Human Sexual Response (band)
Encyclopedia
Human Sexual Response was an American
New Wave
band formed in Boston, MA in 1978. The band broke up in 1982.
country-and-western band called Honey Bea and the Meadow Muffins, who played at parties and in the subway. Encouraged, the four decided to start a rock band.
Posting ads, the quartet met three musician/composers, drummer Malcolm Travis
, guitarist Rich Gilbert, and bass player Rolfe Anderson. These seven became the original lineup of HSR, with Anderson being replaced on bass by Chris MacLachlan in 1980. Bangor was the main lead singer, though Lamot, Davis, and Cameron each sometimes sang lead. They named the band after the groundbreaking, and now classic, Masters and Johnson
best-seller.
Fig. 15 was a CD release in the 90's, and it contained all of Fig. 14 plus the song "Butt Fuck" that landed the band in hot water when they performed it on the live local overnight TV show Five All Night Live.
in the Bay Area. She is the mother of Cameron Mesirow, who makes music as Glasser, originally based in Los Angeles, prior to her move to New York. Travis, Gilbert, Bangor and Maclachlan went on to form a band, The Zulus (a/k/a Wild Kingdom, a/k/a Screaming Mimis, a/k/a the Gospel Birds) and released a self-titled LP in 1985, and then Down On The Floor in 1989. Malcolm Travis later played drums for Bob Mould
's Sugar, and for Kustomized
.
Rich Gilbert was a member of Concussion Ensemble, Country Bumpkins, a project band called Clown, Frank Black
and the Catholics, played on four Tanya Donelly
solo releases, and currently plays pedal steel with Thad Cockerell. Upon moving to Nashville, Tennessee, Gilbert has gone on to perform with such artists as Jen Jones, and Travis Mann, and is currently teamed with drummer Steve Latination, bassist Zack Shedd, and vocalist Meat Johnson to form the local power quartet Meat and Three. From 2001-2003 he formed the Blackstone Valley Sinners, based out of Pawtucket, Rhode Island
, with Slim Cessna of Slim Cessna's Auto Club
and Gilbert's wife Judith-Ann.
Dini Lamot launched a new career as "Musty Chiffon." Aided by long-time partner Windle Davis, Lamot/Chiffon recorded a dance version of "Jackie Onassis" in 1999. The two now operate a bed and breakfast in Hudson, NY, and at one time a local theater offering entertainment ranging from puppetry to drag shows.
The band reunited for special Halloween shows in 1984 at Spit and 1986 at The Channel, a New Year's Eve show in December 1988 at the Paradise
, and recently on November 29, 2008 at Jason's Upstairs Bar in Hudson, NY.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band formed in Boston, MA in 1978. The band broke up in 1982.
Formation and early years
Casey Cameron formed an all-kazoo band ("Kazoondheit") with her neighbors, among whom were Larry Bangor (aka Larry Soucy), Dini Lamot (brother of Larry and cousin to "Pecky" Lamot), and Windle Davis. The four became fast friends and soon formed an a cappellaA cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
country-and-western band called Honey Bea and the Meadow Muffins, who played at parties and in the subway. Encouraged, the four decided to start a rock band.
Posting ads, the quartet met three musician/composers, drummer Malcolm Travis
Malcolm Travis
Malcolm Travis is an American drummer from Boston, Massachusetts, best known for his work with Human Sexual Response, The Zulus, Sugar , No Man , and Kustomized ....
, guitarist Rich Gilbert, and bass player Rolfe Anderson. These seven became the original lineup of HSR, with Anderson being replaced on bass by Chris MacLachlan in 1980. Bangor was the main lead singer, though Lamot, Davis, and Cameron each sometimes sang lead. They named the band after the groundbreaking, and now classic, Masters and Johnson
Masters and Johnson
The Masters and Johnson research team, composed of William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson, pioneered research into the nature of human sexual response and the diagnosis and treatment of sexual disorders and dysfunctions from 1957 until the 1990s....
best-seller.
