The Three O'Clock
Encyclopedia
The Three O'Clock were a United States alternative rock
group associated with the Los Angeles
1980s Paisley Underground
scene. Lead singer and bassist Michael Quercio
is credited with coining the term "Paisley Underground" to describe a subset of the 1980s L.A. music scene which included bands such as The Three O'Clock, Dream Syndicate
, Rain Parade
, Green on Red
, and the Bangles
.
label in November, 1981. At this juncture, Quercio (then billed as "Ricky Start") was the band's sole songwriter, and the group played mildly psychedelic
pop-influenced tunes with a decidedly punk-ish energy.
By the end of the year, Blazing left and was replaced by Gregg Gutierrez, later known as Louis Gutierrez. Quercio reverted to his real name, and this lineup of The Salvation Army signed with LA independent label Frontier Records
and released a self-titled debut LP in May 1982.
forced the band to change their name. "The Three O'Clock" came from the time of day the band rehearsed. Almost exactly coincident with the August 1982 name change, Howell left the band and Mike Mariano (keyboards, ex-Great Buildings
, ex-The Falcons) and Danny Benair (drums, ex-The Quick, ex-Choir Invisible, ex-The Falcons) joined. Frontier would later reissue the Salvation Army LP under the group name Befour Three O'Clock in 1986, and again in 1992.
Still signed to Frontier, The Three O'Clock issued their 'debut' EP Baroque Hoedown in late 1982, followed by a full length LP in 1983 entitled Sixteen Tambourines, both produced by Earle Mankey
. The Three O'Clock had developed into a power-pop ensemble with 1960s garage band
influences. Quercio and Gutierrez co-wrote almost all the band's material, with occasional assists from Mariano. They received airplay in Southern California, notably on influential LA station KROQ-FM
. "Jet Fighter" from Sixteen Tambourines became a national college radio hit.
for their next album, 1985's Arrive Without Travelling. Producer Mike Hedges
recorded the album in Germany
. The band had a minor hit with "Her Head's Revolving", whose video received regular airplay on MTV
. "Half the Way There" was also released as a 12" single, and featured a Motown style drumbeat and rich harmonies.
In 1986, guitarist Steven Altenberg replaced Gutierrez for Ever After, produced by Ian Broudie
. Quercio once again was the band's chief songwriter. "Suzie's On The Ball Now" was the single, which gained minor airplay on stations like KROQ-FM in Los Angeles. It was a synthpop song in the current fashion of the time, and rather uncharacteristic of the band's previous sound.
In 1988, Alternberg departed the band's ranks, and Benair placed an ad in the Los Angeles magazine The Recycler order to find a new guitar player for The Three O'Clock. Ironically, that ad - which read, "“Three O’Clock looking for guitarist. No metal, no country, no flakes" - ran in the same issue as one placed by Jason Falkner
, who was "looking for like minded people to start the best band in the world with me." Falkner, who had been playing Three O'Clock songs in his previous band, called the number in the ad, came in to audition, and - according to Benair - "we hit it off right away. We auditioned two people. For one moment we considered becoming a five piece, but Jason got the gig."
The new line-up of The Three O'Clock soon entered the studio to record the Ian Ritchie-produced Vermillion, on Warner Bros. Records by way of Prince
's Paisley Park Records
imprint. "Prince was aware of us from Arrive without Traveling and the “Her Head’s Revolving” video," said Benair. "The Bangles told us he was a fan, and when we were off IRS, he sent a label person to see us live. Prince himself contributed an upbeat song "Neon Telephone" to Vermillion under the pseudonym "Joey Coco". The album was a critical and commercial failure, and did not dent the charts. It was the last Three O'Clock album.
Arrive Without Travelling and Ever After were released in 2002 on a single CD.
