich used the label to release music by his own band, The Cynics, as well as other local, indie and retro garage rock bands.-Releases:...
released a retrospective of most of the band's recorded output (omitting the Midnight Records recordings because of legal issues), called Past Forward. In 2004, Get Hip reissued the CD, and Mod Fun played a reunion show at The Saint
The Saint (music venue)
The Saint is a music venue located in Asbury Park, New Jersey. It is reminiscent of places like The Cellar Door in Washington, DC, CB's 313 Gallery , and The Living Room in New York City and features live, original music. The Saint opened on November 18, 1994...
in Asbury Park, New Jersey
Asbury Park, New Jersey
Asbury Park is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, located on the Jersey Shore and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 16,116. The city is known for its rich musical history, including its association with...
. The positive reception and renewed friendship among the members inspired Mod Fun to continue on where they had left off. Since then, Mod Fun has played extensively in the New York/New Jersey area, as well as having performed in Philadelphia, Nashville, Baltimore, Annapolis, and Chicago.
In 2007 Mod Fun released a new CD called Now...and Again on their Makin' Tyme label. A double-length CD with ten new original songs and ten re-recorded classics from their 1980s catalog, it also includes a live version of "I Believe" recorded at their highly successful July 2006 CBGB show. Continuing to play locally over the next few years, in 2009 Mod Fun began writing and recording material for another new album, entitled 'FuturePresent",.
2010 saw the release of the new 15 song CD, "Futurepresent". The majority of the songs were written by Mick Hale but, for the first time, Bob Strete and Chris Collins contributed original songs for the new CD as well. After doing a few in-store appearances during early 2010 to promote the new disc, Mod Fun took the opportunity in July to appear live at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, New Jersey
Asbury Park, New Jersey
Asbury Park is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, located on the Jersey Shore and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 16,116. The city is known for its rich musical history, including its association with...
as part of the very successful "Modsbury Park IV - Mods vs. Rockers" show. This would turn out to be the group's final performance of the year as the band members have turned their focus to recording for the remainder of 2010.
Singles and EPs
- I Am With You b/w Happy Feeling (single) 1984 New Records
- Hangin' Round (EP) 1985 Makin' Tyme Records
- Mary Goes 'Round b/w Grounded (single) 1986 Cryptovision RecordsCryptovision RecordsCryptovision Records, a New York City based independent record label was founded by musicians James “Sweat” Talley, Mike Linn, and Gene Wood in 1979 and dissolved in 1990...
Albums
- 90 Wardour St. (1985) Midnight Records
- Dorothy's Dream (1986) Cryptovision RecordsCryptovision RecordsCryptovision Records, a New York City based independent record label was founded by musicians James “Sweat” Talley, Mike Linn, and Gene Wood in 1979 and dissolved in 1990...
- Past Forward (1995) Get Hip Records
- Past Forward reissue (2004) Get Hip Records
- Now And Again CD (2007) Makin' Tyme Records
- Futurepresent CD (2010) Makin' Tyme Records