| Gumball | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Origin | United States |
| Genre(s) | Alternative Post punk Grunge |
| Years active | 1990–1994 |
| Label(s) | Columbia Primo Scree Paperhouse |
| Members | |
| Don Fleming Jay Spiegel Eric Vermillion Malcolm Riviera |
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Gumball was the highest-profile occupation of indie gadabout Don Fleming, already a veteran of several bands, a guest collaborator for many more, and a significant producer who—ironically—helped shepherd alternative rock into its major-label boom years. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of Post-punk was a popular musical movement in the mid to late 1970s following on the heels of the initial Punk rock explosion of the early 1970s In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company Don Fleming (born September 25, 1957 in Valdosta Georgia) is an American Musician, best known for being the frontman of bands such Indie rock is genre of Alternative rock that primarily exists in the independent Underground music scene Don Fleming (born September 25, 1957 in Valdosta Georgia) is an American Musician, best known for being the frontman of bands such Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of
As Gumball's singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter, Fleming's record-collector obsession with pop culture and pop music, from the Monkees to the Damned to Sonic Youth, reached full fruition. A guitarist is a Musician who plays the Guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both Popular culture (or pop culture) is the Culture — patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activities significance and importance — Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure For the group's self-titled album see The Monkees (album. For the TV series see The Monkees (TV series. The Damned are an English band formed in London in 1976 notable for being the first Punk rock band from England to release a single (" New Rose " an Sonic Youth is an American Alternative rock band formed in New York City in 1981 Snatches of '60s guitar riffs sat next to '80s guitar noise, and '70s punk rubbed shoulders with '70s schlock metal; all of it proved his knack for treating the worst pop music as serious rock. In Music, a riff is an Ostinato figure a repeated Chord progression, pattern refrain or melodic figure, often played by the Rhythm Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Gumball enjoyed a two-album stay on major label Columbia, and earned some notoriety as owners of perhaps the largest collection of eight-track tapes in the country. Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company This is an article about the 8-track cartridge For eight-track multitracking see Multitrack recording. [1] However, they never broke through to a wider audience, and Fleming returned to his myriad other pursuits.
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Origins
Prior to forming Gumball in 1990, Fleming had formed the Washington, D.C.-based Velvet Monkeys, where he first worked with Gumball drummer Jay Spiegel and later guitarist/keyboardist Malcolm Riviera. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Following the Velvet Monkeys' initial breakup in the mid-'80s, Fleming and Spiegel played behind Jad Fair in Half Japanese on a semiregular basis, and wound up relocating to New York City. Jad Fair is the singer and guitarist of Lo-fi Alternative rock group Half Japanese. This article is about the band called Half Japanese, for people of mixed Japanese and non-Japanese descent see Hafu Half Japanese The City of New York There they fell in with producer/Shimmy Disc label head Kramer, who joined them on bass to form B. Shimmy Disc was an influential New York City based Record label founded in 1987 by Mark Kramer. Mark Kramer, known professionally as Kramer, is a musician composer performer Record producer and founder of the NY record label Shimmy-Disc. A. L. L. , a unit specializing in ironic deconstructions of classic rock numbers. After several albums, B. A. L. L. fell victim to a contentious breakup in 1990, and Fleming and Spiegel put together a one-off, all-star version of the Velvet Monkeys that included Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis, Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, and Pussy Galore's Julia Cafritz. J Mascis (born Joseph Donald Mascis on December 10 1965) is an American Musician, perhaps best-known as the singer Guitarist Sonic Youth is an American Alternative rock band formed in New York City in 1981 Thurston Joseph Moore (born July 25, 1958 in Coral Gables Florida) is an American Musician best known as a Singer, Pussy Galore is a Fictional character from the James Bond film and novel Goldfinger. That same year, Fleming and Spiegel formed the more permanent, straightforward Gumball with bassist Eric Vermillion.
Early years
While working on their debut LP, Gumball issued a self-titled, four-song preview EP on the British label Paperhouse. Their proper debut, the full-length Special Kiss, was released in 1991 on the indie Primo Scree and featured guest appearances by Thurston Moore and Teenage Fanclub. Special Kiss was the first album by Gumball, a band formed by Don Fleming and Jay Spiegel following the breakup of B Thurston Joseph Moore (born July 25, 1958 in Coral Gables Florida) is an American Musician best known as a Singer, Teenage Fanclub are an acclaimed Scottish Alternative rock band from Bellshill. It was followed by a UK-only EP, Light Shines Through, which featured several new songs. An extended play ( EP) is a Vinyl record, CD, or Music download which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify
In 1991, Gumball appeared on Dave Markey's film 1991: The Year Punk Broke performing their song "Pre" from Special Kiss. Dave Markey (born December 3, 1963 in Burbank California) is an American Film director. 1991 The Year Punk Broke is a 1992 documentary directed by Dave Markey.
