Feedtime
Encyclopedia
feedtime was an independent postpunk rock trio from Sydney, Australia, formed in 1979. The name is spelled with a lowercase f. The members were credited by their first names only: Rick (guitar, vocals), Al (bass), and Tom (drums).
feedtime made four albums in the 1980s. Initially they recorded only for Aberrant Records in Australia, but their second through fourth albums were released internationally by the legendary indie label Rough Trade
and by Megadisc in Holland. The second album, Shovel, received the greatest critical acclaim. The last of these four albums, Suction, was produced by Butch Vig
.
feedtime's sound was loud, primitive, and brutal. The most distinctive musical element is thick, roaring electric guitar, played with a slide, over a thick, chugging rhythm section. Their loud but stripped-down, minimalist approach led them to be compared to the British postpunk band Wire
(although feedtime didn't know Wire's music), but feedtime's sound also heavily referenced rural American country and blues. A large influence from classic rock
is most easily heard on their covers LP Cooper S on which they covered the Rolling Stones and the Animals in addition to punk forebears like the Ramones
and the Stooges
.
Bruce Griffiths of Aberrant Records describes working with feedtime: "The bands that have given me the most satisfaction to work with ... Possibly the most satisfying was feedtime, because they became extremely close friends as a result of working with them, and I guess part of the satisfaction with them was the fact that they achieved recognition; they were licensed to Rough Trade in America, they're now licensed to Vinyl Solution in England and Europe, to Megadisc in the Benelux countries in Europe, so I guess that was satisfying in the way things happened, and a lot of people as a result of my involvement and us working together came to appreciate this band that I thought was really special."
feedtime surfaced again in 1994 and 1996, with a different drummer, for a reunion album Billy (for Amphetamine Reptile
).
feedtime made four albums in the 1980s. Initially they recorded only for Aberrant Records in Australia, but their second through fourth albums were released internationally by the legendary indie label Rough Trade
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
and by Megadisc in Holland. The second album, Shovel, received the greatest critical acclaim. The last of these four albums, Suction, was produced by Butch Vig
Butch Vig
Butch Vig is an American musician and record producer, best known internationally as the drummer of the Madison, Wisconsin-based alternative rock band Garbage and the producer of multi-platinum selling album Nevermind by Nirvana....
.
feedtime's sound was loud, primitive, and brutal. The most distinctive musical element is thick, roaring electric guitar, played with a slide, over a thick, chugging rhythm section. Their loud but stripped-down, minimalist approach led them to be compared to the British postpunk band Wire
Wire (band)
Wire are an English rock band, formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman , Graham Lewis , Bruce Gilbert , and Robert Gotobed...
(although feedtime didn't know Wire's music), but feedtime's sound also heavily referenced rural American country and blues. A large influence from classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
is most easily heard on their covers LP Cooper S on which they covered the Rolling Stones and the Animals in addition to punk forebears like the Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
and the 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...
.
Bruce Griffiths of Aberrant Records describes working with feedtime: "The bands that have given me the most satisfaction to work with ... Possibly the most satisfying was feedtime, because they became extremely close friends as a result of working with them, and I guess part of the satisfaction with them was the fact that they achieved recognition; they were licensed to Rough Trade in America, they're now licensed to Vinyl Solution in England and Europe, to Megadisc in the Benelux countries in Europe, so I guess that was satisfying in the way things happened, and a lot of people as a result of my involvement and us working together came to appreciate this band that I thought was really special."
feedtime surfaced again in 1994 and 1996, with a different drummer, for a reunion album Billy (for Amphetamine Reptile
Amphetamine Reptile Records
Amphetamine Reptile Records is a nationally renowned record label which was founded in 1986 by then-US Marine Tom Hazelmyer in Washington State, US The label is best-known for its roster of noise rock artists, and its Dope, Guns 'n' Fucking In The Streets series of compilations.-History:Hazelmyer...
).
