The Sleepers (San Francisco band)
Encyclopedia
The Sleepers was a San Francisco-based band, formed in 1978. They were one of the earliest punk bands in San Francisco, and later took on a darker, moodier post-punk
sound, before breaking up in 1981.
The band was made up of vocalist/lyricist Ricky Williams
, guitarist Michael Belfer, bassist Paul Draper, and drummer Tim Mooney.
, in 1978. Michael Belfer had been trying to form a band with his friend, Tim Mooney, and Belfer had decided he wanted former Crime
drummer Ricky Williams
for vocals, as "he was so awesome looking". The band's compositions were spontaneous, as lyricist Williams didn't have the discipline to write out lyrics, but had "fantastic improvisational abilities". The band released a five-track 7-inch EP
in late 1978, and then broke up, with Belfer playing in Tuxedomoon
during 1978 and 1979, and Williams co-founding Flipper
, from which he was fired before the band made any recordings "for being too weird".
In 1980, the band reformed and released a single, "Mirror"/"Theory", and an album, Painless Nights. Williams' abuse of speed
led to erratic and violent behavior, which culminated in his passing out on stage on the first date of the group's East Coast tour at New York
's Hurrah
. The band broke up onstage after this incident.
Belfer returned to college and graduated in composition
and cultural studies
. He played guitar and keyboards in Black Lab
from 1996 to 1999. Williams went on to handle vocals in Toiling Midgets
, and later died of a heroin overdose at the age of 37 in 1992.
(1978)
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
sound, before breaking up in 1981.
The band was made up of vocalist/lyricist Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams (musician)
Ricky Williams , also known as Ricky Tractor, was an American musician based in San Francisco. He is best known as a vocalist and lyricist, but also played drums and guitar. He was the original drummer for Crime , the original singer for Flipper and The Sleepers , and vocalist for Toiling Midgets...
, guitarist Michael Belfer, bassist Paul Draper, and drummer Tim Mooney.
Biography
The band formed in Palo Alto, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, in 1978. Michael Belfer had been trying to form a band with his friend, Tim Mooney, and Belfer had decided he wanted former Crime
Crime (band)
Crime was an early American punk band from San Francisco. The band was formed in 1976 by Johnny Strike , Frankie Fix , Ron "The Ripper" Greco , and Ricky Tractor...
drummer Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams (musician)
Ricky Williams , also known as Ricky Tractor, was an American musician based in San Francisco. He is best known as a vocalist and lyricist, but also played drums and guitar. He was the original drummer for Crime , the original singer for Flipper and The Sleepers , and vocalist for Toiling Midgets...
for vocals, as "he was so awesome looking". The band's compositions were spontaneous, as lyricist Williams didn't have the discipline to write out lyrics, but had "fantastic improvisational abilities". The band released a five-track 7-inch EP
Extended play
An 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...
in late 1978, and then broke up, with Belfer playing in Tuxedomoon
Tuxedomoon
Tuxedomoon is an experimental post-punk/New Wave group formed in San Francisco, California, consisting of core members Blaine L. Reininger, Steven Brown and Peter Principle....
during 1978 and 1979, and Williams co-founding Flipper
Flipper (band)
Flipper is a punk band formed in San Francisco, California in 1979, continuing in often erratic fashion until the mid-1990s, then reuniting in 2005. The band influenced a number of grunge,, punk rock and noise rock bands...
, from which he was fired before the band made any recordings "for being too weird".
In 1980, the band reformed and released a single, "Mirror"/"Theory", and an album, Painless Nights. Williams' abuse of speed
Amphetamine
Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
led to erratic and violent behavior, which culminated in his passing out on stage on the first date of the group's East Coast tour at New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Hurrah
Hurrah (nightclub)
Hurrah was a nightclub located at 32 West 62nd Street in New York City from 1976 until 1980. Under the management of Jim Fouratt it became known as the first rock disco in New York, and pioneered the use of music videos in nightclubs, placing video monitors around the club, over a year before the...
. The band broke up onstage after this incident.
Belfer returned to college and graduated in composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
and cultural studies
Cultural studies
Cultural studies is an academic field grounded in critical theory and literary criticism. It generally concerns the political nature of contemporary culture, as well as its historical foundations, conflicts, and defining traits. It is, to this extent, largely distinguished from cultural...
. He played guitar and keyboards in Black Lab
Black Lab
Black Lab is an alternative rock band founded in Berkeley, California and currently based in Los Angeles and Montana.They released one album on Geffen Records, entitled Your Body Above Me, and scored two rock radio hits in the US, "Wash It Away" in 1997 and "Time Ago" in 1998...
from 1996 to 1999. Williams went on to handle vocals in Toiling Midgets
Toiling Midgets
Toiling Midgets is an influential rock band from San Francisco, California with "roots in seminal San Francisco punk acts the Sleepers and Negative Trend1." They were "one of the first West Coast punk bands to experiment with dub and post-punk elements1", and have been active on-and-off since 1979...
, and later died of a heroin overdose at the age of 37 in 1992.
Seventh World
7" EPExtended play
An 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...
(1978)