The Prime Movers, Dread Zeppelin, Stan Ridgway, Ron Asheton
Influences
DISCOGRAPHY
RON ASHETON Lots of live Stooges classics and new original studio cuts from the legendary Ron Asheton with Mike Davis of The MC5 and Destroy All Monsters.
A THOUSAND OTHER NAMES G.E. Stinson, guitarist of the internationally acclaimed, grammy-award winning world music/fusion band, SHADOWFAX, takes his six-string muse to another level. Also features guitarist Nels Cline (The Geraldine Fibbers, Thurston Moore, Banyon), Brad Dutz & Japanese vocalist, Kaoru.
A Thousand Other Names, CD, Birdcage Records 1996
ACID BRAN Hard rocking New Hampshire band signed to Birdcage after appearing with Dread Zeppelin in the film, "National Lampoon's Last Resort." Produced by T-Bone Wolk (Hall & Oates, Saturday Night Live Band) and mixed by Dread Zeppelin's Jah Paul Jo & Rasta Li-Mon.
The Song Remains Insane, 2 CD Set, TWA Records Australia 1998
ED'S TOO SHORT Eighties alternative by LA band, Ed's Too Short. Produced by Dread Zeppelin's Jah Paul Jo & Rasta Li-Mon and features a guest harmonica performance by Stan Ridgway.
GHOSTHOUSE Folky psychedelia from former members of Rain Parade, Green on Red and Steve Wynn of The Dream Syndicate, Ghosthouse showcases the best of LA's infamous "Paisley Underground" and a previously unreleased song by Dream Syndicate's Steve Wynn, "Black Magic."
HECATE'S ANGELS Psychedelic strangeness from Stan Ridgway's longtime creative partner, Peitra Wexstun. Lots of input from Ridgway and produced by Wall Of Voodoo's Jim Hill.
IN VIVO Australian duo Fiona Lee Maynard and James Lomas along with production, singing, playing and art direction help from Concrete Blonde's Johnette Napolitano.
In Vivo, CD, Birdcage Records 1996
THE MYSTERY BAND The Mystery Band are made up of former members of both Captain Beefheart's Magic Band and punk legends, The Child Molesters.
Insert Title Here, CD, Birdcage Records 1996
PAIN Fun eighties punk/funk/ska from Georgia's Pain.
Midgets With Guns, CD, Birdcage Records 1996
Wonderful Beef, CD, Birdcage Records 1997
THE POUNDERS Post Punk from Jay Pounders from Crossfire Choir.
The Pounders, CD, Birdcage Records 1997
THE PRIME MOVERS
Chances/In Touch With You (ASOP), 7" Vinyl 45 Single, Birdcage Records 1983
The Birdcage Records label was launched in 1983 with the release of a 7 inch vinyl single, ‘Chances’ b/w ‘In Touch With You’ which was soon followed by an album in 1984, ‘Museum’ by THE PRIME MOVERS.
On the strength of ‘Museum,’ plus a dynamite live act, The Prime Movers were signed to Island Records in 1985. The group went on to have success in the UK with two songs in the charts (‘On The Trail’ and ‘Dark Western Night’) and toured Britain as opening act for Big Country. Indeed, Big Country’s late, great Stuart Adamson lent his incredible guitar talent to the Prime Mover single, ‘Dark Western Night.’
The Prime Movers returned to Birdcage in 1988 to record two more albums; ‘Spooked’ and the unreleased ‘Naked Lady Guitar.’
The Prime Movers, stressed by the unfairness of major label politics and clearly out of their minds, went rogue and started the infamous Dread Zeppelin. Two vinyl singles and a cassette-only EP were released by Birdcage (‘Immigrant Song’ b/w ‘Hey Hey What Can I Do’; ‘Whole Lotta Love’ b/w ‘Tour-Telvis: A Bad Trip’ and ‘Kom Gib Mir Deine Zeppelin’) before the project was quickly snapped up by I.R.S Records.
