Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    Banner
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Music»Music by Decade»1970s Music
    1970s Music Music P 3 Mins Read

    Pere Ubu

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    Pere Ubu (the name came from a cruel and crude character in the absurdist 1890s stage play, Uhu Roi, by Alfred Jarry) formed in Cleveland in 1975 and went through record labels at an astonishing rate, taking in Radar, Chrysalis, and Mercury en route to their liaison with Rough Trade.

    And their albums – Dub Housing, New Picnic Time and The Art of Walking – saw them move further and further away from the parameters of rock or pop.

    Vocalist David Thomas was a former rock critic, who once called himself Crocus Behemoth. He dropped the name and formed Pere Ubu for the sole purpose of recording a song he had written called 30 Seconds Over Tokyo. The single was released in December 1975.

    The group – which at that stage included Creem writer Peter Laughner – went on to record three more singles on its own Hearthan label. Most of that material eventually ended up on their 1978 debut album,  The Modern Dance.

    pereubu4Synth-player Allen Ravenstine used trust fund money to buy an entire apartment building called the Plaza in downtown Cleveland and rented out its 36 rooms cheaply to artistically-minded friends, including every member of Ubu.

    Cliff Burnstein, Mid-Western A&R man for Mercury/Phonogram, read about the band in a fanzine and was intrigued enough to track down their singles then the band itself. As a result, he formed a Phonogram subsidiary called Blank Records – which he envisaged as an American equivalent to England’s Stiff Records – and signed Ubu as the first band on the new label.

    Ubu’s second single – and their last with Peter Laughner – Final Solution (1976), was a blunt and sarcastic examination of teen outsider angst hitched to a sinuous bass line, spooky synthesizer noises and a threatening, juddering climax that spoke of serious intent.

    The Modern Dance, their first album, arrived to critical acclaim in 1978 and provided a blueprint for post-punk and coming triumphs by PiL, Talking Heads and fellow Ohio oddballs Devo. The album left listeners baffled but amazed – it still does.

    Disjointed synthesizers, slashing guitars, distortion, howls and the occasional sound of smashing glass – Pere Ubu worked fearlessly on a planet all of their own – and provided proof positive that the really weird American music comes from the nowhere bit between the two coasts.

    pereubu2

    Having defined their own proto-punk style, Pere Ubu had a goldmine they could have tapped for a few more years at least. Instead, in a brilliantly contrary move, they created a whole new sound that, while distinctively Ubu, showed them to be miles ahead of most of their peers.

    The album Dub Housing (1978) came cheaply, quickly, and with a lot of spontaneity, but lack of company support led to Blank’s dissolution in 1978, and despite all the critical acclaim, Pere Ubu had a hard time getting another contract.

    Anyone with suicidal tendencies would have been well-advised to steer clear of their output. Their music was primarily about despair and the black feeling that says life is just one big bucket of shit.

    David Thomas
    Vocals
    Tom Herman
    Guitar
    Allen Ravenstine
    Synth, saxophone
    Tony Maimone
    Bass
    Scott Krauss
    Drums
    Mayo Thompson
    Guitar

    Related Posts

    • Bachman-Turner Overdrive
      Bachman-Turner Overdrive
      Bachman-Turner Overdrive's origins can be traced back to the substantial commercial achievements of The Guess Who in the late 60s. Randy Bachman…
    • Iggy Pop
      Iggy Pop
      Iggy Pop was born James Newell Osterberg in 1947. He adopted the name 'Iggy' after drumming with a Detroit punk…
    • Hello
      Hello
      The front room of a house in Edmonton (suburban North London) is hardly the best setting for any group, but…
    • Bizarros
      Bizarros
      If not as well known as other Ohio rockers of their late-'70s era (Devo, Chrissie Hynde, Pere Ubu, Dead Boys),…
    • O Band, The (A Band Called O)
      O Band, The (A Band Called O)
      Hailing from Jersey in the Channel Islands and originally known as The Parlour Band, A Band Called O played Prog…
    • Ray Burgess
      Ray Burgess
      Hailing from Melbourne (Australia), singer Ray Burgess launched his solo career in 1974 with the singles Touch Me (which reached…
    • Hatfield And The North
      Hatfield And The North
      Formed in 1973 from members of Canterbury prog rockers Caravan, Delivery and Egg, Hatfield And The North (their full name was…
    • Television
      Television
      The inaugural house band at CBGB's in New York, and contemporaries of Patti Smith and later Blondie, The Ramones and Talking Heads, Television figure large in American punk…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticlePoison
    Next Article Police, The

    Comments are closed.

    Can you help?
    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love for me since 1998. The site carries no advertising, and I rely on donations to help with the running costs of the site and ensure I can keep Nostalgia Central running for your entertainment and education.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small.


