Severed Heads: 1977-2007

The Heads are calling it g'day.

Last month, after twenty-eight years of plunderphonic, electro-dysfunctional skullfuckery (well, closer to thirty, actually, if the “1977” on the cover to the forthcoming five-LP box set is their real ‘birthday’) Tom Ellard and Severed Heads made it crystal clear the lid to the coffin was being closed on any further collaborations with those who were enough of a threat to themselves and others to join him and, thus, the band responsible for the very first album released as an MP2—for good. Visiting hours are over. The family requests you not send flowers. Keep the gifts.

Dead eyes closed.

Nevertheless, all told, SH released 18 albums, the first five full-lengths and two EP’s unleashing the absolutely vindictive, unbridled experimental dementia for which a small group of doting tossers (this writer included) still lustfully pine. At the tender age of 16 I heard “Brassiere, in Rome?” and that was it; no more Mighty Lemon Drops or Xymox for me. Tape manipulation and unmetered beats were my new dextroamphetamines of choice. Then Stretcher (1985) came along and, for the most part, the Heads really just begun channeling New Order from there until Under Gail Succubus. With the exception of “Petrol”, “Mambo Fist Miasma 2” and “Don’t Say It”, Stretcher was the beginning of the end of the Severed Heads I cared about.

But do not mourn this passing. There are probably as many past and present Ellard and Garry Bradbury solo projects--about fifteen for Ellard, six for Bradbury--for every song they ever cut as Severed Heads since ’79: Coklacoma, Pissy Relay Switches, Inch Urch, Hiroshima Chair, Wet Taxis, the like. If you get right down to it, Ellard is the Robert Pollard of experimental electronic music.  In March, though, he will be releasing his own Box, only this time a final celebration of the Heads by showcasing their deranged beginnings instead of a final mourning.  Unfortunately, for the time being, you have to own a phonograph to buy it.  Adenoids: 1977-1982 is a collection of five vinyl LP's featuring all tracks from Ear Bitten, Clean, and Blubberknife as well as previously unreleased Mr. and Mrs. No Smoking Sign--the pre-Heads group with original founding members Richard Fielding and Andrew Wright. 

We have a couple YouTube videos for you to remember these lunatics by.  The first is from a 1986 edition of the ABC Australia program "Edge of the Wedge" with Ellard and sporadic member Stephen Jones micing a piece of fruit; the other, a magnificent 1982 Melbourne performance of "J. Edgar Hoover".

 

 

Okay, okay, wake's over.  Go in peace. 

Comments

[TradeMark G. / The Evolution Control Committee]

Ah, Severed Heads; how they resonate in the sordid history of my quirky and misguided musical appreciations...

Similarly in the mid-80's I heard my first Severed Heads peeps and was hooked from then on out. Meeting them face-to-face was a pivotal moment. If you want my vinyl of "Clifford Darling", you'll have to pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

[Gene]

I was fortunate enough to catch Severed Heads live twice. Once, opening for Skinny Puppy back in 1986. I asked Tom Ellard about his collaboration with Skinny Puppy and he said, "We taught them how to use their synthesizers." Oh, snap. I then saw them a few years later in New Orleans. When someone requested a song, Tom and Garry said, "Sorry, we left that floppy in the truck."

Real nice guys, those Severed Heads. Nobody can't have my copy of "Clifford Darling" either. And nothing beats the electro-thud of "Now An Explosive New Movie" or "That That Revolves."

[Jonathan Steinke]

TRADEMARK G?? SWEET. Very humbled to get a comment from you, sir!! The ECC's got killer joints but "Enriched White Bread" is a personal favorite. Wouldn't you know "Clifford Darling" is also MY favorite Heads recording? And you think they are a misguided musical appreciation...shame, shame, shame (:. No, for real--any SH freak is a pal of mine!!

And thanks to you also, Gene! I kinda figured the synthesizer line is the sort of unwieldy humor Tom Ellard would use. Ah, yes, "That That Revolves" of the "American in Paris" triumvirate. The cool thing about SH was their looping repetition was so bizarre it never seemed to get old or grating after repeated listens.

OK, TradeMark, Gene--I now call this meeting of the Clifford Darling Treehouse Club to order!!

[Gene]

OK, let the first meeting of the Clifford Darling Treehouse Club come to order. Today's topic: does "That That Revolves" kick more ass than "Adolph a Carrot"?

Steinke, during my college radio DJ days, I used to play three or four Severed Heads loops over the air at once. Talk about wacky hi-jinx! I can only imagine what it did to people in their cars stuck in traffic.

[Brandon]

Yeah, the Heads meant a lot to me growing up (and still do). They did their thing though and 30 years is good enough.

[Clifford Darling]

Many, many thanks to Severed Heads. A favorite for decades. Best of happiness and success in all future projects.

[Gene]

That that revolves, you know, does. That that revolves, you know, does. That that revolves, you know, does. That that revolves, you know, does. That that revolves, you know, does. That that revolves, you know, does. That that revolves, you know, does. That that revolves, you know, does. That that revolves, you know, does. That that revolves, you know, does. That that revolves, you know, does. That that revolves, you know, does. That that revolves, you know, does. That that revolves, you know, does. ...

[Jonathan Steinke]

Sorry for bein AWOL, guys. BUSY week.

Gene, I would have to punch my vote (literally, too...I don't use some fuckin' ballot puncher, either...that means my miggin FEST!!) for "That That Revolves". I'm not saying "Adolph..." is not kinda tight but I'm really a sucker for their unintelligible speech fragment/incongruous cadence numbers. Brass tacks, they were their OWN genre.

Awrighty, watch yer step there, Brandon...okAY!! Right. Ey, welcome to the "treehouse". Some 411 for you and Gene and tha TRADEMAWWK: You'll all be able to download "Adenoids" for absolutely ZIP when they get it synched up and ready.

We few...we merry band o' Cliffies!

[mr.kenneth]

sheer delight catching a very rare performance of Tom Ellard/Severed Heads at THIS festival here in Brisbane, Australia. Tom shared the keyboard twiddling with one of the members of Boxcar ... a band who also performed that night. GOLD! a real coup for the event organisers. danced my socks off at the same time awed by Tom's wonderful videos projected VERY large above a very enthusiastic crowd. Maybe "Severed Heads" last stand? Thanks SH ... its been real real ....

[Jonathan Steinke]

Mr. Kenneth, welcome to the treehouse! Don't forget to shut the door behind ya there. Trade, Gene, Brandon, Cliff...Oreo Cakesters, anybody?

Today's topique ??: Which era, boys...the 1980-1985 experimental era or the (ulp!) "ambient" era?