SSQ (band)
Encyclopedia
SSQ was a 1980s synthpop
outfit formed from the already-in-existence band Q
(named after the James Bond character).
project was composed of Stacey Swain
as lead singer, Jon St. James
on guitars, and Dan Van Patten and John Van Tongeren
on vocoder
and synthesizer
. In 1982 the band reformed with two new members, drummer Karl Moet and synth player Rich West, alongside the official lineup of Van Tongeren, St. James and Swain. After the reformation, St. James was forced to change the name of Q
because of copyright problems (famed producer Quincy Jones
reportedly had "established use of the 'Q' moniker"). Swain explained in a 2006 radio interview that the band was renamed SSQ after Jon St. James "was fishing in a lake 'no bigger than a bathtub' and made a joke that the boat was the 'S.S. Q,'" referring to the current band Q
. St. James had another reason for the name: "SS" stood for "Stacey Swain", who had become the most recognized of the band's members.
in 1983 under Enigma Records
. The band's first live performance was held at the Greenworld Distribution warehouse in Torrance
, which was then the location of the Enigma
label. The video
for "Synthicide" later premiered on West Coast
television and brought greater notoriety for the five-member band. By 1984 Stacey Swain was already eclipsing her bandmates in popularity. The band ultimately shifted its focus on Swain specifically, with Moet, West, Skip Hahn and St. James as backup performers. Hahn officially replaced John Van Tongeren on keyboards
, vocoder
and bass
just before the release of Playback
.
"Synthicide", "Big Electronic Beat" and "Clockwork" appeared on the soundtrack of the 1984
comedy Hardbodies
, while "Synthicide" and "Anonymous" appeared on the soundtrack of the 1985
comedy Cavegirl. Jon St. James
served as composer of the latter film, with Stacey Swain having a brief appearance as the character "Brenda". SSQ also contributed two tracks, "Tonight (We'll Make Love Until We Die)" and "Trash's Theme", to the soundtrack of the 1985
zombie flick The Return of the Living Dead. "Tonight" is the track played by boom box when Trash, played by Linnea Quigley
, performs the film's famous graveyard striptease
.
In television
, SSQ recorded background tracks for productions including St. Elsewhere
, Hill Street Blues
and WKRP in Cincinnati
. In addition, the recorded but unused title track for Playback
was included on The Enigma Variations Vol. 1
various artist compilation album.
2011. SSQ track Anonymous is played during the end credits of the 2011 film Beyond The Black Rainbow.
, and they acted as musicians on her first two albums, Better Than Heaven
and Hard Machine
. They went on to success with dance-pop
tracks like "Two of Hearts" and "We Connect
". Rich West, Karl Moet and Skip Hahn were collectively credited as "SSQ" on the credits of albums and singles released as "Stacey Q". The backup members also recorded some material without Stacey Swain on vocals. One such track, the hip-hop-inspired "Pleasure Dog", was featured on The Enigma Variations Vol. 2.
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
outfit formed from the already-in-existence band Q
Q (band)
Q was a small American techno band, formed in 1982 by Jon St. James and Stacey Swain. Ross Wood was also a group member, and John Van Tongeren was involved as well. The group only had two releases: a 7" single of their song "Playback" on Cocteau Records, and a four-track EP released almost...
(named after the James Bond character).
Biography
The original QQ (band)
Q was a small American techno band, formed in 1982 by Jon St. James and Stacey Swain. Ross Wood was also a group member, and John Van Tongeren was involved as well. The group only had two releases: a 7" single of their song "Playback" on Cocteau Records, and a four-track EP released almost...
project was composed of Stacey Swain
Stacey Q
Stacey Q is a pop singer, dancer and actress. She is best known for her 1985 hit single "Two of Hearts".-Early life:Stacey Swain was born on November 30, 1958 in Fullerton, California. She is the youngest of three children...
as lead singer, Jon St. James
Jon St. James
Jon St. James is an American guitarist, songwriter–composer, producer and engineer whose Casbah Recording Studio was a part of Orange County, California's new music scene in the late 1970s and early to mid 1980s. St. James' first album was as leader–frontman–songwriter of the progressive rock group...
on guitars, and Dan Van Patten and John Van Tongeren
John Van Tongeren
John Van Tongeren is a music composer, mainly for films and television series.- Biography :Van Tongeren began his career as one of the original members of Media Ventures . During his time at Media Ventures Van Tongeren worked on films such as Thelma and Louise, True Romance and Drop Zone with Hans...