Offers to reunite the band have been unsuccessful.
as Befour Three O'Clock
as The Three O'Clock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
group associated with the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
1980s Paisley Underground
Paisley Underground
Paisley Underground is an early genre of alternative rock, based primarily in Los Angeles, California, which was at its most popular in the mid-1980s.- History :...
scene. Lead singer and bassist Michael Quercio
Michael Quercio
Michael Quercio was the founder, bassist and lead singer of The Three O'Clock. He is also notable for being the apparent source of the genre name Paisley Underground, originally a joke. The Three O'Clock were among the most successful artists of the neo-psychedelic movement of the 1980s...
is credited with coining the term "Paisley Underground" to describe a subset of the 1980s L.A. music scene which included bands such as The Three O'Clock, Dream Syndicate
Dream Syndicate
The Dream Syndicate was an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California active from 1981 to 1989. The band was associated with the Paisley Underground music movement.-History:...
, Rain Parade
Rain Parade
The Rain Parade was a band active in the Paisley Underground scene in Los Angeles in the 1980s.-History:The band was founded by college roommates Matt Piucci and David Roback in 1981, originally as The Moving Sidewalks. David's brother Steven Roback joined the band shortly thereafter...
, Green on Red
Green on Red
Green on Red was an American rock band, formed in the Tucson, Arizona punk scene, but based for most of its career in Los Angeles, California, where it was loosely associated with the Paisley Underground...
, and the Bangles
The Bangles
The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :...
.
Formation and early years as The Salvation Army: 1981-82
The Three O'Clock originally formed under the name The Salvation Army in 1981. The original lineup was Quercio (lead vocals, bass), John Blazing (guitar), and Troy Howell (drums). They released a single ("Mind Gardens" b/w "Happen Happened") on The Minutemen's New AllianceNew Alliance Records
New Alliance Records was the record label founded by The Minutemen's D. Boon and Mike Watt and longtime friend and associate Martin Tamburovich after the example of Black Flag's SST Records...
label in November, 1981. At this juncture, Quercio (then billed as "Ricky Start") was the band's sole songwriter, and the group played mildly psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
pop-influenced tunes with a decidedly punk-ish energy.
By the end of the year, Blazing left and was replaced by Gregg Gutierrez, later known as Louis Gutierrez. Quercio reverted to his real name, and this lineup of The Salvation Army signed with LA independent label Frontier Records
Frontier Records
Frontier Records is an independent record label, started in 1980 in Los Angeles by Lisa Fancher, a former employee of Bomp! Records and writer of the liner notes for the first album by The Runaways....
and released a self-titled debut LP in May 1982.
Name change to The Three O'Clock and early success: 1982-83
In the summer of 1982, legal problems with the actual Salvation ArmySalvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
forced the band to change their name. "The Three O'Clock" came from the time of day the band rehearsed. Almost exactly coincident with the August 1982 name change, Howell left the band and Mike Mariano (keyboards, ex-Great Buildings
The Rembrandts
The Rembrandts are an American pop-rock duo formed by Phil Solem and Danny Wilde in 1989. They had previously worked together as members of Great Buildings in 1981...
, ex-The Falcons) and Danny Benair (drums, ex-The Quick, ex-Choir Invisible, ex-The Falcons) joined. Frontier would later reissue the Salvation Army LP under the group name Befour Three O'Clock in 1986, and again in 1992.
Still signed to Frontier, The Three O'Clock issued their 'debut' EP Baroque Hoedown in late 1982, followed by a full length LP in 1983 entitled Sixteen Tambourines, both produced by Earle Mankey
Earle Mankey
Earle Mankey was a guitarist for the seminal band Halfnelson, later called Sparks...
. The Three O'Clock had developed into a power-pop ensemble with 1960s garage band
Garage band
The term garage band can refer to:* A band that performs garage rock* GarageBand, audio production software published by Apple Inc.* GarageBand.com, a website that helps publicize emerging bands...
influences. Quercio and Gutierrez co-wrote almost all the band's material, with occasional assists from Mariano. They received airplay in Southern California, notably on influential LA station KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
. "Jet Fighter" from Sixteen Tambourines became a national college radio hit.
