Ben Wallers
Encyclopedia
Benedict Roger Wallers (a.k.a. The Rebel) (born 15 September 1971 in St Albans
, Hertfordshire
) is the frontman, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the band Country Teasers
. His lyrics often deal with taboo
subjects such as racism
, sexism
and xenophobia
from first-person standpoints. His great friend Graham Brodie is his main influence when composing.
Songs Appearing on Compilations:
regulars Alan Crichton, Eck King, Alastair MacKinven and Lawrence Worthington as well as Keith Farquhar on vocals. The band recorded two Peel Sessions, three singles and appeared on the Guided Missile Records compilation Hits and Missiles. The Male Nurse's output was marked by heavy influence of Mark E. Smith
's, The Fall.
) Peter Hart and Ben Pestell. They released a six-song mini-album titled "21 Years in Kranj
", two singles for Guided Missile, and appeared on four compilations.
.
recording project involving Amir Shoat and Ben Wallers. Between Autumn 2001 and Spring 2002 they recorded a 99-song album which was then distilled into a twelve-track 12" LP in 2007 and released as Side Three of The Moon on Difficult Time In Mental Jail Records
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
) is the frontman, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the band Country Teasers
Country Teasers
Country Teasers is a Scottish art punk band formed in 1993.Early Country Teasers albums were characterised by illiterate, scathingly satirical lyrics and discordant, repetitive sound – like William S...
. His lyrics often deal with taboo
Taboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
subjects such as racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, sexism
Sexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
and xenophobia
Xenophobia
Xenophobia is defined as "an unreasonable fear of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange". It comes from the Greek words ξένος , meaning "stranger," "foreigner" and φόβος , meaning "fear."...
from first-person standpoints. His great friend Graham Brodie is his main influence when composing.
The Rebel
As well as Country Teasers, Wallers records under the moniker The Rebel. Most of the recordings, which are largely abridged musical interpretations of arcane and proper historical text, have not seen official release (several for the reason that they are "not masterpieces"). Before 1998 The Rebel was not known as The Walrus, but was named Walrus after the Wallers family name. The name 'The Rebel' is a reference and homage to the film starring Tony Hancock. Ben Wallers represents himself by a symbol called a Spakenkreuz, which is a Swastika (Hakenkreuz) with a broken (or 'spastic') arm, bent backwards to cross over the previous arm in the circularity of the swastika. As far as he is aware, he invented this symbol.- The Rebel - Pre-Pub EP//Year Of Birds - Blocker For Coinslot EP, (Ack! Ack! Ack! Records, split twelve inch, 2012)
- The Rebel/The Bomber Jackets E.P., (Savoury Days and Kill Shaman RecordsKill Shaman RecordsKill Shaman Records is an independent record label which was founded in 2003 by Paul Kneejie and Crabby Levine in Los Angeles, CA. It is now split in both Oakland and Los Angeles, CA.-Artists:* 24K Gold* Aa* Agent Side Grinder* Baby's Breath* Bad Dudes...
, split seven inch, 2011) - The Race Against Time Hots UP, (Junior Aspirin RecordsJunior Aspirin RecordsJunior Aspirin Records is a not for profit, artist-run independent record label founded in 2002 and located in London , England. It has released music by a number of artists in limited editions on divergent formats...
, twelve inch, 2010) - The Incredible Hulk, (Junior Aspirin Records, twelve inch, 2009)
- Aiming Low E.P., (Lexi Disques, seven inch, 2009)
- Mouthwatering Claustrophobic Changes!, (Junior Aspirin Records, twelve inch, 2009)
- Kufr E.P.Kufr E.P.Kufr E.P. is a limited edition five-song version of The Rebel's Kufr released by Needle Soup Records in early 2009. Kufr EP is the second album released on Needle Soup.- Track listing :#"Unproactive Beetle" - 2:10#"Sir Geoffery" - 1:53...
, (Needle Soup Records, compact disc, 2009) - Northern Rocks Bear Weird VegetableNorthern Rocks Bear Weird VegetableNorthern Rocks Bear Weird Vegetable is, technically speaking, both the first studio album and the first live album for Ben Wallers' The Rebel. The album was recorded live in WFMU's New Jersey studio in March 2008 for Brian Turner's program...
