circle of willis
“circle of willis” arose in the late 90’s from the ashes of seminal proto-group “Pussyclot Mothra” and folk-polka fusion supergroup “Inadequate Osmosis”. Founding member G.K. was later to declare, “It ain’t the message, it’s the metal.”
Citing influences as essential as “The Four Kinsmen” and early “Barron Knights”, the band co-opted chanteuse/diva D.T. into action by threatening to mutilate her puppy. “It was impossible for me to care less”, she told a recent inquest.
Early recordings bear the trademark stentorian subsonic rumbles of partially liquefied Tesla coils so typical of their catchy “pop” doodlings. Later experiments with amplified and reversed loops of Cheyne-Stokes breathing caused a sensation at Blue Light Discos. “We have made a total hash of our lives, and we are very sorry”, C.M. triumphed at the notorious “Choo-Choo Bar” press conference.
After the release and subsequent banning of the much heralded first album, “Rectal Intrusion, Cumquat Man”, which was recalled and pulped, “circle of willis” have attained a maturity that others will abhor. Says group spokesman and master of the molybdenum oboe, I.H., “There is nothing I can do to help myself, let alone others.”
Drunken Gunmen
“Drunken Gunmen” continue to be one of the most influential acts on the planet. From their early prog-rock recordings, such as “Hyperbolic Spheres of Pain” and “Inevitable Mass” through to the white noise of “Fractal Parsecs”, the “Gunmen” have astounded and disturbed.
Legendary producer Martin St James still recalls the “Fractal” sessions, which consisted of hours of binary code rendered on a melodica. “Phil [Glass] resigned from the project, citing ‘artistic differences’. Fact was, he couldn’t keep rhythm or play a freaking note.”
The same year, Kenny Loggins was rendered limbless by a pipe-bomb as he left his Hollywood home to audition for the “Gunmen”. Similarly, both Alan Parsons and Todd Rundgren died in bizarre food processor accidents shortly after sending their resumes to “Gunmen” management.
Some speak of the “Gunmen” curse. However video evidence has proven it was a stray smoke-bomb during the traditional pyro-technic finale of “Hey Buddha” which caused the ultimate tragedy of their 1993 Waco concert for the fine troops of the A,T & F. Current manager Charlton Heston bluntly puts it : “Don’t freak with my boys”.
So the “Gunmen” continue to push back the envelope of art and misery. Recent live shows have been played entirely with the use of prosthetic limbs. Recording studios have been shunned, preferring instead to work with diesel generators in abandoned asbestos mines. Says original Gunman GEK : “Hate Is Art”.
Fractal Parsecs
Emerging seemingly perfectly formed from the jungles of Paraguay in the mid-60’s, but claiming pure German heritage, Fritz, Gunther, Rolff and Bob first performed as The Mengele Brothers in clubs in Leipzig. Interestingly they denied being actual brothers despite their striking resemblance to each other and identical DNA matches arising from later paternity actions. Releasing an album of stirring folk songs and calls to arms, titled “Ist Es Sicher?” (“Is It Safe?”) on Todesengel Records brought both acclaim and imprisonment, although The Boys claimed ironic intent.
A disastrous tour of Tel Aviv in June 1967 halted their plans to sweep Europe, and there followed a reinvention as Fractal Parsecs, pioneers of epic synth rock. Named after a Leni Riefenstahl grind house sci-fi skin flick, they were early adopters of the flugeldrone, the Eichmann Vox-Schmerz and the electric Zimmer Frame. They ground out a living through the late 60’s and early 70’s playing support to Kraftwerk (then known as Die Kleinen Mädchen) and Tangerine Dream (then as Achselhaar) in small clubs and beer festivals on both sides of the wall, before the inevitable release, and triumph, of their EP Sylvan Fields.
Rash Irani
Gek Snikkel
Lord Goth & The Corsairs