Years with Columbia
Before their full-length Columbia debut, Gumball released a five-song EP of covers, Wisconsin Hayride. Wisconsin Hayride was the first Major label release by Gumball. J Mascis played on the band's update of the Damned's "New Rose. "
Produced by Butch Vig, the full-length Super Tasty arrived in 1993 to mostly positive reviews. Butch Vig (born Bryan David Vigorson, August 2, 1955, Viroqua, Wisconsin) is both a Record producer and the Drummer Super Tasty was the second album by Gumball and first Major label full length release The singles "Accelerator" and "The Damage Done" had some success on alternative radio and music videos in rotation on MTV's 120 Minutes, but despite some definite polish and commercial potential, Super Tasty never quite broke through to a wide audience. Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of MTV ( Music Television) is an American Cable television network based in New York City. In the meantime, Fleming's profile as a producer continued to grow, thanks to work on albums like the Screaming Trees' Sweet Oblivion, the Posies' Frosting on the Beater. Screaming Trees was an American rock band formed in Ellensburg Washington in 1985 by vocalist Sweet Oblivion is Screaming Trees ' 6th full length Album that was released on September 8, 1992. The Posies are an American Alternative rock group The band was formed in 1987 in Bellingham Washington by primary songwriters Jon Frosting on the Beater is the third album by the Seattle rock group The Posies, released in 1993 In the meantime, guitarist/keyboardist Malcolm Riviera—a member of the original Velvet Monkeys lineup—officially joined Gumball.
The band's second major-label album, Revolution On Ice, was released in 1994. Revolution On Ice was the third and final studio album by Gumball. A rendition of Blue Öyster Cult's "She's as Beautiful as a Foot" features vocals by that band's original drummer, Albert Bouchard. Blue Öyster Cult is an American rock band formed in New York in 1967 and still active in 2008 Albert Bouchard (born May 24 1947 in Watertown, New York) is a Drummer, Guitarist, Singer and Songwriter.
Breakup and post-Gumball
After leaving Columbia Records, Gumball released a live album on their own label chronicling their 1994 tour of Japan: Tokyo Encore. Tokyo Encore was the final release by Gumball. After leaving Columbia Records at the end of 1994 the band released a live album compiled from the Although the group never formally disbanded, after failing to secure new label backing the four members went their separate ways.
After Gumball, Fleming released Because Tomorrow Comes. Don continues to record, produce, and perform in the New York City area, and maintains a web site that documents his busy schedule. Don is also involved with the Alan Lomax Archive, which seeks to preserve the audio and video recordings and photographs made by Alan Lomax from 1946 to 1994.
Vermillion went on to form The Steelminers, a Pennsylvania-based punk outfit that released a 7" split 45 in 1996 with the Mount McKinleys on the Black Lung label. The Steelminers also appeared on the twin-LP compilation "It Smells Like Spring" on Intensive Scare Records the following year.
After Gumball's split, Spiegel helped form The Shorty Porter Brother Boys in Harrisburg, Pa. The band eventually shortened their name to Team Shorty and released the "Truth & Knowledge" CD in 2001 on their own RedRum label. In early 2003, Team Shorty morphed into The Lookies, a straight-up hard rocking powerhouse. They released a five-song EP on RedRum Records in 2006.
Riviera returned to his home state of North Carolina in 1995 and began working on a compilation of unreleased tracks that was released in 1996 as Rage Against the Malcolm on Jim Ayre's Arlington, Va. North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States based LoudThud Records. The album was available only on cassette and 8-track tape. In 1998, Riviera, along with Michael Ray of local punk legends Sludge, formed the free-wheeling noise combo Bastard Trout. The Trout played a few shows before calling it quits; Malcolm then returned to the studio and began work on a solo release that would eventually be entitled Malco Machine Music. The all-instrumental composition was recorded using Moog synthesizers, combo organs, tape loops, and just about anything else laying around in the basement. The term Moog (ˈmoʊg as in 'vogue' Synthesizer can refer to any number of Analog synthesizers designed by Dr Tape loops are loops of prerecorded Magnetic tape used to create repetitive rhythmic musical patterns or dense layers of sound The album was released in 1999 on Instant Mayhem Records, Fleming's private label, and was re-released in 2001 on LoudThud.
Band members
- Don Fleming (guitar, vocals)
- Eric Vermillion (bass)
- Jay Spiegel (drums)
- Malcolm Riviera (guitar, keyboard)
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release date | Label |
| Special Kiss | 1991 | Primo Scree |
| Super Tasty | 1993 | Columbia |
| Revolution On Ice | 1994 | Columbia |
| Tokyo Encore | 1994 | T. Special Kiss was the first album by Gumball, a band formed by Don Fleming and Jay Spiegel following the breakup of B Super Tasty was the second album by Gumball and first Major label full length release Revolution On Ice was the third and final studio album by Gumball. Tokyo Encore was the final release by Gumball. After leaving Columbia Records at the end of 1994 the band released a live album compiled from the E. C. Tones |
EPs
| Title | Release date | Label |
| Wisconsin Hayride | 1992 | Columbia |
Singles
| Year | Title | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "All The Time" | Special Kiss | Paperhouse |
| 1991 | "This Town" | Special Kiss | Paperhouse |
| 1991 | "Light Shines Through" | Special Kiss | Paperhouse |
| 1992 | "New Rose" | Wisconsin Hayride | Columbia |
| 1993 | "Accelerator" | Super Tasty | Columbia |
| 1993 | "The Damage Done" | Super Tasty | Columbia |
| 1993 | "Real Gone Deal" | Super Tasty | Columbia |
| 1994 | "Nights On Fire" | Revolution On Ice | Columbia |
| 1994 | "Whatcha Gonna Do" | Revolution On Ice | Columbia |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "New Rose" | Dave Markey |
| 1993 | "Accelerator" | Dave Markey |
| 1993 | "The Damage Done" | Dave Markey |
| 1993 | "Real Done Deal" | Casey Niccoli |
| 1994 | "Revolution on the Rocks" | Dave Markey |
External links
- Gumball's official Myspace page
- Don Fleming's production company Instant Mayhem
- Allmusic entry
- Trouser Press entry
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