, (Sacred Bones RecordsSacred Bones RecordsSacred Bones Records is an independent record label founded in 2007, based in Brooklyn, NY. The label has released recordings from artists including Zola Jesus, Moon Duo, The Men, Cult of Youth and Blank Dogs...
, twelve inch, 2008) - Live Aids E.P.Live AidsLive AIDS is a 7" single by The Rebel that was released in Summer 2008. The limited edition clear gold single is the first release from Montreal "weird punk" label Kanker Mongool. The title is both a play on Live Aid, as well as a nod to The Rebel's tour mates, AIDS Wolf, of which both Kanker...
, (Kanker Mongool, seven inch, 2008) - Tarscoffsky's The Snackrifice E.P., (Emperor JonesEmperor JonesEmperor Jones is a small Austin, Texas based independent record label founded in 1995 by Craig Stewart. It has released albums by acts such as Alastair Galbraith, The American Analog Set, Roky Erickson, Thuja, ST37, The Mountain Goats, Stick Men with Ray Guns, Peter Jefferies, Pip Proud, Rusted...
, twelve inch, 2007) - KufrKufr (album)Kufr is the twenty-eighth solo album recorded by B.R. Wallers under the name The Rebel and the fifth to be released widely.-Side one:#"'Blind Peters Frigid Lee', 1985 'Naked Eye' Tour" - 1:14#"Ebony V...
, (self-released compact disc, 2007) - Brown Girl in the RingBrown Girl in the Ring (album)Brown Girl in the Ring is the twenty-seventh solo album recorded by B.R. Wallers under the name The Rebel, the fourth to be released widely. It contains four songs from his 2005 non-release, Frederick the Great of Prussia's Second Hard Album....
, (self-released twelve inch, 2006) - Bums on a Rock E.P. (AKA "Assassin Strikes In China Town"), (Flitwick Records, seven inch, 2006)
- Frederick the Great of Prussia's Second Hard Album (unpublished), (self-released cassette, 2005)
- PrawnsPrawns (album)Prawns is the twenty-fifth solo album recorded by B.R. Wallers under the name The Rebel, the third to be released widely. It is the album version of "Unfired Covenish Den. New Fresh Concepts in Germ Enticement". Another version of "Hitlers & Churchills" would later appear on the Country Teasers...
, (Junior Aspirin RecordsJunior Aspirin RecordsJunior Aspirin Records is a not for profit, artist-run independent record label founded in 2002 and located in London , England. It has released music by a number of artists in limited editions on divergent formats...
, twelve inch/self-released compact disc, 2004/2005) - KitKit (album)Kit is the twenty-fourth solo album recorded by B.R. Wallers under the name The Rebel, the second to be released widely.-Side one:#"Kit" - 3:36#"Kneel, Mulholland: Drive!" - 3:36#"Solina" - 1:49#"Tammy Payton Likes A Boy" - 2:32#"I.E.S.V" - 2:06...
, (Hook or Crook Records, compact disc, 2004/2005) - The Rocket Breaks DownThe Rocket Breaks DownThe Rocket Breaks Down is the twenty-third solo album recorded by B.R. Wallers under the name The Rebel, but only the first to be released widely....
, (Pecan Crazy Records, compact disc, 2003/2004) - Exciting New Venue For Soccer and Execution of Women E.P.Exciting New Venue For Soccer and Execution of Women E.P.Exciting New Venue For Soccer and Execution of Women E.P. is four song 7" E.P. by The Rebel released in 2004 by the French label, SDZ Records. Versions of "Please Ban Music" and "Spiderman in the Flesh" would later appear on the Country Teasers album The Empire Strikes Back- Side B...
, (SDZ Records, seven inch, 2003/2004) - Nuclear Jazz Holocaust, (self-released cassette, 2003)
- Titrack Luxury or Bums on a Rock, (self-released cassette, 2003)
- Sternold the Bachelor or Music 2000, (self-released cassette, 2003)
- Nature's Wind Mixed Wine with Lethe, (self-released cassette, 2002)
- Frederick the Great of Prussia's New Album, (self-released cassette, 2001)
- Idiots v. Spastics E.P.Idiots v. Spastics E.P.Idiot V. Spastics" E.P. is the first four-song 7" E.P. by The Rebel released by Guided Missile Records. The liner notes claim that the lyrics to "Julie's Resolution" are used without permission and that the "plot" to "The Idiot" is stolen from "W...
