The Feederz
Encyclopedia
Feederz were a punk rock
band from Arizona
. They were known for their song Jesus Entering from the Rear, which featured on Alternative Tentacles
', their Let Them Eat Jellybeans
compilation, and for their provocative album covers. Feederz had strong Situationist tendencies, verging into communism
and anarchism
. Their songs are highly critical of government
, consumerism
, and religion
.
Lead singer Frank Discussion is also known for his "subvertisements" or "derailments", an adaption of the situationist tactic of detournement
, as well as what he calls 'interventions' whereby one detourns physical events by intervening with an out of place element in the physical world, a tactic expressed as simply as placing disparate items in unsuspecting people's shopping carts, thereby raising the action beyond the level of mere prank to a conscious tactic used to undermine society and to express a unified critique of it. He is also known for being one of the developers of 'antistasiology,' defined as the comparative study of various types of tactics, strategies, and organizational structures used by various resistance movements, historically and currently.
assault rifle into the audience. In 1980, the band released their first recording, a 4-song EP Jesus
.
In 1982, Frank Discussion wrote "Bored With School", a diatribe against school and work posing as an announcement from the Arizona Department of Education, and distributed five thousand copies to local high schools. He fled Arizona to escape arrest for this incident and settled in San Francisco.
In 1984, Discussion reformed Feederz with Mark Roderick and D.H. Peligro, with whom he recorded Ever Feel Like Killing Your Boss?. In Situationist style, the album sleeve was covered in sandpaper. In 1986, Teachers In Space was released with Jayed Scotti replacing Peligro on drums. Drummer Jayed Scotti was art partners with Winston Smith
and created album art for bands such as the Dead Kennedys
, MDC
, and Crucifucks
. The cover of Teachers in Space featured a photo of the Challenger disaster. Later in the decade, Discussion again disbanded Feederz but by then their orbit of influence had expanded, for among their many fans was Kurt Cobain
. A fan's post to the Nirvana
newsgroup, alt.music.nirvana, revealed Cobain took a bumper sticker from Feederz Teachers In Space LP and then proudly stuck it on his all-black Fender Stratocaster, made famous at the 1991 Reading Festival (see Reading and Leeds Festivals
) in England, where Nirvana performed with Sonic Youth
. The sticker read, "Vandalism: As beautiful as a rock in a cop's face", and in small type underneath were these words: "Courtesy of Feederz: Office of Anti-Public Relations". (The bumper sticker message would become the title of their comeback release more than a decade later). Cobain's use of this guitar in the "Year Punk Broke
" video later that year indirectly lent even more exposure to Feederz (until Cobain smashed it into pieces at a Paris show the following Spring).
Feederz reformed in 2002 and released Vandalism: Beautiful as a Rock in a Cop's Face, oddly enough, engineered by Jack (Nirvana) Endino. This lineup included Ben Wah on drums and Denmark Vesey playing bass, both from Seattle. They toured throughout 2003. Frank Discussion & Ben Wah each respectively relocated to Los Angeles in 2003-4, and carried on, playing with bassist, Brant Boling, until 2007, when they played their last show at Mondo-Vodeo-A-Go-Go. (available, in part on youtube.com)
Mr. Discussion has been expanding on antistasiology (the study of resistance), an area of study he helped develop in the early 2000s. Mr. Discussion is also thought to be working on a movie entitled "Amor y Saqueo" (Love and Looting), which he describes as a "charming tale of a young girl who finds happiness through wholesale destruction, theft, sabotage and, of course, looting." It is unknown whether the film will be shot in the United States, Mexico or both.
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 from Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. They were known for their song Jesus Entering from the Rear, which featured on Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
', their Let Them Eat Jellybeans
Let Them Eat Jellybeans
Let Them Eat Jellybeans!, subtitled "17 Extracts From Americas Darker Side", is a compilation album released by Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles in 1981. It was one of the earliest compilations of underground music in the United States and its original release included an insert of all of the...
compilation, and for their provocative album covers. Feederz had strong Situationist tendencies, verging into communism
Primitive communism
Primitive communism is a term used by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels to describe what they interpreted as early forms of communism: As a model, primitive communism is usually used to describe early hunter-gatherer societies, that had no hierarchical social class structures or capital accumulation...
and anarchism
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
. Their songs are highly critical of government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
, consumerism
Consumerism
Consumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen...
, and religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
.
Lead singer Frank Discussion is also known for his "subvertisements" or "derailments", an adaption of the situationist tactic of detournement
Detournement
A détournement is a technique developed in the 1950s by the Letterist International, and consist in "turning expressions of the capitalist system against itself." Détournement was prominently used to set up subversive political pranks, an influential tactic called situationist prank that was...
