Shimmy Disc
Encyclopedia
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
, Gwar
, The Semibeings
, When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water
and Uncle Wiggly.
The Gwar portion at the end opens with a video for Gwar Theme. It is a different recording from the Hell-O
version, and has Oderus in the costume with the top of his head and hair, but no face mask. Also seen are original Gwar Woman Lisa Harrelson (a brunette), and Pookie the Dead Dog. You can also see Don Drakulich as Techno Destructo
.
After that are some even older clips. There is some 8 mm footage of an earlier lineup (no Joey Slutman
, but with Cornelius Carnage)). They are walking over a hill in the snow waving their weapons. The costumes are mostly the same as in Gwar Must Be Destroyed, mostly crude fur and bones outfits with helmets or headgear or some kind, except for Cornelius (who wore the costume that Beefcake would later make famous) and Balsac who pretty much his same style even back then. From there it goes into a news clip from a Richmond station (where the anchor mistakenly calls the band "gore") where the band are running around in the winter on the streets yelling and screaming.
From that they go to a TV studio and throw a newsman threw the desk then beat him up. Dave can be clearly seen yelling into the camera. He then holds up a bloody head and smears it into the weather map, and Cornelius breaks through the wall.
Following that is more 8 mm footage of the band eating various body parts for dinner and Dave drooling all over himself. In the background can be seen a big neon sign that says "SIN" (as can be seen in one of the comics in Mind Control Monthly #2).
From there it goes to the second video, for a demo recording of Time For Death that can be found on Let There Be Gwar
. This is from the historic Earl's Court show, and features some really odd variations in costumes and props. It was a rare outdoors show, and filmed in front of a large building with the Gwar logo on it. The guitar players are Balsac, Cornelius Carnage again, Tim Harriss (who would later play in Kepone
with Beefcake Mike Bishop) who has a crude version of the stegasaurus spikes on his back like would be seen in later Flattus costumes, plus giant horns sticking out the side of his head, and big hair like Sleazy. We also get to see the crude early Gor Gor that is also in the Return of Techno-Destructo
video, plus an even earlier version of Cardinal Syn than the one seen in RAWGwar
. It looks like he has a giant engine block for most of his body, and he has giant saw blades for his hands, like Grambo. Also seen is the jet engine that Dave said was dropped on Uncle Knobby, plus there is some unnamed character with a big cream colored head and dark glasses with a pack of TNT strapped to him.
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...
based record 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,...
founded 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...
by Mark 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...
. Before it was sold to the Knitting Factory
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....
, it was responsible for providing a mass audience for acts including Bongwater
Bongwater (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...
, Daniel Johnston
Daniel Johnston
Daniel Dale Johnston is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and artist. Johnston was the subject of the 2006 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston. He currently lives in Waller, Texas....
, Fly Ashtray
Fly Ashtray
Fly Ashtray is an American rock band, formed in 1983 in the Bronx, New York, by Chris Thomas, James Kavoussi, Eric Thomas, John Beekman and Mike Anzalone. At some point, Thomas and Anzalone left the band which led to Beekman moving from lead vocalist to bassist/guitarist, and then Kavoussi switched...
, Galaxie 500
Galaxie 500
Galaxie 500 was an American alternative rock band that formed in 1987 and split up in 1991 after releasing three albums.-History:Guitarist Dean Wareham, drummer Damon Krukowski and bassist Naomi Yang had met at the Dalton School in New York City in 1981, but began playing together during their time...
, King Missile
King Missile
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 ....
, Boredoms, Ruins, Ween
Ween
Ween is an American alternative rock group. They formed in 1984 in New Hope, Pennsylvania when central members Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo met in an eighth grade typing class. Ween has a large cult underground fanbase despite being generally unknown in American pop music...
, Gwar
Gwar
Gwar is a satirical heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, United States, in 1984. The band is best known for its elaborate science fiction/horror film inspired costumes, obscene lyrics and graphic stage performances, which feature humorous enactments of politically and morally taboo...
, The Semibeings
Semibeings
The Semibeings were an alternative rock band based out of Mercerville-Hamilton Square, N.J. active in the 1990s. The band released Sickness and Health on Shimmy Disc in 1995 and Three Pawns Standing on Seattle’s C/Z label in 1997 both produced by Mark Kramer and recorded at his Noise New Jersey...
, When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water
When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water
When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water was an American experimental psychedelic rock band from New York City active from 1986–1996...
and Uncle Wiggly.
Shimmy Disc Video Compilation V.1
Shimmy Disc Video Compilation V.1 was the first official video release to feature Gwar, this compilation included several other bands on the Shimmy Disc label.The Gwar portion at the end opens with a video for Gwar Theme. It is a different recording from the Hell-O
Hell-O
Hell-o! is the debut album by Gwar. The album was released in 1988, on Shimmy Disc Records.Gwar's angle on the album is that of a morbid punk band obsessed with debauchery, violence and toilet humor...
version, and has Oderus in the costume with the top of his head and hair, but no face mask. Also seen are original Gwar Woman Lisa Harrelson (a brunette), and Pookie the Dead Dog. You can also see Don Drakulich as Techno Destructo
Techno Destructo
Techno Destructo is perhaps the most famous GWAR villain . He is played by either Hunter Jackson or Don Drakulich , though Jackson played the character for the majority of his time in GWAR...
.
