Ookla the Mok (band)
Encyclopedia
Ookla the Mok is the name of a filk band fronted by Rand Bellavia and Adam English. The band is named after a character from the Ruby-Spears Productions
cartoon
Thundarr the Barbarian
, created by Steve Gerber
. They utilise an irreverent mix of pop culture and rock music
, notably in their album
Smell No Evil (2001) - the world's first monkey
rock opera
. They provided the theme song to Disney's Fillmore!
,http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=36;t=000148 and scored the feature film Bite Me, Fanboy!
They (or Rand and Adam) have won 3 Pegasus Awards http://www.ovff.org/pegasus/groups/ookla-the-mok.htmlhttp://www.ovff.org/pegasus/people/rand-bellavia.htmlhttp://www.ovff.org/pegasus/people/adam-english.html for excellence in filk music
, and their music has twice been included on Dr. Demento
compilationshttp://dmdb.org/discographies/demento.disco.html.
and comic book
conventions, where the band makes the bulk of their public appearances. For example, their song titled "Arthur Curry" from Less Than Art pokes fun at Aquaman
and the way his super-powers don't seem to compare favorably with the rest of the Super Friends
. Another example is "Stop Talking About Comic Books Or I'll Kill You" from Super Secret. "Song of Kong" from Smell No Evil takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the relationship between King Kong
and Godzilla
. "W.W.S.D.?" from oh okay LA asks its listeners to ask themselves "What would Scooby do?". "Mr. W" from the same album paints a nightmare scenario of Mr. Worf
being in command of Star Trek
's starship Enterprise
. And "Spot The Cat" from Dave Lennon sets to music a poem originally read by Star Trek
's Data
(written by Clay Dale). A song about the late actor, Gary Coleman
, is included on Oh Ok LA.
" by Gym Class Heroes
.
, and the International Guests of Honour at the 2009 British Filk Convention.
Ruby-Spears Productions
Ruby-Spears Productions is a Burbank, California-based entertainment production company that specializes in animation...
cartoon
Cartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
Thundarr the Barbarian
Thundarr the Barbarian
Thundarr the Barbarian is a Saturday morning animated television series, created by Steve Gerber and produced by Ruby-Spears Productions. The series ran 2 seasons, 1980-1981 and 1981-1982...
, created by Steve Gerber
Steve Gerber
Stephen Ross "Steve" Gerber was an American comic book writer best known as co-creator of the satiric Marvel Comics character Howard the Duck....
. They utilise an irreverent mix of pop culture and rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, notably in their album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Smell No Evil (2001) - the world's first monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
rock opera
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
. They provided the theme song to Disney's Fillmore!
Fillmore!
Fillmore! is an American animated television series which was produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. The series was created by Scott M. Gimple...
,http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=36;t=000148 and scored the feature film Bite Me, Fanboy!
Bite Me, Fanboy
Bite Me, Fanboy is a 2005 movie by filmmaker Mat Nastos. It is a comedic look at the culture of comic book fandom.Originally shot in 2001 on a microbudget, the film became known through screenings at comic book conventions...
They (or Rand and Adam) have won 3 Pegasus Awards http://www.ovff.org/pegasus/groups/ookla-the-mok.htmlhttp://www.ovff.org/pegasus/people/rand-bellavia.htmlhttp://www.ovff.org/pegasus/people/adam-english.html for excellence in filk music
Filk music
Filk is a musical culture, genre, and community tied to science fiction/fantasy fandom and a type of fan labor. The genre has been active since the early 1950s, and played primarily since the mid-1970s. The term predates 1955.-Definitions:As the Interfilk What Is Filk page demonstrates, there is...
, and their music has twice been included on Dr. Demento
Dr. Demento
Barret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
compilationshttp://dmdb.org/discographies/demento.disco.html.
Band members
- Rand Bellavia (1992-present): vocals, guitar, trombone, keyboards, kazoo
- Adam English (1992-present): vocals, guitar, keyboards, accordion, trumpet
- Luis Garcia (1994-1998): drums, vocals
- Michael Mallory (1996-2005): bass
- Doug White (1997-2001): bass, guitar
- Chris Gajewski (1999-2003): drums
- Joe Pepper (2005-2007): drums
- Wolfram Neff (2006-present): bass
Musical style
Although Ookla the Mok has released many songs about more universal topics like relationships and lost love, they are best known for filk songs that cater to the interests of listeners at science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
conventions, where the band makes the bulk of their public appearances. For example, their song titled "Arthur Curry" from Less Than Art pokes fun at Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
and the way his super-powers don't seem to compare favorably with the rest of the Super Friends
Super Friends
Super Friends is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes, which ran from 1973 to 1986 on ABC as part of its Saturday morning cartoon lineup...
. Another example is "Stop Talking About Comic Books Or I'll Kill You" from Super Secret. "Song of Kong" from Smell No Evil takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the relationship between King Kong
King Kong
King Kong is a fictional character, a giant movie monster resembling a gorilla, that has appeared in several movies since 1933. These include the groundbreaking 1933 movie, the film remakes of 1976 and 2005, as well as various sequels of the first two films...
and Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
. "W.W.S.D.?" from oh okay LA asks its listeners to ask themselves "What would Scooby do?". "Mr. W" from the same album paints a nightmare scenario of Mr. Worf
Worf
Worf, played by Michael Dorn, is a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appears in the films based on The Next Generation. Worf is the first Klingon main character to appear in Star Trek, and has appeared in more Star...
being in command of Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
's starship Enterprise
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
. And "Spot The Cat" from Dave Lennon sets to music a poem originally read by Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
's Data
Data (Star Trek)
Lieutenant Commander Data is a character in the fictional Star Trek universe portrayed by actor Brent Spiner. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek...
(written by Clay Dale). A song about the late actor, Gary Coleman
Gary Coleman
Gary Wayne Coleman was an American actor, known for his childhood role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes and for his small stature as an adult. He was described in the 1980s as "one of television's most promising stars". After a successful childhood acting career, Coleman...
, is included on Oh Ok LA.
Discography
- Poor Man's Copyright (1993)
- Less Than Art (1997)
- Super Secret (1998)
- Sucking Out Loud: Ookla the Mok Live at Windycon 25 (1999)
- Smell No Evil (2001)
- oh okay LA (2003)
- Dave Lennon (2005)
- Less Than Art 10th Anniversary Edition (2007)
Other Appearances
Rand's voice and Adam's keyboards can be heard on the international top five hit "Cupid's ChokeholdCupid's Chokehold
Cupid's Chokehold is a single performed by Gym Class Heroes, featuring Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy. The song relies heavily on the music, chorus and famous spoken "ba ba da da" line from Supertramp's hit song "Breakfast in America"...
" by Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes is an American hip hop rock band from Geneva, New York. They have collaborated with Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump on numerous occasions, notably for providing backing vocals on the song "Cupid's Chokehold." Stump also produced the majority of their album The Quilt.The group formed...
.
Performances
Ookla the Mok were the musical guests of honor at the 2007 installment of MarsCon (Bloomington, Minnesota)MarsCon (Bloomington, Minnesota)
MarsCon is a science fiction convention held in Bloomington, Minnesota. It was first held in February 1999 with the goal of appealing to a diverse audience of fans in Minnesota and the vicinity...
, and the International Guests of Honour at the 2009 British Filk Convention.