...and at various other times in the 80s: Dollar Billy Brahm,
Egg Al,
Tony Serrato,
Ringo Casiotone
1998 franchise: core franchise plus Bob Sargent 2003 franchise: core franchise plus Dollar Billy Brahm 2008 live franchise: Trip, Bobb Trimble, Ned Egg, Gary War 2008 studio & animation franchise: Xerox/Xeth
late-nite diners, Dada (the "movement"), 13th Floor Elevators, The Velvet Underground & Nico, The Yardbirds, Pebbles compilations, gerbils, The Undertones, The Great Society, The Monkees, The Blues Magoos, early European cinema, cheap phonographs, that dusty goo behind the stove, "the Winter of Love"
Sounds Like
ferrets discussing Kafka, Television Personalities, The Modern Lovers, Tall Dwarfs, The Clean, The Fugs, The Creation, The Soft Boys, Wire
And... Here lies the 'classic' 1983 video for "The 16th Track" it was "the dawn of the video age" -- that's our excuse, and we're sticking with it. but battling Satan was never so much fun. (dir. Lillie Farkas)
Well, the Rolling Stones come to town
Don't throw The Prefab Messiahs out of bounds
God save those dreamers
They're all that's left sometimes -- Bobb Trimble, "Armour of the Shroud"
In the first half of the 1980s, in the post-industrial landmine known as Worcester, Massachusetts (a/k/a/ Wormtown) -- a city whose two industrial complexes made it number one on the Soviet Union's hit list in case of war -- three wise men, accompanied by an equally strange entourage of followers and inventors, ignored all the rules of how to become successful musicians and created a unique legacy of their own, and with it, the era of "Peace, Love and Alienation."
The journey began at Clark University, where two devotees of Dada terrorism, Seth "Xerox" Feinberg and "Egg" Al Nidle postered its campus with posters announcing "talentless guitarist and drummer seeking bassist and lead guitarist to form post-new wave pop pseudo-psychedelic band." It drew the attention of Kris "Trip" Thompson, a new member of the church of all things psychedelic and guitarist-without-a working guitar Mike "Doc" Michaud. They began practicing at the local community radio station, using only pizza boxes for a drum kit, and were not so politely asked to leave by half the station. The other half demanded they play on the air, and soon afterwards, the Prefab Messiahs were on the airwaves asking the question, "Whatever happened to Cousin Artie? / He blew his mind out at a '60s party...," and intended or not (thanks to the fact the local underground club's doorman was indeed a popular scenester named Artie, and still scarred from having been forced to attend Woodstock), the residents of Wormtown took it as a celebration of one of their own.
With its Betty Crocker-like instant success, and fame (or at least a good used clothing store) just around the corner, "Egg" Al decided to leave the performing line-up and like Gepetto and Malcolm McClaren, pull strings from behind the scenes (he attempted to bring Ronald McDonald into its lineup - but alas, failed by a single screw of pulling off the artistic coup of the century). He was replaced by Ringo, a
Casio instrument whose existence irritated serious music fans, but delighted music lovers.
In the spring of '82 the group entered the "Spring Rock Showcase" at the city's largest nightclub [Sanctuary]. Heavily promoted by the region's biggest radio station [WAAF], it attracted a large hard rock crowd, most of who were beyond stunned to see the Prefabs take the stage with Ringo - but not as horrified as when they learned the group had won its preliminary round enroute to the semi-finals.
The Prefabs' belief in their music earned the respect of Nebulas drummer Tony Serrato, who volunteered to replace Ringo. They took their prize and recorded "The 16th Track" and "Desperately Happy", and with a real drummer, rapidly became one of the city's best live acts.
Time constraints eventually forced Serrato to leave the band, and he was replaced by Billy Brahm, from Bobb Trimble's equally mythical Crippled Dog Band.
amazing, ive been keeping it surreal lately and i just remembered about you guys and your words, fresh air through psychedelic cartoonimation, thanks for the inspiration, keep it up xeth and the rest of the prefab messiahs -mannynose
Cant wait to see footage from the Bobb Trimble show... I was so bumbed out that I couldnt make the trip. Greg said it was a great night. Do you think that venue in WORMTOWN would be interested in doing a show for GARY WAR, TEETH MOUNTAIN, THE SUPER VACATIONS and you guys???
yes it is me 3rd. from the left. ? does the prefab messiahs have any gigs coming up . and if so when? it would be nice to come to mass for a visit.and see a super cool band !!! Peace,Love,& Granola,, captainkarl
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