Dos (band)
Encyclopedia
Dos is an American punk
group composed of Mike Watt
and Kira Roessler
, who both sing and play bass guitar
. Critic Greg Prato describes their unusual instrumentation as "a haunting yet intriguing and original sound."
Both performers have substantial experience in pioneering punk groups: Watt has been a member of The Reactionaries
, Minutemen, fIREHOSE
, Banyan
and the reunited lineup of The Stooges
, while Roessler was in Black Flag
for about two years.
as the bassist of Black Flag in 1983.
The actual origin of Dos came about in the fall of 1985 when Watt and Kira, who were already dating, began improvising two-bass jams in their free time, sometimes recording these results into Watt's four-track recording
machine.
The sudden death of Minutemen guitarist and lead singer D. Boon
in a van accident on December 22, 1985, led to the end of the Minutemen and left Watt deeply depressed. Kira had parted company with Black Flag not long beforehand and moved to New Haven, Connecticut to attend Yale University. Watt considered abandoning music altogether. But intending to keep him playing after Boon's death, Kira and Watt began collaborating via four-track cassettes sent back and forth in the mail. The activity led to Kira flying back to California for the formal forming of Dos in September 1986.
They recorded their first album, an all-instrumental affair save for Kira's closing track, "Taking Away The Fire", almost immediately, and made their performing debut as Dos opening for ex-Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn
's instrumental group Gone
that same week. Watt released Dos' eponymous first album, Dos on New Alliance Records
, the label he had formed with D. Boon in 1981. Around the same time, Watt formed fIREHOSE; many of the songs on fIREHOSE's first album Ragin', Full-On, are actually Dos songs with lyrics added (by either Watt or Kira) and rearranged for a power trio
format.
In 1987, Watt and Roessler married, but they divorced seven years later around the time that fIREHOSE broke up.
In 1989 Dos recorded a six-song EP, Numero Dos. This release, which featured three vocals by Kira and one by Watt, would be combined with the 1986 LP to become the Uno Con Dos CD almost immediately afterward. Around this same time, Kira moved back to California and married Watt.
Dos rarely tour extensively, owing to both Watt's other commitments, and to Kira's decision to work full-time, first as a computer programmer and then, currently as a movie sound designer and foley artist. Most Dos "tours" have been short, three-to-five-day affairs that would either see Kira flying to meet Watt on the road where they would sometimes open for fIREHOSE, or, less frequently, on their own.
Dos' recorded and live repertoire consists of both original instrumentals (some of which would later have lyrics added to them to become fIREHOSE or Watt solo songs), some original vocal pieces, and cover versions sung primarily by Kira and rearranged for their two basses. Songs by Billie Holiday
("Don't Explain
", "Down In The Dumps
"), Patsy Cline
("Imagine That
", "I Fall to Pieces
"), Sonic Youth
("Pacific Coast Highway
"), Selena
("No Me Quedo Mas"), and even The Minutemen (a rearranged "Do You Want New Wave Or Do You Want The Truth?" from their classic Double Nickels On The Dime
album) have found their way into Dos' back catalog and live set list.
Watt and Kira's marriage ended amicably in 1994, around the same time fIREHOSE disbanded. The two remained friends and subsequently, chose to continue with Dos. They began writing and recording their third album, Justamente Tres, not long afterward; it would be released in 1996 in between Watt's first two solo albums.
In 2003, Watt set up a Pro Tools
recording setup in his apartment that he nicknamed Studio Thunderpants, primarily for the purpose of recording his own song demos. Watt and Kira began recording the fourth Dos album there at this time, in between Watt's professional commitments as a solo artist and member of Iggy Pop & The Stooges
and Banyan
, and Kira's day job.
In June 2004 Dos did their first mini-tour in several years, doing three gigs at jazz festivals in Manitoba
and Saskatchewan
, Canada
, right before Watt had to fly to Europe for a tour with the reunited Stooges.
As of March 2007, according to Watt's cover interview for the April 2007 issue of Bass Player magazine, the follow-up to Justamente Tres has completed recording and is being mixed down by Yuka Honda
. After a few delays, it is set to be the second release on Watt's new record label clenchedwrench
.
Every December, Dos play a benefit show at the Sacred Grounds Coffee House in Watt's hometown of San Pedro, California for Toberman House
.
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...
group composed of Mike Watt
Mike Watt
Michael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
and Kira Roessler
Kira Roessler
Kira Roessler is an American bass guitarist, singer and Emmy award-winning dialogue editor. She is best known for her membership in the punk rock group Black Flag.-Biography:...
, who both sing and play bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. Critic Greg Prato describes their unusual instrumentation as "a haunting yet intriguing and original sound."
