Vanessa Briscoe Hay
Encyclopedia
Vanessa Briscoe Hay is an American
singer for the Athens, Georgia bands Pylon
and Supercluster
.
. She attended elementary and high school in Dacula, Georgia
prior to moving to Athens to attend college. Vanessa graduated from the University of Georgia
art school in Athens, Georgia
in 1978. She became the singer for Pylon
after being auditioned by Michael Lachowski
, Randy Bewley, and Curtis Crowe
. A few short months later Pylon were the opening band for the U, K. group the Gang of Four
in New York City at the club Hurrah
after being brought to the club's attention by Kate Pierson
and Fred Schneider
of the B-52's
.
Danny Beard, from Atlanta, GA helped Pylon to record their first single "Cool/Dub" in 1979 at Stone Mountain Studios in Atlanta and Pylon began to tour the U.S. The album Gyrate followed and was released in late 1980. Early career highlights included a performance at Central Park
opening for the B-52's
, a tour of the U.K., opening a few dates for U2 on their first major U.S. tour and the release of the album Chomp
.
Pylon
decided to quit while they were still having fun.They broke up for the first time in 1983 after playing a "final" show, which was taped for The Athens Show. This was never formally released. In 1986, she was filmed for the movie Athens, GA: Inside Out
and spoke about her experiences with Pylon. She and Bob Hay were married in 1986. In 1987 they had their first daughter, Hana Hay.
In 1989, Pylon reformed. Career highlights the second time around included tours with both R.E.M.
and the B-52's
, performances at SXSW and CMJ. Hits, a compilation of their early material was reissued by DB Records
in 1989. Pylon recorded their third album Chain for the Atlanta label Sky Records
in 1991. Pylon broke up a second time in 1992.
Vanessa became an RN in 1994. In 1993, she and Bob Hay had their second daughter, Victoria Hay. In 1997, Victoria was diagnosed with a brain tumor
(ependymoma
) and underwent successful surgery and radiation treatment.
Randy Bewley approached the other band members about reforming Pylon, just for fun, in 2004. In August, 2004 Pylon played an unannounced show at Little Kings in Athens, Georgia. In 2005, they played a series of dates in Athens and Atlanta, Georgia including Athfest
and at the Atlanta Heroes awards by the invitation of the B-52's
. Jason Gross, Perfect Sound Forever
encouraged them to look into reissuing their first album, Gyrate, on CD. Jeff Calder (Swimming Pool Q's) restored the tapes at Southern Tracks Studios in Atlanta and Rodney Mills
remastered them at Rodney Mills Masterhouse in Duluth, Georgia
. DFA
records in New York
approached Pylon about reissuing this material, unaware that Pylon were already working toward this. James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem
, had been including Pylon's song "Danger" in his DJ sets for several years and was interested in re-issung Pylon's first album Gyrate on his label DFA. Gyrate Plus was reissued on October 16, 2007. A remastered Chomp More will be reissued on October 20, 2009.
Vanessa is also a member of the music project Supercluster (band)
who record in Athens, Georgia
with Jason NeSmith. Other members of this project include Hannah Jones
, Kay Stanton, Bob Hay, Bill David, John Fernandes
, Heather McIntosh, Bryan Poole and Randy Bewley (deceased). Waves
, their first full length project, was released on October 6, 2009.
Supercluster
Compilations
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer for the Athens, Georgia bands Pylon
Pylon (band)
Pylon is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The band's danceable jangle pop sound influenced the Athens music scene and the 1980s American pop underground. Allmusic wrote that Pylon's "role as elder statesmen of the alternative rock explosion is unassailable".-History:All four members of...
and Supercluster
Supercluster (band)
Supercluster is a recording project that formed during 2007 in Athens, Georgia. It includes musicians from the Athens, Georgia bands New Sound Of Numbers, Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars, Casper & the Cookies, Of Montreal, Circulatory System and Pylon , along with Elephant 6 recording artists John...
.
