Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias
Encyclopedia
Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias were a comedy rock band, formed in Manchester
, England
in 1973. Their story is told in the book When We Were Thin (published 2007 by Hotun Press). The name of the band is a corruption of the Latin American band, Alberto y Los Trios Paraguayos
.
and Jimmy Hibbert
(vocals, bass) and Bob Harding (vocals, guitar, bass), the comedy sketch outfit became a musical group in 1974 and was joined by former Greasy Bear drummer Bruce Mitchell
(drums), with Les Prior (vocals), Simon White
(steel guitar, guitar), Tony Bowers
(bass, guitar) and Ray "Mighty Mongo" Hughes (second drummer). They became a popular support act, supporting Hawkwind
on their 1974 tour. The group mercilessly parodied the major rock names of the 1970s - "Anadin" was a reworking of Lou Reed
's "Heroin" / "Sweet Jane". By 1975 they were topping the bill in their own right and were supported by such acts as The Police
, The Stranglers
and Blondie
. As with many comedy ensembles, the Albertos belied their comic aspirations by their exemplary musicianship, and they released three albums and a variety of spoof discs, culminating in the musical play, Snuff Rock.
Snuff Rock, inspired by the then recent film, Snuff, and the concept of snuff movies, but carrying the idea to a band who killed themselves for entertainment, was their musical play presented at London's Royal Court Theatre
and Round House
, and was famous for the role of the comic disc jockey played by Les Prior. The accompanying EP
, "Snuff Rock", released on Stiff Records
, poked fun at the punk rock
phenomenon, targeting the Sex Pistols
("Gobbing On Life"), The Damned ("Kill") and The Clash
("Snuffin' Like That") as well as myriad reggae
bands in "Snuffin' In A Babylon". For once, the Albertos' act was successfully transferred to vinyl. They hit the UK Singles chart
with the Status Quo spoof, "Heads Down No Nonsense Mindless Boogie" in 1978. Les Prior died in January 1980 from leukemia
, which left a large gap in the group.
After their nationally networked TV show Teach Yourself Gibberish and a crack at America
with Sleak, the Albertos called it a day in 1982.
The band's brand of spoof rock was in the same tradition as that of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
and National Lampoon.
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1973. Their story is told in the book When We Were Thin (published 2007 by Hotun Press). The name of the band is a corruption of the Latin American band, Alberto y Los Trios Paraguayos
Alberto y Los Trios Paraguayos
Alberto y Los Trios Paraguayos was a trio from Paraguay formed by Luis Alberto del Paraná, with Digno García and Agustín Barboza. They toured the UK in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and released a number of UK records in the 1960s...
.
Career
Created in 1973 by former member of Greasy Bear - Chris "C.P." LeeCP Lee
CP Lee is a musician, author, broadcaster and lecturer from Manchester, England.-Biography:Christopher Paul "CP" Lee is a writer, broadcaster, lecturer and performer who started playing in the North West folk and beat clubs of the 1960s with his band Greasy Bear and became a lynchpin of the punk...
and Jimmy Hibbert
Jimmy Hibbert
James "Jimmy" Hibbert is an English television writer and voice actor best known for his work for Cosgrove Hall.He was brought up and educated at Leighton Park School and in Henley-on-Thames and later studied at the University of Manchester achieving a BA in drama...
(vocals, bass) and Bob Harding (vocals, guitar, bass), the comedy sketch outfit became a musical group in 1974 and was joined by former Greasy Bear drummer Bruce Mitchell
Bruce Mitchell (drummer)
Bruce Mitchell is a jazz drummer, who plays regularly with Vini Reilly in the Durutti Column.-Biography:Mitchell was born in the suburb of Didsbury, in the south of Manchester, on 6 June 1940....
(drums), with Les Prior (vocals), Simon White
Simon White
Professor Simon David Manton White, FRS is a British astrophysicist. He is one of four directors at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics.- Life :...
