Yes, I know it might sound strange, but MANY cool bands came out of the Cleveland area like DEVO,Pere Ubu, Dead Boys, and even Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders hails from Akron, Ohio (just to name a few) . I want to showcase to the world some cool bands that you may or may not know about who are also from Cleveland...
As I prepare to leave Cleveland once again to return to my home in Los Angeles, I find myself reminiscing over the great new wave scene that once was. I myself was in several bands that never released anything official "Adrian Black & The Union Of Death","PsychoteK", "Worlds Collide", "Days of Grey" and "Boy Goes Bang". I was "Adrian Black" before I was Nivek Tek..but I digress...one day maybe I'll post some stuff, most of it was..forgettable to say the least...lol
NATION OF TEFLON SOULS
This was an awesome EBM/industrial band from Cleveland. They wore gas masks, sang with voice distorter's, had tons of dry ice and aluminum foil. It featured Greg, Dave and Timothy from Lestat.
They never had an official release just demo cassettes. I actually own the one that has (Peace, Scar of Love, I'm Dead, & Pin Your Head..) on it. Unfortunately, the mix I really love of "Pin Your Head" was not included and so only this youtube video exists of that great mix.
Greg is still producing music under the name "Nation Of Teflon Souls" though it is a decidedly different direction. It is more electronica and not EBM/industrial anymore. In fact, I released one of his mixes of our artist Jonathan Luke "Joy Toy" on my label ISV Entertainment in 2009.
Here is the classic "PIN YOUR HEAD..TO THE DRYWALL"
LESTAT
"Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make".. if this quote makes you think of Dracula, then it is a perfect way to set the stage for this next dark gothic Cleveland band "Lestat".
The group was originally founded by Evan Nave (then known as Razz) and Jess in Cleveland in 1988. In an interview, they claim to be one of the earliest performers of Dark Wave music. "We tried to create a more harmonic style of Goth," says Nave. "Creating moody soundtracks and turning them into songs." The two were later joined by Susan and former members Peter and Richard. The group's first release, titled "Theatre of the Vampires", was a 6 track LP (available only on cassette and now out of print), released in 1990 on Jevan Records. They released 2 more dark offerings "Grave Desires" and "Vision of Sorrows" (which was their first official) CD release. In April 2012, Lestat released Arisen, now signed to Columbus based label Nilaihah Records. In January of 2013, Timothy left the band for personal and musical aspirations, leaving the band as a four piece.
Enjoy their first official music video "Midnight Toll".
LESTAT ( the early years)
Here is one of my favorite songs from Lestat. It is from the EP "Grave Desires". This album was more EBM/ industrial sounding goth than their later offerings. Think Front 242 or A Split Second. Dark and evil.
LESTAT "Syndrome"
GHOSTS IN DAYLIGHT
Out of the depths of the Cleveland club scene came this goth, synth rock band called Ghosts In Daylight. This 5 member band took the Cleveland underground scene by storm with this cult classic "Subway". They later exploded onto National new wave scene as they opened for bands like "A Flock of Seagulls". Though you could only buy their music at their shows or on home made underground demos, it did not stop the fans from flocking to their live shows. In 1990 their released their first professional CD called "GID" on Glass Skull Records. It featured 9 original songs, 3 remixes and a cover of the Bee Gees hit "Holiday". Incidentally, after Ghost In Daylight broke up I was recruited by Ray Redhead to be the "new Ghosts in Daylight" which I refused to do as I was a fan of GID. However, we did end up working on a project together called BOY GOES BANG. It was very dark, and I was very androgynous looking at the time. We recorded a 5 track EP that we never released. It included a cover of Bee Gee's "Holiday" as well. Though BGB's version was more like Depeche Mode meets Black Box with Pete Burns of Dead or Alive wailing on vocals..one day I'll find it and share it with you. Back to Ghosts In Daylight... After the break up with Ray, Dave, Jon & Rob continued to make music under the GID name. In 1994 they made a 4 song EP cassette that included "Gold", "Whirlwind" "Fire" & "Anything". Sadly my favorite song " Walk The Night" never made it to the CD release.
Their records are almost impossible to find. I did see the used CD GID on Amazon for $20, which is cheap considering that everything is RARE and out of print. Grab it while you can folks. It's dark & lovely indeed...
