Mondo Topless (band)
Encyclopedia
History
Mondo Topless formed in 1992 in Philadelphia, and take their name from the 1966 film of the same nameMondo Topless
Mondo Topless is a 1966 pseudo documentary directed by Russ Meyer, featuring Babette Bardot and Lorna Maitland among others. It was Meyer's first color film following a string of black & white "roughie nudies", including Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! While a straightforward sexploitation film, the...
. The group's Stooges-inspired 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...
is distinguished by their use of a Vox Continental
Vox Continental
The Vox Continental is a transistor-based combo organ that was introduced in 1962. Known for its thin, bright, breathy sound, the "Connie," as it was affectionately known, was designed to be used by touring musicians...
electric organ. Their debut single was the 1995 7" release, "I Want You To" b/w "Real Gone Girl", with their first full-length following the next year. They followed its release with touring across the United States for two years, until breaking to release their sophomore effort, 1998's Get Ready for Action. Go Fast!, the group's third full-length, appeared in 2002. Further touring around the U.S. followed the album's release. Take it Slow, was released in 2006, and features cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of songs by Paul Revere & the Raiders
Paul Revere & the Raiders
Paul Revere & the Raiders is an American rock band that saw considerable U.S. mainstream success in the second half of the 1960s and early 1970s with hits such as "Kicks" , "Hungry" , "Him Or Me - What's It Gonna Be?" and the 1971 No...
and Solomon Burke
Solomon Burke
Solomon Burke was an American singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, mortician, and an archbishop of the United House of Prayer For All People. Burke was known as "King Solomon", the "King of Rock 'n' Soul", and as the "Bishop of Soul", and described as "the Muhammad Ali of soul", and as "the most...
. Their most recent LP, "Freaking Out", is an all covers album, including interpretations of songs by Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
& Camper Van Beethoven
Camper Van Beethoven
Camper Van Beethoven is an American alternative rock group formed in Redlands, California in 1983.An eclectic band, Camper Van Beethoven mixes elements of pop, ska, punk rock, folk and alternative country, as well as various types of world music. Their aggressive musical pluralism created a...
among others. After nearly 20 years, leader Steinig retired the Mondo Topless name in early 2011 after the departures of Kris Alutius, Scott Rodgers, and Steve Thrash. The three of them now perform as The Mud Falcons.
Former members
- Sam Steinig - vocals, organ, percussion (1992–2011)
- Rick Halter - guitar (1992–1994)
- Craig Surgent - guitar (1994–1995)
- Vince Friel - guitar (1995–1999)
- Kris Alutius - guitar, vocals (1999–2011)
- Bob Dicks - bass (1992)
- Juliette Watts - bass (1992–1995)
- Jamie Mahon - bass (1995–1996)
- Scott Parker - bass (1996)
- Scott Rodgers - bass, vocals (1996–1999, 2004–2011)
- John Loxterman - bass (1999–2004)
- Eddie Beinlich - drums (1992–1993)
- Tom Connors - drums (1993–2007)
- Alex Beisker - drums (2007–2008)
- Steve Thrash - drums (2008–2011)
Discography
- Fifty Thousand Dollar Hand Job (360 Twist, 1996)
- Get Ready for Action (Dionysus Records, 1998)
- Go Fast! (Get Hip Recordings, 2002)
- Take it Slow (Get Hip Recordings, 2006)
- Freaking Out (Get Hip Recordings, 2010)