The U-Men
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Defunct | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
U-Men was a rock group originating from Seattle, Washington, established in 1980 and remaining active until 1989. They conducted numerous tours throughout the United States. Their raw musical style combined with unique wit served as an early influence on the emergence of the Seattle grunge genre.
History
Led by singer John Bigley, the band’s roster featured Tom Price, Charlie "Chaz" Ryan, Robin Buchan, Jim Tillman, Tom Hazelmyer, and later Tony "Tone Deaf" Ransom. Their sound, rooted in alternative rock, played a significant role in shaping the Seattle grunge movement.
In 1983, U-Men became the inaugural act managed by Susan Silver, a prominent figure in Seattle’s music management scene.
The Butthole Surfers paid tribute to them through the track "The O-Men" on their album Locust Abortion Technician.
Following U-Men’s tenure, Tom Price went on to create Gas Huffer and joined The Monkeywrench. John Bigley and Charlie Ryan collaborated to form The Crows. Bassist Jim Tillman contributed to major releases such as the self-titled EP The U-Men (1984), Stop Spinning (1985), and the compilation Deep Six (1986). Later, Tillman played with influential local band Love Battery. Mark Arm of Mudhoney remarked that the band underwent considerable changes after Tillman left.
Tom Hazelmyer had a brief stint with U-Men before departing to concentrate on his Minneapolis-based label Amphetamine Reptile Records and his band Halo of Flies. Hazelmyer performed live only once with U-Men when they opened for Big Black in 1987.
Band members
- John Bigley – lead vocals (1980–1989)
- Tom Price – guitar (1980–1989)
- Charlie Ryan – drums (1980–1989)
- Robin Buchan – bass guitar (1980–1982)
- Jim Tillman – bass guitar (1982–1986)
- Tom Hazelmyer – bass guitar (1987)
- Tony Ransom – bass guitar (July 1987 – 1989)
Albums
- Step on a Bug (Black Label Records, 1988)
Singles and EPs
- U-Men EP (Bomb Shelter Records, 1984)
- Stop Spinning EP (Homestead Records, 1985)
- "Solid Action" b/w "Dig It A Hole" (Black Label Records, 1987)
- "Freezebomb" b/w "That's Wild About Jack" (Amphetamine Reptile, 1988)
- Sugar Daddy Live Split Series Vol. 1 (Amphetamine Reptile, 2012; split release with the Melvins)
Compilation albums
- Solid Action (Chuckie-Boy Records, 1999)
- U-Men (Self-titled anthology, Sub Pop, 2017)
Compilation and soundtrack contributions
- "Blue Christmas" featured on Christmas '84 compilation
- "They" included in Deep Six compilation (C/Z Records, 1986)
- "Shoot 'Em Down (live)" on Woodshock '85 compilation (El Jefe Records, 1986)
- "Gila" appearing on Sub Pop 100 compilation (Sub Pop Records, 1986)
- "Bad Little Woman" featured on Dope-Guns-'N-Fucking In The Streets, Vol. 1 compilation (Amphetamine Reptile, 1988)
- "Bad Little Woman" also included in Dope-Guns-'N-Fucking In The Streets, Vols. 1-3 compilation (Amphetamine Reptile, 1989)
- "Dig It a Hole" featured on the soundtrack for Hype! (Sub Pop Records, 1996)
Further reading
External links
- [ The U-Men @ AllMusic.com]
- Articles with short description
- Garage rock groups from Washington (state)
- Indie rock musical groups from Washington (state)
- American garage punk groups
- Homestead Records artists
- Musical groups from Seattle
- Musical groups established in 1981
- Musical groups disestablished in 1989
- Amphetamine Reptile Records artists
- 1980 establishments in Washington (state)