Suggest New Bands and Artists - Pere Ubu in Prog Related

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Pere Ubu in Prog Related

Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Suggest New Bands and Artists
Forum Description: Suggest, create polls, and classify new bands you would like included on Prog Archives
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=88031
Printed Date: July 18 2025 at 23:52
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Topic: Pere Ubu in Prog Related

Posted By: smartpatrol
Subject: Pere Ubu in Prog Related
Date Posted: July 01 2012 at 20:52

I have recently fallen in love with the art-punk band Pere Ubu. I was very dissapointed to find that they were not in this site, as I thought they'd fall perfectly into Prog Related. If you listen to thier first three albums, which I have put here in thier entirety, I think you will agree.

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The greatest record label of all time!

Replies:

Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 01 2012 at 21:23

Pere Ubu is terrific, and I've wondered if the band could find a way into Prog Archives. Although I think in terms of the sound the band would be fine for Prog Related, there are more criteria to getting into that category which makes getting acts into there challenging (and a special collab needs to support it, which could be me). That said, the band also has a Prog relation due to personnel, as well as, I think, the experimentation and approach to music. For instance, Chris Cutler of Henry Cow, Art Bears, and News from Babel was a drummer for Pere Ubu between 87 and 90. And Anton Fier (drummer 81 and 82) has worked on various projects in PA , and one of its members has been with Captain Beefheart and His Magic band. Mind you, I think there's only been one consistent member has been the singer Davis Thomas.

Here's some sites for reference:

http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/pere_ubu" rel="nofollow - http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/pere_ubu

rateyourmusic wrote:

Related Artists

http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/battle_of_mice" rel="nofollow - Battle of Mice , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the_book_of_knots" rel="nofollow - The Book of Knots , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/captain_beefheart" rel="nofollow - Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/dna" rel="nofollow - DNA , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/dr__bloodmoney" rel="nofollow - Dr. Bloodmoney , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/easter_monkeys" rel="nofollow - Easter Monkeys , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the_electric_eels" rel="nofollow - The Electric Eels , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the_feelies" rel="nofollow - The Feelies , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/foreign_bodies_f1" rel="nofollow - Foreign Bodies , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/henry_cow" rel="nofollow - Henry Cow , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/home_and_garden_f1" rel="nofollow - Home & Garden , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the_killer_shrews" rel="nofollow - The Killer Shrews , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/knife_and_fork" rel="nofollow - Knife & Fork , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/mirrors" rel="nofollow - Mirrors , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/sarah_jane_morris" rel="nofollow - Sarah Jane Morris , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/neptunes_car" rel="nofollow - Neptune's Car , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the_ordinaires" rel="nofollow - The Ordinaires , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/red_krayola" rel="nofollow - Red Krayola , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/rocket_from_the_tombs" rel="nofollow - Rocket From the Tombs , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/speakercranker" rel="nofollow - Speaker\Cranker , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the_styrenes" rel="nofollow - The Styrenes , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/they_came_from_the_stars_i_saw_them" rel="nofollow - They Came From the Stars I Saw Them , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/tripod_jimmie" rel="nofollow - Tripod Jimmie , http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the_vivians" rel="nofollow - The Vivians

Genres

http://rateyourmusic.com/genre/Post%2dPunk/" rel="nofollow - Post-Punk , http://rateyourmusic.com/genre/Art+Punk/" rel="nofollow - Art Punk , http://rateyourmusic.com/genre/Art+Rock/" rel="nofollow - Art Rock , http://rateyourmusic.com/genre/Experimental+Rock/" rel="nofollow - Experimental Rock , http://rateyourmusic.com/genre/Proto%2dPunk/" rel="nofollow - Proto-Punk , http://rateyourmusic.com/genre/New+Wave/" rel="nofollow - New Wave , http://rateyourmusic.com/genre/Alternative+Rock/" rel="nofollow - Alternative Rock , http://rateyourmusic.com/genre/Art+Pop/" rel="nofollow - Art Pop

