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Thee Hypnotics

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Thee Hypnotics
OriginHigh Wycombe, England
GenresGarage rock, Psychedelic rock, Hard rock
Years active1989–1994
LabelsSub Pop, Beggars Banquet, Situation Two , RCA, American Records, SPV
Past membersJim Jones (vocals)
Ray Hanson (guitar)
Adam Sharam (bass)
Chris Dennis (bass)
Mark Thompson (drums)
Will Pepper (bass)
Phil Smith (drums)
Robert Zyn (guitar)
Craig Pike (bass)
David Ashe (guitar)

Thee Hypnotics, formed officially in 1986 in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, were an influential British garage/psychedelic/hard rock band into the late 90's. Recording 4 studio albums and 1 live album for major labels like Beggars Banquet / Sub Pop/ RCA and American Recordings from 1987 – 1999. They were part of the early Alternative Rock & Psychedelic Rock London scene and made an impact on the underground and alternative music scene not only in the UK, but Europe and the USA. Thee Hypnotics were co~founded by guitarist Ray Hanson, singer Jim Jones in late 85, along with the original drummer Mark Thompson (86~89), joined by bassists Adam Sharam (86-87)& then Chris Dennis (87-88) before finally becoming a settled 4 piece,with bassist Will Pepper (88-93 & 94-95)& Canadian drummer Phil Smith (89-99)}.

History

1987-1989 Live'r Than God!

Releasing their first 7" single "Love In a Different Vein" in 1987 on Vinyl Solution, Thee Hypnotics stirred up some serious label interest, signing to Situation Two a subsidiary of the independent label Beggars Banquet. The band cemented this union by scoring an independent charts hit with the 12” "Justice In Freedom" and follow up "Soul Trader". With the band riding high in both the charts and music press Beggars Banquet were eager to capture the band at their rawest, hiring a mobile studio to record their incendiary high energy show. The resulting album live album Live'r Than God (1989) elevated the band out of the UK club scene and into the university halls and theatre houses with tours with Gaye Bikers on Acid and Crazyhead as well as their own first UK tour. With reviews in the UK press: Melody Maker, September 1989... "Thee Hypnotics care only for their own generic past and frenetic present. The future doesn't even get a look in…Forget regression, this is reincarnation! Past, present and future!"[1] Thee Hypnotics were asked to do a Radio Session for John Peel in March 1989. Recording a blistering "Nine Times"/"Love In A different Vein"/"Soul Trader"/"Let's Get Naked" and were previewed on MTV.

Thee Hypnotics began to attract attention stateside, in particular Seattle where its own alternative rock scene was taking off. Legendary label SUB POP were quickest off the bat, making Thee Hypnotics their first ever UK signing. SUB POP's release of Live'r Than God! became the band's US debut and encompassed not only the Powerhaus concert recording but also their singles to that date. With SUB POP at the forefront of what would become the Grunge explosion, Thee Hypnotics proved it was not just one way traffic, with the band sharing pages with Mudhoney, Screaming Trees and Nirvana in the Seattle scene's most popular publication, Backlash.[2] Seattle became a second home for the band and after Mark Thomson was replaced by Canadian drummer Phil Smith the band made its US tour debut. Other fan's included The Damned, who took the band out as their support act and Stiv Bators (Deadboys / Lords of The New Church). In a bizarre anecdote The Lords of The New Church approached Hypnotics lead singer Jim Jones to front the Lords but declined. Stiv Bators famously wore a t- shirt with the singer wanted advert and then sacked his band onstage.[3] In 1989 Ray Hanson and Jim Jones joined Stiv Bators onstage at The Opera On The Green, Shepherds Bush, London as temporary Deadboys after Cheetah Chrome failed to secure a work visa.

1990 Come Down Heavy

On return from the U.S.A Thee Hypnotics were promoted to the Beggars Banquet label itself. 1990 saw the band enter Wardour Studios in Soho, London to record their first studio album, Come Down Heavy. Featuring guest appearances from Phil May & Dick Taylor of The Pretty Things & mixed in Seattle by Sub Pop supremo Jack Endino, Come Down Heavy announced Thee Hypnotics as a major force to contend with and raced straight into number 2 in the indie charts. Once again the band were covered in the music press, and were one of the few outfits that would cross over regularly from the indie press of NME/Melody Maker to the rock press of Kerrang. "There are elements of early Stooges in the brutal frontal assault of opener Half Man Half Boy, which continues into the swagger of All Messed Up, while Morrison Hotel-era Doors are fused to Revolution Stone. And without a duff track, it's essentially the audio definition of rock'n'roll."[4]

