The Nervebreakers
Encyclopedia
The Nervebreakers are a Dallas-area proto-punk and punk rock
band that formed in 1975. Well known for their melodic, rocking punk with a liberal smattering of George Jones
and psychedelia, they have the distinction of being one of the only bands to open for The Sex Pistols.
and the Sex Pistols became big in America, the band was finally able to find a sustaining audience. The Nervebreakers first big break came when they opened for the Ramones
on July 24, 1977 at The Electric Ballroom, a dance hall in the industrial district of Dallas. In 1978 The Nervebreakers opened for the Sex Pistols
at The Longhorn Ballroom
, and a photo of Barry made it into the March 1978 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine. Later that year the band recorded their debut EP "Politics", and the song "My Girlfriend is A Rock" became a runaway hit in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Boston and was later covered by the Angry Samoans
and Wool
, among others. They also opened for The Clash
, John Cale
, The Police
and Johnny Thunders
.
The Nervebreakers contacted legendary Psychedelic rock
pioneer and Texas native, Roky Erickson
and opened several shows as the Nervebreakers and doing double duty by being Roky's backing band. A live recording of one of these shows was released on CD by the French record company, New Rose Records.
In 1979 they recorded a single for Wild Child Records containing the songs "Hijack the Radio" and "Why Am I So Flipped", and contributed 2 songs ("So Sorry" (Barry Kooda) and "I Love Your Neurosis") to the ESR Compilation "Are We Too Late For The Trend?" They recorded another song "I Don't Believe In Anything" but it was not released. By 1980, The Nervebreakers were one of the biggest bands in Dallas. They began recording their Debut album "We Want Everything" on May 27, but the album was not released until 1994 when Texas rarities / reissue label ‘Existential Vacuum’ released a vinyl LP to rave reviews. Shortly thereafter this effort was picked up by garage / punk label ‘Get Hip Records’ and a CD was made available worldwide. In 2000 Italian label '“Rave Up Records”' released “Hijack the Radio” a vinyl LP collection of singles, rarities and live cuts. Years after they laid the groundwork for enumerable other Texas bands, Nervebreakers were finally getting their due.
After the departure of Mike and Bob in 1981, Paul Quigg and James Flory joined and the band won the "Agora's Battle of the Bands" in Dallas. Their prize was recording time at Pantego Studios and they recorded a Thom Edwards/Mike Haskins original "Girls, Girls, Girls, Girls, Girls," along with an obscure Rolling Stones cover "I'd Much Rather Be With The Boys". The band parted company shortly before the single was released on black and blue vinyl in a clear sleeve.
An anthology "Hijack The Radio! (Vintage Vinyl & Studio Sessions, Volume One” of previously released and unreleased songs has been assembled for release on vinyl and CD by the Get Hip label. Mike, Tex, Barry, Carl and Bob have recently (2007-2008) re-entered the studio to record a brand new effort of never recorded before original material entitled “Face Up to Reality” that is hopefully slated for release sometime in 2011. Also in 2009, The Nervebreakers have returned to live performances with several shows in Austin and Dallas.
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 that formed in 1975. Well known for their melodic, rocking punk with a liberal smattering of George Jones
George Jones
George Glenn Jones is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette....
and psychedelia, they have the distinction of being one of the only bands to open for The Sex Pistols.
Background
The Nervebreakers began life as a cover band plaing cover songs from the sixties. As the RamonesRamones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
and the Sex Pistols became big in America, the band was finally able to find a sustaining audience. The Nervebreakers first big break came when they opened for the Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
on July 24, 1977 at The Electric Ballroom, a dance hall in the industrial district of Dallas. In 1978 The Nervebreakers opened for the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
at The Longhorn Ballroom
Longhorn Ballroom
The Longhorn Ballroom is a music venue and country western dance hall in Dallas, Texas . It was known in the early 1950s as Bob Wills' Ranch House when the large ballroom was built and operated by western swing bandleader Bob Wills. When Wills sold the facility for tax purposes, the sprawling...
