Birdbrain (band)
Encyclopedia
Birdbrain was a Boston, MA post-grunge
band that was founded by neighborhood friends in 1992 and dissolved in 1997. They had some success with their song "Youth of America" appearing in the hit film Scream
(Wes Craven) as well as a contribution to The Last Supper” soundtrack with a cover of Paul McCartney’s "Jet".They were formed by guitarist/singer/songwriter Joey Ammo and drummer Mike Benway and signed to TVT Records
in 1995. With two CD albums and two soundtrack contributions they broke up in 1997.
Hudson successfully shopped the recordings to contacts at TVT Records in 1995 with their tape “Princess”, their contribution to “Boston Rock n' Roll Anthology Vol. 18” and especially the release of their self-produced, full-length CD, "Bliss"
and soon they had a recording contract.
Founding bassist Frank Barrientos left the band, replaced by guitarist/bassist/backing vocalist Jim Dennis. They were joined shortly thereafter by bona fide bassist Joseph F. McCarthy Jr. and Dennis moved from bass to guitar, his forte. The new quartet went on tour in support of a TVT re-vamping of “Bliss”. Hudson was fired as manager and was replaced by the TVT nominee, Camille Barbone
(Madonna).
“Bliss” was not as successful as they had hoped. Jim Dennis left amid rising tension in the wake of his expanding creative influence over Birdbrain's sound. Thus Birdbrain returned to being a rock trio. Benway quickly covered backup vocals at a show that weekend at the Rathskellar in Boston, Ammo resurrected his original, jangly, three-piece sound heard on the original demo's, and McCarthy brought a good nature and sharp wit that helped to buoy the band personally through these tough times.
Benway had negotiated initial contract support from TVT to start a second album late in 1996. They had a slew of songs ready to choose from and the label poured over $200,000 into the production, well beyond the $30,000 required by the contract.
The trio spent weeks in pre-production and recording at the spa-like Long View Farm Studios (MA). They rented a good deal of choice vintage gear, hired producer Tim Patalan and got mixing and post-production work from Jack Joseph Puig at Electric Lady Studios (NY), as well as mastering with Howie Weinberg. This plush treatment was largely due to the intense advocacy of A&R Tom Sarig (Sarig moved on to a very successful national A&R post the next year.)
By February 1997 “Let's Be Nice
” was finished. With a disappointing performance from manager Barbone, and Ammo having problems with illness, and no record distribution in place Benway refused to tour. This disagreement over Benway's management decision created conflict. Barbone began working secretly to secure trademarks for Ammo and to develop a paper trail to create the appearance that Benway had resigned. This business maneuvering ran to artistic matters when Barbone recruited her former client for the tour, metal drummer Lance Cole, who can be seen "stick-synching" to Benway's tracks in the video for "Youth of America". The band toured a year later. Cole never recorded with the band, and never truly gelled with Ammo and McCarthy.
The ensuing tour was cut short by low moral over Benway’s banishment and Ammo’s continuing problems with medical issues, as well as alcohol and drug addiction. Barbone resigned, and TVT dropped the band. Finally things had hit rock bottom and they disbanded in 1997.
The band had some success with “Let's Be Nice”, especially with the single "Youth of America" which Wes Craven chose to feature in his grossly successful horror film “Scream” and TVT promoted the song as the single and lead track on the soundtrack album. (Sadly, although the song was heard by hundreds of millions worldwide Barbone failed to parlay this into national success for the band. The label had negotiated to have the band's logo included on all print advertising for the movie, but Barbone countermanded this, feeling it was risky.)
“Let's Be Nice” was nominated for Best Indie Album in the 1997 Boston Music Awards. Barbone attended the ceremony representing another band that had also been nominated. Ammo had been naturally invited. Benway had harangued the organizers to get his ticket. Thus all three of them, Benway, Ammo and Barbone, sat in the audience while Paula Cole, who swept the awards that year, attributed her success to her drummers influence.
Years later TVT Records went on to be sold in its entirety to digital media outlet The Orchard.
Birdbrain’s TVT videos “Confession” and “Youth of America” can be viewed on YouTube and Yahoo! Music. “Bliss” and “Let’s Be Nice” can still be purchased many places on line such as Amazon.
Ammo and McCarthy both still keep a low-profile activity in the Boston music scene today. Benway lives a successful personal life.
