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Untouchables (band)
Encyclopedia
The Untouchables are a soul
/mod revival
band from the Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California
area.
They formed in 1981 as part of the embryonic L.A. mod revival, after being inspired by the ska
revival/punk rock
band The Boxboys. Since some couldn't play instruments, they either hastily learned, or became vocalists. The original lineup included: Kevin Long (vocals), Chuck Askerneese (vocals), Terry Ellsworth (rhythm guitar), Clyde Grimes (guitar), Rob Lampron (drums), Herman Askerneese (bass) and Jerry Miller (vocals, timbales
).
After a shaky start playing at parties, the integrated septet were eventually booked at the O.N. Klub (known as the On to regulars). The band had guaranteed the club that they would pack the venue, and they did not disappoint. In middle of that year, they released their first 7" single, copies of which were snapped up by local mods. The Untouchables originally played covers such as "We Ain't Got Nothing Yet" (Blues Magoos
), "Whatcha Gonna Do About It
" (Small Faces) and "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
" (Monkees) in addition to their own songs. Late in 1982, the band began a stint as the house band at the Roxy Theatre
. Terry Ellsworth left the band in the summer of 1983, at the height of the California mod revival. Josh Harris was added on keyboards, Timothy Moynahan on trombone and Will Donato
(who became a successful smooth jazz
artist) started on sax.
Their second single, "The General," became a minor local hit, despite poor distribution. The band performed "The General" in the 1984 comedy The Party Animal
, and they appeared as a scooter gang in the movie Repo Man. In early 1984, they were signed to Stiff Records
. Concerts with The B-52's
, Black Uhuru
, Bow Wow Wow
, Red Hot Chili Peppers
, Fishbone
, No Doubt
and X all over California gave the group a disparate following of whites
, blacks
, mods, punks
, surfers
and rockabilly
fans, with the local performances drawing up to 1,500 people. The band also appeared in the 1984 film Surf II
, performing "Dance Beat", and 1987's No Man's Land
, performing "What's Gone Wrong".
Vocalist Kevin Long (who had named the band) left in 1984. Guitarist Clyde Grimes took on more vocal leads, and in 1984 the band recorded "Free Yourself", which became very popular, especially in the United Kingdom where it was a #26 hit in April 1985. The band has gone through many lineup changes since then, and as of 2006, only vocalist Jerry Miller remains from the original lineup.
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
/mod revival
Mod Revival
The mod revival was a music genre and subculture that started in England in 1978 and later spread to other countries . The mod revival's mainstream popularity was relatively short, although its influence has lasted for decades...
band from the Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California
Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California
Silver Lake is a hilly neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California east of Hollywood and northwest of Downtown Los Angeles. Silver Lake is inhabited by a wide variety of ethnic and socioeconomic groups, but it is best known as an eclectic gathering of hipsters and the creative class.The...
area.
They formed in 1981 as part of the embryonic L.A. mod revival, after being inspired by the ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
revival/punk rock
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 The Boxboys. Since some couldn't play instruments, they either hastily learned, or became vocalists. The original lineup included: Kevin Long (vocals), Chuck Askerneese (vocals), Terry Ellsworth (rhythm guitar), Clyde Grimes (guitar), Rob Lampron (drums), Herman Askerneese (bass) and Jerry Miller (vocals, timbales
Timbales
Timbales are shallow single-headed drums with metal casing, invented in Cuba. They are shallower in shape than single-headed tom-toms, and usually much higher tuned...
).
After a shaky start playing at parties, the integrated septet were eventually booked at the O.N. Klub (known as the On to regulars). The band had guaranteed the club that they would pack the venue, and they did not disappoint. In middle of that year, they released their first 7" single, copies of which were snapped up by local mods. The Untouchables originally played covers such as "We Ain't Got Nothing Yet" (Blues Magoos
Blues Magoos
The Blues Magoos was a rock music group from the The Bronx, New York. They were at the forefront of the psychedelic music trend, beginning as early as 1966.-1964 - 1971:The band was formed in 1964 as "The Trenchcoats"...