Biography
Born to a textile worker and a housewife in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. She attended elementary and high school in Dacula, Georgia
Dacula, Georgia
As of 2010 Dacula had a population of 4,442. the median age was 35.2. There were 1,472 households with 92.0% of housing units occupied. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 76.6% white , 11.3% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian Indian, 2.8% other...
prior to moving to Athens to attend college. Vanessa graduated from the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
art school in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
in 1978. She became the singer for Pylon
Pylon (band)
Pylon is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The band's danceable jangle pop sound influenced the Athens music scene and the 1980s American pop underground. Allmusic wrote that Pylon's "role as elder statesmen of the alternative rock explosion is unassailable".-History:All four members of...
after being auditioned by Michael Lachowski
Michael Lachowski
Michael Lachowski is the bass guitar player for Pylon, a band from Athens, Georgia. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia and attended the University of Georgia art school. He and his roommate Randy Bewley formed Pylon, recruiting Curtis Crowe as a drummer, and Vanessa Briscoe Hay, a fellow student at...
, Randy Bewley, and Curtis Crowe
Curtis Crowe
Curtis Crowe is the drummer for the Athens, Georgia rock band Pylon. He is a native of Marietta, Georgia and is the middle of five children. Curtis moved to Athens to attend the University of Georgia art school. His sister Rhett Crowe was later the bass player for the band Guadalcanal Diary, a...
. A few short months later Pylon were the opening band for the U, K. group the Gang of Four
Gang of Four (band)
Gang of Four are an English post-punk group from Leeds. Original personnel were singer Jon King, guitarist Andy Gill, bass guitarist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham. They were fully active from 1977 to 1984, and then re-emerged twice in the 1990s with King and Gill...
in New York City at the club Hurrah
Hurrah (nightclub)
Hurrah was a nightclub located at 32 West 62nd Street in New York City from 1976 until 1980. Under the management of Jim Fouratt it became known as the first rock disco in New York, and pioneered the use of music videos in nightclubs, placing video monitors around the club, over a year before the...
after being brought to the club's attention by Kate Pierson
Kate Pierson
Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Pierson is an American vocalist and one of the lead singers and founding members of The B-52's. One of the multi-instrumentalists in the band, Pierson played guitar, bass and various keyboard instruments...
and Fred Schneider
Fred Schneider
Frederick William "Fred" Schneider III is an American rock singer, best known as the frontman of the rock band The B-52's, of which he is a founding member. Schneider is well-known for his sprechgesang which he developed from reciting poetry over guitars.-Early life:Schneider was born in Newark,...
of 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...
.
Danny Beard, from Atlanta, GA helped Pylon to record their first single "Cool/Dub" in 1979 at Stone Mountain Studios in Atlanta and Pylon began to tour the U.S. The album Gyrate followed and was released in late 1980. Early career highlights included a performance at Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
opening for 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...
, a tour of the U.K., opening a few dates for U2 on their first major U.S. tour and the release of the album Chomp
Chomp
Chomp is a 2-player game of strategy played on a rectangular "chocolate bar" made up of smaller square blocks . The players take it in turns to choose one block and "eat it" , together with those that are below it and to its right...
.
Pylon
Pylon (band)
Pylon is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The band's danceable jangle pop sound influenced the Athens music scene and the 1980s American pop underground. Allmusic wrote that Pylon's "role as elder statesmen of the alternative rock explosion is unassailable".-History:All four members of...
decided to quit while they were still having fun.They broke up for the first time in 1983 after playing a "final" show, which was taped for The Athens Show. This was never formally released. In 1986, she was filmed for the movie Athens, GA: Inside Out
Athens, GA: Inside Out
Athens, GA: Inside/Out is a documentary film about the mid-1980s music scene in Athens, Georgia, USA.The film features interviews and concert footage of local bands who were a part of the scene at the time of the documentation as well as local legends R.E.M., Pylon, and The B-52's. It also features...
and spoke about her experiences with Pylon. She and Bob Hay were married in 1986. In 1987 they had their first daughter, Hana Hay.
In 1989, Pylon reformed. Career highlights the second time around included tours with both R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
and 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...