After that are some even older clips. There is some 8 mm footage of an earlier lineup (no Joey Slutman
Joey Slutman
Joey Slutman, also known as Joe Annaruma, was GWAR's second vocalist while Oderus Urungus - Dave Brockie - was the 2nd guitarist. Joey Slutman is the vocalist on the first four songs on Let There Be GWAR. Before joining Gwar in 1985, he was guitarist for the Norfolk, Va. Hardcore punk band JUDICIAL...
, but with Cornelius Carnage)). They are walking over a hill in the snow waving their weapons. The costumes are mostly the same as in Gwar Must Be Destroyed, mostly crude fur and bones outfits with helmets or headgear or some kind, except for Cornelius (who wore the costume that Beefcake would later make famous) and Balsac who pretty much his same style even back then. From there it goes into a news clip from a Richmond station (where the anchor mistakenly calls the band "gore") where the band are running around in the winter on the streets yelling and screaming.
From that they go to a TV studio and throw a newsman threw the desk then beat him up. Dave can be clearly seen yelling into the camera. He then holds up a bloody head and smears it into the weather map, and Cornelius breaks through the wall.
Following that is more 8 mm footage of the band eating various body parts for dinner and Dave drooling all over himself. In the background can be seen a big neon sign that says "SIN" (as can be seen in one of the comics in Mind Control Monthly #2).
From there it goes to the second video, for a demo recording of Time For Death that can be found on Let There Be Gwar
Let There Be GWAR
Let There Be Gwar is a CD made up of Gwar's 1986 demo recordings pre-dating the Hell-O album and featuring the original lineup. The first four tracks on the album feature original Gwar member Joey Slutman on lead vocals...
. This is from the historic Earl's Court show, and features some really odd variations in costumes and props. It was a rare outdoors show, and filmed in front of a large building with the Gwar logo on it. The guitar players are Balsac, Cornelius Carnage again, Tim Harriss (who would later play in Kepone
Kepone
Kepone, also known as chlordecone, is a carcinogenic insecticide related to mirex, used between 1966 and 1975 in the USA for ant and roach baits.- Chemistry and toxicology :...
with Beefcake Mike Bishop) who has a crude version of the stegasaurus spikes on his back like would be seen in later Flattus costumes, plus giant horns sticking out the side of his head, and big hair like Sleazy. We also get to see the crude early Gor Gor that is also in the Return of Techno-Destructo
Return of Techno-Destructo
Return of Techno Destructo is another Slave Pit VHS release. There has been some confusion because the name of the tape released in 1996 is also the name of the 1991 short film that is contained within...
video, plus an even earlier version of Cardinal Syn than the one seen in RAWGwar
RAWGWAR (video)
Rawgwar is Gwar's first self-produced video release. It compiles early TV appearances and live performance footage. The tape features the band in early versions of their costumes, as well as stage characters, such as Cardinal Syn and Techno Destructo...
. It looks like he has a giant engine block for most of his body, and he has giant saw blades for his hands, like Grambo. Also seen is the jet engine that Dave said was dropped on Uncle Knobby, plus there is some unnamed character with a big cream colored head and dark glasses with a pack of TNT strapped to him.
Track listing
- Lesbians of Russia (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...
) - Jimmy (Bongwater)
- The Box (King MissileKing MissileKing 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 ....
) - Take Stuff from WorkTake Stuff from Work"Take Stuff from Work" is a song by avant-garde band King Missile. It appears on the band's 1987 debut album Fluting on the Hump.-Content:...
(King Missile) - Dominique (When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the WaterWhen People Were Shorter and Lived Near the WaterWhen People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water was an American experimental psychedelic rock band from New York City active from 1986–1996...
) - This Guy's in Love (When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water)
- Bird (B.A.L.L.)
- Out of the Blue (B.A.L.L.)
- Tugboat Galaxie 500Galaxie 500Galaxie 500 was an American alternative rock band that formed in 1987 and split up in 1991 after releasing three albums.-History:Guitarist Dean Wareham, drummer Damon Krukowski and bassist Naomi Yang had met at the Dalton School in New York City in 1981, but began playing together during their time...
- Hymn (Tuli KupferbergTuli KupferbergNaphtali "Tuli" Kupferberg was an American counterculture poet, author, cartoonist, pacifist anarchist, publisher and co-founder of the band The Fugs.-Biography:...
) - Maybe (Spongehead)
- Hot Dog (Michael CudahyMichael CudahyMichael Cudahy may refer to:*Michael Cudahy , entrepreneur, business executive and philanthropist*Michael Cudahy , American industrialist...
) - Shaft (Velvet MonkeysVelvet MonkeysVelvet Monkeys is an American rock band currently based in New York City, formed in 1980. The name "Velvet Monkeys" was a combination of The Velvet Underground and The Monkees.-Background:...
) - Rock Party (Velvet Monkeys)
- Sex Gorilla (DogbowlDogbowlDogbowl 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....
) - Daytime (Dogbowl)
- What Makes Donna Twirl? (Midget Planets)
- Ain't No Crime to be Stupid (Mr. Elk and Mr. Seal)
- Life's a Gas (ShockabillyShockabillyShockabilly was a band which included Eugene Chadbourne on guitar/vocals, Mark Kramer on bass/organ, and David Licht on drums.Shockabilly released a number of albums during their brief existence , most were later re-released...
) - Pile Up All Architecture (Shockabilly)
- Gwar Theme (GwarGwarGwar is a satirical heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, United States, in 1984. The band is best known for its elaborate science fiction/horror film inspired costumes, obscene lyrics and graphic stage performances, which feature humorous enactments of politically and morally taboo...
) - Time For Death (Gwar)