Pylon is a rock band from
Athens, GeorgiaAthens-Clarke County is a unified city-county in Georgia, U.S., in the northeastern part of the state. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial creation of Athens and its subsequent growth...
, USA. They are considered one of the seminal groups of the Athens music scene where their influence has been pervasive. The band
R.E.M.R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by Michael Stipe , Peter Buck , Mike Mills , and Bill Berry . R.E.M. was one of the first popular alternative rock bands, and gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's unclear vocals. R.E.M...
is an especially notable example of a group influenced by Pylon, and covered the song "Crazy" as the b-side of their single, "
Driver 8"Driver 8" was the second single from R.E.M.'s third album, Fables of the Reconstruction. While credited to Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe, it was primarily written by Bill Berry. Released in September 1985, the song peaked at #22 on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart...
." Their music includes
punk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
elements, but might also be categorized as
dance musicThis article is about dance music in general. You may also be looking for electronic dance music or dance-pop.Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
.
All four members of Pylon were art students at the
University of GeorgiaThe University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning. Founded in 1785, UGA claims to be the oldest public university in the United States....
in Athens.
Pylon is a rock band from
Athens, GeorgiaAthens-Clarke County is a unified city-county in Georgia, U.S., in the northeastern part of the state. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial creation of Athens and its subsequent growth...
, USA. They are considered one of the seminal groups of the Athens music scene where their influence has been pervasive. The band
R.E.M.R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by Michael Stipe , Peter Buck , Mike Mills , and Bill Berry . R.E.M. was one of the first popular alternative rock bands, and gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's unclear vocals. R.E.M...
is an especially notable example of a group influenced by Pylon, and covered the song "Crazy" as the b-side of their single, "
Driver 8"Driver 8" was the second single from R.E.M.'s third album, Fables of the Reconstruction. While credited to Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe, it was primarily written by Bill Berry. Released in September 1985, the song peaked at #22 on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart...
." Their music includes
punk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
elements, but might also be categorized as
dance musicThis article is about dance music in general. You may also be looking for electronic dance music or dance-pop.Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
.
History
All four members of Pylon were art students at the
University of GeorgiaThe University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning. Founded in 1785, UGA claims to be the oldest public university in the United States....
in Athens. Guitarist
Randall BewleyRandall "Randy" Bewley was the guitarist for the Athens, Georgia band Pylon. Born in Bradenton, Florida, United States. He lived in Sarasota, Florida, Washington, DC and near Atlanta, Georgia while growing up. Bewley attended the University of Georgia art school where he met Michael Lachowski, a...
and bass guitarist
Michael LachowskiMichael Lachowski is the bass guitar player for Pylon, a band from Athens, Georgia. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia and attended the University of Georgia art school where he got a degree in photographic design. He and his roommate Randy Bewley came up with the concept of Pylon and approached the...
began playing music and attempting to form a band in 1978. They practiced in a studio in downtown Athens which Lachowski rented from
Curtis CroweCurtis Crowe is the drummer for the Athens, Georgia rock band Pylon. He is a native of Marietta, Georgia and is the middle of five children. Curtis moved to Athens to attend the University of Georgia art school. His sister Rhett Crowe was later the bass player for the band Guadalcanal Diary, a...
, upstairs from the current location of the Grill on College Avenue. The room was lit by a single 40-watt light bulb, so the band referred to it as the "
40 Watt ClubThe 40 Watt Club is a music venue in Athens, Georgia. Along with CBGB's, the Whisky a Go Go, and selected others, it was instrumental in launching American punk rock and "New Wave music."...
." Crowe soon joined the band as a drummer. On February 14, 1979, the three held auditions for a singer. Vanessa Briscoe (now
Vanessa Briscoe HayVanessa Briscoe Hay is an American singer for the Athens, Georgia bands Pylon and Supercluster.-Biography:...
) was chosen.