(steel guitar, guitar), Tony Bowers
Tony Bowers
Tony Bowers is a musician based in Italy who has worked with many bands, including Simply Red in the 1980s.He debuted with a blues band called Blind Eye, as second guitarist, although isn't considered as former member...
(bass, guitar) and Ray "Mighty Mongo" Hughes (second drummer). They became a popular support act, supporting Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
on their 1974 tour. The group mercilessly parodied the major rock names of the 1970s - "Anadin" was a reworking of Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
's "Heroin" / "Sweet Jane". By 1975 they were topping the bill in their own right and were supported by such acts as The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
, The Stranglers
The Stranglers
The Stranglers are an English punk/rock music group.Scoring some 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are the longest-surviving and most "continuously successful" band to have originated in the UK punk scene of the mid to late 1970s...
and Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
. As with many comedy ensembles, the Albertos belied their comic aspirations by their exemplary musicianship, and they released three albums and a variety of spoof discs, culminating in the musical play, Snuff Rock.
Snuff Rock, inspired by the then recent film, Snuff, and the concept of snuff movies, but carrying the idea to a band who killed themselves for entertainment, was their musical play presented at London's Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
and Round House
The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse is a Grade II* listed former railway engine shed in Chalk Farm, London, England, which has been converted into a performing arts and concert venue. It was originally built in 1847 as a roundhouse , a circular building containing a railway turntable, but was only used for railway...
, and was famous for the role of the comic disc jockey played by Les Prior. The accompanying EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, "Snuff Rock", released on Stiff Records
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
, poked fun at the punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
phenomenon, targeting the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
("Gobbing On Life"), The Damned ("Kill") and The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
("Snuffin' Like That") as well as myriad reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
bands in "Snuffin' In A Babylon". For once, the Albertos' act was successfully transferred to vinyl. They hit the UK Singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
with the Status Quo spoof, "Heads Down No Nonsense Mindless Boogie" in 1978. Les Prior died in January 1980 from leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
, which left a large gap in the group.
After their nationally networked TV show Teach Yourself Gibberish and a crack at America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with Sleak, the Albertos called it a day in 1982.
The band's brand of spoof rock was in the same tradition as that of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band are a band created by a group of British art-school denizens of the 1960s...
and National Lampoon.
Albums
- Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias - Transatlantic RecordsTransatlantic RecordsTransatlantic Records was a British independent record label. It was established in 1961. It started began primarily as an importer of American folk, blues and jazz records - by many of the artists who influenced the burgeoning British folk and blues boom. Within a couple of years, the company had...
, 1976 - Italians From Outer Space - Transatlantic RecordsTransatlantic RecordsTransatlantic Records was a British independent record label. It was established in 1961. It started began primarily as an importer of American folk, blues and jazz records - by many of the artists who influenced the burgeoning British folk and blues boom. Within a couple of years, the company had...
, 1977 - Skite - Logo RecordsLogo RecordsLogo Records was a British record company formed in the mid-1970s by British record executives Geoff Hannington and Olav Wyper. It was originally funded and part-owned by UK publishing company Marshall Cavendish. In 1977, the company purchased Transatlantic Records which was at that time owned...
, 1978
Compilation albums
- The Worst of the Berts - Logo, 1980
- Snuff Rock - the Best of the Albertos - Mau Mau, 1991
- Radio Sweat - Overground Records, 1996
- Mandrax Sunset Variations - Castle Records, 2001
Singles
- "Dread Jaws" (1976) Transatlantic
- Snuff Rock EP (1977) StiffStiff RecordsStiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
- "Old Trust" (1977) Logo
- "Heads Down No Nonsense Mindless Boogie" (1978) Logo (UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#47) - "**** You" (1978) Logo
- "Juan Lopez" (1978) Logo
- "Cruisin' With Santa" (1982) New Hormones
External links
- Albertos link page – an assault on the world of rock music.