Wayne County & the Electric Chairs
Encyclopedia
Wayne County & the Electric Chairs were part of the first wave of punk
bands
from the 1970s. The band is headed by Georgia
transgender
ed woman, Wayne County, who later changed her name to Jayne County
.
with a band called Queen Elizabeth, followed by Wayne County and The Backstreet Boys (documented on Rhino's DIY: Blank Generation compilation album
with an early single
, "Max's Kansas City 1976". Upon moving to London
, England
with Greg Van Cook, a member of the Backstreet Boys, she recruited a new drummer and bassist to form "The Electric Chairs":
The band is known for their camp
y and foul-mouthed ballad
s, basic punk rock
, and image which was heavily influenced by Jackie Curtis
and the Theatre of the Ridiculous.
Jools Holland
had his first studio session with Wayne County and the Electric Chairs in 1976.
None of County's albums were ever released in her native country of United States
, except for three songs on the very early punk compilation, Max's Kansas City.
They were supported by The Police
during their 1977 tour of Holland, and brought Henry Padovani
in on rhythm guitar after he was booted from the group. Greg Van Cook left the band and was replaced by Elliot Michaels. After two albums with this new lineup, Storm the Gates of Heaven and Things Your Mother Never Told You, Wayne County & the Electric Chairs split in two, with Elliot Michaels following County in his solo career. Padovani, Haller, and Johnson recorded a final single, "So Many Ways", as simply The Electric Chairs, before management problems forced them to disband completely. During this period, Padovani and Haller took turns on lead vocals.
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...
bands
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
from the 1970s. The band is headed by Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
ed woman, Wayne County, who later changed her name to Jayne County
Jayne County
Jayne County , formerly known as Wayne County, is an American male-to-female transsexual performer, musician and actress whose career has spanned several decades. County would go on to be known as rock's first transsexual singer...
.
Career
Wayne County had originally begun performing in New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with a band called Queen Elizabeth, followed by Wayne County and The Backstreet Boys (documented on Rhino's DIY: Blank Generation compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
with an early single
Single (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...
, "Max's Kansas City 1976". Upon moving to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with Greg Van Cook, a member of the Backstreet Boys, she recruited a new drummer and bassist to form "The Electric Chairs":
- Guitar: Greg Van Cook
- Bass: Val Haller
- Drums: J.J. JohnsonJ. J. Johnson (UK musician)J. J. Johnson is a British rock musician who began his career in the punk days of the 1970s. He worked as a drummer, percussionist and later keyboard player, singer/songwriter, producer, filmmaker...
The band is known for their camp
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
y and foul-mouthed ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
s, basic 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...
, and image which was heavily influenced by Jackie Curtis
Jackie Curtis
John Curtis Holder, Jr. , better known as Jackie Curtis, was an actor, writer, singer and Warhol Superstar.-Early life and career:...
and the Theatre of the Ridiculous.
Jools Holland
Jools Holland
Julian Miles "Jools" Holland OBE, DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, and television presenter. He was a founder of the band Squeeze and his work has involved him with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Who, David Gilmour and Bono.Holland is a...
had his first studio session with Wayne County and the Electric Chairs in 1976.
None of County's albums were ever released in her native country of United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, except for three songs on the very early punk compilation, Max's Kansas City.
They were supported by 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...
during their 1977 tour of Holland, and brought Henry Padovani
Henry Padovani
Henry Padovani is a French musician from Corsica, who is noted for having been the original guitarist for The Police...
in on rhythm guitar after he was booted from the group. Greg Van Cook left the band and was replaced by Elliot Michaels. After two albums with this new lineup, Storm the Gates of Heaven and Things Your Mother Never Told You, Wayne County & the Electric Chairs split in two, with Elliot Michaels following County in his solo career. Padovani, Haller, and Johnson recorded a final single, "So Many Ways", as simply The Electric Chairs, before management problems forced them to disband completely. During this period, Padovani and Haller took turns on lead vocals.
Albums
- The Electric Chairs (Safari, February 1978)
- Storm The Gates Of Heaven (Safari, August 1978)
- Man Enough to be a Woman (Safari, 1978)
- Things Your Mother Never Told You (Safari, May 1979)
- Best of Jayne/Wayne County and the Electric Chairs (1982)
- Rock 'n' Roll Cleopatra (Sampler) (1993)
Singles and EPs
- Max's Kansas City: New York New Wave EP (1975)
- "Fuck Off" / "On The Crest" (Sweet FA Records, Nov 1977)
- "Eddie & Sheena" / "Rock'n'Roll Cleopatra" (Safari, February 1978)
- "Stuck On You" / "Paranoia Paradise" / "The Last Time" (Illegal, June 78)
- Blatantly Offenzive EP (Safari, June 1978)
- "Trying To Get On The Radio" / "Evil Minded Mama" (Safari, August 1978)
- "Thunder When She Walks" / "What You Got" (Illegal, Feb 1979)
- "Berlin" / "Waiting For The Marines" (Safari, June 1979)
- "So Many Ways" / "J'Attends Les Marines" (Illegal, 1979)
Filmography
- 1976 The Blank GenerationThe Blank GenerationThe Blank Generation is the earliest published D-I-Y "home movies" of New York punk's birth filmed by Amos Poe and Ivan Kral, legendary 1970s guitarist with Iggy Pop, Blondie and Patti Smith.- Synopsis :...
directedFilm directorA film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Ivan KralIvan KralIvan Kral is a Grammy Award-winning Czechoslovakian-born American composer, filmmaker and singer. He works across many genres including rock, jazz, soul, country and film scores...
and Amos PoeAmos PoeAmos Poe is a New York City director and screenwriter, described by The New York Times as a "pioneering indie filmmaker."-Career:Amos Poe is one of the first punk filmmakers and his film The Blank Generation —co-directed with Ivan Kral— is one of the earliest punk films...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074216/ - 1977 JubileeJubilee (1977 film)Jubilee is a 1977 cult film directed by Derek Jarman. It stars Jenny Runacre, Ian Charleson, and a host of punk rockers. The title refers to the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 1977.-Plot:...
directed by Derek JarmanDerek JarmanMichael Derek Elworthy Jarman was an English film director, stage designer, diarist, artist, gardener and author.-Life:...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076240/ - 1978 The Punk Rock MovieThe Punk Rock MovieThe Punk Rock Movie was assembled from Super 8 camera footage shot by Don Letts, the disc jockey at The Roxy club during the early days of the UK punk rock movement, principally during the 100 days in 1977 in which punk acts were featured at The Roxy club in London.-History:Roxy club disc jockey...
directed by Don LettsDon LettsDon Letts is a British film director and musician. He is credited as the man who through his DJing at clubs like The Roxy brought together punk and reggae music.-Biography:...