The Bizarros
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The Bizarros | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Akron, Ohio, United States |
Genres | Punk rock, new wave |
Years active | 1976-1981, 1996, 2002–present |
Labels | Clone Records, Mercury Records, Stiff Records, Windian Records, Soul Jazz Records, Trikont |
Members | Nick Nicholis Don Parkins Jerry Parkins Martyn Flunoy |
Past members | Terry Walker (deceased) Rick Garberson (deceased) Dave Ashley Kal Mullens Marty Zelei Jim Geig (deceased) |
The Bizarros are an American
Nicholis embraced the DIY concept of marketing music decades before it was trendy. He started his own label, Clone Records, to release the band's music not long after the band was formed. The label become an early home for several other Akron acts. The label's first LP release was 1977's From Akron, a split album with The Rubber City Rebels which Nicholis sent to Village Voice critic Robert Christgau. Christgau, who reviewed the album favorably, shortly afterwards visited to the region and was instrumental, although not alone, in the Akron/Kent music scene becoming noticed on an international level.
The band were signed to the
Walker, Nicholis and the Parkins Brothers all remained friends, frequently socializing with each other, but as the Bizarros they only briefly reunited in 1996, followed by another, public reunion in 2002. In 2003, the band revived the name Clone Records to release the Bizarros' first new studio album in 24 years, Can't Fight Your Way Up Town From Here. They added drummer Martyn Flunoy, who had been playing with Jerry Parkins. Flunoy is still with the band and is Bizarros longest tenured drummer, spending longer with the band than all the other drummers combined.
They stayed out of the studio, although playing live shows frequently, until 2018. In a homage to their first album they released From Akron II along with another Akron band, The Bad Dudes. The band again revived the name Clone Records for the release. A member of the Bad Dudes, Kal Mullens, was also one of the friends who stepped in during Nicholis' departure.
Terry Walker, the Bizarros' second guitarist, keyboard player, and co-songwriter, died of cancer on June 26, 2018.[3] The band has continued to perform as a quartet, although Walker continues to be featured in their marketing.
Discography
Albums
- Lady Doubonette (7", Gorilla Records, 1976)
- From Akron (Split LP with the Rubber City Rebels; Clone Records, 1977)
- Laser Boys (7", Clone Records, 1978)
- Bizarros (Mercury, 1979)
- A L'Angle Des Tourments (7", Sordide Sentimental, 1980)
- Can’t Fight Your Way Up Town From Here (Clone Records, 2003)
- Complete Collection 1976-1980 (Windian, 2012)
- From Akron II (Split LP with the Bad Dudes; Clone Records, 2018)
Compilation appearances
- The Akron Compilation (Stiff Records, 1978)
- Bowling Ball II (Clone Records Compilation, 1981)
- Trouser Press Presents the Best Of America Underground (Reachout International Records, 1983)
- England's Dreaming (Trikont, 2004)
- Punk 45: Kill The Hippes! Kill Yourself! The American Nation Destroys its Young-Underground Punk in the United States of America, 1973-1980 Vol.1 (Soul Jazz Records 2013)
- Punk 45: Burn Rubber City Burn! Akron, Ohio : Punk and the Decline of the Mid west 1975-1980 (Soul Jazz Records, 2015)
- Punk 45: Approaching the Minimal With Spray Guns (Soul Jazz Records, 2018)
References
- New Musical Express. Retrieved March 12, 2019 – via Rock's Backpages.
- ^ Ankeny, Jason. "The Bizarros Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
- ^ "The Bizarros' Terry Walker dies of cancer". Akron Beacon Journal. 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2018-11-09.