The Amps
Encyclopedia
The Amps were an indie-rock band from Dayton, Ohio
. Formed by Kim Deal
in 1995 after The Breeders
went on hiatus, they first began touring as "Tammy Ampersand and the Amps" (a name inspired by friend Robert Pollard
) but it was later shortened to "The Amps."
Their album Pacer
was released in 1995.
Kim Deal originally intended to play all of the instruments herself, even going so far to learn the drums (she knew guitar and bass already, having played guitar in The Breeders and bass in The Pixies), but in the end she recruited Jim Macpherson
, the drummer from The Breeders, and Luis Lerma and Nate Farley, two friends from Dayton, to play on the album and tour.
Pacer sold poorly, despite generally good reviews. Perhaps anticipating a hit along the lines of Last Splash, Elektra had ordered a huge first pressing, leading to the widespread availability of discounted copies of Pacer in used-record and dollar stores.
The Amps continued to tour until mid-1996, including a lucrative gig opening for the Foo Fighters
, when Kim Deal called off a series of shows and festivals to reform the Breeders. Guitarist Nate Farley and drummer Jim Macpherson went on to join Guided by Voices
, although everyone else was temporarily folded into a new (but short-lived) lineup of The Breeders.
released an entire Kim Deal tribute in April 2008 called "Gigantic - a tribute to Kim Deal". Bands from all over the world covered The Amps and The Breeders
songs written by Kim.
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. Formed by Kim Deal
Kim Deal
Kimberley Ann Deal is an American singer, songwriter and musician, best known as the bassist of the alternative rock band the Pixies and the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for The Breeders. Deal first joined the Pixies in January 1986 as the band's bassist, adopting the stage name Mrs...
in 1995 after The Breeders
The Breeders
The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...
went on hiatus, they first began touring as "Tammy Ampersand and the Amps" (a name inspired by friend Robert Pollard
Robert Pollard
Robert Pollard is an American rock musician and singer-songwriter who is the leader and creative force behind indie rock group Guided by Voices, who disbanded in 2004, only to reform in 2010...
) but it was later shortened to "The Amps."
Their album Pacer
Pacer (album)
Pacer was The Amps' only LP. It was released on October 31, 1995. The album is titled after the first track. The song "I Am Decided" was a combination of two songs written by Robert Pollard, which were given to Kim Deal as a gift after she produced some songs for Guided by Voices...
was released in 1995.
Kim Deal originally intended to play all of the instruments herself, even going so far to learn the drums (she knew guitar and bass already, having played guitar in The Breeders and bass in The Pixies), but in the end she recruited Jim Macpherson
Jim Macpherson
Jim Macpherson is a United States percussionist who has played with well-known rock groups, including Guided by Voices, The Breeders, The Moping Swans, The Raging Mantras, Killjoys and The Amps...
, the drummer from The Breeders, and Luis Lerma and Nate Farley, two friends from Dayton, to play on the album and tour.
Pacer sold poorly, despite generally good reviews. Perhaps anticipating a hit along the lines of Last Splash, Elektra had ordered a huge first pressing, leading to the widespread availability of discounted copies of Pacer in used-record and dollar stores.
The Amps continued to tour until mid-1996, including a lucrative gig opening for the Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
, when Kim Deal called off a series of shows and festivals to reform the Breeders. Guitarist Nate Farley and drummer Jim Macpherson went on to join Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices is an American indie rock band originating from Dayton, Ohio. Beginning with the band's formation in 1983, it made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard...
, although everyone else was temporarily folded into a new (but short-lived) lineup of The Breeders.
Members
- Kim Deal: Vocals, GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s - Jim Macpherson: DrumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s - Luis Lerma: BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Nate Farley: GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s
Albums
| Title | Release date | Label |
| Pacer Pacer (album) Pacer was The Amps' only LP. It was released on October 31, 1995. The album is titled after the first track. The song "I Am Decided" was a combination of two songs written by Robert Pollard, which were given to Kim Deal as a gift after she produced some songs for Guided by Voices... |
1995 | 4AD 4AD 4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today... /Elektra Elektra Records Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009.... |
Singles
| Year | Title | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Tipp City" | Pacer | 4AD 4AD 4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today... /Elektra Elektra Records Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009.... |
Promos
| Year | Title | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Bragging Party" | Pacer | 4AD 4AD 4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today... /Elektra Elektra Records Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009.... |
| 1995 | "Tipp City" | Pacer | 4AD 4AD 4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today... /Elektra Elektra Records Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009.... |
| 1996 | "Pacer" | Pacer | Elektra Elektra Records Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009.... |
Musical tributes
American Laundromat RecordsAmerican Laundromat Records
American Laundromat Records is an indie label based in Mystic, CT.The label has produced several tribute albums, including Dig For Fire - a tribute to PIXIES, Cinnamon Girl - Women Artists Cover Neil Young, and High School Reunion - A Tribute to Those Great 80's Films...
released an entire Kim Deal tribute in April 2008 called "Gigantic - a tribute to Kim Deal". Bands from all over the world covered The Amps and The Breeders
The Breeders
The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...
songs written by Kim.