Specimen (band)
Encyclopedia
Specimen are a British
band formed in the 1980s. Their music has been described as spanning many different genres of music, including glam
, goth, punk
and post-punk
, and the band is widely credited as one of the pioneers of the Gothic movement
, both musically and stylistically.
and Lady Diana Spencer
. In 1982, the band relocated to Soho, London
, where they would play many shows at the infamous club known as the Batcave. Specimen's vocalist Olli Wisdom
founded and ran the club during 1982-1983. Prior to forming Specimen and opening the Batcave, Olli was the vocalist for another band known as The Unwanted. Unlike Specimen, The Unwanted were a traditional 1977/ 1978 style English garage-core punk band.
Unusual for a keyboardist, Jonny Slut became the face of the band and its most famous member, due largely to his striking image and fashion sense.
While the band were together, they never released a full album, only singles and a mini album. However, in 1997 two full-length compilations were released featuring various Specimen songs.
. He was also in the British 1998 movie comedy Married 2 Malcolm in a non-speaking role.
Johnny Slut formed Diskord Datkord with Mark Tinley
and Adam Tinley before going on to work with The KLF
, Adamski
and is now a member of Atomizer
. He also founded the Nag Nag Nag
club in London, where he was one of the house DJs.
Tim Huthert was a bartender at the Mad Dog in the Fog in San Francisco in the United States
.
Olli Wisdom went on to become Space Tribe
, one of the world's leading psychedelic trance DJ's.
In February 2009, Jonny Slut and Jon Klein appeared at the Fashion Institute of Technology
(New York
) for the symposium 'Subculture and Style' centered around the exhibition for the book Gothic Dark Glamour by Valery Steele and Jennifer Parks. The exhibition featured one of Jon Klein's 25-year-old stage outfits, alongside the likes of Alexander McQueen
, John Galliano
and Rick Owens
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
band formed in the 1980s. Their music has been described as spanning many different genres of music, including glam
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
, goth, punk
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...
and post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
, and the band is widely credited as one of the pioneers of the Gothic movement
Goth subculture
The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify...
, both musically and stylistically.
Early days
The band formed in Bristol, England during 1980. Their first show was at a street party celebrating the wedding of The Prince of WalesCharles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
and Lady Diana Spencer
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
. In 1982, the band relocated to Soho, London
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
, where they would play many shows at the infamous club known as the Batcave. Specimen's vocalist Olli Wisdom
Olli Wisdom
Olli Wisdom is a British musician, currently residing in London.Wisdom is most famous for his role as the singer in the glam/gothic rock group Specimen, but since the 1990s he has recorded as a psychedelic trance artist under the name Space Tribe....
founded and ran the club during 1982-1983. Prior to forming Specimen and opening the Batcave, Olli was the vocalist for another band known as The Unwanted. Unlike Specimen, The Unwanted were a traditional 1977/ 1978 style English garage-core punk band.
Unusual for a keyboardist, Jonny Slut became the face of the band and its most famous member, due largely to his striking image and fashion sense.
While the band were together, they never released a full album, only singles and a mini album. However, in 1997 two full-length compilations were released featuring various Specimen songs.
Post-Specimen
After the band went its separate ways, guitarist Jon Klein worked with Siouxsie and the Banshees for seven years, before working with Sinéad O'ConnorSinéad O'Connor
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
. He was also in the British 1998 movie comedy Married 2 Malcolm in a non-speaking role.
Johnny Slut formed Diskord Datkord with Mark Tinley
Mark Tinley
Mark Ty-Wharton is a British author, composer and philosophical speaker who specialises in presentations using sound art....
and Adam Tinley before going on to work with The KLF
The KLF
The KLF were one of the seminal bands of the British acid house movement during the late 1980s and early 1990s....
, Adamski
Adamski
Adamski is an English dance music producer, prominent at the time of acid house for his tracks "N-R-G" and "Killer" .-Career:...
and is now a member of Atomizer
Atomizer (band)
Atomizer is a synthpop duo featuring Nag Nag Nag founder and veteran musician and DJ Jonny Slut with fellow Nag Nag Nag DJ Fil OK. Their debut single was co-produced by the KLF's Jimmy Cauty.-Singles:...
. He also founded the Nag Nag Nag
Nag Nag Nag
Nag Nag Nag was an influential former London club night at the late Simon Hobart's Ghetto nightclub for six years, founded by veteran DJ, promoter and musician Jonny Slut. It is commonly associated with the ambisexual post-electroclash scene. The Independent described the night as a "legendary...
club in London, where he was one of the house DJs.
