Buzz Clic
Encyclopedia
Buzz Clic is an American musician and songwriter best known as the lead guitarist for the punk rock band, the Rubber City Rebels
.
and began playing guitar -- eventually settling in with a local outfit called Bold Chicken (whose recordings were later documented on a Smog Veil Records release) in 1971. Upon the demise of Bold Chicken in 1973 and an aborted stint in a cover band, Clic hooked up with Hudson friend Rod Firestone and Donny Damage to form King Cobra. While King Cobra’s repertoire was mostly heavy metal and glam covers such as UFO
, Alice Cooper
and Silverhead
, the band’s set list also featured Stooges
and New York Dolls
numbers -- virtually unheard of in the pre-punk mid-’70s.
and the Heartbreakers
at the Piccadilly Inn in Cleveland in early 1976, Clic, Firestone and Damage scrapped the fading cover-band format in favor of originals. They soon took over a local Akron club called the Crypt, booking like-minded locals such as Devo
(who also opened for King Cobra), Pere Ubu
, the Bizarros and the Dead Boys
. On the suggestion of Dead Boys singer Stiv Bators
, King Cobra renamed themselves the Rubber City Rebels.
The Crypt closed in early 1977, but the Rebels soldiered on, recording a critically acclaimed split-LP with the Bizarros called From Akron and building a live reputation. But they weren’t satisfied. After sampling the New York scene with shows at CBGB
, the Rebels moved to Hollywood, California near the end of the year and started gigging at venues such as the Masque, the Whisky and the Starwood. This led to a contract with Sire Records
in 1978, which soon became embroiled in controversy as the band was dropped within months.
After lineup changes and another year of building their club reputation, the Rebels landed a deal with Capitol
thanks to band friend Doug Fieger
of the Knack
, who went on to produce their self-titled debut album, released in 1980. After Capitol rejected demos for a second album in early 1981, the Rubber City Rebels moved on to Elektra
. Unfortunately, their association with the latter was even shorter, as the group was dropped after recording four songs for an album that never materialized. By 1982, the band was essentially finished, though sporadic reunion shows were undertaken later in the decade.
(who had hits both with the Dwight Twilley Band
and as a solo artist) in the ensuing years, which bore fruit on a self-released 1991 cassette-only album, Buzz Clic with Phil Seymour. Sadly, the duo couldn’t find any takers among record labels, and Seymour lost his battle with cancer in 1993. Ultimately, the record would earn vindication when Smog Veil
reissued it as a download and limited-edition CD titled California.
Meanwhile, the 1990s saw a resurgence of interest in the Rubber City Rebels, whose songs were covered by underground punk acts like the Bobbyteens, the Candy Snatchers and the Raydios. By 2001, the Rebels were up and running again, playing select gigs in the United States, touring Europe three times and Japan once, and releasing the critically acclaimed 2003 album Pierce My Brain.
The latter was released on Smog Veil Records thanks to label owner Frank Mauceri, who the Rebels met at a reunion gig. Smog Veil has also reissued the aforementioned Bold Chicken and Phil Seymour recordings, as well as two CDs by the Buzz Clic Adventure, Yadang (1998) and Escape from Bolivian (2011). While showing hints of the Rebels, Clic’s solo material is more rock ’n’ roll than punk.
The Rubber City Rebels continue to gig and released a new Smog Veil single (“Annoyed, Destroyed, Unemployed” b/w “The Ballad of the Rubber City Rebels”) in 2011, while Clic also plans to perform live with his latest project. A Bold Chicken 45 is also expected in the fall of 2011.
Rubber City Rebels
The Rubber City Rebels are an American protopunk band from Akron, Ohio, that formed in 1976.-Early years:The original line-up of the band consisted of Rod Firestone , Buzz Clic , Donny Damage , Stix Pelton and Pete Sake .In their early years, the Rebels were fans of fellow Greater Cleveland-area...
.
Early years
After a late ’60s period of self-discovery that saw him residing in Northern California and even attending the Altamont Speedway Free Festival in December 1969, Clic returned to his hometown of Hudson, OhioHudson, Ohio
Hudson is a city in Summit County, Ohio, United States. The population was 22,262 at the 2010 census. It is an affluent exurban community and is part of the Akron, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and began playing guitar -- eventually settling in with a local outfit called Bold Chicken (whose recordings were later documented on a Smog Veil Records release) in 1971. Upon the demise of Bold Chicken in 1973 and an aborted stint in a cover band, Clic hooked up with Hudson friend Rod Firestone and Donny Damage to form King Cobra. While King Cobra’s repertoire was mostly heavy metal and glam covers such as UFO
UFO (band)
UFO are an English heavy metal and hard rock band, who were formed in 1969. UFO became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
, Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
and Silverhead
Silverhead
Silverhead were a British band, fronted by the singer/actor, Michael Des Barres. The other members of the band were: Robbie Blunt , Rod Rook Davies , Nigel Harrison and Pete Thompson...
, the band’s set list also featured Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
and New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
numbers -- virtually unheard of in the pre-punk mid-’70s.