After three successful full-length releases and several singles, Dread Zeppelin left I.R.S. Records and returned to Birdcage. 1994's ‘Hot & Spicy Beanburger’ marked their return to their home label as well as the massive ‘presence’ of original vocalist, Tortelvis. Soon to follow in 1995 were ‘No Quarter Pounder’ and the live double CD, ‘The Song Remains Insane’ (On TWA Records Australia Exclusively) in 1998. More about DREAD ZEPPELIN.
1996 saw several Birdcage signings including former singer and mastermind of Wall of Voodoo and Drywall, STAN RIDGWAY, Ron Asheton of Iggy & The Stooges and the pet project of Concrete Blonde’s Johnette Napolitano, In Vivo.
Pietra Wexstun (Drywall) contributed an album by her alter ego, Hecate's Angels, called 'Hidden Persuader.' The Mystery Band's 'Insert Title Here' featured members of Captain Beefheart's Magic Band. A Thousand Other Names was somewhat of an LA underground supergroup led by guitarists GE Stinson (Shadowfax) and Nels Cline (Geraldine Fibbers, Thurston Moore). 'Everything's Small' by Ed's Too Short featured a production credit for Dread Zeppelin's Jah Paul Jo and Rasta Li-Mon as well as a signature harmonica turn by Stan Ridgway.
In 1998, Birdcage Records struck up a partnership with TWA Records in Australia. TWA released several titles and compilations including CDs by Stan Ridgway, Ron Asheton, Dread Zeppelin, Pain and Hecate’s Angels. Most of the CDs issued by TWA got the deluxe treatment; new artwork, extended liner notes and promo videos. Unfortunately, TWA folded (sob!) in the early 2000’s and these releases have become collector’s items.
In 2006, Birdcage Records went completely full circle with the re-release of The Prime Movers’ ‘Museum’ on CD. The deluxe version contains bonus tracks from the Big Country UK Tour of 1986.
The entire Birdcage family were stunned to learn of the death of one of our heroes, RON ASHETON, in January 2009. FINALLY... Iggy, Ron and Scott Asheton were poised to take the big stage at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame (whatever that means) BUT... cheated again. Finally, Ron was beginning to get his due as one of the originators of the punk rock guitar sound; ROLLING STONE even naming him the 29th most important guitarist in popular music - describing him as “the Detroit punk who made the Stooges’ music reek like a puddle of week-old biker sweat.”
Fortunately, Asheton was prolific in his later years leaving us with the reformed Stooges' 'The Weirdness' as well as his great tracks on Iggy's 'Skull Ring.' Thank you for all the great music, Ron.
CDs FOR SALE
ARCADE (Sony 2001 - New & Sealed CD) Back in the early 90’s, Stephen Pearcy left RATT to form a new band (with Cinderella drummer Fred Coury) Arcade. The band was indredible but, because of changing musical tastes, never got the chance at success that they deserved...
B.B. KING King Biscuit Live (King Biscuit Flower 1998) All-star 1978 show with Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, Dr. John & George Benson. Includes a dazzling version of ‘The Thrill Is Gone’...
THE BAND Jubilation (Platinum 1998) The best of the Band's post-1976 output! Eric Clapton and John Hiatt both guest...
BOB WEIR Here (Intersound 1999) This is Bob Weir's carefully selected sampler of his life in music, including both solo and Grateful Dead material. The results shed some much-deserved light on the hard-to-categorize yet important artist...
CONCRETE BLONDE Group Therapy (Manifesto 2002) Concrete Blonde's first new record after an eight-year hiatus, with original band members Johnette Napolitano, Jim Mankey, and Harry Rushakoff...
HUMBLE PIE Back On Track (Sanctuary 2002 - New & Sealed CD) Greg Ridley's final album with Pink Floyd's Dave Gilmour supervising the sessions...
IGGY POP King Biscuit Live In NYC (King Biscuit Flower 2000 - New & Sealed CD) Recorded at the Ritz in November, 1986, features Stooges classics 'I Wanna Be Your Dog' ...
JON BUTCHER King Biscuit In Concert (King Biscuit 2004 - New & Sealed CD) Recorded live in Los Angeles, California on July 31, 1987, Jimi Hendrix disciple Jon Butcher achieved...