Singles
- Fractured//Safari/Rumble 7" (Aberrant CROAK-1/MX211942, 1986)
- Don't Tell Me/Small Talk 7" (Aberrant 1-DOG/MX213508/509, 1987)
- split with King Snake RoostKing Snake RoostKing Snake Roost were one of a number of Australian and International guitar-based bands who emerged from within the punk rock and post-punk scene of the mid 1980s that came to be defined as noise rock. King Snake Roost formed in 1985 in Adelaide and in 1987 the band moved to Sydney. The band...
: Buffalo Bob (feedtime) / More Than Love (King Snake Roost) 7" (Aberrant MX214299, 1988) - 1996 Australian Tour 7" split 7": Weekend Warrior (feedtime) / No Soul (UnsaneUnsaneUnsane is an influential noise rock trio that formed in New York City in 1988. Their music also touches on elements of hardcore punk and metal...
) (Black Hole Recordings, 1996, HOLE-016, 1996)
Albums
- Feedtime LP (self released, 1985; Aberrant, 1987;, Megadisc MD-7913, 1987): Ha! Ha!/Fastbuck/All Down/Mandead/Desert/Fly/Dead Crazy/Don't Like/F#/Clowns/Gee/Southside Johnny/I Wonder What's The Matter With Papa's Little Angel Child/I Wanna Ride
- also referred to as Cameron (due to the signature on the drawing on the cover)
- Shovel LP (Aberrant Records SHOVEL-1, 1986; Rough Trade US ROUGHUS-35, 1986; Megadisc MD-7912, 1986): Shovel/Rock And Roll/Mother/More Than Love/George/Nobody's Fault But Mine/Fractured//Love Me/Baby Baby/It's So Nice/Shoeshine Shuffle/Gun 'em Down/Dog/Curtains
- Cooper-S LP (Aberrant Records, 1988; Rough Trade US, 1988; Megadisc, 1988): Fun Fun Fun//If You Can't/Last Time/Hear Me Calling/H.D./I Don't Wanna Go Out/Lightnings Girl/Sad, Lonely & Blue/Pure Religion/Play With Fire/Loudmouth/Out Of This Place/Black/Street Fighting Man/Ann
- Suction LP (Aberrant Records, 1989; Rough Trade US, ROUGHUS-65, 1989; Vinyl Solution, 1989, Decoy): Motorbike Girl/Possum/Drag Your Dog/Ever Again/Highway/Confused Blues/I'll Be Rested/Pumping A Line/Meter/Social Suction/Trouble/Valve Frank/Arse
- Billy LP/CD (Amphetamine Reptile, 1996, AMREP-056, ARR-72/015): Billy/You Don't Know My Mind/Melody Line/Long Haul/Hero/Wagon/G-Slap/Vigilante Man/You/Relax Your Mind
- Suction + Cooper-S CD (Megadisc, MDC-788611, 1989)
- Suction + Feedtime CD (Rough Trade US, 1989
Compilations
- Why March When You Can Riot?! LP (Aberrant Records, 1985): Don't Tell Me/Small Talk
- Trousers In Action EP 2 7" (Aberrant Records, ACT-13/MX211861, 1986, with Trousers In Action fanzine #13): Plymouth Car Is A Limousine
- Away From The Pulsebeat #2 7" (Red Records, AFTP 002/TR-520845-7, 1988; with Away From The Pulsebeat fanzine #2): Take The Buick
- Bucketfull Of Brains "Freebie Compilation" Flexi 7" (Bucketfull Of Brains, 1988; flexi with Bucketfull Of Brains fanzine): Trouble
- Hard To Beat 2xLP (Au-Go-Go ANDA 70, 1988): Ann
- Howl! #5 7" (Howl! Magazine, HOWL!-5, 1989): Don't Tell Me
- Scumbait #2 7" (Treehouse Records, 1990, TR 023; yellow or black vinyl): Plymouth Car Is A Limousine
- Amrep Equipped Sampler CD (Amphetamine Reptile, 1997, AMREP-097): Billy