Painted Willie
Encyclopedia
Painted Willie was a punk rock
band started in 1984 in Los Angeles by drummer and film-maker Dave Markey
after the demise of his first band, Sin 34. They were active from 1984 to 1987 and released one 7", two 12 inch EPs and three LPs.
Makauskas quit the band just before their first show at Cathay de Grande
and Painted Willie became a trio and recorded a three-song (one song each from each member) eponymous 7-inch EP on Phil's own Spinhead Records. After a while, Delaney was expelled from the band because of tensions between him and the other two members. The band then recorded the My Fellow Americans
12-inch EP with Newman playing both bass and guitar. For the live shows played in 1984, the band recruited guitar player Mike Vallejo
of Circle One, who had also been a member of Sin 34. The band's first two releases used a lot of adolescent humor, though tied more to straight-ahead rock than punk or hardcore.
Vic Makauskas was back in the band in 1985 as Painted Willie wrote a new set of material, becoming more straightforward punk rock. They recorded two demos that got them a record contract with SST Records
. SST also agreed to distribute Dave's new movie Lovedolls Superstar
. The band re-recorded the ten songs they had done as demos with Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn
, producing and released it as the Mind Bowling LP.
Painted Willie then embarked on a six-month national tour opening for Gone
and Black Flag
in 1986, which would be Black Flag's last tour. The band recorded and released the Live from Van Nuys EP during that tour live EP during the tour titled simply Live From Van Nuys. Dave filmed eight years of footage for an eventual documentary of the tour that would be called Reality 86'd but Ginn didn't want it to be released. Black Flag singer Henry Rollins
tried to have it released in 1994 through a distribution deal he struck with Time Warner
but Ginn still refused.
Painted Willie embarked on another US tour in 1987 in support the Upsidedowntown LP, that would be released in 1988, and broke apart soon thereafter while Newman joined the band I love you. In 1988 SST released a posthumous compilation of Painted Willie's early work on the LP Relics. This would be the band's swan song, along with a cover of Captain Beefheart
's Clear Spot
for The Melting Plot compilation. SST also re-released the 7" and 12" Painted Willie had released on Spinhead Records in 1988. DC-Jam Records
re-released Mind Bowling on CD in 2009.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band started in 1984 in Los Angeles by drummer and film-maker Dave Markey
Dave Markey
Dave Markey is an American film director.As a self-taught filmmaker and musician, Markey directed, produced, edited, and photographed most of his films, the majority of which has been self-funded and distributed. His work documents the punk scene in Southern California throughout the 1980s and 1990s...
after the demise of his first band, Sin 34. They were active from 1984 to 1987 and released one 7", two 12 inch EPs and three LPs.
History
Dave Markey joined forces with Sin 34 bass player Phil Newman and guitar players Vic Makauskas from SVDB and Nick Delaney from Vancouver band No Exit to form a band. Newman chose the name Painted Willie from a 1950s thesaurus he had found in a thrift store which defined it as an old English acronym for homosexual, or more approximately transvestite or drag queen.Makauskas quit the band just before their first show at Cathay de Grande
Cathay de Grande
The Cathay de Grande was a nightclub on the corner of Argyle Street and Selma Avenue in central Hollywood, which featured mostly punk rock bands but also other styles of underground/alternative rock in the 1980s. It was almost as well known for rockabilly, cowpunk, the Paisley Underground bands,...
and Painted Willie became a trio and recorded a three-song (one song each from each member) eponymous 7-inch EP on Phil's own Spinhead Records. After a while, Delaney was expelled from the band because of tensions between him and the other two members. The band then recorded the My Fellow Americans
My Fellow Americans
My Fellow Americans is a 1996 American comedy film starring Jack Lemmon, Dan Aykroyd and James Garner as feuding ex-presidents. Lauren Bacall, Esther Rolle, John Heard, Wilford Brimley, Bradley Whitford and Jeff Yagher also appear in supporting performances...
