The History of The Ketchup Bear
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Hours of recorded material, mostly unlistenable, W/ATE/R released one album in June 1982
entitled 'THE KETCHUP BEAR' (ANT402-B) In some discographies, this is listed as the first
Ketchup Bears album. It is not. Andrew Bononet had worked with Richard J. Christian briefly in 1980. Christian left and Bononet was contacted by his old friend Buster Philips. |
THE OMNI-SENSORY EXTRAVAGANZA was a multi- media event performed and recorded June 12, 1982. The show went on to play before sold-out crowds on three continents and the soundtrack has become a definitive collector's item.
| CASH NEXUS born in Davenport 28th Dec 1963. Lived in many places during his childhood... Seabright, San Francisco, Idaho, McKinleyville, and West Germany. Spent some time at the Victoria School of Art in the mid-seventies. Played with various bands including SAD CLOWNS, COMMON DECENCY, HOLLOW DOGS, and KONEHED. Joined Bugs Galore in FENDER DAMPEN OSCAR - A pub band that never quite caught on. Nexus: "It was too high concept. Bands like that shouldn't sing in French." Moved to California in 1980. |
Baji-Tsu
Philips
Nexus
Bononet
effects
| ERIC VINCENT born in Italy 16th June 1960. Parents split when he was three and he and his mother moved to a farm in Idaho where he spent most of his formative years. Played in several groups at high school - most notably ERIC AND REAL DELILAH with his high school sweetheart Delilah Statcheweske. His part in the road production of "Tell Me Truthfully" brought him to California in the early 80s. |
| THEODORE POLE born in Arcata 22nd Nov 1962. Worked in the foodservice industry for ten years before he picked up an instrument. Began to play bass and, within four months, was in high demand. Did session work for MUDCAKE, ENRICO TABLE, CLIMMER, KARMAX, OSE, and more. Received a call from Vincent to work on "Tell Me Truthfully" and moved to Los Angeles. Did session work before joining THE KETCHUP BEARS in 1982 at Vincent's insistence. |
Philips
Nexus
Vincent
Carpenter
Project
Daughty
Table
Smith
Corman
Guitarists
and
| BRUCE FLETCHER born in Washington 16th Aug 1960. The oldest son of a steelworker. Studied guitar under Weldon Cannonbury before being enticed into drumming by Laura Creighton. He and his long-time friend / bandmate Richard Christian uprooted and moved to California in 1984. He has also worked with NUTZLICHE AUSDRUCKE, GLOW WORM, and THE MOUNTAIN GOATS. |
| KETCHUP BEARS DEC 82 TO JAN 85 Theodore Pole was a local hero and an old classmate of Vincent's. Bugs Galore was something of a legend himself, having quit nearly every band in the area vowing "never to join another band again" each time. To date, Galore has quit 47 bands. Why does he keep coming back? Sit down, temporal thought, it's forever again. Read on. |
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FLETCHER CHRISTIAN FEB 1983 TO JAN 1985 Bruce Fletcher and Richard J. Christian had been in many local bands (DEW, KREKLE, MUD). Cut two singles: 'Blowfish/Tub' (DEL848-May84) and 'Devil Eye/May' (DEL6-Dec84) before |
| BUGS GALORE born in Trinidad 8th March 1965. Left school to make his fortune playing music. Began quitting bands in the late-seventies | ||
| and, by 1980, had established a reputation as a brilliant guitarist and obsessive idealist. Joined The Ketchup Bears in Jan 83 and stayed with them for several years. Quit in Jan 85 and went into session work until June at which point The Livin' B'Jesus formed. |
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Galore
Nexus
Vincent
Pole
Fletcher
Christian
Bononet
Table
Smith
Corman
Nexus
| Nexus gained the odd moniker 'The Ketchup Bear' while vacationing at the Hotel D'Alkaline in the spring of 1976 with members of Wckr Spgt. Nexus: "Do you like ketchup? I like ketchup. In fact, I like ketchup so much, I want to spread it all over your body and let the bear run wild!" Nexus still refers to himself in the third person as 'The Bear' Fetish? Quirk? You be the judge. |
| Nexus: "After KB, I needed a break. Why I hooked up with Olivia again, I'll never know." |
| More neat facts: Buster Philips has recently published a book about the formative years with Nexus. 'A Dental View of Nexus' (Delta Books-Jan91) attributes much of the chaos and dischord of the early years to Nexus' bad teeth, poor eating habits, and unwillingness to floss. | Eric Vincent's father, Michael, had been a dentist in the 1950s and contends that his son's problems stem from an irregular diet and poor dental hygiene. Coincidence? You can't be too sure. Michael Vincent has not published a book about anything. |
Nexus
Vincent
Pole
Fletcher
Christian
Table
Smith
Corman
Nexus
Guitarists
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THE LIVIN' B'JESUS JUNE 1985 TO MARCH 1987 Formed by Galore and Huschle to accommodate the resurgence of acoustic music, this project recorded one album: 'CALFNECK AND OTHER LOVE SONGS' (ANLB121-Oct85) and released one single: 'Circle K/Clint' (ANLB122-Dec85). Toured extensively through 1987. Eventually disbanded, Huschle returning to Wckr Spgt and Galore quitting music forever. |
Artists
Galore
Banwell
Hardgrove
Fritz
Huschle
Baji-Tsu
Philips
Nexus
Vincent
Christian
Stevenson-
Bononet
| Cottonwood | |
| drums |
sessions
forever
art
Toughskins
Oct 86
AUGUST 1987 TO FEBRUARY 1988 Pierson met Smith in art school and they collaborated on the highly-acclaimed 'Cirkus D'Arcangelo Atheum' in 1979. Pierson met the 'eclectic and very fashionable' Damascus at a coffeehouse in Scottsdale in 1987 and they worked on the incredibly over-publicized 'TWO FORGONE BELOW MEAT' (AND03-Oct87) while Smith and Corman continued to work with ETSE. Smith was losing interest in Deathworm Dover but was unwilling to throw the towel in completely.