Tim Huthert was a bartender at the Mad Dog in the Fog in San Francisco in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Olli Wisdom went on to become Space Tribe
Space Tribe
Space Tribe is the alias of Goa/psy trance and clothing producer Olli Wisdom. Olli Wisdom, who is British, and now lives in London, has been a pioneer of psychedelic trance for many years. In the early 1980s he was the singer in the theatrical Goth/Glam band The Specimen, and ran the famous London...
, one of the world's leading psychedelic trance DJ's.
Specimen today
In July 2008, the original 1983 line up got together to perform at the Batcave's 25th anniversary event in London, resulting in the release of the live album Specimen Alive at the Batcave on Metropolis. The reunion grew directly out of friendships rekindled during the making of 2007's Electric Ballroom album, which featured T.bias, Kimba, Stephan X, and Tim Huthert, as well as Jon Klein collaborations with Olli Wisdom and Jonny Slut.In February 2009, Jonny Slut and Jon Klein appeared at the Fashion Institute of Technology
Fashion Institute of Technology
The Fashion Institute of Technology, generally known as FIT, is a State University of New York college of art, business, design, and technology connected to the fashion industry, with an urban campus located on West 27th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Chelsea neighborhood of...
(New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) for the symposium 'Subculture and Style' centered around the exhibition for the book Gothic Dark Glamour by Valery Steele and Jennifer Parks. The exhibition featured one of Jon Klein's 25-year-old stage outfits, alongside the likes of Alexander McQueen
Alexander McQueen
Lee Alexander McQueen, CBE was a British fashion designer and couturier best known for his in-depth knowledge of bespoke British tailoring, his tendency to juxtapose strength with fragility in his collections, as well as the emotional power and raw energy of his provocative fashion shows...
, John Galliano
John Galliano
John Charles Galliano CBE, RDI is a Gibraltan-born British fashion designer who was best known as head designer of French haute couture houses Givenchy and Christian Dior , and his own self titled fashion house.-Family:He was born in Gibraltar to a Gibraltarian father, Juan Galliano, and a...
and Rick Owens
Rick Owens
Rick Owens is an American fashion designer hailing from California, celebrated for his avant garde and subversive eye.He is married to Michele Lamy.Since 2003, Rick Owens has lived in Paris.-Biography:...
.
Current line-up
- Olli WisdomOlli WisdomOlli Wisdom is a British musician, currently residing in London.Wisdom is most famous for his role as the singer in the glam/gothic rock group Specimen, but since the 1990s he has recorded as a psychedelic trance artist under the name Space Tribe....
- Vocals - Jon Klein - Guitar, vocals
- Jonny Slut - Keyboard, backing vocals
- Kev Mills - Bass, backing vocals
- Chris Bell - Drums
Former members
- T.bias - Vocals
- Kimba - Bass
- Stephan X - Guitar, backing vocals
- Tim Huthert - Drums
- Jonathan Trevisick - Drums
- Peter Cook - Keyboards
- Danny Pepworth - Drums
- George LynchGeorge LynchGeorge Lynch may refer to:*George Lynch *George Lynch *George Lynch...
- Bass, backing vocals - Smeg - Guitar
- GerryGerryGerry can refer to:*Gerry , an American manufacturer of outdoor sports gear*Gerry , a 2002 film by Gus Van Sant*Gerry , a 2011 biographical film by Alain Desrochers about Gerry Boulet*Gerry, New York, U.S....
- Keyboards - NauntonNauntonNaunton is a village in Gloucestershire, England. It is situated in the Cotswolds, an area of outstanding natural beauty ; approximately 6 miles west of Stow-on-the-Wold and 12 miles east of Cheltenham....
- Drums - Simeon - Keyboards
- Jonny Slag - Bass
Albums
- Specimen Alive at the Batcave (2009), Metropolis Records/Eyeswideshut Recordings
- Electric Ballroom (2007), Metropolis RecordsMetropolis RecordsMetropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
Singles
- "Returning (From A Journey)" / "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (1983), London RecordsLondon RecordsLondon Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
- "Beauty Of Poison" / "Tell Tail" (1983), London Records
- "Sharp Teeth" / "Hex" / "Holes" (1985), Trust Records
- "Indestructible / "Brainburst" (1986), Rampant Records