Babyland
Encyclopedia
Babyland was a performance
-based "independent electronic
junk punk
" band from Los Angeles, California, featuring Dan Gatto performing vocals and electronics and Michael Smith on percussion.
Formed in 1989, they were advocates of the DIY punk ethic and part of the musical underground culture
. They were well regarded in Industrial music
, punk rock
, indie rock
and electronic music
communities. Known for their live performances, Babyland shared the stage with bands such as The Offspring
, Legendary Pink Dots, Dystopia
, Foetus
, Add N to (X)
, Nitzer Ebb
and Psychic TV
. Most of their live performances occurred in underground locations that have included places like LA's Jabberjaw
, Kontrol Factory, The Smell
and 924 Gilman in Berkeley.
Recordings prior to 1996 were released on the Los Angeles Punk rock
label Flipside
, and the band participated in several of this organization's Mojave Desert
events. Subsequent material has been released by the band's own label, Mattress. The fifth full length (The Finger) and a compilation of earlier songs (Decade One) was released in Europe by dependent. Most recently, a deal with Metropolis Records
has resulted in the commercial release of the sixth album (Cavecraft).
The singer, Dan, has a new music project called "Continues".
A post to the band's myspace site on October 9, 2009, confirmed the long lived group's breakup.
Performance
A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...
-based "independent electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
junk punk
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...
" band from Los Angeles, California, featuring Dan Gatto performing vocals and electronics and Michael Smith on percussion.
Formed in 1989, they were advocates of the DIY punk ethic and part of the musical underground culture
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
. They were well regarded in Industrial music
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, 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...
, indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
and electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
communities. Known for their live performances, Babyland shared the stage with bands such as The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
, Legendary Pink Dots, Dystopia
Dystopia
A dystopia is the idea of a society in a repressive and controlled state, often under the guise of being utopian, as characterized in books like Brave New World and Nineteen Eighty-Four...
, Foetus
Foetus (band)
Foetus is the primary musical outlet of industrial music pioneer J. G. Thirlwell. Until 1995 the band underwent various name changes, all including the word foetus. Monikers adopted at different times include Foetus Under Glass, You've Got Foetus On Your Breath and Scraping Foetus Off The Wheel...
, Add N to (X)
Add N to (X)
Add N to were a three-piece British band specializing in electronic music performed on analogue synthesizers, formed in London in 1994.The original band members were Andrew Aveling, Barry Smith and Ann Shenton...
, Nitzer Ebb
Nitzer Ebb
Nitzer Ebb is a British EBM group formed in 1982 by Essex school friends Vaughan "Bon" Harris , Douglas McCarthy , and David Gooday .-Band name:...
and Psychic TV
Psychic TV
Psychic TV or PTV, is a video art and music group that primarily performs psychedelic, punk, electronic and experimental music...
. Most of their live performances occurred in underground locations that have included places like LA's Jabberjaw
Jabberjaw
Jabberjaw is a 30-minute Saturday morning animated series created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears and produced by Hanna-Barbera and aired from September 11, 1976 to September 3, 1978 on ABC.-Premise:...
, Kontrol Factory, The Smell
The Smell
The Smell is an all ages, alcohol and drug-free punk rock/noise/experimental venue in Downtown Los Angeles, California. The Smell, notable for its DIY ethic, is home to many of the area's avant-garde performers and artists...
and 924 Gilman in Berkeley.
Recordings prior to 1996 were released on the Los Angeles 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...
label Flipside
Flipside (fanzine)
Flipside was a punk rock fanzine published in Los Angeles, California from 1977 to 2000.As one of the first and longest running US punk rock fanzines, this publication extensively chronicled the world of independent and underground music during this era. Known for its highly opinionated cast of...
, and the band participated in several of this organization's Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
events. Subsequent material has been released by the band's own label, Mattress. The fifth full length (The Finger) and a compilation of earlier songs (Decade One) was released in Europe by dependent. Most recently, a deal with Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
has resulted in the commercial release of the sixth album (Cavecraft).
The singer, Dan, has a new music project called "Continues".
A post to the band's myspace site on October 9, 2009, confirmed the long lived group's breakup.
Discography
- 1991 7" (1991: Flipside)
- Reality/Under/Smrow-Toh EP (1992: Flipside)
- You Suck Crap CD (1992: Flipside)
- Dog Snatcher EP (1993: Flipside)
- Stomach 7"(1993: Flipside)
- A Total Let-Down CD (1994: Flipside - 1999: Mattress (reissue))
- Who's Sorry Now CD (1995: Flipside)
- Split CD (1996: Flipside)
- B-Component 7" (1998: Mattress)
- Outlive Your Enemies CD (1998: Mattress)
- Decade One CD (2001: CD Compilation released in Europe: Dependent)
- 2002 CD (2002: Mattress)
- Past Lives EP (2003: Mattress)
- The Finger CD (2004: Mattress)
- Not Modern EP, 3" CD plus 3.5" Floppy DiskFloppy diskA floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
, limited edition of 500 (2008: Mattress) - Cavecraft CD (2008 (limited advance edition): Mattress)
- Cavecraft CD (2009: Metropolis)