), "Whatcha Gonna Do About It
Whatcha Gonna Do About It
"Whatcha Gonna Do About It" is the debut single released by the English R&B, mod group Small Faces, released in the UK on 6 August 1965. The song peaked at number 14 in the UK Singles Chart, and stayed on chart for a total of 14 weeks.-Song profile:...
" (Small Faces) and "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
" Steppin' Stone" is a rock song by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. It was first recorded by Paul Revere & the Raiders and appeared on their 1966 album Midnight Ride....
" (Monkees) in addition to their own songs. Late in 1982, the band began a stint as the house band at the Roxy Theatre
The Roxy Theatre
The Roxy Theatre is a famous nightclub, on the Sunset Strip, in West Hollywood, California. The Roxy is owned by Lou Adler and Adler's son, Nic, who operates the club.- History :...
. Terry Ellsworth left the band in the summer of 1983, at the height of the California mod revival. Josh Harris was added on keyboards, Timothy Moynahan on trombone and Will Donato
Will Donato
Will Donato is a smooth jazz composer, alto saxophonist and recording artist whose 2007 release, Will Call is his first with Innervision Records...
(who became a successful smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
artist) started on sax.
Their second single, "The General," became a minor local hit, despite poor distribution. The band performed "The General" in the 1984 comedy The Party Animal
The Party Animal
The Party Animal is a movie written and directed by David Beaird. Since its inauspicious debut in 1984, it has become a minor cult classic.-Cast:*Matthew Causey - Pondo Sinatra*Timothy Carhart - Studly*Jerry Jones - Elbow*Robin Harlan - Natasha...
, and they appeared as a scooter gang in the movie Repo Man. In early 1984, they were signed to Stiff Records
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
. Concerts with The B-52's
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
, Black Uhuru
Black Uhuru
Black Uhuru are a Jamaican reggae group formed in 1972, initially as Uhuru . The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with Duckie Simpson always maintaining group control and ownership...
, Bow Wow Wow
Bow Wow Wow
Bow Wow Wow were an English 1980s New Wave band created by Malcolm McLaren to promote his and business partner Vivienne Westwood's New Romantic fashion lines.The group's music is described as having an "African-derived drum sound".-History:...
, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
, Fishbone
Fishbone
Fishbone is a U.S. alternative rock band formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California, which plays a fusion of ska, punk rock, funk, hard rock and soul. Critics have noted of the band: "Fishbone was one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the late '80s...
, No Doubt
No Doubt
No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California that formed in 1986. The ska-pop sound of their first album No Doubt , failed to make an impact...
and X all over California gave the group a disparate following of whites
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
, blacks
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
, mods, punks
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
, surfers
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
and rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
fans, with the local performances drawing up to 1,500 people. The band also appeared in the 1984 film Surf II
Surf II
Surf II is a 1984 American independent comedy film written and directed by Randall M. Badat and starring Eddie Deezen, Linda Kerridge, Eric Stoltz, Jeffrey Rogers and Peter Isacksen...
, performing "Dance Beat", and 1987's No Man's Land
No Man's Land (1987 film)
No Man's Land is a 1987 film directed by Peter Werner and starring D. B. Sweeney, Charlie Sheen and Randy Quaid. Brad Pitt made his acting debut in this film as an uncredited extra.-Plot:...
, performing "What's Gone Wrong".
Vocalist Kevin Long (who had named the band) left in 1984. Guitarist Clyde Grimes took on more vocal leads, and in 1984 the band recorded "Free Yourself", which became very popular, especially in the United Kingdom where it was a #26 hit in April 1985. The band has gone through many lineup changes since then, and as of 2006, only vocalist Jerry Miller remains from the original lineup.
Singles
- "Twist n Shake" b/w "Dance Beat" (1982)
- "The General" b/w "Tropical Bird" (1983)
- Live and Let Dance EP (1984)
- "Free Yourself" (1985) (UK #26)
- "I Spy for the FBI" (1985) (UK #59)
Albums
- Dance Party (1985)
- Wild Child (1985) (UK #51)
- Agent Double O Soul (1988)
- Decade of Dance (1991)
- Cool Beginnings – Rare & Unreleased 1981–1983
- Ghetto Stout (2000)