, as well as what he calls 'interventions' whereby one detourns physical events by intervening with an out of place element in the physical world, a tactic expressed as simply as placing disparate items in unsuspecting people's shopping carts, thereby raising the action beyond the level of mere prank to a conscious tactic used to undermine society and to express a unified critique of it. He is also known for being one of the developers of 'antistasiology,' defined as the comparative study of various types of tactics, strategies, and organizational structures used by various resistance movements, historically and currently.
History
Frank Discussion and Clear Bob (Dan Clark) formed Feederz in 1977. Art Nouveau (John Vivier) later joined as a drummer. Before performing publicly, Feederz issued a press release that the local media mistook as a terrorist communique. At their first show, Frank Discussion caused a panic by firing blanks from an AR-15AR-15
The AR-15 is a lightweight, 5.56 mm, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed semi-automatic rifle, with a rotating-lock bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation. It is manufactured with the extensive use of aluminum alloys and synthetic materials....
assault rifle into the audience. In 1980, the band released their first recording, a 4-song EP Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
.
In 1982, Frank Discussion wrote "Bored With School", a diatribe against school and work posing as an announcement from the Arizona Department of Education, and distributed five thousand copies to local high schools. He fled Arizona to escape arrest for this incident and settled in San Francisco.
In 1984, Discussion reformed Feederz with Mark Roderick and D.H. Peligro, with whom he recorded Ever Feel Like Killing Your Boss?. In Situationist style, the album sleeve was covered in sandpaper. In 1986, Teachers In Space was released with Jayed Scotti replacing Peligro on drums. Drummer Jayed Scotti was art partners with Winston Smith
Winston Smith (artist)
Winston Smith is an artist who primarily uses the medium of collage. He is probably best known for the artwork he has produced for the American punk rock group Dead Kennedys...
and created album art for bands such as the Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
, MDC
MDC (band)
MDC is an American hardcore punk band formed in Austin, Texas in 1979. The band were subsequently based in San Francisco, California, and are currently based in Portland, Oregon. MDC originally formed as The Stains before changing their name...
, and Crucifucks
Crucifucks
The Crucifucks were a Lansing, Michigan-based punk band formed in 1981. Throughout their career, the band had a revolving-door line-up, the only constant member being lyricist and frontman Doc Corbin Dart. They were noted for their anarchist political agitation...
. The cover of Teachers in Space featured a photo of the Challenger disaster. Later in the decade, Discussion again disbanded Feederz but by then their orbit of influence had expanded, for among their many fans was Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
. A fan's post to the Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
newsgroup, alt.music.nirvana, revealed Cobain took a bumper sticker from Feederz Teachers In Space LP and then proudly stuck it on his all-black Fender Stratocaster, made famous at the 1991 Reading Festival (see Reading and Leeds Festivals
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
) in England, where Nirvana performed with Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
. The sticker read, "Vandalism: As beautiful as a rock in a cop's face", and in small type underneath were these words: "Courtesy of Feederz: Office of Anti-Public Relations". (The bumper sticker message would become the title of their comeback release more than a decade later). Cobain's use of this guitar in the "Year Punk Broke
1991: The Year Punk Broke
1991: The Year Punk Broke is a 1992 documentary directed by Dave Markey featuring American alternative rock band Sonic Youth on tour in Europe in 1991. While Sonic Youth is the focus of the documentary, the film also gives attention to Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr., Babes in Toyland, Gumball and The Ramones...
" video later that year indirectly lent even more exposure to Feederz (until Cobain smashed it into pieces at a Paris show the following Spring).
Feederz reformed in 2002 and released Vandalism: Beautiful as a Rock in a Cop's Face, oddly enough, engineered by Jack (Nirvana) Endino. This lineup included Ben Wah on drums and Denmark Vesey playing bass, both from Seattle. They toured throughout 2003. Frank Discussion & Ben Wah each respectively relocated to Los Angeles in 2003-4, and carried on, playing with bassist, Brant Boling, until 2007, when they played their last show at Mondo-Vodeo-A-Go-Go. (available, in part on youtube.com)
Mr. Discussion has been expanding on antistasiology (the study of resistance), an area of study he helped develop in the early 2000s. Mr. Discussion is also thought to be working on a movie entitled "Amor y Saqueo" (Love and Looting), which he describes as a "charming tale of a young girl who finds happiness through wholesale destruction, theft, sabotage and, of course, looting." It is unknown whether the film will be shot in the United States, Mexico or both.
Discography
- Jesus EPJesus EPJesus is the debut album by Arizona Punk band The Feederz. It was recorded in Arizona at a very low cost and released on 1980 through Anxiety Records...
7" (1980) - Ever Feel Like Killing Your Boss? (1983)
- Teachers In Space (1986)
- Vandalism: Beautiful as a Rock in a Cop's Face (2002)