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ELECTRIC B'JESUS AND THE LIVIN' BASS BAND |
APRIL TO AUGUST 1988 Nexus saw The Livin' B'Jesus |
| at the Concrete Underground in 1987 and was crushed to hear that they broke up. At his insistence, B'Jesus reformed, this time with all electric basses! Nexus took the band to Ohio to record 'VARIATIONS ON LISA - A WORK IN PROGRESS' (ANEB43-Aug88). This talented group soon parted and returned to the projects from whence they came. One single was issued: ' Red Thick / In Short (Art)' (ANEB48-Oct88). Several B'Jesus projects have been put together in haste but nothing permanent. Rest assured, B'Jesus will return. | |
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KETCHUP BEARS #2 JUNE 1985 TO SEPTEMBER 1988 Logi Fall recruited from FURTHERMORE, mainly to fill in for Nexus. Vincent: "It got to a point where we were imposing on Cash when we had a show". With Nexus, they recorded two albums: 'PIGWASHER' (ANKB12-May86) and 'STATURE OF LIBERTINE' (ANKB183-Nov87). Fall, an avid skydiver, disappeared in 1987. The Ketchup Bears called upon Edwin Corman. |
| Damascus has published one book of his poetry: 'THE LIMBS OF THE POET-TREE' (Delta Books-1989) |
Firman
Haller
Housen
Miller
Barnes
Fritz
Huschle
Carpenter
Nexus
Vincent
Pole
Fletcher
Fall
Corman
Damascus
Smith
Pierson
Republic
in NYC
| Carpenter, Huschle, and Nexus had established a very productive working relationship by 1987. When Wckr Spgt needed some guitar work done, they would call Nexus- most noteworthy being 'DANCE TIL YOU STOP' (ANT017-June87) and 'THE CHARLES MANSION' (ANT01008-Feb91). Jones and Carlson had been recruited from Desperation Squad, the band they would return to in 1989. See the Wckr Spgt family tree and the Desperation Squad tree for more information. |
| CASH NEXUS WITH THE WCKR SPGT BAND SEPT TO DEC 1988 It was no surprise when Wckr Spgt showed up on a Nexus project. They released two singles: 'Wiggly / Cram This Truth, Dog' (ANCW2-Oct88) and 'Tuscon Buttercup / Ragdoll' (ANC54-Dec88). |
| THE KETCHUP BEARS #3 OCTOBER TO DECEMBER 1988 Toured briefly with Corman filling in for the increasingly absent Nexus. Pole: "Nexus is a brilliant artist but he was spreading himself too thin. We had dates booked that he just couldn't make. We needed something." Corman called it quits in December and Vincent, Pole, and Fletcher joined T.H.U.D.. The song 'Time Is All We Earn' was used in the 1989 film 'Aluminum Foil Hat' and subsequently issued as a single, the last |
| KB song... Nexus' side projects included THE BEARLIAN ORCHESTRA. |
Carlson
Jones
Givens
Huschle
Carpenter
Nexus
Vincent
Pole
Fletcher
Corman
Smith
Pierson
Misor
| MISTAKEN IDENTITY resulted from a project with Gregg Turner (ANGRY SAMOANS) in 1987. That project introduced Nexus to Burtis ("Mo Tucker could never dream this good"- Turner). Godseye drummer Alan Waddington III had been the drummer for NIXON'S REVENGE with Carpenter. Nexus called on Waddington to record with "that strange girl from W/ATE/R" and Waddington was more than happy to do it. Some critics think Nexus placed too much importance on the success of these projects and the pressure was too great for Baji-Tsu. Others say she would have lost it anyway. Nexus was heartbroken when these projects didn't work out. I think the 'slap of reality' resulted in a need for Nexus to solidify his reality base and stabilize his work. |
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MISTAKEN IDENTITY
AND
GODSEYE |
| DECEMBER 1988 TAB Same idea, different drummers. TAB FEBRUARY 1989 |
| Nexus had been searching for Baji-Tsu since her disappearance in 1985. He found her and her day passes resulted in these two projects. Mistaken Identity released one single: 'Purina Baby / Don't Be' (ANM35-Dec88). Burtis left the session screaming. Godseye released one single: 'Jump Right Back / My Cat' (AND31-Feb89). Waddington was pleased. Nexus felt that these projects would bring Baji-Tsu out but he was wrong. For the complete story of Olivia Baji-Tsu, read 'Don't Be Me, I Am' (details to your left). Love lost is love gained, natch. |
