Severed Heads Frequently Asked Questions 10th February 2008 Version This is the official FAQ, written by Tom Ellard of Severed Heads

Contents

Band Duration

Severed Heads was formed in late 1979 by Richard Fielding & Tom Ellard. It was euthanised early in 2008 by Tom Ellard.

Band Members Chronological

• Richard Fielding (Tapes, Drum Machine) (Now: Loop Orchestra)
• Andrew Wright (Keyboards) (Now:?)
• Tom Ellard (Various)
• Garry Bradbury (Various) (Now: Bradbury)
• Simon Knuckey (Lead Guitar) (Deceased)
• Paul Deering (Various) (Now:?)
• Stephen R Jones (Video) (Now: AI Researcher)
• Robert Racic (Remixer) (Deceased)
• Stephen M Jones (Online)
• Kriv Stenders

Band Live Members Chronological

• Matthew Ellard played keyboards at a gig (and guitar on Ear Bitten).
• John Laidler played guitar live at Exiles and the Filmmakers Co-op.
• Pete Carnac was the keyboardist for much of the 1986 tour. (Now: Single Gun Theory).
• Paul Mac was the main keyboardist on many shows in the 1990's. (Was: The Lab. Now: paulmac).
• Ben Suthers played keyboards on Perth shows. (Was: Vision 45. Now: runs The Boiler Room at BDO).
• Stewart Lawler was also a mainstay in the 1990's. (Was: Boxcar. Now: ..S)
• Stacy Glasier pops up in a sequin dress at any opportunity.
• Alison Cole has been the keyboardist in recent shows. (From: Jazibel)
• Chris Cobb did the honours for few shows in the late 90's.

Beer?

I'll have a Little Creatures thanks.

Cassettes - what called?

The cassette label Terse Tapes ran from 1978 to about 1983 releasing all kinds of things. Relevant to Severed Heads:-

• Noise - The Sound of the 00's was a compilation of schoolyard proportions.
• Mysterious Kitchens compilation C90 in 1980.
• One Stop Shopping 1981 (3 Cassette set and booklet - over 60 bands).
• Clean Side 3 cassette 1981. If you find a copy let us know!
• Tom Ellard Eighties Cheesecake and Snappy Carrion C60s - the two 1982 tapes overlapped greatly.
• Since The Accident C60 in a folder in 1983 - about 250 of these exist.
• A Vita Nova compilation in France 1982 had tracks from Blubberknife.
• Blubberknife C90 in TV innards, later in Calculators 1982 - about 250 all up.
• Some lot called Music For Midgets did a SH cassette in the UK around 1983. Who knows what was on it.
• Blubberknife re-issued by Ink Records in 1985.

Clifford - what is?

If you loved the first single but only on vinyl, if you thought "they" went downhill after the first album, if your record collection is centered around the year you turned 16, congratulations - you're a Clifford. Time will change but your listening choice won't. It comes from the album Clifford Darling Please Don't Live In The Past - and basically that's what we're saying. This "insult" has spread to mean anybody who was on the Severed Heads Mailing List (now defunct), although it means no harm. People are proud to be Cliffords and will attend Clifffests world wide.

Clifford - what is the movie?

Clifford Harper is reminded of his mom's waffles in a foxhole, or is it vice versa? You see, knowing which movie a sample comes from is very important if you are listening to Front Line Assembly. Severed Heads, we don't give a shit. So we say all our samples come from Lassie Come Home. If you don't catch it the first time around, watch it again.

Compact Discs - where can I find?

The vast majority of Severed Heads releases are available as CD-R at http://sevcom.com. You may also buy them from Red Eye in Australia, A Musik in Germany. They are distributed worldwide by Rocket, copies have been spotted at Amazon.com, Amoeba and HMV stores. They are cheapest direct from the site. A growing number of Severed Heads releases are manufactured in the UK by LTM.

Compact Discs - why use CD-Rs?

1. We have too many different titles for it to be economic for us to press them all without record company payola. Therefore we make them as needed.
2. Our happiest times were in the early cassette days before it went normal. We would rather be happy than normal.
3. We are stubborn and just won't listen to reason.

Compact Discs - I have problems with CD-Rs.