on vocoder
Vocoder
A vocoder is an analysis/synthesis system, mostly used for speech. In the encoder, the input is passed through a multiband filter, each band is passed through an envelope follower, and the control signals from the envelope followers are communicated to the decoder...
and synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
. In 1982 the band reformed with two new members, drummer Karl Moet and synth player Rich West, alongside the official lineup of Van Tongeren, St. James and Swain. After the reformation, St. James was forced to change the name of Q
Q (band)
Q was a small American techno band, formed in 1982 by Jon St. James and Stacey Swain. Ross Wood was also a group member, and John Van Tongeren was involved as well. The group only had two releases: a 7" single of their song "Playback" on Cocteau Records, and a four-track EP released almost...
because of copyright problems (famed producer Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
reportedly had "established use of the 'Q' moniker"). Swain explained in a 2006 radio interview that the band was renamed SSQ after Jon St. James "was fishing in a lake 'no bigger than a bathtub' and made a joke that the boat was the 'S.S. Q,'" referring to the current band Q
Q (band)
Q was a small American techno band, formed in 1982 by Jon St. James and Stacey Swain. Ross Wood was also a group member, and John Van Tongeren was involved as well. The group only had two releases: a 7" single of their song "Playback" on Cocteau Records, and a four-track EP released almost...
. St. James had another reason for the name: "SS" stood for "Stacey Swain", who had become the most recognized of the band's members.
Playback
SSQ first released their debut album PlaybackPlayback (SSQ album)
Playback is an album released in 1983 by synthpop band SSQ. The album was released on both Enigma Records and EMI America Records."Synthicide", "Big Electronic Beat" and "Clockwork" appeared on the soundtrack of the 1984 film Hardbodies. "Synthicide" and "Anonymous" appeared on the soundtrack of...
in 1983 under Enigma Records
Enigma Records
Enigma Records was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. It was initially a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, which it split-off from in 1985 to become its own company...
. The band's first live performance was held at the Greenworld Distribution warehouse in Torrance
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
, which was then the location of the Enigma
Enigma Records
Enigma Records was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. It was initially a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, which it split-off from in 1985 to become its own company...
label. The video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Synthicide" later premiered on West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
television and brought greater notoriety for the five-member band. By 1984 Stacey Swain was already eclipsing her bandmates in popularity. The band ultimately shifted its focus on Swain specifically, with Moet, West, Skip Hahn and St. James as backup performers. Hahn officially replaced John Van Tongeren on keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocoder
Vocoder
A vocoder is an analysis/synthesis system, mostly used for speech. In the encoder, the input is passed through a multiband filter, each band is passed through an envelope follower, and the control signals from the envelope followers are communicated to the decoder...
and bass
Bass (instrument)
Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
just before the release of Playback
Playback (SSQ album)
Playback is an album released in 1983 by synthpop band SSQ. The album was released on both Enigma Records and EMI America Records."Synthicide", "Big Electronic Beat" and "Clockwork" appeared on the soundtrack of the 1984 film Hardbodies. "Synthicide" and "Anonymous" appeared on the soundtrack of...
.
"Synthicide", "Big Electronic Beat" and "Clockwork" appeared on the soundtrack of the 1984
1984 in film
-Events:* The Walt Disney Company founds Touchstone Pictures to release movies with subject matter deemed inappropriate for the Disney name.* Tri-Star Pictures, a joint venture of Columbia Pictures, HBO, and CBS, releases its first film....
comedy Hardbodies
Hardbodies
Hardbodies is a 1984 sex comedy film about three middle-aged men who hire a younger man to help them pick up women at the beach. The film was directed by Mark Griffiths, and stars Grant Cramer, Courtney Gains, and Gary Wood...
, while "Synthicide" and "Anonymous" appeared on the soundtrack of the 1985
1985 in film
-Events:* 3 December - Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films. He is replaced by Timothy Dalton.* The Academy Award for Best Picture was won by Out Of Africa, while the highest grossing film was Back to the Future.* Bliss wins AFI Award for best Movie...
comedy Cavegirl. Jon St. James
Jon St. James
Jon St. James is an American guitarist, songwriter–composer, producer and engineer whose Casbah Recording Studio was a part of Orange County, California's new music scene in the late 1970s and early to mid 1980s. St. James' first album was as leader–frontman–songwriter of the progressive rock group...
