Bill Spooner
Encyclopedia
William "Sputnik" Spooner (born August 16, 1949) is a musician, guitarist, and songwriter, and the founder of The Tubes
, a theatrical rock band. His songwriting is known for its use of humor and satire. He has released three solo albums: First Chud (1985), Mall to Mars (1997), and Demo-licious. He currently plays in the San Francisco Bay Area
with his acoustic group, The Folk-Ups.
with a few years spent in Lubbock, Texas
. His family later moved back to Arizona, to Phoenix
, where he began to play guitar. His first band was the XLs, a Beatles cover band. A band he started subsequently, the Beans, moved to San Francisco in 1970. Shortly after arriving the Beans merged with another group, the Red, White and Blues Band, to become the Tubes. He was guitarist, vocalist and principal songwriter for this group, known for their theatrical stage performances. The Tubes became a successful local and eventually nationally known band, and had a series of bestselling albums and hit singles in the late 70's and early 80's.
"I was writing songs to illustrate outrageous characters concocted by Michael Cotten, Prairie Prince
and myself. I was (am) really surprised some people consider these songs (White Punks On Dope, Mondo Bondage, What Do You Want From Life?) classics. I'm not complaining...just mystified..." states Spooner.
Spooner left the Tubes for their temporary disbanding in 1985, and again left the Tubes in 1989, thus giving up use of a 24 track automated recording studio which the band had used.
"It would have been awkward, to say the least, to continue working there...it had to be a clean break", Spooner said.
Spooner then experimented with several bands, including the Sponge Mummies a satirical anti-environmental group, and SNAFU, a "paramilitary" rock band. Neither were very successful, although he began writing again during this period. Some of the songs appeared on the 1996 release Mall to Mars originally released on Visible Records, then on RDK Records. The record had outer space as a theme.
In 1998 Spooner teamed up with Alex Guinness to form the acoustic rock-folk group The Folk-Ups. They later added upright bassist Mark Skowronek. They now perform at Bay Area
clubs such as Slim's, Noe Valley Ministry, Cafe Amsterdam, and the Sweetwater. The Folk-Ups have opened for Dave Davies
of The Kinks
and Freedy Johnston
.
The Tubes
The Tubes are a San Francisco-based rock band, whose 1975 debut album included the hit single, "White Punks on Dope". During its first fifteen years or so, the band's live performances combined quasi-pornography with wild satires of media, consumerism, and politics...
, a theatrical rock band. His songwriting is known for its use of humor and satire. He has released three solo albums: First Chud (1985), Mall to Mars (1997), and Demo-licious. He currently plays in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
with his acoustic group, The Folk-Ups.
Biography/music career
Spooner was born and raised in ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
with a few years spent in Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
. His family later moved back to Arizona, to Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, where he began to play guitar. His first band was the XLs, a Beatles cover band. A band he started subsequently, the Beans, moved to San Francisco in 1970. Shortly after arriving the Beans merged with another group, the Red, White and Blues Band, to become the Tubes. He was guitarist, vocalist and principal songwriter for this group, known for their theatrical stage performances. The Tubes became a successful local and eventually nationally known band, and had a series of bestselling albums and hit singles in the late 70's and early 80's.
"I was writing songs to illustrate outrageous characters concocted by Michael Cotten, Prairie Prince
Prairie Prince
Prairie Prince is a rock drummer. He was a member of The Tubes and a founding member of Journey...
and myself. I was (am) really surprised some people consider these songs (White Punks On Dope, Mondo Bondage, What Do You Want From Life?) classics. I'm not complaining...just mystified..." states Spooner.
Spooner left the Tubes for their temporary disbanding in 1985, and again left the Tubes in 1989, thus giving up use of a 24 track automated recording studio which the band had used.
"It would have been awkward, to say the least, to continue working there...it had to be a clean break", Spooner said.
Spooner then experimented with several bands, including the Sponge Mummies a satirical anti-environmental group, and SNAFU, a "paramilitary" rock band. Neither were very successful, although he began writing again during this period. Some of the songs appeared on the 1996 release Mall to Mars originally released on Visible Records, then on RDK Records. The record had outer space as a theme.
In 1998 Spooner teamed up with Alex Guinness to form the acoustic rock-folk group The Folk-Ups. They later added upright bassist Mark Skowronek. They now perform at Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
clubs such as Slim's, Noe Valley Ministry, Cafe Amsterdam, and the Sweetwater. The Folk-Ups have opened for Dave Davies
Dave Davies
David Russell Gordon "Dave" Davies is an English rock musician best known for his role as lead guitarist and vocalist for the English rock band The Kinks....
of The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
and Freedy Johnston
Freedy Johnston
Freedy Johnston is a New York City-based singer-songwriter originally from Kinsley, Kansas.Having scored several minor hits since the early 1990s, Johnston's songs are often about troubled loners, and cover topics like heartbreak, alienation and disappointment...
.