, (Guided Missile RecordingsGuided MissileGuided Missile is a London based independent record label set up by Paul Kearney in 1994.Guided Missile has always focused on 'the underground', preferring to put out a steady flow of releases and developing the numerous GM events around London and beyond....
, seven inch, 2000) - Knees Together Feet Apart All Racists Are Niggers Fuck You in the Industry Full Moon Empty Sportsbag, (self-released cassette, 1997/1999)
-
- not albums:
- "10 Jazz Funk Greats", (1999)
- "Dance Triangle by Debbie Daniels", (1999)
- Black Eggs, (1997/1998)
- Autumn Shades, (1996/1997)
- Look Ye Not in Horror, (self-released cassette, 1996)
- Snow Over Tring Park or The Eatingest Man on Earth, (self-released cassette, 1996)
- Treble Lives, (self-released cassette, 1995)
- The Wonderful and Frightening Historia de la Musica Country, (self-released cassette, 1994)
- Round Peg Triangle Hole, (self-released cassette, 1993)
- The Country Tease, (self-released cassette, 1992/1993)
- Can of Worms, (self-released cassette, 1992)
- Women & Children 1st, (self-released cassette, 1992)
- Fuck Off Cunts & Arses, (self-released cassette, 1991/1992)
- Obtainer!, (self-released cassette, 1991)
- Pile of Limbs, (self-released cassette, 1991)
- This is Not My Hand, (self-released cassette, 1990/1991)
- Poke Hole, (self-released cassette, 1990)
- Glass for Godssandwich, (self-released cassette, 1990)
- End of an Ear, (self-released cassette, 1989/1990)
- not albums:
Songs Appearing on Compilations:
- "Maureen" on Flottante Tension D'Eclipse, (LP, SDZ Records, 2010)
- "Your English" on Remove Celebrity Centre, (CD, Junior Aspirin Records, 2006)
- "A Devil in the Woods" (Gun Club) on Salvo Of 24 Gunshots - Tribute To Gun Club, (LP/CD, Unrecording Records, 2005)
- "If Every Day Was Like Christmas / Obey" on Get Thee Behind Me Santa (CD, Puppy Dog Records, 2002)
The Male Nurse
Male Nurse featured Country TeasersCountry Teasers
Country Teasers is a Scottish art punk band formed in 1993.Early Country Teasers albums were characterised by illiterate, scathingly satirical lyrics and discordant, repetitive sound – like William S...
regulars Alan Crichton, Eck King, Alastair MacKinven and Lawrence Worthington as well as Keith Farquhar on vocals. The band recorded two Peel Sessions, three singles and appeared on the Guided Missile Records compilation Hits and Missiles. The Male Nurse's output was marked by heavy influence of Mark E. Smith
Mark E. Smith
Mark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
's, The Fall.
The Beale
Active between 2000 and 2007, The Beale consisted of Adrian Shaw (of The Teenbeat), Ben Wallers, Leighton Crook (Country Teasers/Rebel drummer), Paul Kearney (owner of Guided Missile RecordingsGuided Missile
Guided Missile is a London based independent record label set up by Paul Kearney in 1994.Guided Missile has always focused on 'the underground', preferring to put out a steady flow of releases and developing the numerous GM events around London and beyond....
) Peter Hart and Ben Pestell. They released a six-song mini-album titled "21 Years in Kranj
Kranj
' is the third largest municipality and fourth largest city in Slovenia, with a population of 54,500 . It is located approximately 20 km north-west of Ljubljana...
", two singles for Guided Missile, and appeared on four compilations.
Skills on Ampex
Skills on Ampex is a joint project between The Invisible Hand, a tapes project by artist (and Teaser) Robert McNeill, and The Rebel/Benedict R. Wallers.The Stallion
The Stallion originated as a musical entity composed of Wallers and Country Teasers guitarist Alastair J. R. MacKinven, which specialized in coversCover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
.
The Company
The Company is a LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
recording project involving Amir Shoat and Ben Wallers. Between Autumn 2001 and Spring 2002 they recorded a 99-song album which was then distilled into a twelve-track 12" LP in 2007 and released as Side Three of The Moon on Difficult Time In Mental Jail Records