12-inch EP with Newman playing both bass and guitar. For the live shows played in 1984, the band recruited guitar player Mike Vallejo
Mike Vallejo
Mike Vallejo was a professional boxer.Mike Vallejo compiled an amateur record of 22-3. He fought for Miami Dade County's Tropical Park Boxing Team and the Broward Sherriff's office...
of Circle One, who had also been a member of Sin 34. The band's first two releases used a lot of adolescent humor, though tied more to straight-ahead rock than punk or hardcore.
Vic Makauskas was back in the band in 1985 as Painted Willie wrote a new set of material, becoming more straightforward punk rock. They recorded two demos that got them a record contract with SST Records
SST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
. SST also agreed to distribute Dave's new movie Lovedolls Superstar
Lovedolls Superstar (film)
Lovedolls Superstar is a 1986 low budget underground film, shot on super-8 film.It is the direct sequel to 1984's Desperate Teenage Lovedolls. It was made on a budget of approximately $10,000...
. The band re-recorded the ten songs they had done as demos with Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn
Greg Ginn
Gregory Regis Ginn is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He is best known for being the leader of and primary songwriter for the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to 1986....
, producing and released it as the Mind Bowling LP.
Painted Willie then embarked on a six-month national tour opening for Gone
Gone (band)
Gone is a three-piece punk-based instrumental rock band, formed by Greg Ginn in late 1985. Originally, Gone was a side project to his main group, Black Flag.-Biography:...
and Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
in 1986, which would be Black Flag's last tour. The band recorded and released the Live from Van Nuys EP during that tour live EP during the tour titled simply Live From Van Nuys. Dave filmed eight years of footage for an eventual documentary of the tour that would be called Reality 86'd but Ginn didn't want it to be released. Black Flag singer Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ....
tried to have it released in 1994 through a distribution deal he struck with Time Warner
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
but Ginn still refused.
Painted Willie embarked on another US tour in 1987 in support the Upsidedowntown LP, that would be released in 1988, and broke apart soon thereafter while Newman joined the band I love you. In 1988 SST released a posthumous compilation of Painted Willie's early work on the LP Relics. This would be the band's swan song, along with a cover of Captain Beefheart
Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet January 15, 1941 December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12...
's Clear Spot
Clear Spot
Clear Spot is the seventh album by Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band, originally released on LP in 1972 in a clear plastic sleeve.After Trout Mask Replica, which was critically acclaimed but sold poorly, each of the group's following three albums was slightly more conventional than the one before...
for The Melting Plot compilation. SST also re-released the 7" and 12" Painted Willie had released on Spinhead Records in 1988. DC-Jam Records
DC-Jam Records
DC-Jam Records is an american record label founded in 2006 by President Darron Hemann that focuses primarily on the genres of Punk Rock, Ska, and Experimental music. The company was established in 2006, though their first official release didn't happen until early 2008...
re-released Mind Bowling on CD in 2009.
Members
- Dave Markey - Drums, vocals
- Phil Newman - Bass, vocals
- Vic Makauskas - Guitar (Early 1984, 1985–1987)
- Nick "Willie" Delaney - Guitar, vocals (1984)
- Mike Vallejo - Guitar (1984)
Discography
- Albums
- My Fellow Americans LP (Spinhead Records, 1984)
- Mind Bowling LP (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1985) - Live from Van Nuys EP (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1986) - Upsidedowntown LP (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1987) - Relics LP (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1988)
- Singles
- "Painted Willie" 7" (Spinhead Records, 1984)
- Compilations
-
- Lovedolls Superstar LP (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1986) - features the track Darling Shelah - The Blasting Concept Volume II LP (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1986) - features the track The Big Time - SST Godhead Storedude In-Store Play Device #2 LP (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1986) - features the tracks Upsidedowntown and Subject - SST Godhead Storedude In-Store Play Device #5 LP (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1987) - features the track My Fellow Americans - SST Over 35 Videos Never Before Released LP (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1987) - features the tracks Upsidedownton and Little... - The Melting Plot LP (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1988) - features the track Clear Spot
- Lovedolls Superstar LP (SST Records