served as composer of the latter film, with Stacey Swain having a brief appearance as the character "Brenda". SSQ also contributed two tracks, "Tonight (We'll Make Love Until We Die)" and "Trash's Theme", to the soundtrack of the 1985
1985 in film
-Events:* 3 December - Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films. He is replaced by Timothy Dalton.* The Academy Award for Best Picture was won by Out Of Africa, while the highest grossing film was Back to the Future.* Bliss wins AFI Award for best Movie...
zombie flick The Return of the Living Dead. "Tonight" is the track played by boom box when Trash, played by Linnea Quigley
Linnea Quigley
Linnea Barbara Quigley is an American scream queen, B movie actress, and film producer.-Early life:Quigley was born in Davenport, Iowa, the daughter of Dorothy and W. Heath Quigley, a chiropractor and psychologist. She moved to Los Angeles in the late 1970s to pursue her dreams of acting...
, performs the film's famous graveyard striptease
Striptease
A striptease is an erotic or exotic dance in which the performer gradually undresses, either partly or completely, in a seductive and sexually suggestive manner...
.
In television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, SSQ recorded background tracks for productions including St. Elsewhere
St. Elsewhere
St. Elsewhere is an American medical drama television series that originally ran on NBC from October 26, 1982 to May 25, 1988. The series is set at fictional St. Eligius, a decaying urban teaching hospital in Boston's South End neighborhood...
, Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues is an American serial police drama that was first aired on NBC in 1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987. Chronicling the lives of the staff of a single police precinct in an unnamed American city, the show received critical acclaim and its production innovations ...
and WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati is an American situation comedy that featured the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson and was based upon his experiences working in advertising sales at Top 40 radio station WQXI in Atlanta...
. In addition, the recorded but unused title track for Playback
Playback (SSQ album)
Playback is an album released in 1983 by synthpop band SSQ. The album was released on both Enigma Records and EMI America Records."Synthicide", "Big Electronic Beat" and "Clockwork" appeared on the soundtrack of the 1984 film Hardbodies. "Synthicide" and "Anonymous" appeared on the soundtrack of...
was included on The Enigma Variations Vol. 1
Enigma Variations (album)
The Enigma Variations is a compilation album of newer artists that were on Enigma Records or one of its subsidiaries. It was originally released as a double LP and cassette, but was then subsequently also released as a CD with a reduced number of tracks. The album was compiled by Steve Pross and...
various artist compilation album.
2011. SSQ track Anonymous is played during the end credits of the 2011 film Beyond The Black Rainbow.
Stacey Q
The new lineup carried on with Swain under the name Stacey QStacey Q
Stacey Q is a pop singer, dancer and actress. She is best known for her 1985 hit single "Two of Hearts".-Early life:Stacey Swain was born on November 30, 1958 in Fullerton, California. She is the youngest of three children...
, and they acted as musicians on her first two albums, Better Than Heaven
Better Than Heaven
Better Than Heaven was singer Stacey Q's first album under Atlantic Records. This release was the first full-length album that the same lineup of musicians , released simply under the name Stacey Q. The artist continued to work with her SSQ bandmates in her solo albums such as Better Than Heaven,...
and Hard Machine
Hard Machine
Hard Machine is the third solo album of singer Stacey Q, released in 1988. It includes the moderate hit, "Don't Make a Fool of Yourself" which peaked at #66. While the album was not very successful with mainstream audiences, it fared slightly better with electronic dance music audiences. It also...
. They went on to success with dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
tracks like "Two of Hearts" and "We Connect
We Connect
"We Connect" is a song written by Willie Wilcox recorded by Stacey Q for her album Better Than Heaven from which it was released as a single in November 1986...
". Rich West, Karl Moet and Skip Hahn were collectively credited as "SSQ" on the credits of albums and singles released as "Stacey Q". The backup members also recorded some material without Stacey Swain on vocals. One such track, the hip-hop-inspired "Pleasure Dog", was featured on The Enigma Variations Vol. 2.
The Return Of SSQ
The return of SSQ was announced on the EP for "Going Goth" by lead singer of the group, Stacey Q, right after the hidden bonus track on the disc. This was later confirmed by Stacey on her Facebook page as true. The group will be working on new music in 2011.Singles
- "Synthicide", 1983
- "Big Electronic Beat", 1983
- "Screaming in My Pillow", 1983 (music video single only)
- "Tonight (We'll Make Love Until We Die) / Trash's Theme", 1986 (in Japan only)