the Bellrays

Kekaula and Vennum founded the BellRays on the dissolution of previous group The Rose Thorns,{{cite news|url=https://www.laweekly.com/changing-colors/ |title=Changing Colors |newspaper=LA Weekly |date=1998-11-04 |access-date=2020-04-07}} a group formed by Vennum in 1986, which Kekaula joined in 1988; the band released an album Ralph's Mom & Dad in 1990;{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Rosethorns-Ralphs-Mom-Dad/master/948605 |title=The Rosethorns* - Ralph's Mom & Dad | Releases |website=Discogs.com |date= |access-date=2020-04-07}} songs from the album were later rerecorded by the BellRays. The same year the BellRays released their self-titled debut, cassette-only, album, with Kekaula and Vennum joined by Phil Phillips on bass and Brad Vaughn on drums.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15797507-The-Bellrays-The-Bellrays|title=The Bellrays - The Bellrays|access-date=3 May 2022|website=Discogs.com}}

The BellRays released their second album In the Light of the Sun, also cassette-only (until later reissue), in 1993, featuring new drummer Ray Chin and keyboardist Jim Kerwin. Tony Bramel (aka Tony Fate) produced and played bass on the recording and joined the band permanently as guitarist in 1996, with Vennum switching to bass.{{cite web|author=Cecile Cloutier |url=http://www.citypages.com/music/star-time-6706177 |title=Star Time |website=Citypages.com |date=2000-06-07 |access-date=2020-04-07}} The following albums Let It Blast and Grand Fury were recorded live in the band's rehearsal space.{{cite web|author=Bob Gendron |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/let-it-blast-mw0000047569 |title=Let It Blast - The BellRays | Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=AllMusic |date= |access-date=2020-04-07}}{{cite web|author=Bart Bealmear |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/grand-fury-mw0000012300 |title=Grand Fury - The BellRays | Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=AllMusic |date=2001-01-16 |access-date=2020-04-07}}

Fifth album The Red, White & Black (2003) was released on the Poptones label in the UK and Alternative Tentacles in the US. Craig Waters replaced Chin as drummer for the band's next two records Have a Little Faith and Hard, Sweet and Sticky,{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.westword.com/music/the-bellrays-return-with-two-new-records-of-revolution-rock-8993011 |title=The BellRays Return WIth Two New Records of Revolution Rock |website=Westword.com |date=2017-04-25 |access-date=2020-04-07}} the latter featuring Billy Mohler on production and bass guitar,{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/the-bellrays-hard-sweet-and-sticky-2496156424.html|title=The BellRays: Hard, Sweet and Sticky|date=May 18, 2008|website=PopMatters.com|access-date=2020-04-07}} Bob Vennum having switched back to lead guitar with the departure of Tony Fate.

The BellRays' eighth album proper Black Lightning was released in 2010{{cite web|author=Hal Horowitz |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/black-lightning-mw0002111597 |title=Black Lightning - The BellRays | Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=AllMusic |date=2011-02-28 |access-date=2020-04-07}} and their most recent album Punk Funk Rock Soul Volume Two in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/punk-funk-rock-soul-volume-2 |title=Punk Funk Rock Soul Volume 2 - Record Collector Magazine |website=Recordcollectormag.com |date= |access-date=2020-04-07}}

On the group's MySpace page, they described themselves as follows:

"High Octane Rock and Roll! Biography schmiography! Who cares about where they came from or what they did before or how many records they put out. Stats are not what music or this band is about. If you have an open mind and want something challenging in your life then this is where you want to stop and listen. Just take it in and make up your own mind. You want somebody to tell you what it is go to Kelly Clarkson's website instead. You tell us what we're about and then tell your friends whether you like it or not."

"Zero PM" was featured in the video game Driv3r{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362577/soundtrack|title=Driv3r (Video Game 2004) |website=IMDb.com|access-date=2020-04-07}} and "Revolution Get Down" in a commercial for the Nissan Xterra.{{cite web|url=http://www.jambase.com/band/the-bellrays |title=The BellRays: Tour Dates & Tickets, Tour History |website=Jambase.com |date= |access-date=2020-04-07}} "Revolution Get Down" was also used as a fade-to-commercial song during the 2006 NCAA Tournament in the George Mason-Florida semifinal on CBS Sports.

• The BellRays (1990)
• In the Light of the Sun (1993;{{cite web|author=Adam Bregman |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/in-the-light-of-the-sun-mw0000221164 |title=In the Light of the Sun - The BellRays | Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=AllMusic |date=2002-02-26 |access-date=2020-04-07}} reissued 2002)
• Let It Blast (1998)
• Punk Rock and Soul (1999) [Five tracks; split LP w/Streetwalkin' Cheetahs]
• Grand Fury (2000)
• The Red, White and Black (2004)
• Have A Little Faith (2006)
• Hard Sweet and Sticky (2008)
• Black Lightning (2010)
• Covers (2016) [6-track EP]
• Punk Funk Rock Soul Vol.1 (2017) [Four-track EP]
• Punk Funk Rock Soul Vol.2 (2018)
• Heavy Steady Go! (2024)

• Meet the BellRays (2002) [compiled from Let It Blast and Grand Fury]
• Raw Collection{{cite web|author=Johnny Loftus |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/raw-collection-mw0000018215 |title=Raw Collection - The BellRays | Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=AllMusic |date=2003-03-04 |access-date=2020-04-07}} (2003)
• Raw Collection, Vol.2 (2005)
• Merry Xmas, Love the BellRays (2008)
• It's Never To Late To Fall In Love With The Bellrays (New, Rare & Unreleased)/Introducing Lisa & The Lips (2019)

• A Vital Gesture Christmas (1996)
• A Tribute To Really Red - Teaching You the Fear Again (2020)

• The BellRays @ the Barfly (2005)

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.thebellrays.com Official Website]
• [http://www.myspace.com/thebellrays The BellRays] at MySpace
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929103224/http://www.dailymotion.com/skinandbones/bellrays The BellRays music videos] (Including live performances, and Tell The Lie, Fire and the Moon)
• [http://www.oc-tv.net/the-bellrays.htm An interview with Kekaula and some live extracts]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OJq_pSWhu8 The BellRays - On Top (OFFICIAL VIDEO)]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bellrays, The}}

Category:Punk rock groups from California

Category:Alternative Tentacles artists

Category:American garage punk groups

Category:Musical groups established in 1980

Category:1980 establishments in California