Taking inspiration from the amateurish antics of Huggy Bear and then acting like they were seven years old, the Bis were one of the strangest phenomenons of late '90s British indie-rock. Aggressively primitative and defiantly childish, bis claimed to be at the forefront of "the Teen-C Revolution," which apparently translated as young adults wishing they were still in elementary school. Inspired by the Nation of Ulysses, Huggy Bear, Blur and the "cutie" indie movement of Sarah Recrods, the group crossed D.I.Y. aesthetics with the incessant bounce of New Wave dance pop. Bursting out from nowhere in early 1996, they famously became the first unsigned band to appear on Top of the Pops, and over the first six months they became a sensation within the British music press. But just as quickly as they rose to prominence the backlash began, and by the end of the year, only a handful of supporters remained in the UK. However, the band had won fans in the Beastie Boys, who signed them to Grand Royal Records, positioning the band to join the ranks of the international pop underground, where the message was just, if not more, important than the music.
Comprised of keyboardist/vocalist Manda Rin, guitarist Sci-Fi Steve and his younger brother John Disco (guitar), the Bis formed in Giffnock, Scotland in late 1994. All three had been friends since their early childhood, but they didn't form a band until they finished high school. In addition to writing music, they also published the fanzines, Funky Spunk and Paper Bullets. The group began playing local clubs, including Nice 'n' Sleazy, eventually earning the attention of the Spanish-based indie Acuarelia, who released the Transmissions on the Teen-C Tip EP. Following its release, the band moved to the Glasgow-based indie label Chemikal Underground on a verbal agreement, at which time they also signed to PolyGram publishing. After the "Disco Nation" single appeared in August 1995, they released The Secret Vampire Soundtrack early in 1996 and it received good word-of-mouth within the underground, including positive reviews in the UK music weeklies, before Ric Blaxhill, the producer of Top of the Pops, heard the EP and asked the Bis to play the show. It was the first time in the show's 32-year history that an unsigned band played the program. Suddenly, the Bis were a sensation, being played constantly on BBC's Radio 1 and appearing throughout the media. In June, the group released Bis Vs. the DIY Corps on their own Teen-C label, and it was also a critical and commercial success. Soon, there was a bidding war over the band, and the group decided against going to a major label, signing with Wiija in the UK and Grand Royal in the US. Early in 1997, Grand Royal released the EP This is Teen-C Power, which was comprised of previously released material, and the Bis released their first full-length album, The New Transistor Heroes, in the spring. Intendo followed in 1998, and a year later the group resurfaced with Social Dancing. The Music for a Stranger World EP followed in fall 2000. Blending an eclectic influential mix of Talk Talk, Blur, Can, and New Order, Bis released Return to Central in fall 2001. They were also composing music to go along with the Cartoon Network's Powerpuff Girls video game. Plastique Nouveau, which appeared the next year, showcased Bis' biggest dance oriented effort to date. In February 2003, the trio announced their split. Bis had spent nine years as a group and released three albums. They are now working together again as the band Data Panik.
www.datapanik.co.uk
What up? I found this website and thought i'd tell everyone, it shows you if anyone at school likes you... I dont know how it works but its really cool, its revealed a few people who have had crushed on me FOREVER, i called the person up and it was TRUE!! You gotta try it!
Due to popular demand there will be a ltd edition Juno! versus Manda Rin orange vinyl 7 inch of These Boys are Atheletes and the forthcoming Shifty Disco download Smoke and Mirrors. Hurry to Rough Trade records website to secure yours before stocks go!
To Participate, in either the Music Conference or Music Workshops, Pick up a booking form from Kirkcaldy YMCA or send us your Name and Contact Details and we shall add you to out list.
Tickets for The Battle of the Bands Final are £3 pre-sale and £4 on the door. Tickets are currently available from Kirkcaldy YMCA and The Adam Smith Theatre! The Finalist are as follows: Underling, Dirty Summer, Max Carcas, Militia, Lost in Limbo, Forever Ends Tomorrow!
THE VOW play their first UK show in 7 years at the Stamford Riverside festival on Saturday July 7th.
The band are on the main stage at 5.15pm playing a 40 minute set.... Expect all the classic tracks plus a couple of nice new surprises to boot. Admission is free but please arrive early.
If you ever wondered who bought all (!) of your 7" back in the mid nineties - it was Annika (another Secret Vampire) from "Cute and Brutal". Thank you for giving me a good time back then in Edinburgh.
Hello!!
My event is busy and cannot visit to your site recently(T-T)/
How are you getting along???
If there is time because picture which I drew can look
please visit it!! (*゜▽゜ノノ゛☆
I feel honoured! I'm one of Bis' favourite friends! AND I had no idea you were playing some shows, I will have to attend!
I'm guessing the doglet you refer to is the one in my photo, Jake... We're pretty sure he's half shark, every time you photograph him he goes stiff and his eyes gloss over...
So, is it the 9th in London? My own band are maybe playing some shows in the summer, maybe we could do some with you!!! Stick Gay against You in there and its my dream gig...
