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Thee Amazing Colossal Men / Compulsion

From: Dublin

Active: 1985-90

Style: from garage punk to neo-punk

Lineup:


Bio:

The earliest version of this band was The Five Cigarettes who played Dublin (including the Underground) around 1981-82. I have no more details about this lineup.

In their early days, Thee Amazing Colossal Men were grouped in with the 60s-inspired garage psych/punk scene of the mid-80s, along with the Golden Horde and The Gorehounds and the Guru Weirdbrain compilation (the "Rockabilly Psychosis" compilation was very influential). They played psychedelic 60s covers and were reputedly a fantastic live band, with prominent keyboards. The early lineups included Garret Lee (ex Casablanca Moon), Sid Rainey (ex Sid & The Stonecrushers), Dave Clifford (of Vox fanzine fame) and Mark O'Sullivan on vocals. Their only vinyl appearance as far as I'm aware was on the "Guru Weirdbrain" sampler. The recorded several demo tapes.

By 1987 the lineup was Garrett Lee plus Josephmary AKA Joey Barry of (ex Above The Thunderclouds, The Spies) on vocals, Declan O'Sullivan (also ex , later in ex Swinging Swine Eamonn Dowd's band) on keyboards, John Sullivan (bass) and Paul O'Brien (ex McClintic Sphere) on drums. They recorded two demos during 1987. The first contained voiceovers which Hot Press described as distracting. The second 6-song demo reviewed in November 1987 was described as being much better, with the live sound production suiting the powerful rock music on offer.

They were signed by Siren Records in February 1989, by which time Sid Rainey was back on bass and the band was playing neo punk and were touted as one of the New Wave Of New Wave bands (NWONW was an invention of Melody Maker). They later sued their record company (Siren/Virgin) for breach of contract and won. They regrouped as Compulsion with Dutch drummer Jan-Willem Alkema and made far better records on One Little Indian and Interscope Records during 1992-96.

Garret Lee later became Jacknife Lee and works as a producer (U2, Snow Patrol). His brother Derek is in Sack. Sid Rainey became an animator and TV producer/director, best know for the cartoon series Underground Ernie. Paul O'Brien later turned up in the Lee Harveys









Live at the Baggot Inn, Dublin on 17 July 1986, supporting The Baby Snakes.
[photos courtesy Mick Gillman]


Discography

• various artists - Weird Weird World of Guru Weirdbrain
LP - Hotwire Records - HWLP8505 - IRL - 1985
See Compilations section for full track listing.



• Take Me Higher (single)
7" - Siren Records - SRN 123 - February 1990 - PS
12" - Siren Records - SRNT 123 - February 1990 - PS
cd3 - Siren Records - SRNCD 123 - February 1990 - PS



• Super Love Experience (single)
7" - Siren Records - SRN126 - May 1990 - PS
12" - Siren Records - SRNT126 - May 1990 - PS

Tracks: Super Love Experience / Complications / Stay Awake [12"] / Superlovedeluxe [12"]


• Totale
LP - Siren Records - SRNLP26 - 1990 - inner sleeve, 10 tracks
CD - Siren Records - CDSRN26 - 1990 - inner sleeve, 11 tracks



Compulsion Discography

• Compulsion EP
12" - Fabulon Recorders - FLON1201 - UK - 1992


• Casserole EP
12" - Fabulon Recorders - FLON1202 - UK - 1993


• Boogie Woogie
CD - Elektra Records - 66228-2 - USA - 1994
Sampler drawn from the first two Fabulon Recorder EPs.


• Ninefourth / How Do I Breathe
5" - Frontier Records - ??? - USA - 199? - picture disc
Both tracks taken from the first two Fabulon Recorder EPs.


• Safety EP
12" - One Little Indian Records - TPLP 49 - UK - 1993


• Eating / Later With Gas
7" - One Little Indian Records - COMPUL1 - UK - 1994 - PS, tour freebie


• Mall Monarchy EP
12" - One Little Indian Records - 85tp7 - UK - 28 February 1994 - PS, poster pack


• Comforter
LP - One Little Indian Records - TPLP59 - 28 March 1994
2xCD - Interscope/One Little Indian Records - TPLP59CDL - 28 March 1994

Notes
The limited edition double-CD set included the first two Fabulon Recorder EPs on the second disc. This was later made available separarely as "Hi-Fi".


• Basketcase EP
CDS - One Little Indian Records - 95tp7cd - UK - 6 June 1994


• Question Time For The Proles EP
CDS - One Little Indian Records - 105TP7CD - UK - 1996


• Juvenile Scene Detective EP
CDS - One Little Indian Records - 115TP7CD - UK - 24 June 1996


• The Future is Medium
CD - One Little Indian Records - TPLP79CD - 27 June 1996


• Juvenile Scene Detective (Howie B remix)
12" - One Little Indian Records - 115TP12?? - UK - 1996
• Juvenile Scene Detective (Graham Massey remix)
12" - One Little Indian Records - 115TP12?? - UK - 1996
• Juvenile Scene Detective (Scanner remix)
12" - One Little Indian Records - 115TP12?? - UK - 1996
• Juvenile Scene Detective (Static remix)
12" - One Little Indian Records - 115TP12ST - UK - 1996


• Hi-Fi
CD - One Little Indian Records - ??? - UK - ????
Collects the first two Fabulon Recorder EPs.
Originally available as the bonus CD with the limited double-disc edition of "Comforter".


• I Like Compulsion And Compulsion Likes Me
CD - One Little Indian Records - TPLP850CD - UK - June 2002
Besf Of compilation


• Hi-Fi
CD - One Little Indian Records - ??? - UK - ????
Collects the first two Fabulon Recorder EPs.
Originally available as the bonus CD with the limited double-disc edition of "Comforter".


Jacknife Lee Discography

• Bursting Off The Backbeat EP
12" - Running With Scissors - 12PP7016 - UK - 1999
The CDS may have different mixes


• Punk Rock High Roller
2xLP/CD - Palm Pictures Records - PALMLP20247 - UK - 2000


• Aloha Satellite Special EP
12" - Palm Pictures Records - PPLP1270311 - UK - 2000


• Easy EP
CDS - Running With Scissors - PPCD70392 - UK - 2000



Help!

We need your help to correct and/or complete this entry. If you can provide more information about this band, have scans, photos or any other memorabilia we can use, or spare copies of any releases, then please get in touch.




See Also: Sid & The Stonecrushers



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