Both performers have substantial experience in pioneering punk groups: Watt has been a member of The Reactionaries
The Reactionaries (band)
The Reactionaries were a punk rock band formed in San Pedro, California in 1978. The band's continual members were lead vocalist Martin Tamburovich, guitarist D. Boon, bassist Mike Watt, and drummer George Hurley. The Reactionaries existed for most of 1978 and 1979, practicing regularly but rarely...
, Minutemen, fIREHOSE
FIREHOSE
Firehose was an alternative rock band consisting of Mike Watt , Ed Crawford , and George Hurley .-History:...
, Banyan
Banyan (band)
Banyan is an art rock/alternative rock band with heavy jazz, funk, and punk influence, based in Los Angeles, California.The leader and co-founder is Stephen Perkins, who first played drums for Jane's Addiction , and then for Porno for Pyros. He co-founded the group with David Turin...
and the reunited lineup of The Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
, while Roessler was in Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
for about two years.
Band history
Watt and Roessler met not long after Roessler replaced Chuck DukowskiChuck Dukowski
Chuck Dukowski is an American punk rock musician, best known as a founding member and bass player for Black Flag. Dukowski wrote some of Black Flag's most popular songs, including "My War," "What I See," "I've Heard It Before" and "Spray Paint." He left the band before the release of My War, and...
as the bassist of Black Flag in 1983.
The actual origin of Dos came about in the fall of 1985 when Watt and Kira, who were already dating, began improvising two-bass jams in their free time, sometimes recording these results into Watt's four-track recording
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
machine.
The sudden death of Minutemen guitarist and lead singer D. Boon
D. Boon
d. Boon born Dennes Dale Boon, was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. Active between 1978, when he joined The Reactionaries, and 1985, when he was killed in a van accident, Boon was best known as the guitarist and vocalist of the Californian punk rock trio Minutemen.-Youth:Dennes Boon...
in a van accident on December 22, 1985, led to the end of the Minutemen and left Watt deeply depressed. Kira had parted company with Black Flag not long beforehand and moved to New Haven, Connecticut to attend Yale University. Watt considered abandoning music altogether. But intending to keep him playing after Boon's death, Kira and Watt began collaborating via four-track cassettes sent back and forth in the mail. The activity led to Kira flying back to California for the formal forming of Dos in September 1986.
They recorded their first album, an all-instrumental affair save for Kira's closing track, "Taking Away The Fire", almost immediately, and made their performing debut as Dos opening for ex-Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn
Greg Ginn
Gregory Regis Ginn is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He is best known for being the leader of and primary songwriter for the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to 1986....
's instrumental group Gone
Gone (band)
Gone is a three-piece punk-based instrumental rock band, formed by Greg Ginn in late 1985. Originally, Gone was a side project to his main group, Black Flag.-Biography:...
that same week. Watt released Dos' eponymous first album, Dos on New Alliance Records
New Alliance Records
New Alliance Records was the record label founded by The Minutemen's D. Boon and Mike Watt and longtime friend and associate Martin Tamburovich after the example of Black Flag's SST Records...
, the label he had formed with D. Boon in 1981. Around the same time, Watt formed fIREHOSE; many of the songs on fIREHOSE's first album Ragin', Full-On, are actually Dos songs with lyrics added (by either Watt or Kira) and rearranged for a power trio
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
format.
In 1987, Watt and Roessler married, but they divorced seven years later around the time that fIREHOSE broke up.
In 1989 Dos recorded a six-song EP, Numero Dos. This release, which featured three vocals by Kira and one by Watt, would be combined with the 1986 LP to become the Uno Con Dos CD almost immediately afterward. Around this same time, Kira moved back to California and married Watt.
Dos rarely tour extensively, owing to both Watt's other commitments, and to Kira's decision to work full-time, first as a computer programmer and then, currently as a movie sound designer and foley artist. Most Dos "tours" have been short, three-to-five-day affairs that would either see Kira flying to meet Watt on the road where they would sometimes open for fIREHOSE, or, less frequently, on their own.
Dos' recorded and live repertoire consists of both original instrumentals (some of which would later have lyrics added to them to become fIREHOSE or Watt solo songs), some original vocal pieces, and cover versions sung primarily by Kira and rearranged for their two basses. Songs by Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
("Don't Explain
Don't Explain
Don't Explain is the title of the second Umbilical Brothers DVD, released in November 2007. The show was filmed at the Athenaeum theatre in Melbourne.The Description on the back of the DVD:...
", "Down In The Dumps
Down in the Dumps
Down in the Dumps is 1996 computer adventure game developed for MSDOS and Microsoft Windows, by the – now defunct – French Haiku Studios and published by Philips Media...
"), Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline , born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Gore, Virginia, was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s...