, and a photo of Barry made it into the March 1978 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine. Later that year the band recorded their debut EP "Politics", and the song "My Girlfriend is A Rock" became a runaway hit in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Boston and was later covered by the Angry Samoans
Angry Samoans
The Angry Samoans are an American punk rock band in the first wave of American punk. Formed in August 1978 in Los Angeles, California by early 1970s rock writer "Metal" Mike Saunders and his sibling lead guitarist bonze blayk, along with co-conspirator Gregg Turner and original recruits bassist...
and Wool
Wool (band)
Wool were a rock band from Washington, D.C. , specialising in a rough-hewn but melodic brand of punk-based hard rock from 1990-1996.-History:...
, among others. They also opened for The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
, The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
and Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
.
The Nervebreakers contacted legendary Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
pioneer and Texas native, Roky Erickson
Roky Erickson
Roky Erickson is an American singer, songwriter, harmonica player and guitarist from Texas. He was a founding member of the 13th Floor Elevators and a pioneer of the psychedelic rock genre.-Biography:...
and opened several shows as the Nervebreakers and doing double duty by being Roky's backing band. A live recording of one of these shows was released on CD by the French record company, New Rose Records.
In 1979 they recorded a single for Wild Child Records containing the songs "Hijack the Radio" and "Why Am I So Flipped", and contributed 2 songs ("So Sorry" (Barry Kooda) and "I Love Your Neurosis") to the ESR Compilation "Are We Too Late For The Trend?" They recorded another song "I Don't Believe In Anything" but it was not released. By 1980, The Nervebreakers were one of the biggest bands in Dallas. They began recording their Debut album "We Want Everything" on May 27, but the album was not released until 1994 when Texas rarities / reissue label ‘Existential Vacuum’ released a vinyl LP to rave reviews. Shortly thereafter this effort was picked up by garage / punk label ‘Get Hip Records’ and a CD was made available worldwide. In 2000 Italian label '“Rave Up Records”' released “Hijack the Radio” a vinyl LP collection of singles, rarities and live cuts. Years after they laid the groundwork for enumerable other Texas bands, Nervebreakers were finally getting their due.
After the departure of Mike and Bob in 1981, Paul Quigg and James Flory joined and the band won the "Agora's Battle of the Bands" in Dallas. Their prize was recording time at Pantego Studios and they recorded a Thom Edwards/Mike Haskins original "Girls, Girls, Girls, Girls, Girls," along with an obscure Rolling Stones cover "I'd Much Rather Be With The Boys". The band parted company shortly before the single was released on black and blue vinyl in a clear sleeve.
An anthology "Hijack The Radio! (Vintage Vinyl & Studio Sessions, Volume One” of previously released and unreleased songs has been assembled for release on vinyl and CD by the Get Hip label. Mike, Tex, Barry, Carl and Bob have recently (2007-2008) re-entered the studio to record a brand new effort of never recorded before original material entitled “Face Up to Reality” that is hopefully slated for release sometime in 2011. Also in 2009, The Nervebreakers have returned to live performances with several shows in Austin and Dallas.
Band members
- Thom "Tex" Edwards: Vocals
- Mike Haskins: Lead Guitar/Vocals
- Barry "Kooda" Huebner: Rhythm Guitar/ Vocals
- Carl Giesecke: Drums
- Pierre Thompson: Bass was replaced by Clarke Blacker and later "BBQ" Bob Childress
- Paul Quigg (Guitar) and James Flory (Bass) replaced Mike and Bob for the East Coast tour and the 45 single *"Girls.../...Boys"
- Walter Brock: played Farfisa and was instrumental in writing some of the band's most notable, early songs prior to the name change from Mr. Nervous Breakdown to The Nervebreakers when Walter left and Barry joined.
- Tom Ordon: sometime manager and proprietor of Wild Child Records that released the three singles.
External links
- Official Website
- http://www.myspace,com/nervebreaking
- http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Nervebreakers/38754638090
- http://www.myspace.com/ttexedwards
- http://www.reverbnation.com/ttexedwards
- http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/ttex-edwards/24398547098
- http://barrykooda.com
- http://www.reverbnation.com/barrykooda
- http://www.myspace.com/thebiggunsmusic
- http://www.thebigguns.com/Band.html