Vietnam (band)
Encyclopedia
Vietnam is a rock
, post-punk
, New Wave
band from Atlanta, Georgia on Scared Records
. Vietnam first appeared at the dawn of a new decade—the 80's, and ushered in a fresh era of music to the Atlanta new wave scene. Embraced by the early 80's cavalcade of Athens bands such as R.E.M., Pylon
, Method Actors
, Love Tractor
, etc., Vietnam wowed the patrons of the legendary 688 club, 40 Watt club, and the Agora Ballroom
. Their first performance was opening for Public Image Ltd.
in April 1980, and the next year they played the Noise Fest in New York, appearing on the ZG compilation release of the same name along with Sonic Youth
, Glenn Branca
, Y Pants
and others. They released their first full length album on Scared Records in 2004, Past Away
.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
, New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band from Atlanta, Georgia on Scared Records
Scared Records
Scared Records is an independent American record label founded in Atlanta in 1999, notable for re-releasing some "lost" Atlanta artists, especially from the punk and post punk era....
. Vietnam first appeared at the dawn of a new decade—the 80's, and ushered in a fresh era of music to the Atlanta new wave scene. Embraced by the early 80's cavalcade of Athens bands such as R.E.M., Pylon
Pylon (band)
Pylon is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The band's danceable jangle pop sound influenced the Athens music scene and the 1980s American pop underground. Allmusic wrote that Pylon's "role as elder statesmen of the alternative rock explosion is unassailable".-History:All four members of...
, Method Actors
The Method Actors
The Method Actors were a post-punk/new wave musical group from Athens, Georgia, founded by Vic Varney and David Gamble in 1979.-Singles and EPs:*This Is It 7" ep: "The Method" / "Can't Act" / "Bleeding"...
, Love Tractor
Love Tractor
Love Tractor was a band from Athens, Georgia and like The B-52's, Pylon and R.E.M., was recognized as a founder of the Athens, Georgia alternative rock scene...
, etc., Vietnam wowed the patrons of the legendary 688 club, 40 Watt club, and the Agora Ballroom
Agora Theatre and Ballroom
The Agora Theatre and Ballroom is a concert club located in Cleveland, Ohio. The Agora name was previously used by two other Cleveland venues in succession, the latter of which was destroyed by fire in 1984...
. Their first performance was opening for Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd are an English post-punk band formed by vocalist John Lydon , guitarist Keith Levene and bassist Jah Wobble, with frequent subsequent personnel changes. Lydon is the sole constant member of the band....
in April 1980, and the next year they played the Noise Fest in New York, appearing on the ZG compilation release of the same name along with Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
, Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca is an American avant-garde composer and guitarist known for his use of volume, alternative guitar tunings, repetition, droning, and the harmonic series. In 2008 he was awarded an unrestricted grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts.-Beginnings: 1960s and early 1970s:Branca...
, Y Pants
Y Pants
Y Pants were an all-female No Wave band from New York City active from 1979 to 1982. The trio, made up of photographer/musician Barbara Ess , visual artist Virginia Piersol, and filmmaker Gail Vachon, developed a unique sound via their acoustic toy instrumentation of toy piano, ukulele and a...
and others. They released their first full length album on Scared Records in 2004, Past Away
Past Away
Past Away is the first full-length studio CD released by Vietnam in 2004 on Scared Records. The album contains 13 original songs that were written by the first incarnation of the band in 1980–81...
.
Current members
- Stan Satin: lead vocals, saxophone, percussion
- David Dean: drums, backing vocals, moog synthesiser, steel drum, percussion
- David Watkins: drums, percussion
- Laurie G-Force: bass, backing vocals
- Ken Schenck: electric guitar
Previous members
- Drew Davidson: electric guitar
- Tim Hunter: bass, drums, synthesizer
- Sue Garner: synthesizer, b.vocals, congas, steel drum
- Bruce Sehorne: bass
- Lee Self: bass, b.vocals
- John Stratton: percussion
- J.E. Garnett: bass, b.vocals
- Paul Lenz: drums
- Nicky Gianaris: bass
- Dana Downs: electric guitar, b.vocals, percussion
- Lenore Thompson: bass, b.vocals
- Randy Presley: drums
- Bryan Lilje: bass
- Jennifer Ericson: electric guitar
- John Stun: electric guitar