Rubber City Rebels
Eventually the band’s punk inclinations won out. After witnessing Johnny ThundersJohnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
and the Heartbreakers
The Heartbreakers
Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, also known as The Heartbreakers, were an American rock & roll band formed in New York in May 1975. The band was part of the first wave of punk rock.-History:...
at the Piccadilly Inn in Cleveland in early 1976, Clic, Firestone and Damage scrapped the fading cover-band format in favor of originals. They soon took over a local Akron club called the Crypt, booking like-minded locals such as Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
(who also opened for King Cobra), Pere Ubu
Pere Ubu
Pere Ubu is an experimental rock music group from Cleveland, Ohio.Père Ubu may also refer to:* Ubu, the enigmatic central figure of a series of French plays by Alfred Jarry, including Ubu Roi, and subsequent plays Ubu Cocu and Ubu Enchaîné...
, the Bizarros and the Dead Boys
The Dead Boys
The Dead Boys were an American punk rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. Among the first wave of early punk bands, the Dead Boys were initially active from 1976 to 1979, briefly reuniting in 1987, 2004 and 2005.-Formation and 1970s punk rock era:...
. On the suggestion of Dead Boys singer Stiv Bators
Stiv Bators
Stiv Bators , was an American punk rockvocalist and guitarist from Youngstown, Ohio. He is best remembered for his bands, The Dead Boys and The Lords of the New Church.- Music and film career :...
, King Cobra renamed themselves the Rubber City Rebels.
The Crypt closed in early 1977, but the Rebels soldiered on, recording a critically acclaimed split-LP with the Bizarros called From Akron and building a live reputation. But they weren’t satisfied. After sampling the New York scene with shows at CBGB
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
, the Rebels moved to Hollywood, California near the end of the year and started gigging at venues such as the Masque, the Whisky and the Starwood. This led to a contract with Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
in 1978, which soon became embroiled in controversy as the band was dropped within months.
After lineup changes and another year of building their club reputation, the Rebels landed a deal with Capitol
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
thanks to band friend Doug Fieger
Doug Fieger
Douglas Lars "Doug" Fieger was an American singer-songwriter-musician. He was the lead singer of the power pop band The Knack, and co-wrote "My Sharona", the biggest hit song of 1979 in the USA, with lead guitarist, Berton Averre.-Life and career:Fieger's father was Jewish, and his mother of...
of the Knack
The Knack
The Knack was an American New Wave rock quartet based in Los Angeles that rose to fame with their first single, "My Sharona", an international number one hit in 1979.-Founding :...
, who went on to produce their self-titled debut album, released in 1980. After Capitol rejected demos for a second album in early 1981, the Rubber City Rebels moved on to Elektra
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
. Unfortunately, their association with the latter was even shorter, as the group was dropped after recording four songs for an album that never materialized. By 1982, the band was essentially finished, though sporadic reunion shows were undertaken later in the decade.
Solo and reunion years
Clic struck up a friendship with Phil SeymourPhil Seymour
Phil Seymour was an American power pop drummer, singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known for the singles "I'm On Fire" and "Precious to Me". He had a major role in the seminal pop group Dwight Twilley Band...
(who had hits both with the Dwight Twilley Band
Dwight Twilley
Dwight Twilley is an American pop/rock singer and songwriter, best known for the Top 20 hit singles "I'm on Fire" and "Girls"...
and as a solo artist) in the ensuing years, which bore fruit on a self-released 1991 cassette-only album, Buzz Clic with Phil Seymour. Sadly, the duo couldn’t find any takers among record labels, and Seymour lost his battle with cancer in 1993. Ultimately, the record would earn vindication when Smog Veil
Smog Veil Records
Smog Veil Records is a Chicago, IL based independent record label. In addition to standard CD, DVD, and vinyl distribution, Smog Veil all distributes its media via the digital channels, including Napster and iTunes.-Label Information:...
reissued it as a download and limited-edition CD titled California.
Meanwhile, the 1990s saw a resurgence of interest in the Rubber City Rebels, whose songs were covered by underground punk acts like the Bobbyteens, the Candy Snatchers and the Raydios. By 2001, the Rebels were up and running again, playing select gigs in the United States, touring Europe three times and Japan once, and releasing the critically acclaimed 2003 album Pierce My Brain.
The latter was released on Smog Veil Records thanks to label owner Frank Mauceri, who the Rebels met at a reunion gig. Smog Veil has also reissued the aforementioned Bold Chicken and Phil Seymour recordings, as well as two CDs by the Buzz Clic Adventure, Yadang (1998) and Escape from Bolivian (2011). While showing hints of the Rebels, Clic’s solo material is more rock ’n’ roll than punk.
The Rubber City Rebels continue to gig and released a new Smog Veil single (“Annoyed, Destroyed, Unemployed” b/w “The Ballad of the Rubber City Rebels”) in 2011, while Clic also plans to perform live with his latest project. A Bold Chicken 45 is also expected in the fall of 2011.