1990 also saw the band take a step up live, not only completing their own UK and European tour but also supporting The Cramps at the Brixton Academy, Damned alter-egos Naz Nomad and The Nightmares at the Town and County Club and the Reading Festival main stage with Mudhoney, Sonic Youth and Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. Thee Hypnotics once again crossed over to the USA to embark on their first major US tour, playing shows with Mudhoney and Screaming Trees, then embarking on a joint headline tour with Tad. On the second leg of their headline tour, with Smashing Pumpkins as support, the band met with near tragedy. Just after playing at Prince's club in Minneapolis, a drunk driver ran a red light and crashed into the band's tour bus. The impact of the accident breaking drummer Phil Smith's back and hips and leaving him hospitalised for 9 months. The rest of the US tour was cancelled and the band returned to the UK to complete live commitments with Damned drummer Rat Scabies standing in while Smith recovered.[5] Come Down Heavy was also received positively by the band's peers in the US, fans included Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Mike McCreedy (Green River / Pearl Jam) and Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes) who particularly championed the band by declaring his adoration for the album, insisting it was the soundtrack on his tour bus and appearing in a Rolling Stone Magazine issued poster wearing a Thee Hypnotics t-shirt.[5]

1991-1992 Soul, Glitter and Sin

Regrouping in early 91 the band entered Rockfield Studios with award winning producer John Leckie (John Lennon, Syd Barrett, Stone Roses, and later The Verve & Radiohead's The Bends). Shortly after, a "dry mix", of one of the album's tracks, "Coast To Coast", was produced by Jimmy Miller of Rolling Stones fame (Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers), brass was added courtesy of Rolling Stones collaborators The Kickhorns. Once again the band received rave reviews: "a return to the incendiary burnouts of earlier singles, but with a new lip-curling twist. An Elmer Bernstein- type sax honks all over the cinematic grooves of the heavy soundtrack atmosphere. The psychedelic overtures of their last opus have been replaced by pure sex."[6] Later on "...a sleazy, swaggering, soulful, absurdly and gloriously self-conscious trash blues thing..."[7]

Thee Hypnotics continued to tour extensively throughout the UK, Europe and the USA, and were main support to The Black Crowes on their UK tour, highlights included playing two nights at the Hammersmith Odeon (18–19 October 1991). Another champion of the band and Beggars Banquet label mate Ian Astbury of The Cult asked Thee Hypnotics to join The Cult on their Ceremonial Stomp arena / stadium tour of Europe. A sell out headline tour of the U.S.A completed the year.

1993-94 The Very Crystal Speed Machine

Proving themselves as a live act in the U.S Thee Hypnotics were winning over new fans; Johnny Depp, Harry Dean Stanton and even Cher came to cheer the band on at the Viper Room but exhausted with the gruelling schedule and lifestyle, bassist of 6 yrs Will Pepper decided to leave the band. Iggy Pop touring musician Craig Pike was brought in to fill the vacant position. The band headed back to London and began work on new demos. Tragedy struck with bassist Craig Pike's untimely death. With an offer to record a fourth album for Rick Rubin's America Recordings label. Will Pepper came back on bass & the band were off to L.A. to record their 3rd and final studio album, The Very Crystal Speed Machine.(1993). Produced by Black Crowes' lead singer, and long time admirer of the band, Chris Robinson. The album was intended to be part of a handover transition of the band from Beggars Banquet to American Recordings, with guest spots from The Black Crowes Eddie Harsch & Marc Ford. Unfortunately due to financial issues with the label the album did not receive the publicity or distribution it should have causing it to go somewhat under the radar. A supporting US club tour saw the band play the Viper Rooms and CBGBs.[5]

1995–1999

On return to the UK, Thee Hypnotics continued to perform and tour off their own steam. Approaching their influences with reverence but blasting it out with irreverence it actually made them far more original than most of the Brit pop which now dominated. Nevertheless the band continued to be courted by labels and management. A final studio release “Earth Blues 99” / “Thing 4 U” (1997) was recorded at Toe Rag Studios with award winning producer Liam Watson (White Stripes) & with Rocket Recordings in Bristol. With the bands momentum drained, the band split in 1999.