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pere_Ubu" rel="nofollow - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pere_Ubu

wikipedia wrote:

...From these first recordings, Pere Ubu sounded like little else. Their propulsive http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm" rel="nofollow - rhythmic pulse was similar to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krautrock" rel="nofollow - Krautrock , but Thomas's yelping, howling, desperate singing was and still is peculiar when compared to most other rock and roll singers ... Their debut album, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Modern_Dance" rel="nofollow - The Modern Dance (1978), contained a remix of "The Modern Dance" and the original mix of "Street Waves", sold poorly, but has proven influential. Musicians of many types, including http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_rock" rel="nofollow - progressive rock , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punk_rock" rel="nofollow - punk rock , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_punk" rel="nofollow - post punk and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Wave_music" rel="nofollow - New Wave , were influenced by the dark, abstract record....

http://www.ubuprojex.net/pereubu.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.ubuprojex.net/pereubu.html

ubuprojex wrote:

In 1981, Thomas recorded the first of two albums with British folk-rock guitarist Richard Thompson. Three more solo albums featured members of the dormant Ubu. The last of these, 1987's Ubu-like http://www.ubuprojex.net/solo.html#btm" rel="nofollow - Blame The Messenger (by David Thomas and the Wooden Birds), led to the reanimation of the Pere Ubu projex. The line-up had been Thomas, Allen Ravenstine, Tony Maimone, http://www.ccutler.com" rel="nofollow - Chris Cutler and http://www.ubuprojex.net/bio.html#jj" rel="nofollow - Jim Jones . Jones was a stalwart on the Cleveland scene and a member of nearly every good band to come from it, at one time or another. Cutler, drummer in English prog-rock outfits Henry Cow and Art Bears, was an early advocate of Ubu and subsequently became a friend of the band. At a Wooden Birds appearance in Cleveland, Krauss sat in with the band. The two drummers line-up sounded good. Later, at the beginning of a European tour, in the lobby of a hotel in Ijmuiden, Holland, Pere Ubu was reactivated. Krauss was asked to join as a second drummer. The clattering http://www.ubuprojex.net/ty.html" rel="nofollow - Tenement Year , recorded for a British label (Fontana) headed by Ubu fanatic Dave Bates, followed in March 1988.

Teamed with another Ubu fan, producer Stephen Hague (Pet Shop Boys, New Order), Ubu shifted gears for 1989's http://www.ubuprojex.net/cld.html" rel="nofollow - Cloudland , an epic journey across the landscape of America. Tired of touring and the grind of it all, Ravenstine retired to take up a career as an airline pilot for Northwest Airlines. He was replaced by Eric Drew Feldman (Captain Beefheart, Snakefinger) who appeared on Stereo Review's Record of The Year, http://www.ubuprojex.net/wic.html" rel="nofollow - Worlds In Collision , produced by Gil Norton (The Pixies). Cutler, unable to juggle all the demands of his many musical projects, had to leave....

So yeah, I personally think this would be a good and fitting addition.

Note: I moved this to the Suggest new Bands forum.

By the way, It was suggested for inclusion a long time ago -- for reference purposes:

Topic: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22558&KW=Pere+Ubu&SID=czfb2zdz-4dcc-cfc9f8be-3142f8ba-a34b8zb6" rel="nofollow - - Pere - Ubu and Chrome

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Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me.

Posted By: Evolver
Date Posted: July 02 2012 at 12:24

I have the Dub Housing LP. Grating but cool.

Thomas' vocals are an acquired taste.

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Trust me. I know what I'm doing.

Posted By: Andy Webb
Date Posted: July 02 2012 at 12:32

I'm not the biggest fan, but if you want to sponsor them Greg go right ahead.

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http://ow.ly/8ymqg" rel="nofollow">

Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 02 2012 at 20:38

I don't particularly want to even though I think there is a substantial case because there are others that I care more about that I think could be in PR, but I'd be willing to sponsor the case if smartpatrol would be willing to prepare the addition if it's accepted. That said, I'd rather wait a while to see if or how discussion develops in this thread before considering taking it to admin as I would hope that various members would build up the case in this thread (Pere Ubu is not exactly obscure so I would expect a level of interest from the general PA crowd).