The I.R.S./Paisley Park Years: 1984-88
The Three O'Clock signed to I.R.S. RecordsI.R.S. Records
I.R.S. Records was a record label, started in the United States in 1979 by Miles Copeland III along with Jay Boberg and Carl Grasso. Miles was also the manager of Wishbone Ash, The Police, and later, Sting, as well as other bands. I.R.S. was the sister label of Copeland's Illegal Records .I.R.S...
for their next album, 1985's Arrive Without Travelling. Producer Mike Hedges
Mike Hedges
-Career:Mike Hedges started as a tape-op at Morgan Studios in London in the late 1970s. Having graduated to engineer, he went freelance in 1981 and became an engineer/producer....
recorded the album in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The band had a minor hit with "Her Head's Revolving", whose video received regular airplay on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. "Half the Way There" was also released as a 12" single, and featured a Motown style drumbeat and rich harmonies.
In 1986, guitarist Steven Altenberg replaced Gutierrez for Ever After, produced by Ian Broudie
Ian Broudie
Ian Broudie is a British singer-songwriter, musician and record producer from Liverpool, England. After emerging from the post punk scene in Liverpool in the late 1970s as a member of Big in Japan, Broudie went on to form the short-lived groups Original Mirrors and Care in the early 1980s as well...
. Quercio once again was the band's chief songwriter. "Suzie's On The Ball Now" was the single, which gained minor airplay on stations like KROQ-FM in Los Angeles. It was a synthpop song in the current fashion of the time, and rather uncharacteristic of the band's previous sound.
In 1988, Alternberg departed the band's ranks, and Benair placed an ad in the Los Angeles magazine The Recycler order to find a new guitar player for The Three O'Clock. Ironically, that ad - which read, "“Three O’Clock looking for guitarist. No metal, no country, no flakes" - ran in the same issue as one placed by Jason Falkner
Jason Falkner
Jason Falkner is an American pop and rock musician. Active since the late 1980s, he has performed with several bands. In addition to releasing several albums as a solo artist, he is a prolific session musician and producer who has contributed to dozens of other recordings by other bands and...
, who was "looking for like minded people to start the best band in the world with me." Falkner, who had been playing Three O'Clock songs in his previous band, called the number in the ad, came in to audition, and - according to Benair - "we hit it off right away. We auditioned two people. For one moment we considered becoming a five piece, but Jason got the gig."
The new line-up of The Three O'Clock soon entered the studio to record the Ian Ritchie-produced Vermillion, on Warner Bros. Records by way of Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
's Paisley Park Records
Paisley Park Records
Paisley Park Records was Prince's record label, associated with and funded in part by Warner Bros. Records. It was started in 1985, following the success of the film and album Purple Rain...
imprint. "Prince was aware of us from Arrive without Traveling and the “Her Head’s Revolving” video," said Benair. "The Bangles told us he was a fan, and when we were off IRS, he sent a label person to see us live. Prince himself contributed an upbeat song "Neon Telephone" to Vermillion under the pseudonym "Joey Coco". The album was a critical and commercial failure, and did not dent the charts. It was the last Three O'Clock album.
Breakup and aftermath: 1989-present
The Three O'Clock disbanded shortly after the release of Vermillion.- Michael Quercio briefly joined Game TheoryGame Theory (band)Game Theory was an American rock band from 1981 to 1989. The group's lead singer, Scott Miller, went on to front the band The Loud Family. Game Theory is best known for its double LP Lolita Nation. The band favored hyper-literary references, a la Jean-Luc Godard, including the evident...
in 1990. Thereafter, he founded Permanent Green Light, who released two albums, and, later, The Jupiter Affect. Quercio continues to play in L.A. pop bands.
- Louis Gutierrez played with Louis and Clark and then became a principal member of Mary's DanishMary's DanishMary's Danish were an alternative rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in the late 1980s and released a series of albums until 1992. The band creatively blended of rock, funk, country and soul elements....