Recordings
After MacLachlan joined the band, they recorded two full-length albums, Fig. 14 (1980) and In a Roman Mood (1981), as well as 1981's Pound EP. Their tune "Jackie Onassis", from Fig. 14, got airplay beyond college radio, while other songs, such as "What Does Sex Mean to Me?" and "Land of the Glass Pinecones," had more of a cult success.Fig. 15 was a CD release in the 90's, and it contained all of Fig. 14 plus the song "Butt Fuck" that landed the band in hot water when they performed it on the live local overnight TV show Five All Night Live.
Post-breakup
Human Sexual Response broke up in 1982. Casey dropped out of show business and worked as a content developer for Sun MicrosystemsSun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
in the Bay Area. She is the mother of Cameron Mesirow, who makes music as Glasser, originally based in Los Angeles, prior to her move to New York. Travis, Gilbert, Bangor and Maclachlan went on to form a band, The Zulus (a/k/a Wild Kingdom, a/k/a Screaming Mimis, a/k/a the Gospel Birds) and released a self-titled LP in 1985, and then Down On The Floor in 1989. Malcolm Travis later played drums for Bob Mould
Bob Mould
Robert Arthur "Bob" Mould is an American musician, principally known for his work as guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s.-Early life:...
's Sugar, and for Kustomized
Kustomized
Kustomized was an American indie rock band formed by former Mission of Burma and Volcano Suns member Peter Prescott.-History:The band was formed by Prescott following the breakup of Volcano Suns in 1993. and consisted of Prescott , Bob Moses , Ed Yazijian and Kurt Davis, a.k.a...
.
Rich Gilbert was a member of Concussion Ensemble, Country Bumpkins, a project band called Clown, Frank Black
Frank Black
Black Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
and the Catholics, played on four Tanya Donelly
Tanya Donelly
Tanya Donelly is an American Grammy-nominated singer songwriter and guitarist based in New England who co-founded Throwing Muses with her stepsister Kristin Hersh. She then went on to work in The Breeders and Belly in the 1990s...
solo releases, and currently plays pedal steel with Thad Cockerell. Upon moving to Nashville, Tennessee, Gilbert has gone on to perform with such artists as Jen Jones, and Travis Mann, and is currently teamed with drummer Steve Latination, bassist Zack Shedd, and vocalist Meat Johnson to form the local power quartet Meat and Three. From 2001-2003 he formed the Blackstone Valley Sinners, based out of Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 71,148 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth largest city in the state.-History:...
, with Slim Cessna of Slim Cessna's Auto Club
Slim Cessna's Auto Club
Slim Cessna's Auto Club is an alternative country-gothabilly band formed in 1992 in Denver, Colorado. The constant in the band has been Slim Cessna, formerly a member of The Denver Gentlemen along with David Eugene Edwards and Jeffery-Paul of 16 Horsepower. Jay Munly is also a key member of the...
and Gilbert's wife Judith-Ann.
Dini Lamot launched a new career as "Musty Chiffon." Aided by long-time partner Windle Davis, Lamot/Chiffon recorded a dance version of "Jackie Onassis" in 1999. The two now operate a bed and breakfast in Hudson, NY, and at one time a local theater offering entertainment ranging from puppetry to drag shows.
The band reunited for special Halloween shows in 1984 at Spit and 1986 at The Channel, a New Year's Eve show in December 1988 at the Paradise
, and recently on November 29, 2008 at Jason's Upstairs Bar in Hudson, NY.
Studio albums
- Fig 14 (1980)
- In a Roman Mood (1981)
- Pound (1981 - EP)
- Fig 15 (1992 - CD reissue of Fig. 14 LP with extra track)
External links
- [ Allmusic: Human Sexual Response]
- the Boston Rock Storybook: Human Sexual Response
- This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s – Human Sexual Response's "Dolls"