The Sonics

The Sonics is a group of Rock garage of Tacoma, in the state of Washington (the United States).

History of the group

The name of the group was selected in reference to the factories Boeing close and their aeronautical production noisy and fulgurating speed.

This group exempted of 1963 to 1968 a powerful music based on fatal fronts on which the singer-hurleur Gerry Roslie rested to strike songs to the refrains entêtants. They are located at the beginning in the tradition of the rock'n'roll of Seattle, that of the groups with saxophone, very rock' roll and energetic, rather far away from the English style. Wailers (without relationship with Bob Marley, one speaks besides generally about The fabulous Wailers to avoid confusion) were the most famous representatives. They were besides one of the first groups to take again " Louie Louie". They remain the principal inspiration of Sonics. The Kingsmen, the Frantics, result also from this wave.

Their first album, Young stag are the Sonics , appears in 1965. It is one of the largest discs of rock'n'roll garage of all times. The battery is there of a new violence, the solos of guitars ultra-saturated (even the saxophone saturates), and systematically preceded by a superhuman howl of Gerry Roslie. The sound is as wild as their music. It is told that the group would have destroyed the false ceiling of the studio in order to obtain a " effect; live". Moreover, the saturation of the electric guitar is natural, following the example Link Wray: volume is to the maximum, and the enclosures are adulterated (by planting a pencil inside for example…) The group pulverizes various standards rock' in any case roll, and proposes four original pieces: Traditional the " The witch" , " Hoss" boss; , " Psycho" , and mythical the " Strychnine" , homage to ultimate drug.

They will also record a mini album of Christmas, rather funny, with in particular the curious " Beleive Don' T in Christmas" , on the melody of a song of Chuck Berry.

The second album, The Sonics Boom , appears in 1966. Although more unequal and heteroclite that the first, it is also traditional rock'n'roll garage. " Cinderella" , He' S waitin'" , " Louie Louie" and " Shot down" , are very clearly distinguished from share their electric violence. These pieces precede the Stooges. The remainder of the album is however far from being bad. One finds there songs davantages in the tradition rythmic & blues, or more drunk person, and a slow fox trot.

" The Witch" having had a real success in the area of Seattle, the group joined the Jerden recording company, which wishes to involve them towards the tops. Thus leaves their third album, disappointing the Introducing the Sonics (sometimes republished under the name Maintaining my cool ). The group will hate so much the disc which it will dissolve quickly. The album is certainly not nevertheless as bad as that and not ashamed. There remains a good disc of rock'n'roll garage, but he suffers to have lost this bitter sound made in Seattle, and of his awkward attempts to join the movement psychedelic, which goes badly to a group also rock' roll only Sonics.

After this half failure, the members of the group gradually leave the place to new musicians with the radically opposite ambitions. Thus of new Sonics appear, playing a acid-rock'n'roll very baba. Finally, when Andy Papyra, last original member, leaves them in its turn, it decides, persuaded that Sonics will fall into the lapse of memory, to sell the name of the group! Who will agree to pay. These new Sonics will not leave nevertheless any album, until a compilation left, Fire & Ice: Lost slaps , showing Sonics original in cover. Actually, those play only on three or four pieces!

In 1980, Gerry Roslie reforms the group with other members, the time of the album Sinderella . One finds there new versions of old songs (" He' S waitin'" , " Hoss" boss; …), and of the new ones. The unit is in a punk style/new wave very far from the rock'n'roll garage of the 60 ' S. the voice of Gerry Roslie evokes a little that of Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys.

Sonics became the object of an enormous worship on behalf of the fans of rock'n'roll pure and hard garage. Far from groups like the Shadows off Knight, Standells or Count Five, very influenced by the English rock'n'roll (Rolling Stones, Who…), Sonics on the contrary developed a style authentically American, and were let go without complex in energy, the rage and violence. They became one of the most taken again the garage groups: Fuzztones, Cramps, Fleshtones, Nomads etc many other artists are fans: Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys), the White Stripes… Sonics are undoubtedly most radical the garage group in the violence of its music. The first representative, in fact, of this electric rock'n'roll high energy popularized by MC5 and the Stooges. And thus of the ancestors of the punk rock'n'roll. The leader of Nomads defined rather well their place in the history of the rock'n'roll: " the missing link between Little Richard and MC5. "

Members of the group

This list represents the traditional composition of the group, when it recorded Here Are The Sonics and Boom :

Discography

LP (Long Play)

45 turns

  • 1964 : The Witch / Keep A-Knockin'
  • 1965: The Witch / Psycho
  • 1965: Psycho / Keep A-Knockin'
  • 1965: Boss Hoss / The Hustler
  • 1965: Don' T Be Afraid Off The Dark / Shot Down
  • 1965: The Sonics' Don' T Believe In Christmas /The Wailers' Christmas Spirit'
  • 1965: Cinderella / Louie Louie
  • 1966: You Got Your Head One Backwards / Coils Light
  • 1966: Like No Other Man / Coils Light
  • 1966: The Witch / Like No Other Man
  • 1966: Psycho / Maintaining My Cool
  • 1967: Coils-itis / You' Re In Coils
  • 1967: Lost Coils / Any Way The Wind Blows
  • 1967: Any Way The Wind Blows / Lost Coils
  • 1975: Dirty Old Man / Bama LAMA Bama Loo
  • 1979: The Witch / Bama LAMA Bama Loo
  • 1998: The Witch / Keep A-Knockin'
  • 1998: Psycho / Have Coils Will Travel
  • 1998: Cinderella / He' S Waitin'
  • 1998: Boss Hoss / The Hustler
  • 1998: Strychnin / Shot Down
  • 1998: The Sonics' Louie Louie /The Wailers' Louie Louie
  • 1998: Don' T Believe In Christmas / Santa Claus

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