The Feelies

The Feelies were an American independent rock band in the end- 1970s and 1980s from New Jersey. It was founded in 1976 Haledon; In 1992, she broke up. Since the Feelies for a band of their genre were very publicity-shy ( they were usually only on holidays for concerts on the stage ), they have their time never gained the notoriety that would have them maybe granted. Today, however, they are considered a very influential band and still have fans around the world.

• 2.1 albums
• 2.2 Singles and EPs

Band History

From New Jersey to New York

The history of the Feelies began in Haledon first with the band The Outkids with Glen Sebesma (later Glen Mercer ), Bill Clayton (later Bill million ) and Dave Weckerman. A little later played Mercer and Million with brothers Keith and Vinny de Nunzio (especially The Stooges, The Velvet Underground, as well as The Who ) to music of the punk rockers of the 1960s. The original songs written almost exclusively by Mercer and Million.

Garage rock in the best sense of the Feelies played their first gig at CBGB's. At this time the band members had already changed their names because they did not regard their own as suitable for the rock business. ( An amazing theory, considering that Keith Bills real last took to his stage name. ) The four Feelies saw this in contrast to their contemporaries of punk rock always very neatly out in neat collared shirts instead of T -shirts and clean pleated trousers instead of ripped jeans; two wore POS frame glasses à la Buddy Holly / Elvis Costello. Anton Fier replaced Vinny 1978 De Nunzio on drums; he was also the drummer for the Lounge Lizards and later with The Golden Palominos.

Crazy Rhythms

They brought in 1980 their first single " Fa Ce La " (on Rough Trade Records) out that someone heard on Stiff Records. The band signed a contract, and Stiff released their 1980 LP "Crazy Rhythms " and single- a cover of the Beatles song " Everybody 's Got Something to Hide ."

The critics were singing songs of praise and put the Feelies in a row with the Modern Lovers, Television, The Velvet Underground and Talking Heads. Later R.E.M. gave on this album have had great influence on their music. In the Rolling Stone list of the top 100 albums of the 1980s came "Crazy Rhythms " on # 78, and # 69 in a similar list of Pitchfork Media. From her lying in the punk rock roots, the band had already been removed on their debut, and preferably played melodic, economical instrumented guitar rock, which consumed mainly by the imaginative guitar work of the two front men Mercer and Million.

But as the band refused to give any support from a tour ( they came for one concert to the UK, but which was suffering as the equipment - due to holiday did not arrive ), stayed out of the commercial success. The wives of the Feelies had normal jobs to feed their families. The band broke up a little later on for the first time; five years we heard nothing more of the Feelies.

The time between

Mercer and Million stayed together, however, and were active in their native New Jersey. They attended with the success of Maxwell's club in Hoboken and the new record label Coyote Records. The duo began a collaboration with percussionist and songwriter David Weckerman; they called at first The Willies (no recordings ) and then founded with Weckerman and studio musicians The Trypes that an EP ( " The Explorers hold" ) published. Million, Mercer and Weckerman attended in 1982 for the evocative soundtrack to Susan Seidelman's film " Smithereens " (German: "New York City Girl").

The new Feelies

As of 1985, the three with bassist Brenda Sauter and drummer Stanley Demeski (also at The Trypes were around) got together - and called themselves The Feelies again. REM's Peter Buck co-produced the new album " The Good Earth " (1986, on Coyote ); a self-produced EP called "No One Knows" also came out. Now, finally, they decided also to go on tour ( they played as the opening act, inter alia, by Lou Reed and REM) and were recorded mainly in Europe with open arms.

In this highly active year she appeared in 1986 double duty as a band "The Willies " in Jonathan Demme's film " Something Wild " (engl.: " Something Wild " ) on. She also found time to record songs from Weckerman under the name Yung Wu; the LP " Shore Leave " came in 1987 on Coyote Records out. The only difference between Feelies and Yung Wu was that the songs were now sung by Weckerman and keyboards were there. 1988 signed the Feelies on A & M Records. Two more albums ( " Only Life ", 1988, and " Time for a Witness", 1990) came out here.

The Feelies dissolved in the summer of 1991 officially. Bill Million was the first who went - apparently he moved to Florida and worked later at Disney World. Mercer and Weckerman appeared later on in the formation Wake Ooloo. 2001 came Yung Wu (not million ) for a concert together.

Reunion

Since mid-2008 the band are again some concerts. On 30 June and on 1 and 2 July 2008, they were invited guests in Hoboken, New Jersey, and on 4 July 2008 as the opening act for Sonic Youth at the " River to River Festival " in New York City. Two other concerts took place in New York City on 20 and 21 September 2008. In spring 2011 a new album was released, " Here Before ".

Discography

Albums

• Crazy Rhythms (1980 )
• The Good Earth (1986 )
• Shore Leave ( 1987, when Yung Wu )
• Only Life (1988 )
• Time for a Witness ( 1991)
• Here Before (2011)

Singles and EPs

• Fa Ce La ( 1980)
• Everybody 's Got Something to Hide ( 1980)
• The Explorers Hold ( EP, 1984, as The Trypes )
• No One Knows (EP, 1986)
• Away (1988, # 6 U.S. Modern Rock Charts )
• Paint It Black (1990 )
• Doin 'It Again ( 1991)
• Invitation (1991 )
• Sooner or Later (1991, # 13 U.S. Modern Rock Charts )