, performances at SXSW and CMJ. Hits, a compilation of their early material was reissued by DB Records
DB Records
DB Records is a record label owned by Danny Beard. The label's headquarters reside in the Wax N Facts record store in the Atlanta, Georgia neighborhood of Little Five Points.-History:In 1978, Danny Beard helped some friends in an Athens, Georgia rock band...
in 1989. Pylon recorded their third album Chain for the Atlanta label Sky Records
Sky Records
Sky Records was a Hamburg, Germany based independent record label specializing in Krautrock/Kosmische Musik and electronic music. Some of their releases could be classified as progressive rock or art rock, experimental music, industrial, ambient, or New Age...
in 1991. Pylon broke up a second time in 1992.
Vanessa became an RN in 1994. In 1993, she and Bob Hay had their second daughter, Victoria Hay. In 1997, Victoria was diagnosed with a brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
(ependymoma
Ependymoma
Ependymoma is a tumor that arises from the ependyma, a tissue of the central nervous system. Usually, in pediatric cases the location is intracranial, while in adults it is spinal. The common location of intracranial ependymoma is the fourth ventricle...
) and underwent successful surgery and radiation treatment.
Randy Bewley approached the other band members about reforming Pylon, just for fun, in 2004. In August, 2004 Pylon played an unannounced show at Little Kings in Athens, Georgia. In 2005, they played a series of dates in Athens and Atlanta, Georgia including Athfest
Athfest
Athfest is a free annual music and arts festival in Athens, Georgia, first held in 1997. Jared Bailey founded the festival to promote the music of Athens, Georgia; he was formerly of the free alternative weekly Flagpole and the influential early nightclub the 40 Watt Club.- External links :*...
and at the Atlanta Heroes awards by the invitation of 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...
. Jason Gross, Perfect Sound Forever
Perfect Sound Forever (magazine)
Perfect Sound Forever is one of the longest-running online-only music magazines . Along with Michael Goldberg's Addicted to Noise Perfect Sound Forever (est. 1995) is one of the longest-running online-only music magazines . Along with Michael Goldberg's Addicted to Noise Perfect Sound Forever...
encouraged them to look into reissuing their first album, Gyrate, on CD. Jeff Calder (Swimming Pool Q's) restored the tapes at Southern Tracks Studios in Atlanta and Rodney Mills
Rodney Mills
Rodney Mills is an American mastering engineer in Atlanta, Georgia.He has been involved in the music industry for over 40 years and has earned over 50 gold and platinum records for engineering, producing, and mastering.- Biography :...
remastered them at Rodney Mills Masterhouse in Duluth, Georgia
Duluth, Georgia
Duluth is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia and an increasingly more affluent and developed suburb of Atlanta. Unincorporated portions of Forsyth County also have Duluth as a mailing address, though this area is outside city limits...
. DFA
DFA Records
DFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI....
records in 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...
approached Pylon about reissuing this material, unaware that Pylon were already working toward this. James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem was a prominent American dance-punk band from New York City. It was fronted by American singer-songwriter and producer James Murphy, co-founder of record label DFA Records...
, had been including Pylon's song "Danger" in his DJ sets for several years and was interested in re-issung Pylon's first album Gyrate on his label DFA. Gyrate Plus was reissued on October 16, 2007. A remastered Chomp More will be reissued on October 20, 2009.
Vanessa is also a member of the music project Supercluster (band)
Supercluster (band)
Supercluster is a recording project that formed during 2007 in Athens, Georgia. It includes musicians from the Athens, Georgia bands New Sound Of Numbers, Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars, Casper & the Cookies, Of Montreal, Circulatory System and Pylon , along with Elephant 6 recording artists John...
who record in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
with Jason NeSmith. Other members of this project include Hannah Jones
Hannah Jones
Hannah Jones is a British female dance music vocalist, who scored Three Top 5 hits on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in the late 1990s. Her first two songs hit #1 on that chart: "No One Can Love You More Than Me" in 1997 and "You Only Have To Say You Love Me" in 1998...