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Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me.

Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: July 02 2012 at 21:11

Pere Ubu's main barrier to PA entry, I think, is their close tie to the punk scene, which tends to put them in a "bad" prog light. That said, I think their first 5 albums (the only ones I have) are about as daring as music got in the late 70s and early 80s, and albums like The Art of Walking and Song of the Bailing Man are basically RIO albums in all but name.

I think of them as similar in ways to the Red Krayola, and I know that band has recently been shot down for addition too. I don't see any good reason why both bands shouldn't be in here, but I haven't taken part in the genre teams so I don't know what's involved. I always say - whether they're in PA or not, you can still enjoy them to your hearts' content, and you can even find likeminded fans in a place like this to discuss them with.

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My other avatar is a Porsche

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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: July 03 2012 at 07:47

I've got The Art Of Walking and New Picnic Time, which happen to be the era of the band I like the least. I had heard of them but not actually heard anything until Raygun Suitcase came out. The Folly Of Youth was playing on a college radio station. Didn't like as much the next two albums (Pennsylvania and St. Arkansas) they released after that but like those better than those earlier two. Add Worlds In Collision, Cloudland, and Story Of My life to Raygun and you have what are for me the four essentials.

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Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...

Posted By: Smurph
Date Posted: April 24 2013 at 22:33

To bring this thought back... I truly think these guys warrant a prog-related inclusion. They are forward thinking, and include members of well known prog bands.

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http://pseudosentai.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - http://pseudosentai.bandcamp.com/

wtf

Posted By: ExittheLemming
Date Posted: April 26 2013 at 04:15

Lift that post punk rock and watch the following scuttle in all directions for attention: Banshees, Cure, New Order, Magazine, Television, Josef K, Monochrome Set, Ultravox, Bauhaus, OMD, XTC, Fall, A Certain Ratio, Clock DVA, Cabaret Voltaire, Cocteau Twins, Joy Division, Psychedelic Furs, Teardrop Explodes, Creatures, Wall of Voodoo, Devo, Durutti Column, Eyeless in Gaza, Fad Gadget, Flying Lizards, You've Got Foetus on Your Breath, Gang of Four, Nina Hagen, Icicle Works, Soft Boys, Killing Joke, Laughing Clowns, Lydia Lunch, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Pigbag, Prefab Sprout, PIL, Shriekback, the Smiths, Soft Cell, Sonic Youth, Spear of Destiny, Suicide, Tears for Fears, That Petrol Emotion, The The, Gary Numan/Tubeway Army, Virgin Prunes, Waterboys, (the list goes on and some of the foregoing may even be here already)

All are forward thinking, adventurous, challenging and innovative certainly, but for me (who adores most of the foregoing artists), none qualify for admission to any of the categories on this site. Maybe it's a sign of the dearth (and maybe impossibility) of genuinely new Prog that initiates such debates in the first place?

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Posted By: Smurph
Date Posted: April 26 2013 at 06:07

But the difference here is that this band includes a member of Book of Knots, and shoot, even Chris Cutler plays in this band.

I don't think many of the other bands listed here have people like Chris Cutler involved.

I certainly agree that we don't need to open the site to bands like Sonic Youth and some of the others you listed, i simply thought this band would have more pull because of the members involved.

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http://pseudosentai.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - http://pseudosentai.bandcamp.com/

wtf

Posted By: VOTOMS
Date Posted: August 13 2013 at 10:50

After the great Swans discussion, I think Pere Ubu fits a way better than Swans here, RIO or prog related.

Posted By: VOTOMS
Date Posted: January 22 2015 at 05:43

I still think they deserve a place here.

Posted By: bucka001
Date Posted: January 22 2015 at 06:16

For their most recent album, Dave Thomas listened to Pawn Hearts every day for inspiration. Haven't heard the album, but if it's anything close to the spirit of Pawn Hearts, it won't be boring (that's for sure).

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jc