Camper Van Beethoven was formed in Santa Cruz, California in 1983. The band's intertwined hybrid of punk, ska, folk and world music was a revelation at the time. This combined with their surreal, quirky lyrics and bizarre folk versions of hardcore classics quickly gained them a local cult following. The band lineup changed numerous times, but the core members were David Lowery (guitar/vocals), Chris Molla (guitar), Victor Krummenacher (bass), Jonathan Segel (violin) and Chris Pedersen (drums). It was Segel's violin that came to the define the band's sound. Their 1985 debut album, Telephone Free Landslide Victory led to a breakthrough on the college radio scene, when stations picked up on "Take the Skinheads Bowling" and a cover of "Black Flags Wasted." Despite the album receiving much praise and plaudits, sales were only modest. Rough Trade were cautious about releasing another album, and the band's next album, II & III, was released in 1986 as an independent project on the bands own label, Pitch-a-Tent. The self-titled third album shortly followed in the same year. On both albums they went for a purer indie-rock sound and both received widespread critical acclaim. This led to a major record deal with Virgin records, on which they released Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart in 1988. This album, although more serious than their past releases, still pleased their cult following and almost generated a near-hit single in "Eye of Fatima." Sadly by the late 1980s the band was fragmenting - Molla and Segel left in 1987 and 1988 respectively. The band split while on a tour of Europe in 1990 supporting their last album, 1989's Key Lime Pie. Frontman David Lowery went on to form the successful alternative rock band Cracker, while other members continued performing -- often together -- in a succession of groups. Lowery reunited with Krummenacher and Segel in late 1999 to assemble the rarities compilation, Camper Van Beethoven Is Dead. Long Live Camper Van Beethoven.
|