, Kay Stanton, Bob Hay, Bill David, John Fernandes
John Fernandes
John Fernandes is an American multi-instrumentalist musician.-Professional career:Fernandes, along with several other members of the Elephant Six Collective, joined the acclaimed psychedelic pop group The Olivia Tremor Control in Athens, GA in 1994...
, Heather McIntosh, Bryan Poole and Randy Bewley (deceased). Waves
WAVES
The WAVES were a World War II-era division of the U.S. Navy that consisted entirely of women. The name of this group is an acronym for "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service" ; the word "emergency" implied that the acceptance of women was due to the unusual circumstances of the war and...
, their first full length project, was released on October 6, 2009.
Discography
Pylon- Cool/Dub 7" singleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
(Caution Records 1979) - Gyrate LP (DB RecordsDB RecordsDB Records is a record label owned by Danny Beard. The label's headquarters reside in the Wax N Facts record store in the Atlanta, Georgia neighborhood of Little Five Points.-History:In 1978, Danny Beard helped some friends in an Athens, Georgia rock band...
, Armageddon 1980) - Pylon !! EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
(DB Records, Armageddon 1980) - Crazy/M-Train 7" singleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
(DB Records 1981) - Beep/Altitude 7" singleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
(DB Records 1982) - Four Minutes/Beep/Altitude EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
(DB Records 1982) - Chomp LPLP albumThe LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
(DB Records 1983) - Hits LPLP albumThe LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
/CD (DB Records 1988) - Chain LPLP albumThe LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
/CD (Sky RecordsSky RecordsSky Records was a Hamburg, Germany based independent record label specializing in Krautrock/Kosmische Musik and electronic music. Some of their releases could be classified as progressive rock or art rock, experimental music, industrial, ambient, or New Age...
1990) - Gyrate Plus CD (DFA RecordsDFA RecordsDFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI....
2007) - Chomp More CD (DFA RecordsDFA RecordsDFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI....
October 20, 2009)
Supercluster
- Special 5 EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
(self issued, 2008) - Waves CD (Cloud Recordings/Studio Mouse Productions) (October 6, 2009)
- I Got The Answer/Sunflower Clock 7" single (Cloud Recordings/Studio Mouse Productions) (October 6, 2009)
- Paris Effect/Neat in the Street 7" single (Cloud Recordings/Studio Mouse Productions) (March 29, 2011)
Compilations
- Totally Wired CD (Razor & TieRazor & TieRazor & Tie is a New York-based corporation founded in 1990 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam. The company encompasses a record label with major label distribution , a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a marketing, promotion and sales team, and a direct...
1995) (PylonPylon (band)Pylon is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The band's danceable jangle pop sound influenced the Athens music scene and the 1980s American pop underground. Allmusic wrote that Pylon's "role as elder statesmen of the alternative rock explosion is unassailable".-History:All four members of...
- "Feast On My Heart") - Finest Worksongs:Athens Bands play the music of R.E.M. CD (Iron HorseIron Horse (band)Iron Horse is a Bluegrass band from Killen, Alabama. They are known for performing and recording bluegrass cover versions of rock songs, particularly their bluegrass treatments of heavy metal songs popularized by Metallica. The band has two tracks on the tribute album Strummin' with the Devil: The...
, 2007) (guest vocalist-The Observatory-"Pilgrimage")
Video
- Beep (1990), Pylon, from CD: Hits, a compilation, Db recs
- Look Alive (1992), Pylon, from album :Chain, Sky Records
- Too Many Eights (2007), Supercluster, from CDR EP: Special 5
- I Got the Answer (2009), Supercluster, from: Wave, Studio Mouse Productions/Cloud Recordings
External links
- Pylon official web site
- PARTY ZONE: a tribute to Pylon
- Pylon unofficial web site
- [ AllMusic entry on Pylon]
- Pylon MySpace web page
- official Supercluster web site
- Supercluster MySpace web page
- Supercluster Optical Atlas
- [ AllMusic entry on Supercluster]