Specimen (band)
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| Specimen | |
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 Specimen |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Bristol, England |
| Genres | Gothic Rock Deathrock New Wave Post-Punk Glam Rock |
| Years active | 1980–1985 2006–present |
| Labels | Sire Metropolis Records |
| Members | |
| Olli Wisdom Jon Klein Jonny Slut Kev Mills Chris Bell |
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| Past members | |
| See below | |
Specimen are a British band formed in the 1980s. Their music has been described as spanning many different genres of music, including glam, goth, punk and post-punk, and the band is widely credited as one of the pioneers of the Gothic movement, both musically and stylistically.[citation needed]
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early days
The band formed in Bristol, England during 1980. Their first show was at a street party celebrating the wedding of The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. In 1982, the band relocated to Soho, London, where they would play many shows at the infamous club known as the Batcave. Specimen's vocalist Olli Wisdom founded and ran the club during 1982-1983. Prior to forming Specimen and opening the Batcave, Olli was the vocalist for another band known as The Unwanted. Unlike Specimen, The Unwanted were a traditional 1977/ 1978 style English garage-core punk band.
Unusual for a keyboardist, Jonny Slut became the face of the band and its most famous member, due largely to his striking image and fashion sense.
While the band were together, they never released a full album, only singles and a mini album. However, in 1997 two full-length compilations were released featuring various Specimen songs.
[edit] Post-Specimen
After the band went its separate ways, guitarist Jon Klein worked with Siouxsie and the Banshees for seven years, before working with Sinéad O'Connor. He was also in the British 1998 movie comedy Married 2 Malcolm in a non-speaking role.
Johnny Slut formed Diskord Datkord with Mark Tinley and Adam Tinley before going on to work with The KLF, Adamski and is now a member of Atomizer. He also founded the Nag Nag Nag club in London, where he was one of the house DJs.
Tim Huthert was a bartender at the Mad Dog in the Fog in San Francisco in the United States.
Olli Wisdom went on to become Space Tribe, one of the world's leading psychedelic trance DJ's.
[edit] Specimen today
In July 2008, the original 1983 line up got together to perform at the Batcave's 25th anniversary event in London, resulting in the release of the live album Specimen Alive at the Batcave on Metropolis. The reunion grew directly out of friendships rekindled during the making of 2007's Electric Ballroom album, which featured T.bias, Kimba, Stephan X, and Tim Huthert, as well as Jon Klein collaborations with Olli Wisdom and Jonny Slut.
In February 2009, Jonny Slut and Jon Klein appeared at the Fashion Institute of Technology (New York) for the symposium 'Subculture and Style' centered around the exhibition for the book Gothic Dark Glamour by Valery Steele and Jennifer Parks. The exhibition featured one of Jon Klein's 25-year-old stage outfits, alongside the likes of Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and Rick Owens.
[edit] Band members
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[edit] Current line-up
- Olli Wisdom - Vocals
- Jon Klein - Guitar, vocals
- Jonny Slut - Keyboard, backing vocals
- Kev Mills - Bass, backing vocals
- Chris Bell - Drums
[edit] Former members
- T.bias - Vocals
- Kimba - Bass
- Stephan X - Guitar, backing vocals
- Tim Huthert - Drums
- Jonathan Trevisick - Drums
- Peter Cook - Keyboards
- Danny Pepworth - Drums
- George Lynch - Bass, backing vocals
- Smeg - Guitar
- Gerry[disambiguation needed
] - Keyboards - Naunton - Drums
- Simeon - Keyboards
- Jonny Slag - Bass
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Specimen Alive at the Batcave (2009), Metropolis Records/Eyeswideshut Recordings
- Electric Ballroom (2007), Metropolis Records
[edit] Compilations
- Warm Wet Cling - Film Red Velvet Crush (1997)
- Azoic (1997)
[edit] E P
- Batastrophe (1983)
[edit] Singles
- "Returning (From A Journey)" / "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (1983), London Records
- "Beauty Of Poison" / "Tell Tail" (1983), London Records
- "Sharp Teeth" / "Hex" / "Holes" (1985), Trust Records
- "Indestructible / "Brainburst" (1986), Rampant Records