Here is their underground club classic "Subway".
GHOSTS IN DAYLIGHT
"WALK THE NIGHT" (LIVE)
A long time ago in Cleveland, OH, (Ghosts in Daylight) opened for a band called The AKT which was led by a very young Richard Patrick. Rich went on to play guitar in the original Nine Inch Nails line-up and later, founded the band FILTER.
Enjoy this RARE dark classic
EXOTIC BIRDS
CLASSIC 80'S SYNTHPOP/NEW WAVE BAND FROM CLEVELAND, OHIO. TRENT REZNOR FROM NINE INCH NAILS WAS ONCE IN THIS BAND & IS FEATURE ON THE ALBUM L'oiseau.
READ MORE ABOUT TRENT & EXOTIC BIRDS
Rare Pre-NIN / Pre-Stabbing Westward small run private pressing new wave LP on Pleasureland Records, catalog # PLEP 1804. Exotic Birds were a Cleveland, Ohio new wave group formed in 1983 by frontman Andrew Kubiszewski. The band had some minor success outside the local area, opening on occasion for larger national acts. Trent Reznor joined the group in 1985. The band would officially release only this one recording with both Reznor & Kubiszewski in the line up. Though it is acknowledged that Reznor would help with some of the future programming, this is the only record on which he is officially credited and the only time period in which he would regularly perform as part of the live group. Just a couple short years later, Reznor would unleash Nine Inch Nails. Meanwhile, Kubiszewski would go on to record and perform with Prick, Stabbing Westward, Tatu, and a host of others. On occasion he would also contribute percussion to Nine Inch Nails' studio work. While drastically different from any of the future projects, what is documented here is both artists coming into their own in terms of programming - most notably with regard to percussion. Unlike any of Reznor's prior projects or the brief stint with Slam Bamboo - here sonic and structural similarities to the programming on NIN's Pretty Hate Machine begin to emerge. While it is understood that there have been personal tensions at times between Reznor & other members of Exotic Birds (which briefly also included Trent's roommate, Chris Vrenna) their work during the period provides important documentation for stylistic convergence & advances in programming which carried forth to the explosion of a distinctly different "industrial" sound. Musicians: Andrew Kubiszewski - Vocals, Guitars, Xylophone, Percussion, Programming Mark Best - Bass, Bass Synth, Backing Vocals Tom Freer - Acoustic & Electronic Drums, Percussion, Vocals Trent Reznor- Backing Vocals, Keyboards, Programming Frank Vale - Keyboards, Programming.
Exotic Birds " Dancing On The Airwaves"
EXOTIC BIRDS- EQUILIBRIUM
This is easily one of the best new wave, synthpop albums of the 80's! Pure pop brilliance. The CD includes 15 incredible tracks and remixes. it also features amazing artwork from the late Scott Miller. We already covered some of the famous members of the band and how they went on to bigger successes. Trent Reznor went on to enjoy success as Nine Inch Nails and Andy Kubiszewski with Stabbing Westward. Though Exotic Birds proved to be an excellent and lucrative springboard for their careers, none of their albums ever truly achieved the level of success that it deserved. "Equilibrium" is a true new wave classic. In 1990 Alpha International Records released a weaker version of the 89 classic released on Pleasureland Records. The 1990 release featured only 10 songs. Many of the album's tracks are different versions than what appears on the original Pleasureland Records release. However, it did include one new song not on the Pleasureland release "Imagination". If you are a true fan of Exotic Birds like myself, then you MUST own both CD's. I also own all the vinyl albums myself. I hope that they decide to remaster and re-release all of the Exotic Birds albums on CD. I think the world deserves to experience the true awesomeness that is EXOTIC BIRDS!
Here is my favorite song and mix of "Heartbeat Like A Drum" from the 89 Pleasureland release.
Exotic Birds - L'oiseau
If you love New Wave, synthpop, or 80's music then this is a classic album that is a MUST have! It is 6 tracks of pure new wave synthpop. Sadly and strangely, it was never released on CD, only vinyl? You would think that someone would have tried to collect on Trent's success with NIN and Andy's success with Stabbing Westward?
If you are a fan or collector of Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails then this is a record you MUST have in your collection. Be warned this is not Trent's usual grungy-industrial fare, but it is a piece of history that you have to have.
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