Influences

Their music was mostly influenced by late 1960s blues-influenced hard rock bands like The Stooges, MC5, The Doors,The Rolling Stones, Blue Cheer, early Led Zeppelin,Jimi Hendrix Experience , New York Dolls & also The Cramps, Tom Waits, Elvis, Bad Seeds, Dr John as well as a wide eclectic mix of Dirty Blues, Soul, Rock 'n' Roll, Bump 'n' Grind! Captain Beefheart, Howlin'Wolf Sly & The Family Stone, Johnny Thunders, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, and much more..

Post Thee Hypnotics

After the break-up of Thee Hypnotics, co-founder and lead guitarist Ray Hanson was approached by The Sisters of Mercy to join on guitar duties but declined,[8] taking a 15-year hiatus from the music industry writing hundreds of songs, for his new project; "Ray 'Sonic' Hanson's Whores Of Babylon", which he debuted at Portobello Live festival in London May 2015. He continues to write & record music which is in the progress of being exposed and is working on a visual arts short film. Will Pepper recorded and toured with Britpop band Hurricane 1 Vocalist Jim Jones fronted both Black Moses and The Jim Jones Revue. A self-titled debut album was released in 2008 to much acclaim. After 3 more releases, he formed a new outfit Jim Jones & the Righteous Mind in October 2015..... Phil Smith/Staines pursued a career as a videographer and teacher and is in the process of making a feature documentary, of "Thee Hypnotics". Thee Hypnotics continue to attract interest and their recorded albums have been re-mastered and re-released. There are plans for a new Hypnotics release in 2017.

Discography

  • "Love In A Different Vein"b/w "All Night Long" 7" single (Vinyl Solution (1987)
  • "Justice In Freedom" 12" b/w 'Preachin' & Ramblin' & "Choose My Own Way" (Situation Two, Beggars Banquet)1988,
  • "Soul Trader 12"b/w"Rock Me Baby'Live'& "Earth Blues" (Situation Two, Beggars Banquet)1989,
  • "Live'r Than God" -'live' EP (UK Situation Two/Sub Pop) 1989
  • "Floating In My Hoodoo Dream" 12" b/w "Samedis'Cookbook"(Hoodoo Reprise) (Situation Two, Beggars Banquet)1989,
  • "Half Man, Half Boy" 12"b/w "9 times" &'Testimonial'(Situation Two, Beggars Banquet)1990,
  • "Come Down Heavy" - (Beggars Banquet/RCA/UK Situation Two) 1990. Re~mastered & re~released w/extras (Cherry Red 2011)
  • "Soul Glitter & Sin" - (Beggars Banquet/RCA/UK Situation Two) 1991. Album: Re~mastered.Online w/extras (Cherry Red 2011)
  • "Coast To Coast 12"(Jimmy Miller,produced & mixed)b/w"Soul Accelerator"/"Shakedown"(Situation Two)1991
  • "Shakedown"12"b/w "Dont Let It Get You Down"(Beggars Banquet/RCA/UK ( Situation Two )1991
  • "The Very Crystal Speed Machine" -(American Recordings/SPV)1993

Singles & releases

  • "The Girls All Mine"(on "Motor City Madness". Compilation/Stooges Tribute Album
  • "Can You See Me" (on "If 6 Was 9",Jimi Hendrix Tribute Album)
  • "Coast To Coast"12"(Jimmy Miller Mix)b/w "Soul Accelerator"/Shakedown (Situation Two)1991
  • "Heavy Liquid"b/w "Heavy Liquid;Radio Edit"(from "The Very Crystal Speed Machine"Album 1993
  • "Earth Blues 99/"Thing 4 U" Rocket Recordings 1997

Video/singles

  • "Justice In Freedom" (1988)..Directed by Wiz
  • " Soul Trader" (1989)
  • "Floating In My Hoodoo Dream" (1990)..Directed by Douglas Hart (JAMC)
  • "Shakedown" (1991)
  • "Heavy Liquid" (1993)

References

  1. ^ Melody Maker, September 1989
  2. ^ http://10thingszine.blogspot.co.uk/2009/02/dawn-andersons-backlash-fanzine.html
  3. ^ http://www.stivbators.com/INTERVIEWSFrame1Source1.htm.
  4. ^ Record Collector magazine "thee hypnotics"
  5. ^ a b c "Soul, Glitter and Sin: The Rise and Faul Of Our Last Great Rock Band", Shindig Quarterly Magazine Issue 1 March 2011
  6. ^ Melody Maker (29 September 1991 Cathi Unsworth)
  7. ^ Sharon O'Connell Melody Maker October 1991
  8. ^ http://www.sugarbuzzmagazine.com/?p=4848
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