Singles
Demo tapes
Compilation appearances
Soundtrack appearances
Music videos
Post-grunge
Post-grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged in the mid-1990s as a derivative of grunge, using the sounds and aesthetic of grunge, but with a more commercially acceptable tone...
band that was founded by neighborhood friends in 1992 and dissolved in 1997. They had some success with their song "Youth of America" appearing in the hit film Scream
Scream (film)
Scream is a 1996 American slasher film written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven. The film stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Drew Barrymore, and David Arquette...
(Wes Craven) as well as a contribution to The Last Supper” soundtrack with a cover of Paul McCartney’s "Jet".They were formed by guitarist/singer/songwriter Joey Ammo and drummer Mike Benway and signed to TVT Records
TVT Records
TVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
in 1995. With two CD albums and two soundtrack contributions they broke up in 1997.
History
The Boston band was formed in the early 1990s after a chance meeting in a Roslindale, MA bar between Ammo and Benway. They rented a rehearsal studio, began funding some recording projects and started setting up bookings. Eventually they hired local manager Jeff Hudson.Hudson successfully shopped the recordings to contacts at TVT Records in 1995 with their tape “Princess”, their contribution to “Boston Rock n' Roll Anthology Vol. 18” and especially the release of their self-produced, full-length CD, "Bliss"
Bliss (Birdbrain album)
Bliss is Birdbrain's debut studio album. It was recorded in 1995 at Newbury Sound, Boston, Massachusetts and released by TVT Records on August 15, 1995. Before Bliss, the band's only other releases was a demo tape, the song "Violence" on an anthology of Boston rock. It was their only album to have...
and soon they had a recording contract.
Founding bassist Frank Barrientos left the band, replaced by guitarist/bassist/backing vocalist Jim Dennis. They were joined shortly thereafter by bona fide bassist Joseph F. McCarthy Jr. and Dennis moved from bass to guitar, his forte. The new quartet went on tour in support of a TVT re-vamping of “Bliss”. Hudson was fired as manager and was replaced by the TVT nominee, Camille Barbone
Camille Barbone
Camille Barbone was Madonna's first manager. She was the head of Gotham Management. She has over 23 years of entertainment experience, overseeing the releases of many superstar artists such as Grace Jones, Bee Gees, and Gladys Knight during her tenure at labels such as Columbia/Epic,...
(Madonna).
“Bliss” was not as successful as they had hoped. Jim Dennis left amid rising tension in the wake of his expanding creative influence over Birdbrain's sound. Thus Birdbrain returned to being a rock trio. Benway quickly covered backup vocals at a show that weekend at the Rathskellar in Boston, Ammo resurrected his original, jangly, three-piece sound heard on the original demo's, and McCarthy brought a good nature and sharp wit that helped to buoy the band personally through these tough times.
Benway had negotiated initial contract support from TVT to start a second album late in 1996. They had a slew of songs ready to choose from and the label poured over $200,000 into the production, well beyond the $30,000 required by the contract.
The trio spent weeks in pre-production and recording at the spa-like Long View Farm Studios (MA). They rented a good deal of choice vintage gear, hired producer Tim Patalan and got mixing and post-production work from Jack Joseph Puig at Electric Lady Studios (NY), as well as mastering with Howie Weinberg. This plush treatment was largely due to the intense advocacy of A&R Tom Sarig (Sarig moved on to a very successful national A&R post the next year.)
By February 1997 “Let's Be Nice
Let's Be Nice
Let's Be Nice is the second album by Boston post-grunge band Birdbrain released on February 18, 1997 on TVT Records. The album features their song "Youth of America" that was featured in the films Scream, and "Masterminds" featuring Patrick Stuart. It received positive reviews, but failed to launch...
” was finished. With a disappointing performance from manager Barbone, and Ammo having problems with illness, and no record distribution in place Benway refused to tour. This disagreement over Benway's management decision created conflict. Barbone began working secretly to secure trademarks for Ammo and to develop a paper trail to create the appearance that Benway had resigned. This business maneuvering ran to artistic matters when Barbone recruited her former client for the tour, metal drummer Lance Cole, who can be seen "stick-synching" to Benway's tracks in the video for "Youth of America". The band toured a year later. Cole never recorded with the band, and never truly gelled with Ammo and McCarthy.
