Idiot Flesh
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1985 in Oakland, California, United States |
| Founder | Nils Frykdahl, Dan Rathbun, Gene Jun |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Oakland , United States |
| Products | Avant-garde rock music, albums, live performances |
Idiot Flesh was a pioneering American avant-garde rock ensemble that originated in Oakland, California in 1985, initially performing under the name Acid Rain. Their artistic approach embodied a "rock against rock" philosophy, integrating elements such as marching band choreography, puppetry, and the use of atypical instruments.
In 1987, the group adopted the name Idiot Flesh and went on to produce three studio albums before their dissolution in 1998. Founding members Nils Frykdahl and Dan Rathbun subsequently became part of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, while Gene Jun joined the Sun and Moon Ensemble.
History
The band was established in 1985 at Barrington Hall, a student cooperative affiliated with the University of California at Berkeley, originally called Acid Rain. The principal members consisted of guitarist and composer Frykdahl ("Pin"), bassist Rathbun ("The Improver"), and guitarist/violinist Jun ("Captain Dragon"), accompanied initially by drummers David Shamrock and Daniel Roth. Their demo tape We Were All Very Worried was released in 1987. Prior to issuing their debut vinyl LP, Tales of Instant Knowledge and Sure Death, in 1990, they rebranded as Idiot Flesh; this album featured drummer and visual artist Chuck Squier.
They extensively toured throughout the United States aboard a converted city bus driven by Rathbun. Their live performances were enhanced by theatrical performers known as the Filthy Rotten Excuse Chickens, who contributed acrobatic acts and pantomime. These performers adopted various stage identities including The Minotaurs of Baal, Beefra The Cook, and The Queen of Oakland.
Their sophomore release, The Nothing Show (1993), introduced drummer Wes Anderson ("Hyena Boy") as Squier’s replacement. The band embarked on numerous tours, including several alongside Czech avant-punk group Už Jsme Doma. They made a brief appearance in the film Oakland Underground, which showcased a clandestine concert and featured cameo appearances by Frykdahl and Jun.
The 1997 album Fancy was distributed in four distinct formats: digipak, digipak reissue, standard jewel case, and a limited edition handcrafted metal slipcase. Although work commenced on a fourth album, it remained unfinished. Their final live show took place on March 13, 1998, at San Francisco’s Transmission Theater before the band disbanded.
Following the breakup, Frykdahl, Rathbun, and Shamrock formed Sleepytime Gorilla Museum with Carla Kihlstedt; additionally, Frykdahl became a key member of Faun Fables. Jun went on to establish the jam band BARGOOMA!! and joined the Sun and Moon Ensemble. Anderson collaborated with a variety of artists including Les Claypool, Cirque du Soleil, The Fuxedos, Casino Royale, Kehoe Nation, and Schloss.
Members
- Nils Frykdahl ("Pin") – vocals, guitar, flute, saxophone, percussion, castanets (1985–1998)
- Gene Jun ("Captain Dragon") – vocals, guitar, violin, percussion (1985–1998)
- Dan Rathbun ("The Improver") – bass guitar, vocals, saw, horn, trombone, cello (1985–1998)
- David Shamrock – drums (1985–1988)
- Chuck Squier – drums (1988–1994)
- Daniel Roth – drums, piano, saxophone (1989–1992)
- Wes Anderson ("Hyena Boy") – drums, percussion instruments, marimba, vocals, bassoon (1993–1998)
- Paul Dal Porto – sitar player, vocals (1995–1998)
- Lorrie Murray – vocals, fire-eater/torch performer (1994–1998)
- Heidi Good – vocals, fire-eater/torch performer (1995–1998)
- Brad Caswell – puppetry (1985–1997)
Discography
- Albums
- We Were All Very Concerned (cassette, under the name Acid Rain, 1987)
- Tales of Instant Knowledge and Sure Death (vinyl LP, 1990)
- The Nothing Show (cassette and CD, released in 1993/1994)
- Fancy (CD format, 1997)
- Singles
- Teen Devil/Twitch (7-inch EP, issued in 1995)
- Demos
- Drip Demo (cassette, as Acid Rain, 1986)
- Rite of Spring/Gelatinous Goats (cassette, recorded as Acid Rain, 1988)
- Compilation appearances
- Komotion International – Live and Kicking Volume 5 (cassette, 1992)
- 31 Bands Trash 31 Songs to Find the Way to Sesame Street (CD release, 1995)
- Purge Distribution – A Collection (CD compilation, 1996)
- Eyesore: A Stab At The Residents (available on CD and sampler, 1996)
- Oh God! Mother Blood! (CD sampler, issued in 1997)
- Zehn (CD format, 1997)
- Funny Rubber Hand (CD release, 1998)
- Vaccination Records Rawk Party 2000–2001 (CD compilation, 2000)
- East Timor Benefit Album (CD release, 2000)
- Filmography
- Oakland Underground (DVD, 1997) – featured as themselves during a club performance of "Twitch".