U-J3RK5
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Ian Wallace, Jeff Wall, Rodney Graham, Kitty Byrne, Colin Griffiths, Danice McLeod, Frank Ramirez, David Wisdom |
| Defunct | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Vancouver , Canada |
| Products | Music (post-punk, new wave, art rock) |
UJ3RK5 (occasionally stylized as U-J3RK5, pronounced "you jerk" with the five being silent) was a band originating from Vancouver that was active during the late 1970s. Their musical approach combined elements of post-punk and new wave, with a stronger emphasis on art rock rather than synth-driven pop.
History
The group UJ3RK5 was established by Vancouver-based visual artists Ian Wallace, Jeff Wall, and Rodney Graham, alongside Kitty Byrne, Colin Griffiths, Danice McLeod, Frank Ramirez, and CBC Radio personality David Wisdom. Their debut self-titled EP included the track "Eisenhower and the Hippies," which drew inspiration from American conceptual artist Dan Graham. Initially, this EP was issued by the independent label Quintessence Records before being re-released by PolyGram Canada.
Shortly after their release, the band dissolved as members returned to focus on their visual art professions. Nevertheless, their songs continued to gain recognition through covers featured on the Oh Canaduh! compilation series: "Eisenhower and the Hippies" was covered by Man or Astro-man?, while "Locator" was interpreted by Servotron. Additionally, "U-J3RK5 Work for Police" and "Naum Gabo" were included in the 1979 compilation Vancouver Complication, which experienced reissues in 2004 by Sudden Death Records and again in 2007 as a double-LP by the Italian label Rockin' Bones.
In December 2016, Primary Information, in collaboration with Emily Carr University Press, released Live from the Commodore Ballroom, a limited edition double-LP capturing their full opening set for Gang of Four on May 26, 1980. This collection featured seven tracks previously unreleased alongside selections from their EP and "Naum Gabo." This edition has since gone out of print.
UJ3RK5 was also showcased in the 2010 documentary Bloodied but Unbowed, directed by Susanne Tabata, which explores the punk music scene in Vancouver.