Genetic Control
Encyclopedia
Genetic Control is a Canadian
Hardcore punk
band from Montreal
, whose "First Impressions" single
is one of the most sought after item for punk record collectors. They existed from 1983 to 1986, and then reunited in 1998. They played with many bands such as the Dead Kennedys
, Charged GBH
and Suicidal Tendencies
. They were also known for the comical disguises they wore on stage during the band's performances.
Mike Brisebois. By the end of 1983, they fired Brisebois and he was replaced by Louis Lévesque, who had just quit fellow Montreal punk band Unruled.
The name Genetic Control was taken from Aldous Huxley
's Brave New World
, where genetic control was described as the highest form of social control, where the system is capable of doing unlimited good or bad, depending of the channel of energy chosen. They also recorded a song named "Brave New World", and mention Huxley in the lyrics
.
Influenced by Minor Threat
and the Bad Brains
, the band established itself in an old apartment block, that also served as a rehearsal space for local bands dubbed as the BBC (for Bleury Beach Club), which gave birth to the 1980s Montreal hardcore scene. Their songs are in the form of a short story, depicting people and situation as the band sees them. The band first released the song "Suburban Life" on the Primitive Air-Raid compilation album
on Psyche Industry Records
in 1984.
They wanted to record an album
in 1984, but they did not have sufficient funds, and settled for a single release. "First Impressions" was released on Generic Records, of which only 500 copies were pressed. Singer Mike Price recorded while on crutches, after he was hurt in the mosh pit during one of their first shows. They also recorded an album in 1985, but the master tapes were kept by the studio
owner because the band did not have money to pay him. Instead he gave them a cassette copy. Many years later, the band tried to locate the master tape to allow them to mix and release it, but have never been able to do so.
The band was supposed to go on tour but shortly after, failing to release their LP, the band split up because of conflicts between the band members. But in the years after, their single that was already very rare, became one of the most sought after collectibles by punk rock record collectors all around the world, fetching as much as $500 on eBay
during the 1990s. This prompted the German
label
, Lost & Found Records, to press a bootleg of the 7" on CD
, with the song "Suburban Life" as a bonus track. However, the band were never paid for the article.
Genetic Control reunited in 1998 for the Les Foufounes Électriques
15 years anniversary, playing a few shows during the summer. They then started to play regularly again, even though some members were by then in Toronto, and others in Vancouver and Montreal. In 2005, they released Brave New World on Sonik's Chicken Shrimp Records, which was taken from one of their 1998 concerts, and included a new song, the original 7" single and "Suburban Life". It became the first of Sonik's Chicken Shrimp Records releases to become out of print.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, whose "First Impressions" single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
is one of the most sought after item for punk record collectors. They existed from 1983 to 1986, and then reunited in 1998. They played with many bands such as the Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
, Charged GBH
Charged GBH
Charged GBH are an English Street punk band, formed in 1978 by vocalist Colin Abrahall, guitarist Colin "Jock" Blyth, bassist Sean McCarthy and Drummer Andy " Wilf" Williams. GBH were early pioneers of English street punk, often nicknamed "UK82", along with Discharge, Broken Bones, The Exploited...
and Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
. They were also known for the comical disguises they wore on stage during the band's performances.
History
Genetic Control began in 1983 when Mike Price, Rob Porter, Rob Huppé and Doug Crevier joined forces with the drummerDrummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Mike Brisebois. By the end of 1983, they fired Brisebois and he was replaced by Louis Lévesque, who had just quit fellow Montreal punk band Unruled.
The name Genetic Control was taken from Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley
Aldous Leonard Huxley was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. Best known for his novels including Brave New World and a wide-ranging output of essays, Huxley also edited the magazine Oxford Poetry, and published short stories, poetry, travel...
's Brave New World
Brave New World
Brave New World is Aldous Huxley's fifth novel, written in 1931 and published in 1932. Set in London of AD 2540 , the novel anticipates developments in reproductive technology and sleep-learning that combine to change society. The future society is an embodiment of the ideals that form the basis of...
, where genetic control was described as the highest form of social control, where the system is capable of doing unlimited good or bad, depending of the channel of energy chosen. They also recorded a song named "Brave New World", and mention Huxley in the lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
.
Influenced by Minor Threat
Minor Threat
Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1980 and disbanded in 1983. The band was relatively short-lived, but had a strong influence on the hardcore punk music scene, both stylistically and in establishing a "do it yourself" ethic for music distribution and...
and the Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
, the band established itself in an old apartment block, that also served as a rehearsal space for local bands dubbed as the BBC (for Bleury Beach Club), which gave birth to the 1980s Montreal hardcore scene. Their songs are in the form of a short story, depicting people and situation as the band sees them. The band first released the song "Suburban Life" on the Primitive Air-Raid compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
on Psyche Industry Records
Psyche Industry Records
Psyche Industry Records was the leading alternative, punk and hardcore independent record label in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the beginning of the 80's...
in 1984.
They wanted to record an album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
in 1984, but they did not have sufficient funds, and settled for a single release. "First Impressions" was released on Generic Records, of which only 500 copies were pressed. Singer Mike Price recorded while on crutches, after he was hurt in the mosh pit during one of their first shows. They also recorded an album in 1985, but the master tapes were kept by the studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
owner because the band did not have money to pay him. Instead he gave them a cassette copy. Many years later, the band tried to locate the master tape to allow them to mix and release it, but have never been able to do so.
The band was supposed to go on tour but shortly after, failing to release their LP, the band split up because of conflicts between the band members. But in the years after, their single that was already very rare, became one of the most sought after collectibles by punk rock record collectors all around the world, fetching as much as $500 on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
during the 1990s. This prompted the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Lost & Found Records, to press a bootleg of the 7" on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, with the song "Suburban Life" as a bonus track. However, the band were never paid for the article.
Genetic Control reunited in 1998 for the Les Foufounes Électriques
Les Foufounes Électriques
Les Foufounes Électriques is a concert venue located at 87 Saint Catherine Street East in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada in a neighbourhood known as the Quartier Latin . It is a multi-level establishment with 3 dance floors...
15 years anniversary, playing a few shows during the summer. They then started to play regularly again, even though some members were by then in Toronto, and others in Vancouver and Montreal. In 2005, they released Brave New World on Sonik's Chicken Shrimp Records, which was taken from one of their 1998 concerts, and included a new song, the original 7" single and "Suburban Life". It became the first of Sonik's Chicken Shrimp Records releases to become out of print.
Personnel
- Mike Price, also known as Zabo or as Polio Elvis - Vocals
- Rob Porter, also known as Teen Hunk Rob, Robbo, or Bobby Casino - Lead guitar
- Rob Huppé, also known as Duke Crysal, or as Kung Fu Rob - Rhythm guitar
- Douglas Crevier, also known as Dick Pageant, or as Dougo - Bass guitar
- Louis Lévesque, also known as Late Louis - Drums
- Mike Brisebois - Drums (for the first few months of 1984)
Compilation albums
- "Suburban Life" on the Primitive Air-Raid compilation album (Psyche Industry RecordsPsyche Industry RecordsPsyche Industry Records was the leading alternative, punk and hardcore independent record label in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the beginning of the 80's...
, 1984)