Pylon played their first live show at a party on March 9, 1979. Members of
The B-52'sThe B-52s originated is a New Wave rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, United States, in 1976. The B-52s' sound is marked by the vocals — the female harmonies of Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson, and the generally spoken-word or sprechgesang male vocal counterpoint of Fred Schneider, Ricky Wilson's...
attended Pylon's third show.
Fred SchneiderFred Schneider III is best known as the frontman of the rock band The B-52's, of which he is a founding member...
and
Kate PiersonCatherine Elizabeth Pierson is an American vocalist and one of the lead singers and founding members of The B-52's. She also plays keyboard, guitar and bass for the band...
of the B-52's were particularly supportive and helped promote Pylon's music in
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
. Soon Pylon opened for
Gang of FourGang of Four are an English post-punk group from Leeds. Original personnel were singer Jon King, guitarist Andy Gill, bass guitarist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham. They were fully active from 1977 to 1984, and then re-emerged twice in the 1990s with King and Gill...
in New York. Pylon's debut single, "Cool," appeared on
DB RecordsDB Records is a record label owned by Danny Beard. The label's headquarters reside in the Wax N Facts record store in the Atlanta, Georgia neighborhood of Little Five Points.-History:In 1978, Danny Beard helped some friends in an Athens, Georgia rock band...
in early 1980, and received many positive critical reviews. From 1980 to 1983 Pylon toured parts of the U.S., Canada, and the UK, playing with groups such as the B-52's, Gang of Four,
Mission of BurmaMission of Burma is an American post-punk band formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1979. The band was formed by Roger Miller , Clint Conley , Peter Prescott and Martin Swope . Miller, Conley and Prescott share singing and songwriting duties...
,
Love TractorLove Tractor is an alternative rock band from Athens, Georgia active during the 1980's and 1990's—disbanding in 2001 after the release of their final album The Sky at Night.-History:...
,
R.E.M.R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by Michael Stipe , Peter Buck , Mike Mills , and Bill Berry . R.E.M. was one of the first popular alternative rock bands, and gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's unclear vocals. R.E.M...
, the
Talking HeadsTalking Heads was an American rock band formed in 1974 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
, and
U2U2 are a rock band that formed in Dublin, Ireland. The band consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr...
. Pylon was the opening act for the first part of U2's first U.S. tour. Crazy/M-Train charted at #61 for Club play singles in 1982 according to Billboard Magazine entry in All Music Guide. At that time the members of Pylon were beginning to feel that playing together was becoming less fun and more like a business. They decided to break up the band in 1983.
With some help from the members of
R.E.M.R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by Michael Stipe , Peter Buck , Mike Mills , and Bill Berry . R.E.M. was one of the first popular alternative rock bands, and gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's unclear vocals. R.E.M...
, Pylon's reputation as one of the great underground bands of the new wave era was solidified in 1987. When
Rolling StoneRolling Stone is a United States-based magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J. Gleason.The magazine was named after the 1948 Muddy Waters song of the same...
named R.E.M. "America's Best Band" in November 1987,
R.E.M.R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by Michael Stipe , Peter Buck , Mike Mills , and Bill Berry . R.E.M. was one of the first popular alternative rock bands, and gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's unclear vocals. R.E.M...
drummer Bill Berry said, "We're not the best rock 'n' roll band in America." Pylon, he said, was the best.
With the encouragement of
R.E.M.R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by Michael Stipe , Peter Buck , Mike Mills , and Bill Berry . R.E.M. was one of the first popular alternative rock bands, and gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's unclear vocals. R.E.M...
and others, Pylon reunited in 1989 to open for the final leg of
R.E.M.R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by Michael Stipe , Peter Buck , Mike Mills , and Bill Berry . R.E.M. was one of the first popular alternative rock bands, and gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's unclear vocals. R.E.M...
's "Green" tour. They recorded another LP in 1990, played several more shows including the South by Southwest Festival in 1990 and 1991, and broke up again in 1991. Pylon came out of retirement in 2004, and played their first set in more than a decade in August 2004 at the then-fledgling Little King's Shuffle Club. Pylon also played a New Year's Eve show that year at the "
40 Watt ClubThe 40 Watt Club is a music venue in Athens, Georgia. Along with CBGB's, the Whisky a Go Go, and selected others, it was instrumental in launching American punk rock and "New Wave music."...