| T.H.U.D #2 AUGUST 88 TO FEB 89 T.H.U.D #2 toured the UK from August 88 to December 88. A live album was recorded ('T.H.U.D.U.K.8.8.') but not released until 1991 as a response to a plethora of bootlegs. Pierson: "Brad was doing some amazing things with live tape manipulation." One studio album: 'UNDENIABLE FENCE' (AND38-Oct88) and one single: 'One Eye Closed / Is My Eye Closed?' (AND34-Nov88). A stunning feat for only five months! |
Baji-Tsu
Huschle
Carpenter
Nexus
Galore
Waddington III
Vincent
Pole
Fletcher
Smith
Pierson
| 'Don't Be Me, I Am' by Cynthia Kirkwood (Pelekinesis Books-90) is a brilliant account of Baji-Tsu's struggle with life and art. It contains interviews with Daniel Johnston, Roky Erikson, Syd Barrett, Reverend Roger, and Charlie McAlister. It also documents an important time in Nexus' life. Invaluable source and a very moving document. |
| Nexus and the legendary Curless Laverty formed CHICKEN DAMAGE in November 1992. Several successful shows lead to the release of 'SYNAPSE LIKE POPCORN' (GLIDGE003-March93) in the UK. Two singles: 'Laugh About It / I Like My Bike' (ANTCD23-April93) and 'What's In The Box? / Tell Me How You Feel' (ANTCD25-May93). |
| CASH NEXUS MARCH 1989 TO AUG 1997 Recorded an old Electric B'Jesus song ('Featherbed' - ANT06-June89) then toured for 16 months. Released three more singles: 'It Doesn't Matter Today / The Ballad of Logi Fall' (ANTD15-Feb91) 'Sweet / Feelings (pt. II)' (ANTE16-July91), and 'Nothing To Write Home About, Really / I'm Not Like You' (ANTE17-D-July92). One album was recorded but never released ('TOO HARD TO HANG'). Nexus continued to work on various projects through this period with Vincent, Pole, |
| T.H.U.D. #3 NOV 1989 TO PRESENT Upon returning to the US, Vincent, Pole, and Fletcher returned to a grateful Nexus. "T.H.U.D. is just us now", says Smith. With a new outlook comes a new sound and two albums: '20080501' (AND26-Jan90) and '1508-20080501' (AND34-Jan91). They do |
| This family tree is chock full of ambiguities and irregularities (not to mention a pig-barrel of euphemism). Most of these are deliberate or, at least, intentional. All things considered, there is still an awful lot of information packed onto this chart. My apologies to Pete, my love to Berit, and my thanks to the following informationalists: Cash Nexus, Bugs Galore, Eric Vincent, Tad Pole, Bruce Fletcher, Richard J. Christian, Cynthia Kirkwood, Matt Pierson, Brad Smith, Joel Huschle, Dave Carpenter, Mark Givens, Edwin Corman, Anthropology Records, Mesa Garland Media, Delta Books, Pelekinesis Books, Robert A. Wilson, Wckr Spgt MultiMediums, Dennis Callaci, Jupa Records, The OSE Foundation, Steven Levy, John Darnielle, Roger Gee, Alan Watts, Rosanne Lindley, Jim Banwell, Paula Nix, Quick Fox, Kim Dillbeck, The Reverend Howard Drucker, Thea Makow, Ayrne Bardge, Deft Milo, Climmer, Damage Corps, The Stevenson- Cottonwood Mime Institute, Peter Hughes, The Mountain Goats, Kristi Engle, Kizan, Pete Herzog, Scott Quackenbos, Pancho Bodnar, Bonnie Gavel, James Gleick, Bob Oostmeyer, Rhino Records, Chuck Woodbury, Jon Fallon, Kevin Ausmus, and the staff of Sonic Enemy. Without this support, you would be staring at a very blank chart. |
| not tour anymore, prefering the "solice inside to the chaos without". |
Nexus
Vincent
Pole
Fletcher
Smith
Pierson
| Cash Nexus has released four albums: 'DANCIN' ON THE DEVIL'S TAIL' (CICDP02-1994) 'MISLABELED' (CICDP23-1995), 'WHY YOU SO MONKEY?' (HUT12-1996), and 'HARLING FIELDGATE'S PLIERS' (FB43-1996). While Vincent, Pole and Fletcher are noted on several of these recordings, their presence is markedly limited. Following the success of Chicken Damage, Nexus seems to prefer the "team-up" (if he's to record with someone else at all). Rumor has it that Nexus has joined forces with a painter from Wisconsin and a new project entitled "JOHNNY SOMEWHERE' is in the studio (September 1997) recording their new album. God only knows... |