.
- Danny Benair went to work for various record labels, later founding the Natural Energy Lab, a Los Angeles based music marketing company, which specializes in film, television & commercial placement. http://www.naturalenergylab.com
- Jason Falkner joined JellyfishJellyfish (band)Jellyfish were a power pop band from San Francisco. It formed after Beatnik Beatch broke up in 1989. The core members were drummer/singer/songwriter Andy Sturmer and keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter Roger Joseph Manning, Jr...
, then The GraysThe Grays (band)The Grays were a short-lived rock band comprising singer/songwriters/multi-instrumentalists Jon Brion, Jason Falkner, Buddy Judge, and Dan McCarroll...
, before launching a successful solo record career in the mid-1990s.
- Troy Howell started the group The Eyes of Mind, who recorded on Bomp Records. He also played with Cee Farrow and the band OOSoul (double oh soul)
Arrive Without Travelling and Ever After were released in 2002 on a single CD.
Offers to reunite the band have been unsuccessful.
Albums
as The Salvation Army:- The Salvation ArmyThe Salvation Army (album)The Salvation Army is the debut album by the The Salvation Army, released in 1982.In the summer of 1982, legal problems with the actual Salvation Army forced the band to change their name...
(1982) Frontier RecordsFrontier RecordsFrontier Records is an independent record label, started in 1980 in Los Angeles by Lisa Fancher, a former employee of Bomp! Records and writer of the liner notes for the first album by The Runaways....
as Befour Three O'Clock
- Befour Three O'Clock (1986) Reissue of Salvation Army LP
- Happen Happened (1992) CD Reissue of Salvation Army LP, plus 9 bonus tracks
as The Three O'Clock
- Baroque Hoedown (EP) (1982) (Frontier RecordsFrontier RecordsFrontier Records is an independent record label, started in 1980 in Los Angeles by Lisa Fancher, a former employee of Bomp! Records and writer of the liner notes for the first album by The Runaways....
) - Sixteen TambourinesSixteen TambourinesSixteen Tambourines is first album by the The Three O'Clock, released in 1983 ..-Track listing:All song written by Gutierrez and Quercio except were noted.Side A#Jet Fighter - 3.22...
(1983) (Frontier Records) - Arrive Without TravellingArrive Without TravellingArrive Without Travelling is the second album by The Three O'Clock, released in 1985 ..-Track listing:Side A#Her Head's Revolving - 3.09#Each And Every Lonely Heart - 3.25#Underwater - 3.01#Mrs...
(1985) (I.R.S. RecordsI.R.S. RecordsI.R.S. Records was a record label, started in the United States in 1979 by Miles Copeland III along with Jay Boberg and Carl Grasso. Miles was also the manager of Wishbone Ash, The Police, and later, Sting, as well as other bands. I.R.S. was the sister label of Copeland's Illegal Records .I.R.S...
) - Ever AfterEver After (The Three O'Clock album)Ever After is the third album by the The Three O'Clock, released in 1986 ..-Track listing:Side A#Suzie's On The Ball Now - 3.05#Look Into Our Eyes - 3.55#When We Can - 4.05#The Penny Girls - 3.22...
(1986) (I.R.S. Records) - VermillionVermillion (album)Vermillion is the 4th and last album by the The Three O'Clock, released in 1988..-Track listing:Side A#Vermillion - 0.38#Love Explosion - 4.01#To Be Where You Are - 3.55#When She Becomes My Girl - 3.30#World On Fire - 3.31...
(1988) (Paisley Park RecordsPaisley Park RecordsPaisley Park Records was Prince's record label, associated with and funded in part by Warner Bros. Records. It was started in 1985, following the success of the film and album Purple Rain...
)
Rarities
- Christmas Fan Club 7" Single Regina Challey
- "Insect Collector" Track on Shonen Knife Tribute CD
External links
- http://www.myspace.com/thethreeoclock Fansite
- [ The Three O'Clock on Allmusic.com]