", and headlined the first night of the Athens music festival,
AthFestAthfest is a free annual music and arts festival in Athens, Georgia, first held in 1997. Jared Bailey founded the festival to promote the music of Athens, Georgia; he was formerly of the free alternative weekly Flagpole and the influential early nightclub the 40 Watt Club....
in June 2005. In 2006, they recorded a so far untelevised segment for "Pancake Mountain". On April 4, 2007, they performed an impromptu show at Little King's to announce the reissue of "Gyrate" on
DFA RecordsDFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI....
, called "Gyrate Plus", which was released on October 16, 2007. They performed several key shows in 2008 including the Part Time Punks Festival in LA, a show taped for Georgia Public Radio in Athens, GA, and at the Revolve Film Festival in Winston-Salem, NC, with
Mitch EasterMitch Easter is a songwriter, musician, and producer. As a producer, he is probably best known for his work with R.E.M. from 1981 through 1984, though he has also worked with many other acts including The Hang Ups, Pavement, Suzanne Vega, Game Theory, Marshall Crenshaw, and Velvet Crush.As a...
. DFA Records plans to reissue "Chomp" in 2009.
On February 25, 2009, guitarist
Randall BewleyRandall "Randy" Bewley was the guitarist for the Athens, Georgia band Pylon. Born in Bradenton, Florida, United States. He lived in Sarasota, Florida, Washington, DC and near Atlanta, Georgia while growing up. Bewley attended the University of Georgia art school where he met Michael Lachowski, a...
died, two days after suffering a heart attack while driving his van.
Their second album, 'Chomp' is being re-released with extra tracks, October 20, 2009 on DFA Records.
Members
- Randall Bewley
Randall "Randy" Bewley was the guitarist for the Athens, Georgia band Pylon. Born in Bradenton, Florida, United States. He lived in Sarasota, Florida, Washington, DC and near Atlanta, Georgia while growing up. Bewley attended the University of Georgia art school where he met Michael Lachowski, a...
(guitar)
- Michael Lachowski
Michael Lachowski is the bass guitar player for Pylon, a band from Athens, Georgia. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia and attended the University of Georgia art school where he got a degree in photographic design. He and his roommate Randy Bewley came up with the concept of Pylon and approached the...
(bass guitar)
- Curtis Crowe
Curtis Crowe is the drummer for the Athens, Georgia rock band Pylon. He is a native of Marietta, Georgia and is the middle of five children. Curtis moved to Athens to attend the University of Georgia art school. His sister Rhett Crowe was later the bass player for the band Guadalcanal Diary, a...
(drums)
- Vanessa Briscoe Hay
Vanessa Briscoe Hay is an American singer for the Athens, Georgia bands Pylon and Supercluster.-Biography:...
(vocals)
Discography
- Cool/Dub 7" single (Caution Records 1979)
- Gyrate LP (Db recs, Armageddon 1980)
- Pylon !! EP
An extended play is a vinyl record, CD, or music download which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as an LP. Usually, a CD single has around 10–28 minutes of music, an EP has up to 36 minutes, and an album generally has 30–80 minutes. Mini-LPs generally contain 20–30...
(Db recs, Armageddon 1980)
- Crazy/M-Train 7" single (Db recs 1981)
- Beep/Altitude 7" single (Db recs 1982)
- Four Minutes/Beep/Altitude EP
An extended play is a vinyl record, CD, or music download which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as an LP. Usually, a CD single has around 10–28 minutes of music, an EP has up to 36 minutes, and an album generally has 30–80 minutes. Mini-LPs generally contain 20–30...
(Db recs 1982)
- Chomp LP (Db recs 1983)
- Hits LP/CD (Db recs 1988)
- Chain LP/CD (Sky records 1990)
- Gyrate Plus CD (DFA Records
DFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI....
2007)
- Chomp Plus CD (DFA Records
DFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI....
2009)
External links