What Is This?
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| What Is This? | |
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| Also known as | Chain Reaction, Anthym, Walk The Moon, Eleven |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Genres | Rock |
| Associated acts | Eleven, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Them Crooked Vultures, Pearl Jam |
| Past members | |
| Alain Johannes Hillel Slovak Jack Irons Todd Strassman Flea Chris Hutchinson Michael Bocreatis |
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What Is This? (known prior to 1980 as Anthym) was a rock band that originated in Fairfax High School in California and would play numerous shows along the coast of California. Originally named Chain Reaction when the band members were in junior high school,[1] What Is This? were formed before and played around the same time as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers was one of two original people who acted as roadies for the band and would introduce the band before they went on stage. The band played many local Los Angeles California area gigs as Anthym, then changed their name to "What Is This?" shortly before they were asked to open for the band Oingo Boingo at The Country Club in Reseda for the debut of their first album Only A Lad.
Original Red Hot Chili Peppers members Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons left that band just prior to it receiving its first record contract, preferring to focus on What Is This?.[2] Slovak rejoined the Chili Peppers for their second album and Irons for their third album. The name What Is This? refers to the reaction of people listening to their music. After the joining of Natasha Shneider the band was first renamed Walk the Moon and then Eleven. The band, in their early days, are referenced numerous times in Kiedis's autobiography, Scar Tissue.
The band released three albums in the early to mid-80s. Their song, "Mind My Have Still I" from their 1984 EP Squeezed, was also featured on the soundtrack to the movie The Wild Life. Their second album, which featured a cover of the Spinners hit "I'll Be Around", was produced by Todd Rundgren, who also played Fairlight Synthesizer on the record. "I'll Be Around" was released as a single and video; it peaked at #62 on the Billboard Hot 100.
There is no confirmation or denial that the original name, Anthym, was inspired by Canadian band Rush, whose 1975 song "Anthem" gave name to their own record label. That song was in turn inspired by the novella of the same name by author Ayn Rand, who, at the time, was a major influence on Rush drummer/lyricist Neil Peart. The "y" variation in Anthym is said to have been taken from "Ayn".
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[edit] Original members
- Alain Johannes: Lead vocals, Guitar
- Hillel Slovak: Guitar, Backing vocals
- Todd Strassman: Bass (replaced by Flea)
- Jack Irons: Drums
[edit] Other members
- Flea: Bass, Backing vocals (replaced Todd Strassman, replaced by Chris Hutchinson)
- Chris Hutchinson: Bass, Backing vocals (replaced Flea)
- Michael Bocretis : Keyboards
[edit] Partial discography
| Date of release | Title | Label | Charted | Country | Catalog number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Squeezed - EP | San Andreas Records/MCA | - | - | |
| 1985 | What Is This? | MCA | - | - | |
| 1985 | 3 Out of 5 Live - EP | MCA | - | - |
[edit] References
- ^ Thompson, Dave (2000). Alternative Rock : Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion. San Francisco: Miller Freeman. pp. 718. ISBN 978-0879306076.
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jack-irons-p89346/biography
[edit] External links
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