We [at sevcom] warrant that the CD-Rs will play in any normal speed audio CD player and will replace those discs which consistently do not play in more than one player. We do not warrant that they will work in high speed computer CD drives, although they mostly do. When properly stored and cared for, CD-Rs will last longer than you will. The vast majority of our customers have little problems with CD-Rs, if you are one of the unlucky ones we will be there to help.

Dead Eyes Opened - who is the Narrator?

Edgar Lustgarten had a TV show in England, called Scales of Justice, in which crimes would be re-enacted. This story was from an episode recorded for a cassette (n.b. might not have been on the TV series).

[left: Edgar Lustgarten]

Dead Eyes Opened - what is the story?

http://www.eastbourne-homepage.cwc.net/Murder%20on%20the%20%20crumbles.htm

Dead Eyes Opened - played live?

We have recently added a new version of the track to our set which is based upon the original 1983 version. We performed it in Antwerp, and it is available for future sets if the mood arises.

Dead Eyes Opened - was released on K-Tel?

You bet your sweet bippy. On an Industrail(TM) compilation :-) This is a crowning glory. Oh the humanity.

Dead Eyes Opened - where can I find?

'Latest release of the 1983 version - on the ComMerz compilation through LTM & myriad other 'retro dance' compilations . Latest release of the 1994 version on the Triple J Hot 100 boxed set, or individual volume.

Dead Eyes Opened - can I license?

Yes you can license 'Dead Eyes Opened' for your record label, however due to our poor experiences with European labels you may be required to pay an advance. If you cannot afford an advance, our sympathy, but please don't ask.

Equipment?

Tom Ellard has now switched completely to software synthesis. He's most happy running FL Studio & Ableton Live. Live hardware is based around an Edirol PCR-A30 keyboard with signal mixed from a Toshiba Satellite Pentium 4 laptop (which also supplies video) overlayed by sound generated on a Fujitsu Core 2 duo laptop. This system provides a very effective, compact system with mulitrack sound and control surfaces.

When live, Alison Cole uses an Apple powerbook running Propellerheads Reason triggered by an Edirol keyboard.

Garry Bradbury has inherited the Kawai Synthi 100F, Korg MS20, 50 and SQ-10 and various Moogs, Mellotron, home-kit machines and so on.

Ethel Schwug - signed my CD?

That's right. Tom Ellard doesn't usually sign CDs etc. but leaves it to Ethel to do. Ethel is 102 years old and likes knitting.

Goodbye Tonsils - who is the narrator?

If you went to school in America and you do not recognise this poem then be ashamed. It is Walt Whitman's Song of Myself. The recording is a secret.

Merchandise - where to buy?

Although we've provided all kinds of different merchandise over the years it seems people like to make their own and we encourage that. If you want to make a Severed Heads T Shirt, please make it a good one.

Movie soundtrack?

Yes, the soundtrack of The Illustrated Family Doctor. This is based upon the series Sevcom Music Server - Office Ambience. This is the tale of Gary Kelp, office worker at the Info Digest. The Digest produces condensed books, Garry is in non-fiction - he rips off other people's books and gives them a new title. He's working on The Illustrated Family Doctor, and the book is making him fell a bit unwell. But when his dad dies and the hospital harvests the bone marrow, Gary starts to lose it. From the book by David Snell.

The soundtrack has received an Australian Recording Industry Association award for best soundtrack album 2005.

Video - where can I find?

Many thumbnail versions of our videos are appearing on the Sevcom site and YouTube. DVD versions are currently under review (we need to repackage them).

Vinyl - rarities?

• A flexidisc put out by Art Network Magazine in 1981 included Get Down On Your Knees and Thank God. 300 points.
• An original copy of Ear Bitten (actually, popular due to both sides, Rhythmyx Chymx being early freeform noise.) 500 points.
• A 7 inch of Petrol with 5 lock grooves. 250 points.
• A 7 inch of Dead Eyes Opened 83 [released 1984] on Virgin. 500 points.
• The Spanish "Spooky Remix" of the above. Never seen this. 400 points.
• Petrol 12" on Normal. You're not really trying. 10 points.
• Gashing The Old Mae West 12" on Ink. The worst record cover ever devised by man. 200 points.

Vinyl - where is it?

See www.vinyl-on-demand.com for the Adenoids 5-disc set.