    Thank you so much, and please enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Great Waldo Pepper, The (1975)
      Robert Redford plays Waldo Pepper, a former World War I pilot […]
    • Curse of Dracula, The
      1 9 7 9 (USA) 10 x 20 minute episodes This Tuesday night NBC […]
    • Prisoner of Second Avenue, The (1975)
      Based on a Neil Simon play of the same name, The Prisoner of […]
    • Bumblies, The
      1 9 5 4 (UK) 13 x 10 minute episodes Michael Bentine’s […]
    • Set, The (1970)
      Paul Lawrence (Sean Myers, billed here as Sean McEuan) sells […]
    • Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)
      With a score consisting of 29 compositions by John Lennon, Paul […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    Cant see this doll being reintroduced any time soon 😳

    Can't see this doll being reintroduced any time soon 😳 ... See MoreSee Less

    19 hours ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Sadistic and child abuse.

    This is very sad news. Jack Lee was a great unsung hero of the power pop world, and The Nerves were a great band that also featured Peter Case (who went on to bigger things with The Plimsouls) and Paul Collins (who headed up his own successful power pop band, The Beat).

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Jack Lee, Nerves Singer and Writer of Blondie Hit ‘Hanging on the Telephone,’ Dies at 71

    variety.com

    Jack Lee, who co-fronted the influential L.A. band the Nerves in the late 1970s and saw his songs turn into major hits for Blondie and Paul Young, died May 26 in Santa Monica, Calif. at age 71. His…
    21 hours ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 3
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    😔

    Vale Cynthia Weil. One of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century. 

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/songwriter-cynthia-weil-death-music-b2350742.html

    Vale Cynthia Weil. One of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century.

    www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/songwriter-cynthia-weil-death-music-b2350742....
    ... See MoreSee Less

    3 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Happy 81st to Anita Harris 🫶

    Happy 81st to Anita Harris 🫶Happy 81st Birthday to Anita Harris, born 3rd June 1942 in Somerset, England. She is an all round entertainer, singer/dancer/actress.
    As a child she was a keen ice skater, and just before her 16th birthday she was talent spotted and invited to join a dance troupe and headed for Las Vegas, performing 3 shows a night. She stayed 6 months.

    While she enjoyed dancing, singing was always her first love. Upon returning to England she joined the Cliff Adams Singers and was with them for 3 years. In 1961 she made her first recordings with the John Barry Seven. Possibly two of her best known recordings are 'Just Loving You' and 'We're Going on a Tuppenny Bus Ride'.

    In the 1960's She appeared in a two 'Carry On' films. On TV in the 70's among other things she was on David Nixon's Magic Box for 8 years as his assistant. She continued working on stage and screen with entertainment legends – everyone from Bob Monkhouse and Tommy Cooper to Bruce Forsyth, Morecambe and Wise and Harry Secombe. In 1986 she made her debut in 'legitimate theatre' playing Grizabella in the West End production of Cats.
    Today she continues to perform on stage and in cabaret with her band. You can hear her recordings on
    serenade-radio.com the Best in Easy Listening.
    ... See MoreSee Less

    5 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 11
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    ... See MoreSee Less

    7 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    I remember using whatever one was cherry-flavoured.

    It was Dr Mopp for me.

    www.raleigh.co.uk/gb/en/look-whos-back/ ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Look whos back | Raleigh UK

    www.raleigh.co.uk

    They will be available to buy online and at Raleigh Bikes Nottingham. The online sale will have a virtual queuing system in place and at Raleigh Bikes Nottingham there will be a queueing system outsid...
    7 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 5
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    FIREBALL XL-5 begins this Saturday, 3rd June at 2:35pm on #TalkingPicturesTV So here's five fascinating facts about the Gerry Anderson's 'Supermarionation' programme!
    1 - The series was inspired by the 'space race' between the USSR and the USA. 2 - 39 episodes were made in black and white. 3 - The series premiered on ATV London in October 1962. 4 - The voice of Steve Zodiac was provided by actor Paul Maxwell. 5 - The famous theme song was sung by Don Spencer.
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 8
    • Shares: 3
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/31/bruce-springsteen-review-murrayfield-stadium-edinburgh

    That's why they call him "The Boss".
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Bruce Springsteen review – after half a century, still having the time of his life

    www.theguardian.com

    Springsteen and the E Street Band feel like a bar band that can’t believe their luck to be playing a stadium – and the enthusiasm is infectious
    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Sad news. We wish her well 🤗

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Dame Esther Rantzen says her lung cancer is in stage four

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The TV presenter and Childline founder says she is on a new form of medication for the disease.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 3

    Comment on Facebook

    Oh no 😢 in my prayers Esther xxx

    Didn’t she want to put the unvaccinated into camps during lockdown…

    That’s not cool 😞

    Another great voice has left us 😪

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Tina Turner: Music legend dies at 83

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Her unmistakable voice on hits like The Best and What's Love Got to Do With It made her a superstar.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 7
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    I found out on tiktok before I saw it on any news channels..

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Tag Cloud
    Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games British Invasion Britpop Canada Cold War Crime Disco Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Kraütrock Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Politics Power Pop Prog rock Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Sport Surf music Video games
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.