The ensuing tour was cut short by low moral over Benway’s banishment and Ammo’s continuing problems with medical issues, as well as alcohol and drug addiction. Barbone resigned, and TVT dropped the band. Finally things had hit rock bottom and they disbanded in 1997.
The band had some success with “Let's Be Nice”, especially with the single "Youth of America" which Wes Craven chose to feature in his grossly successful horror film “Scream” and TVT promoted the song as the single and lead track on the soundtrack album. (Sadly, although the song was heard by hundreds of millions worldwide Barbone failed to parlay this into national success for the band. The label had negotiated to have the band's logo included on all print advertising for the movie, but Barbone countermanded this, feeling it was risky.)
“Let's Be Nice” was nominated for Best Indie Album in the 1997 Boston Music Awards. Barbone attended the ceremony representing another band that had also been nominated. Ammo had been naturally invited. Benway had harangued the organizers to get his ticket. Thus all three of them, Benway, Ammo and Barbone, sat in the audience while Paula Cole, who swept the awards that year, attributed her success to her drummers influence.
Years later TVT Records went on to be sold in its entirety to digital media outlet The Orchard.
Birdbrain’s TVT videos “Confession” and “Youth of America” can be viewed on YouTube and Yahoo! Music. “Bliss” and “Let’s Be Nice” can still be purchased many places on line such as Amazon.
Ammo and McCarthy both still keep a low-profile activity in the Boston music scene today. Benway lives a successful personal life.
Discography and videography
Albums- Bliss - 1995 (TVT RecordsTVT RecordsTVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
) - Let's Be NiceLet's Be NiceLet's Be Nice is the second album by Boston post-grunge band Birdbrain released on February 18, 1997 on TVT Records. The album features their song "Youth of America" that was featured in the films Scream, and "Masterminds" featuring Patrick Stuart. It received positive reviews, but failed to launch...
- 1997 (TVT RecordsTVT RecordsTVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
)
Singles
- "ConfessionConfession (song)"Confession" was Birdbrain's first single released from their debut album Bliss. It was the first track on the album and is their first known single.-Music video:...
" - 1995 (TVT RecordsTVT RecordsTVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
) - "Roslindale" - 1996 (TVT RecordsTVT RecordsTVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
) - "Glue/JetGlue/Jet"Glue"/"Jet" was Birdbrain's third single. "Jet" was a cover of the Paul McCartney song. It was used in soundtrack album for the movie The Last Supper, but did not play during the film....
" - 1996 (TVT RecordsTVT RecordsTVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
) - "Youth of America" - 1997 (TVT RecordsTVT RecordsTVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
)
Demo tapes
- Princess - 1993
Compilation appearances
- Got TVT? 1997 (TVT RecordsTVT RecordsTVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
) - Boston Rock n' Roll Anthology Vol. 18
Soundtrack appearances
- The Last Supper - 1995
- ScreamScream (film)Scream is a 1996 American slasher film written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven. The film stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Drew Barrymore, and David Arquette...
- 1996 - MastermindsMasterminds (film)Masterminds is a 1997 comedy action film starring Patrick Stewart.-Plot synopsis:Oswald "Ozzie" Paxton initiates a highly illegal hack, and begins pirating a soon-to-be-released game, "Scream II". His download is interrupted when his younger stepsister enters his room without permission...
- 1997
Music videos
- "ConfessionConfession (song)"Confession" was Birdbrain's first single released from their debut album Bliss. It was the first track on the album and is their first known single.-Music video:...
" - 1995 - "Youth of AmericaYouth of AmericaYouth of America is the second album by the punk band Wipers. The album marks a distinctive change in the band's sound. Compared to its predecessor Is This Real?, which was composed mostly of raw, sleek and relatively traditional songs, Youth of America features much longer and complex...
" - 1997
External links
- http://www.westnet.com/consumable/1997/05.09/revbirdb.html
- http://www.answers.com/topic/birdbrain-2?cat=entertainment
- http://www.tvtrecords.com/search/
- http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1019004/a/Bliss.htm
- http://www.lollipop.com/archive_temp.php3?content=issue35/35-1-07.html
- http://www.mmguide.musicmatch.com/album/album.cgi?ALBUMID=1213602