JUNE CARTER CASH Wildwood Flower (Dualtone 2003 - New & Sealed CD) Released shortly after June Carter Cash's death in 2003, this features the country music legend's most personal, intimate music...
KING BISCUIT Best Of The Best (King Biscuit 1998 - New & Sealed CD) Exclusive tracks by Genesis, Rush, Queen, The Kinks, The Who, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rush...
KINGFISH King Biscuit In Concert (King Biscuit 2004 - New & Sealed 2 CD Set) Featuring Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, recorded live in 1976 at The Beacon Theater in New York City...
MOUNTAIN Greatest Hits Live! (King Biscuit Flower 2000 - New & Sealed CD) Recorded during the renowned reunion tour on November 3, 1974 at the Capital Theater in Passaic, New Jersey...
MOUNTAIN Secret Sessions (Pet Rock 1999 - New & Sealed CD) Less a Mountain album, but a Corky Laing solo album turned Super Session! Features Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson, Leslie West, Felix Pappalardi, Eric Clapton, Todd Rundgren...
NOEL REDDING BAND Clonakilty Cowboys & Blowin' (One Way 2000 - New & Sealed CD) Two albums by the former bassist of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, 1975's Clonakilty Cowboys and 1976's Blowin' feature Redding on bass and founding guitarist of Thin Lizzy, Eric Bell...
PAUL WELLER As Is Now (V2 Music 2005 - New & Sealed CD) It's hard to believe Paul Weller has been making records for the past 30 years...
PAUL WELLER Studio 150 (V2 Music 2004 - New & Sealed CD) After the Jam's Motown covers, the Style Council's appropriation of smooth '70s funk, and solo forays into white soul...
PETE TOWNSHEND Live (Intersound 1999 - New & Sealed 2 CD Set) The two-disc collection features Townshend stretching out with Eddie Vedder and keyboardist Jon Carvin on remakes of “Magic Bus” and “Heart to Hang Onto” ...
PREY FOR ROCK & ROLL Soundtrack (Hybrid 2003 - New & Sealed CD) 2003 film starring Gina Gershon is the story of Jacki and her all-girl rock and roll band, Clam Dandy, who are trying to make it in the Los Angeles club scene of the late 1980's...
ROCKY HILL Texas Shuffle (Tomato 2005 - New & Sealed CD) Rare eighties release by the eccentric leader of American Blues - the band that later became ZZ TOP!!!...
STEVE EARL The Revolution Starts Now (Artemis 2004 - New & Sealed CD) Steve Earle is widely known as a tireless political activist who’s not afraid to use his music to further the causes for which he fights...
TOWNES VAN ZANDT Acoustic Blue (Tomato 2005 - New & Sealed CD) This new collection from Texas troubadour Townes Van Zandt is a wonderful glimpse into some of the last live performances of one of America's greatest singer-songwriters...
TOWNES VAN ZANDT The Best Of Townes Van Zandt (Tomato 2005 - New & Sealed CD) With deceptive subtlety Townes Van Zandt merged the lonesome country sound and accessible song structures of Hank Williams with the complex, poetic imagery of Bob Dylan, all filtered through Townes's own unique, quirky sensibility...
ZEBRA King Biscuit Live In Concert (King Biscuit 1996 - New & Sealed CD) Recorded live in Houston, Texas on June 21, 1983 and Long Island, New York on January 26, 1985...
On the strength of ‘Museum,’ plus a dynamite live act, The Prime Movers were signed to Island Records in 1985. The group went on to have success in the UK with two songs in the charts (‘On The Trail’ and ‘Dark Western Night’) and toured Britain as opening act for Big Country. Indeed, Big Country’s late, great Stuart Adamson lent his incredible guitar talent to the Prime Mover single, ‘Dark Western Night.’
In 2006, Birdcage Records went completely full circle with the re-release of The Prime Movers’ ‘Museum’ on CD. The deluxe version contains bonus tracks from the Big Country UK Tour of 1986.
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