Volcano Suns

Volcano Suns was an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts formed by Mission of Burma drummer Peter Prescott in 1984.[1]

Volcano Suns
Pete Prescott playing drums at the Rathskeller in Boston
Background information
OriginBoston, Massachusetts, United States
GenresAlternative rock
Years active1984–1991, 2005
LabelsSST Records, Homestead
Quarterstick
Associated actsMission of Burma, Big Dipper, Shellac, Dredd Foole and the Din, Kustomized
WebsiteOfficial website
Past membersPeter Prescott
Bob Weston
David Kleiler
Gary Waleik
Steve Michener
Jeff Weigand
Jon Williams
Chuck Hahn

History

The band was founded in Spring 1984 by former Mission of Burma and Molls drummer Peter Prescott, the only founding member of the Suns to remain until their break-up in 1991.[1][2] Prescott had auditioned for the position of drummer with Disneyland, but took two of that band's members to form Volcano Suns;[2] The other original members were Gary Waleik and Steve Michener who would leave after a few months, before the release of the first Suns album, to form Big Dipper.[1][3] Prescott then added Jeff Weigand on bass guitar and Jon Williams on guitar. This second line-up created the band's debut album The Bright Orange Years (1985), as well as its follow-up, All-Night Lotus Party (1986), both released on the now-defunct Homestead Records.[1] In 1987, Bob Weston and Chuck Hahn replaced Weigand and Williams respectively for Bumper Crop, the band's final release on Homestead.[1][4] Other contributors included Roger Miller on piano and Gary Waleik on sitar.

In 1988, the band moved to Greg Ginn's SST Records for their 4th release, Farced.[1] The line-up however was the same as on Bumper Crop, including Miller on piano and Waleik on sitar. 1989 brought their most experimental release, Thing of Beauty, also on SST, on which David Kleiler (formerly from the band Sorry) replaced Chuck Hahn on guitar.[5] This would be the Volcano Suns' final line up. The band moved to Chicago-based indie label Quarterstick Records for their final release, Career in Rock in 1991.[1] The album was engineered by Steve Albini, who would later work with Bob Weston in their band Shellac.

Musical style and the Din

Volcano Suns also doubled as the Din, the backing band for Dredd Foole (a.k.a. Dan Ireton). The Din are identified as Din Wanna (Prescott), Bonus "The Bone Man" McGinty (Weigand) and Webb Finga (Williams), and The Kaiser (Kenny Chambers from Moving Targets) on "Eat My Dust Cleanse My Soul" (Homestead, 1985). The follow-up album Take Off Your Skin (PVC, 1988) is identified by Foole as the same line-up as the previous album.

Their music is often compared to the works of bands like Hüsker Dü and Mudhoney.[6]

Post-Suns and reunion

The band split up in 1991. In 1994, Prescott went on to form Kustomized.[1]

Prescott reformed Volcano Suns in 2005 with Weston and Kleiler for some reunion shows.[3][7]

The band's first two albums were reissued by Merge Records in 2009, remastered by Weston and including bonus material.[3][8][9] Merge also released a live album in 2014, recorded at City Gardens in New Jersey during the summer of 1986 featuring the Bright Orange/Lotus lineup, entitled "Old Pain(t)."

Members
Final lineup
  • Peter Prescott - drums, lead vocals (1984-1991, 2005)
  • Bob Weston - bass (1987-1991, 2005)
  • David Kleiler - guitar (1988-1991, 2005)
Past members
  • Steve Michener - bass (1984)
  • Gary Waleik - guitar, sitar (1984; guest appearances, 1987-1988)
  • Jeff Weigand - bass (1984-1987)
  • Jon Williams - guitar (1984-1987)
  • Chuck Hahn - guitar (1987-1988)

Discography

Albums

Singles
  • "Sea Cruise" b/w "Greasy Spine" (Homestead, 1986)
  • "Blue Rib" b/w "Openings" (Quarterstick, 1990)

Compilation appearances
  • Claws—The Third Throbbing Lobster Compilation (Throbbing Lobster, 1985)
song: "Tree Stomp"
  • Materials and Processes (Materials and Processes, 1985)
song: "Silvertone"
  • The New Originals (Materials and Processes, 1986)
song: "Polythene Pam"
  • The Wailing Ultimate (Homestead, 1987)
song: "White Elephant"
  • Human Music (Homestead, 1988)
song: "Ultravixen"
song: "Kick Out the Jams"

As the Din, backing band for Dredd Foole

  • Eat My Dust Cleanse My Soul (Homestead, 1987)
  • Take Off Your Skin (PVC, 1988)

References
  1. Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0, p. 559
  2. Coley, Byron (1987) "Under the Volcanos", SPIN, January 1987, p. 53-4, retrieved 2010-09-11
  3. Klein, David (2009) "Even with two lauded reissues, Volcano Suns ducks fame: Escaping a certain fate", Independent Weekly, February 25, 2009, retrieved 2010-09-11
  4. Kellman, Andy "Bumper Crop Review", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-09-11
  5. Kellman, Andy "Thing of Beauty Review", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-09-11
  6. Robbins, Ira "Volcano Suns", Trouser Press, rfetrieved 2010-09-11
  7. True, Christopher M. "Volcano Suns Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-09-11
  8. Masters, Marc (2009) "Volcano Suns The Bright Orange Years / All-Night Lotus Party", Pitchfork Media, February 13, 2009, retrieved 2010-09-11
  9. Murray, Noel (2009) "All-Night Lotus Party / The Bright Orange Years", The A.V. Club, January 27, 2009, retrieved 2010-09-11
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