("Imagine That
Imagine That
Imagine That is a country/pop song written for Patsy Cline by Justin Tubb."Imagine That" was one of three minor hits produced by Patsy Cline in 1962. By this time as well, Patsy Cline was already a very successful Country/Pop singer, racking up a string of major hits like "I Fall to Pieces",...
", "I Fall to Pieces
I Fall to Pieces
"I Fall to Pieces" is a single released by Patsy Cline in 1961, and was featured on her 1961 studio album, Patsy Cline Showcase. "I Fall to Pieces" was Cline's first #1 hit on the Country charts, and her second hit single to cross over onto the Pop charts...
"), Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
("Pacific Coast Highway
Pacific Coast Highway (song)
"Pacific Coast Highway" is the fifteenth single from alternative rock group Hole. It is the second single from the band's fourth studio album Nobody's Daughter...
"), Selena
Selena
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez , known simply as Selena, was a Mexican American singer-songwriter. She was named the "top Latin artist of the '90s" and "Best selling Latin artist of the decade" by Billboard for her fourteen top-ten singles in the Top Latin Songs chart, including seven number-one hits...
("No Me Quedo Mas"), and even The Minutemen (a rearranged "Do You Want New Wave Or Do You Want The Truth?" from their classic Double Nickels On The Dime
Double Nickels on the Dime
Double Nickels on the Dime is the third studio album by American punk trio Minutemen, released on the Californian independent record label SST Records in 1984...
album) have found their way into Dos' back catalog and live set list.
Watt and Kira's marriage ended amicably in 1994, around the same time fIREHOSE disbanded. The two remained friends and subsequently, chose to continue with Dos. They began writing and recording their third album, Justamente Tres, not long afterward; it would be released in 1996 in between Watt's first two solo albums.
In 2003, Watt set up a Pro Tools
Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation platform for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, developed and manufactured by Avid Technology. It is widely used by professionals throughout the audio industries for recording and editing in music production, film scoring, film, and television...
recording setup in his apartment that he nicknamed Studio Thunderpants, primarily for the purpose of recording his own song demos. Watt and Kira began recording the fourth Dos album there at this time, in between Watt's professional commitments as a solo artist and member of Iggy Pop & The Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
and Banyan
Banyan
A banyan is a fig that starts its life as an epiphyte when its seeds germinate in the cracks and crevices on a host tree...
, and Kira's day job.
In June 2004 Dos did their first mini-tour in several years, doing three gigs at jazz festivals in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, right before Watt had to fly to Europe for a tour with the reunited Stooges.
As of March 2007, according to Watt's cover interview for the April 2007 issue of Bass Player magazine, the follow-up to Justamente Tres has completed recording and is being mixed down by Yuka Honda
Yuka Honda
Yuka Honda is a Japanese musician who resides in New York City. She is a multi-instrumentalist musician, composer, record producer, and co-founder of the band Cibo Matto...
. After a few delays, it is set to be the second release on Watt's new record label clenchedwrench
Clenchedwrench
Clenchedwrench is an independent record label founded by Mike Watt, bassist for The Minutemen, fIREHOSE and The Stooges....
.
Every December, Dos play a benefit show at the Sacred Grounds Coffee House in Watt's hometown of San Pedro, California for Toberman House
Toberman House
Toberman Settlement House is a non-profit neighborhood center providing services to low-income residents of Los Angeles. Its efforts are aimed at helping individuals and families move from poverty to self-sufficiency. Founded in 1903 in the name of two-term Mayor James R...
.
Discography
- 1986 Dos (New AllianceNew Alliance RecordsNew Alliance Records was the record label founded by The Minutemen's D. Boon and Mike Watt and longtime friend and associate Martin Tamburovich after the example of Black Flag's SST Records...
) - 1989 Numero Dos (12" EPExtended playAn 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...
) (New AllianceNew Alliance RecordsNew Alliance Records was the record label founded by The Minutemen's D. Boon and Mike Watt and longtime friend and associate Martin Tamburovich after the example of Black Flag's SST Records...
) - 1989 Uno Con Dos (CD) (New AllianceNew Alliance RecordsNew Alliance Records was the record label founded by The Minutemen's D. Boon and Mike Watt and longtime friend and associate Martin Tamburovich after the example of Black Flag's SST Records...
)- Compact disc compiling the first two Dos releases
- 1996 Justamente Tres (CD) (Kill Rock StarsKill Rock StarsKill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
) - 2011 dos y dos (ClenchedwrenchClenchedwrenchClenchedwrench is an independent record label founded by Mike Watt, bassist for The Minutemen, fIREHOSE and The Stooges....
)
External links
- Dos' homepage at Mike Watt's Hoot Page
- Dos' page at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
, maintained by Kira Roessler - Dos' official page at FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, maintained by both Watt and Kira. - Dos collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive