Heroine Sheiks
Encyclopedia
The Heroine Sheiks were originally a New York-based Noise Rock
band until early 2006, when the band called it quits. In 2008 the band was reformed in Minneapolis, and then only lasting another year. It began in 1999 as a collaboration of Shannon Selberg
, George Porfiris, Norman Westberg
and John Fell
. Selberg emerged as a major songwriter in the complete history of the band whose sound was darker and more sinister than his previous work in The Cows. With multiple references to the writer Louis-Ferdinand Céline
, the band explored a thematic quality of black comedy. Many of the more successful bands from New York in the last ten years record sales wise got started opening for Heroine Sheiks. Bands like Yeah Yeah Yeahs
, Fiery Furnaces, Interpol
, and Gogol Bordello
, all played opening slots for the Heroine Sheiks.
The initial lineup of Selberg, Porfiris, Westberg, and J.Bryan Bowden recorded the first single on Amphetamine Reptile records titled "Heroine Sheiks"(scale 98). The release included the songs "We are the", "Let's Fight" and "Swedish Fly". This was reportedly the last official Amrep release, as further releases up to this date have been special limited releases by the Melvins and other affiliated musicians befriended by label owner Tom Hazelmyer. The band received good support from the local NYC underground rock scene and prompted a full length release by Reptilian Records.
"Rape on the Installment Plan" is considered an art/noise rock masterpiece by critics and fans alike. Mark Prindle wrote, "This is one of the best albums I've heard in a long time. Melodies that won't leave my head, unpredictable noise blasts and asides that always keep me guessing, funky as goodness rock drumming, and effortlessly on-the-money vocalizing -- what a great new band!" The record was released on white vinyl and CD. The record saw the arrival of veteran drummer John Fell
thus completing the talent ridden lineup. The buzz surrounding Heroine Sheiks at that point was huge due to the combination of Selberg, Westberg, Fell, and Porfiris who had done time in bands like Swans, The Cows, China Shop, Kelly Township, Foetus, Richard Hell, Miami Sound Machine, and Ultra Bide to name a few. During live shows of this period Scott Hill was added to the lineup to perform keyboard duties, he was known for his periodic dancing between keyboard parts and provided some comedy relief as Selberg's performance was menacing, confrontational and often purposely bizarre.
In 2001 bass player George Porfiris left the band and Eric Eble joined. The band signed to Rubric Records and recorded the single "Best Enemies/Oucha (CD only) and eventually the album "Siamese Pipe" (CD only). The record was a solid sophomoric release, but received mixed reviews. Fan favorite songs "Army Brat", "My Boss" and "Mas Suicide" are included. The production on Siamese was cleaner and had more of a standard mix next to Rape, but the successful formula of Selberg's toy keyboard and Westberg's signature guitar playing is very pronounced. Overall the rhythm section became heavier and tighter with greater complexity in the writing and arrangements. The band periodically toured throughout this period and created a solid fan base across the US.
For live shows keyboards were filled in by both Scott Hill and newcomer Creighton Chamberlain.
Sometime in the spring of 2003, founding member Norman Westberg left the band and Selberg recruited Martin Ros from the then breaking up band Sons of Mata Hari. Martin's sound fit perfectly in the ever evolving sound of the Sheiks, as he was an accomplished guitarist with a rich punk rock and noise rock history. Summer and Fall shows followed with positive response. Though late 2003 saw the departure of drummer John Fell due to chronic hearing problems, and soon in early 2004 bassist Eric Eble left the band. Selberg was now left to find a complete rhythm section. Turning towards Ros to help, he suggested bass player Rob Kimball and drummer Eric Robel who were also from the band Sons of Mata hari. With the entirely new lineup, the band charged new energy and outlook for Selberg as he produced some of his best writing to date. A midwest tour in the Spring followed with positive reception and material was written in the Summer of 2004 for an upcoming demo. It was at this time that Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers was attending the Sheiks shows, impressed with Selberg he invited them on his upcoming tour with "Gibby Haynes and His Problem", a newly conceived band that had just released an album of the same name. Heroine Sheiks accepted and a 30 day tour ensued prompting the completion of the new band's 2005 demo.
"Out of Aferica" was released on Reptilian Records in Summer 2005(CD only) and produced the greatest reviews since "Rape". Prindle gave the record a perfect 10 and the song "Cock Asia" was a DJ and fan favorite. The record was recorded in two days and mixed in one week. Aferica exhibited Selberg's various personalities as a writer and creative force, and the new band's sound was more rock oriented than the band's previous lineup. A US tour followed in the fall with minimal exposure to the new record and the band saw it difficult to continue. The New York chapter of the Heroine Sheiks officially ended in March of 2006. Within a year Selberg had moved back to his hometown of Minneapolis.
While in Minneapolis Selberg gathered new musicians to continue as the Heroine Sheiks. They played shows and released a limited edition CD Journey to the End of the Knife, and toured with the new line-up. The line-up included drummer Bruce Wuollet, a.k.a. B.J., who has also played guitar in previous bands.Also in this lineup was Minneapolis veteran Paul Sanders
formerly of Hammerhead
.
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
band until early 2006, when the band called it quits. In 2008 the band was reformed in Minneapolis, and then only lasting another year. It began in 1999 as a collaboration of Shannon Selberg
Shannon Selberg
Shannon Selberg is a noise/punk rock musician known for his unusual antics on stage. Formerly the frontman for the Minneapolis-based group The Cows, Selberg provided lead vocals, trumpet, bugle and hardcore guitar...
, George Porfiris, Norman Westberg
Norman Westberg
Norman Westberg is a New York City guitarist best known for his work with Swans. Present through almost the entirety of the band's existence, Westberg was brought on for Swans' debut album Filth and appeared on every album through 1991s White Light From the Mouth of Infinity...
and John Fell
John Fell
John Fell may refer to:* John Barraclough Fell , British railway engineer* John Fell , Bishop of Oxford* John Fell , American drummer...
. Selberg emerged as a major songwriter in the complete history of the band whose sound was darker and more sinister than his previous work in The Cows. With multiple references to the writer Louis-Ferdinand Céline
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
Louis-Ferdinand Céline was the pen name of French writer and physician Louis-Ferdinand Destouches . Céline was chosen after his grandmother's first name. He is considered one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century, developing a new style of writing that modernized both French and...
, the band explored a thematic quality of black comedy. Many of the more successful bands from New York in the last ten years record sales wise got started opening for Heroine Sheiks. Bands like Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O, guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are complemented in live performances by second guitarist David Pajo, who joined as a touring...
, Fiery Furnaces, Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
, and Gogol Bordello
Gogol Bordello
Gogol Bordello is a Gypsy punk band from the Lower East Side of Manhattan, formed in 1999 and known for theatrical stage shows and persistent touring.Much of the band's sound is inspired by Gypsy music...
, all played opening slots for the Heroine Sheiks.
The initial lineup of Selberg, Porfiris, Westberg, and J.Bryan Bowden recorded the first single on Amphetamine Reptile records titled "Heroine Sheiks"(scale 98). The release included the songs "We are the", "Let's Fight" and "Swedish Fly". This was reportedly the last official Amrep release, as further releases up to this date have been special limited releases by the Melvins and other affiliated musicians befriended by label owner Tom Hazelmyer. The band received good support from the local NYC underground rock scene and prompted a full length release by Reptilian Records.
"Rape on the Installment Plan" is considered an art/noise rock masterpiece by critics and fans alike. Mark Prindle wrote, "This is one of the best albums I've heard in a long time. Melodies that won't leave my head, unpredictable noise blasts and asides that always keep me guessing, funky as goodness rock drumming, and effortlessly on-the-money vocalizing -- what a great new band!" The record was released on white vinyl and CD. The record saw the arrival of veteran drummer John Fell
John Fell
John Fell may refer to:* John Barraclough Fell , British railway engineer* John Fell , Bishop of Oxford* John Fell , American drummer...
thus completing the talent ridden lineup. The buzz surrounding Heroine Sheiks at that point was huge due to the combination of Selberg, Westberg, Fell, and Porfiris who had done time in bands like Swans, The Cows, China Shop, Kelly Township, Foetus, Richard Hell, Miami Sound Machine, and Ultra Bide to name a few. During live shows of this period Scott Hill was added to the lineup to perform keyboard duties, he was known for his periodic dancing between keyboard parts and provided some comedy relief as Selberg's performance was menacing, confrontational and often purposely bizarre.
In 2001 bass player George Porfiris left the band and Eric Eble joined. The band signed to Rubric Records and recorded the single "Best Enemies/Oucha (CD only) and eventually the album "Siamese Pipe" (CD only). The record was a solid sophomoric release, but received mixed reviews. Fan favorite songs "Army Brat", "My Boss" and "Mas Suicide" are included. The production on Siamese was cleaner and had more of a standard mix next to Rape, but the successful formula of Selberg's toy keyboard and Westberg's signature guitar playing is very pronounced. Overall the rhythm section became heavier and tighter with greater complexity in the writing and arrangements. The band periodically toured throughout this period and created a solid fan base across the US.
For live shows keyboards were filled in by both Scott Hill and newcomer Creighton Chamberlain.
Sometime in the spring of 2003, founding member Norman Westberg left the band and Selberg recruited Martin Ros from the then breaking up band Sons of Mata Hari. Martin's sound fit perfectly in the ever evolving sound of the Sheiks, as he was an accomplished guitarist with a rich punk rock and noise rock history. Summer and Fall shows followed with positive response. Though late 2003 saw the departure of drummer John Fell due to chronic hearing problems, and soon in early 2004 bassist Eric Eble left the band. Selberg was now left to find a complete rhythm section. Turning towards Ros to help, he suggested bass player Rob Kimball and drummer Eric Robel who were also from the band Sons of Mata hari. With the entirely new lineup, the band charged new energy and outlook for Selberg as he produced some of his best writing to date. A midwest tour in the Spring followed with positive reception and material was written in the Summer of 2004 for an upcoming demo. It was at this time that Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers was attending the Sheiks shows, impressed with Selberg he invited them on his upcoming tour with "Gibby Haynes and His Problem", a newly conceived band that had just released an album of the same name. Heroine Sheiks accepted and a 30 day tour ensued prompting the completion of the new band's 2005 demo.
"Out of Aferica" was released on Reptilian Records in Summer 2005(CD only) and produced the greatest reviews since "Rape". Prindle gave the record a perfect 10 and the song "Cock Asia" was a DJ and fan favorite. The record was recorded in two days and mixed in one week. Aferica exhibited Selberg's various personalities as a writer and creative force, and the new band's sound was more rock oriented than the band's previous lineup. A US tour followed in the fall with minimal exposure to the new record and the band saw it difficult to continue. The New York chapter of the Heroine Sheiks officially ended in March of 2006. Within a year Selberg had moved back to his hometown of Minneapolis.
While in Minneapolis Selberg gathered new musicians to continue as the Heroine Sheiks. They played shows and released a limited edition CD Journey to the End of the Knife, and toured with the new line-up. The line-up included drummer Bruce Wuollet, a.k.a. B.J., who has also played guitar in previous bands.Also in this lineup was Minneapolis veteran Paul Sanders
Paul Sanders
Paul Sanders MA , DEA , PhD , FRHistS is an Anglo-German historian and management scholar. He teaches at associate professor rank at ESC Bourgogne in Dijon, France...
formerly of Hammerhead
Hammerhead
- Fiction :* Hammerheads, a 1990 book by Dale Brown.* Hammerhead, a 1964 Charles Hood secret agent novel by James Mayo* Hammerhead , a 1968 film based on the novel by James Mayo* Hammerhead , a 1987 Italian action film...
.
Studio releases
- Rape On The Installment PlanRape on the Installment PlanRape on the Installment Plan is the first studio album by the noise rock band The Heroine Sheiks.- Track listing :#Wandering Mongrel – 3:25#Nuclear Jeannie – 3:32#Okkk? – 2:58#Jew Jitsu – 3:23#Space Invader – 5:55...
- (2000) - Siamese PipeSiamese PipeSiamese Pipe is the second studio album by the noise rock band The Heroine Sheiks.- Track listing :#Army Brat – 2:58#Grab the Wheel – 2:49#3-Banger – 4:07#Let It Die – 3:44#Open You Up – 2:15#My Boss – 2:29...
- (2002) - Out of AfericaOut of AfericaOut of Aferica is the third studio album by the noise rock band The Heroine Sheiks. The title is an anthropological concept referring both to the theory that the human species originated in Africa, and that the majority of culture, power, political muscle and arms can now be seen to come from America...
- (2005) - Journey to the End of the KnifeJourney to the End of the KnifeJourney to the End of the Knife is the fourth studio album by the noise rock band The Heroine Sheiks.- Track listing :#"Be a Man" - 2:42#"Hank's Pimp" - 2:23#"Four F" - 3:44#"Muerte Vous" - 3:32#"Co-Angle Phenomenon" - 3:54#"J...
- (2008)