Green Magnet School
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1987 in Framingham, Massachusetts, United States |
| Defunct | 1997 (initially) |
| Fate | Disbanded in 1997; brief reunion in 2014 |
| Headquarters | Framingham , United States |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
| Website | greenmagnetschool |
Green Magnet School emerged as an experimental rock group in Massachusetts in 1987. Over the course of the 1990s, they produced three albums, notably releasing Blood Music in 1991 through the independent label Sub Pop Records. The band ceased activities in 1997 but reunited for a brief period in 2014.
History
Originating from Framingham, Massachusetts, the initial ensemble consisted of vocalist and guitarist Chris Pearson, guitarist and vocalist Tim Shea, guitarist and bassist Can Keskin, bassist Steve Rzucidlo, and drummer Craig Duhamel. In 1987, they independently issued a demo EP titled The Penguin Tape, which circulated within the local Boston music community. Their musical style fused experimental sounds with influences drawn from industrial rock, post-hardcore, noise rock, and post-punk. Pearson primarily handled lead vocals while Keskin alternated between guitar and bass duties. By 1988, Rob Hamilton had taken over drumming responsibilities from Duhamel. The band’s first official release was a split single with God's Acre on Toxic Shock Records in early 1990.
In 1991, Green Magnet School secured a contract with Sub Pop Records, a label renowned for its association with the grunge scene. Prior to recording their debut album with producer Sean Slade, Sub Pop issued their "Singed" single through the Sub Pop Singles Club. Blood Music was initially launched internationally late that year and saw its U.S. release by February 1992. The album’s title is inspired by Greg Bear’s 1985 novel of the same name. Receiving critical acclaim, Blood Music drew comparisons to groups such as Killing Joke, Sonic Youth, and Gang of Four. Additionally, Germany’s Visions Magazine included it among their "Top 100 Albums 1991–1996."
During the summer of 1992, Rzucidlo departed and Stephen Smith stepped in as bassist. That year marked their only festival performance on a side stage at Lollapalooza. Later in 1992, Greg Gilmartin replaced Hamilton on drums. The band also released a split single with Six Finger Satellite titled The Declaration of Techno-Colonial Independence on Sub Pop. By 1993, Sub Pop’s growing artist roster resulted in diminished attention toward Green Magnet School, leading to their exit from the label.
At the start of 1993, Smith left the group and Jeff Iwanicki joined on bass. They recorded Revisionist with producer John Wood and released it through Sonic Bubblegum. That year they performed at the CMJ New Music Marathon but remained mostly inactive throughout 1994 until returning to recording late that year.
Their final album, Illuminatus, again produced by Wood, came out in summer 1995. It reached No. 91 on the CMJ Top 150 chart and stayed there for several weeks. Subsequent tours helped broaden their regional audience. By 1997, members had shifted focus to other pursuits, resulting in the band's dissolution.
The track "Throb" from Blood Music featured on a 2008 compilation by Visions Magazine celebrating Sub Pop's twentieth anniversary. In 2014, Andre Earles' book Gimme Indie Rock: 500 Essential American Underground Rock Albums 1981–1996 spotlighted their Blood Music album. That same year included a one-time reunion performance commemorating Boston radio station WMBR's 25th anniversary with Shea, Pearson, Keskin, Hamilton, and bassist Mike Davis participating. Simultaneously, their catalog—including the previously unavailable demo The Penguin Tape—was officially digitized and made accessible on Bandcamp.
Members
- Chris Pearson – lead vocals, guitar (1987–1997, 2014)
- Tim Shea – guitar, backing vocals (1987–1997, 2014)
- Can Keskin – guitar, bass guitar (1987–1997, 2014)
- Steve Rzucidlo – bass guitar (1987–1992)
- Craig Duhamel – drums (1987–1988)
- Rob Hamilton – drums (1988–1992, 2014)
- Stephen Smith – bass guitar (1992–1993)
- Greg Gilmartin – drums (1992–1997)
- Jeff Iwanicki – bass guitar (1993–1997)
- Mike Davis – bass guitar (2014)
Timeline
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Albums
- Blood Music (1991, Sub Pop Records)
- Revisionist (1993, Sonic Bubblegum)
- Illuminatus (1995, Sonic Bubblegum)
Singles
- "CO", a split release with God's Acre (1990, Toxic Shock Records)
- "White People" (1991, Sonic Bubblegum)
- "Singed" (1991, Sub Pop Records)
- The Declaration of Techno-Colonial Independence, a split with Six Finger Satellite (1992, Sub Pop Records)
- "White People", shared release with Six Finger Satellite (1992, Hippy Knight Records)