The Nervebreakers

The Nervebreakers are a Dallas-area proto-punk and punk rock band that formed in 1975. Well known for their melodic, rocking punk with a liberal smattering of George Jones and psychedelia, they have the distinction of being one of the only bands to open for The Sex Pistols.

Background

The Nervebreakers began life as a cover band plaing cover songs from the sixties. As the Ramones and the Sex Pistols became big in America, the band was finally able to find a sustaining audience. The Nervebreakers first big break came when they opened for the Ramones on July 24, 1977 at The Electric Ballroom, a dance hall in the industrial district of Dallas. In 1978 The Nervebreakers opened for the Sex Pistols at The Longhorn Ballroom, and a photo of Barry made it into the March 1978 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine. Later that year the band recorded their debut EP "Politics", and the song "My Girlfriend is A Rock" became a runaway hit in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Boston and was later covered by the Angry Samoans and Wool, among others. They also opened for The Clash, John Cale, The Police and Johnny Thunders.

The Nervebreakers contacted legendary Psychedelic rock pioneer and Texas native, Roky Erickson and opened several shows as the Nervebreakers and doing double duty by being Roky's backing band. A live recording of one of these shows was released on CD by the French record company, New Rose Records.

In 1979 they recorded a single for Wild Child Records containing the songs "Hijack the Radio" and "Why Am I So Flipped", and contributed 2 songs ("So Sorry" (Barry Kooda) and "I Love Your Neurosis") to the ESR Compilation "Are We Too Late For The Trend?" They recorded another song "I Don't Believe In Anything" but it was not released. By 1980, The Nervebreakers were one of the biggest bands in Dallas. They began recording their Debut album "We Want Everything" on May 27, but the album was not released until 1994 when Texas rarities / reissue label ‘Existential Vacuum’ released a vinyl LP to rave reviews. Shortly thereafter this effort was picked up by garage / punk label ‘Get Hip Records’ and a CD was made available worldwide. In 2000 Italian label '“Rave Up Records”' released “Hijack the Radio” a vinyl LP collection of singles, rarities and live cuts. Years after they laid the groundwork for enumerable other Texas bands, Nervebreakers were finally getting their due.

After the departure of Mike and Bob in 1981, Paul Quigg and James Flory joined and the band won the "Agora's Battle of the Bands" in Dallas. Their prize was recording time at Pantego Studios and they recorded a Thom Edwards/Mike Haskins original "Girls, Girls, Girls, Girls, Girls," along with an obscure Rolling Stones cover "I'd Much Rather Be With The Boys". The band parted company shortly before the single was released on black and blue vinyl in a clear sleeve.

An anthology "Hijack The Radio! (Vintage Vinyl & Studio Sessions, Volume One” of previously released and unreleased songs has been assembled for release on vinyl and CD by the Get Hip label. Mike, Tex, Barry, Carl and Bob have recently (2007-2008) re-entered the studio to record a brand new effort of never recorded before original material entitled “Face Up to Reality” that is hopefully slated for release sometime in 2011. Also in 2009, The Nervebreakers have returned to live performances with several shows in Austin and Dallas.

Band members

• Thom "Tex" Edwards: Vocals
• Mike Haskins: Lead Guitar/Vocals
• Barry "Kooda" Huebner: Rhythm Guitar/ Vocals
• Carl Giesecke: Drums
• Pierre Thompson: Bass was replaced by Clarke Blacker and later "BBQ" Bob Childress
• Paul Quigg (Guitar) and James Flory (Bass) replaced Mike and Bob for the East Coast tour and the 45 single *"Girls.../...Boys"
• Walter Brock: played Farfisa and was instrumental in writing some of the band's most notable, early songs prior to the name change from Mr. Nervous Breakdown to The Nervebreakers when Walter left and Barry joined.
• Tom Ordon: sometime manager and proprietor of Wild Child Records that released the three singles.

External links

• Official Website
• http://www.myspace,com/nervebreaking
• http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Nervebreakers/38754638090
• http://www.myspace.com/ttexedwards
• http://www.reverbnation.com/ttexedwards
• http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/ttex-edwards/24398547098
• http://barrykooda.com
• http://www.reverbnation.com/barrykooda
• http://www.myspace.com/thebiggunsmusic
• http://www.thebigguns.com/Band.html