the Dead C
{{Short description|New Zealand experimental rock band}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2012}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = The Dead C
|image =
|caption =
|background = group_or_band
|alias =
|origin = Dunedin, New Zealand
|instrument =
|genre = {{hlist|Experimental rock|post-rock|psychedelia|noise rock|free rock|drone|Dunedin sound}}
|occupation =
|years_active = 1986–present
|label =
|associated_acts = 2 Foot Flame, Gate
A Handful of Dust, Wreck Small Speakers on Expensive Stereos
|website =
|current_members = Bruce Russell
Michael Morley
Robbie Yeats
|past_members =
}}
The Dead C are a New Zealand music and art trio consisting of members Bruce Russell, Michael Morley and Robbie Yeats, formed in Dunedin.{{cite web |first=Ned |last=Raggett |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000261942|pure_url=yes}}|title=The Dead C: Harsh 70's Reality > Review |publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=1 March 2013}}{{cite magazine |first=David |last=Sprague |url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=dead_c |title=Dead C |magazine=Trouser Press |year=2007 |accessdate=11 March 2016}} Russell is a co-lead guitarist, Morley sings and plays guitar or laptop, and Yeats is a drummer. They have been variously praised and cited as an influence by indie musicians such as Thurston Moore and Pavement, as well as the post-rock acts Bardo Pond, Flying Saucer Attack and Labradford.{{Cite web|date=|title=Dead C|url=http://www.flyingnun.co.nz/archive_site/bands/general/deadc.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024045912/http://www.flyingnun.co.nz/archive_site/bands/general/deadc.htm|archive-date=2009-10-24|access-date=2021-02-18|website=Flying Nun Records}}
Overview
The Dead C formed in Dunedin in 1987, following Morley's previous musical project Wreck Small Speakers on Expensive Stereos.{{Cite web|date=2010-10-04|title=The Dead C|url=https://beat.com.au/the-dead-c/|access-date=2022-02-24|website=Beat Magazine|language=en-AU}} Their first Auckland show was in 1989, by which point they had already released two albums on Flying Nun who Russell had been doing copywriting work for.{{Cite web|title=The Dead C Finds Life in the Shadows|url=https://consequence.net/aux-out/the-dead-c-finds-life-in-the-shadows/|access-date=2022-02-24|website=Consequence|language=en-US}} They became known internationally through their releases on the Philadelphia record label Siltbreeze, especially the 1992 double LP Harsh 70s Reality. Their records are typically composed of improvised material, and are not recorded in a standard professional music studio; for instance, their 2000 self-titled album was largely recorded with a digital camcorder.{{Cite web|date=2016-09-15|title=In Praise of Miscompetence: Noise Icons the Dead C Remain Mysterious as Ever|url=https://observer.com/2016/09/in-praise-of-miscompetence-noise-icons-the-dead-c-remain-mysterious-as-ever/|access-date=2022-02-24|website=Observer|language=en-US}}
The group performs infrequently outside of New Zealand, although they did travel to the US in March 2002 to perform at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival (curated by Sonic Youth), as well as shows in Los Angeles and San Francisco. They also performed for the first time in Europe in May 2004 at Le Weekend, a new music festival in Stirling, Scotland and returned to the UK to play at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival again in December 2006.{{Cite web|date=2012-09-05|title=The Dead C|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nat-music/audio/2530573/the-dead-c|access-date=2022-02-24|website=RNZ |language=en-nz}} In 2008, they played a short tour in the United States, and returned to the UK to play All Tomorrow's Parties in December 2010. In September 2016, they played a few US dates including Cropped Out festival in Louisville, Kentucky
A compilation album covering their first 18 years entitled Vain Erudite and Stupid: Selected Works 1987-2005 was released on the Ba Da Bing label in 2006.
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Release date !Title !Label |
| 1988 |
| 1989
|Flying Nun Records |
| 1990
|Precious Metal |
| 1992
|Siltbreeze{{ref label|a|a}} |
| 1992
|Siltbreeze{{ref label|b|b}} |
| 1992
|Metric |Majora |
| 1995
|Siltbreeze |
| 1996
|Siltbreeze |
| 1997
|Tusk |Siltbreeze |
| 2000 |
| 2001
|Language Recordings |
| 2003 |
| 2007 |
| 2007
|Untitled Split LP (with Hi God People) |
| 2008
|Ba Da Bing |
| 2010
|Ba Da Bing |
| 2013
|Ba Da Bing |
| 2016
|Trouble |Ba Da Bing |
| 2019
|Rare Ravers |Ba Da Bing |
| 2020
|Unknowns |Ba Da Bing |
=EPs=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Release date !Title !Label !Format |
| 1989
|The Sun Stabbed |7" |
| 1990
|Siltbreeze |12", 33 rpm |
| 1994
|Siltbreeze |12", 33 rpm |
| 2005
|Split Series 18 (with Konono Nº1) | |
| 2013
|The Dead C vs Rangda (split with Rangda) |Ba Da Bing | |
| 2015
|Palisadas |I Dischi Del Barone | |
| 2020
|All Goodbyes |Language Recordings | |
=Cassettes=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Release date !Title !Label |
| 1987
|The Dead See Perform M. Harris |Diabolic Root |
| 1987
|43 Sketch for a Poster |Diabolic Root |
| 1988
|The Live Dead See |
| 1989 |
| 1990 |
= Compilations =
| class=wikitable sortable
!Release date !Title !Label |
| 1995 |
| 2006
|Vain, Erudite and Stupid: Selected Works 1987–2005 |Ba Da Bing |
; Notes
: {{note label|a|a}} 1500 copies made
: {{note label|b|b}} 450 copies made
=Singles=
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Single |
|---|
| 1991
|"Hell is Now Love/Bone" |
| 1991
| "Power/Mighty/Peace" |
| 1994
|"The Dead C vs. Sebadoh" |
| 1994
| "Metalheart" |
| 1995
|"Metalheart" (reissue) |
| 2000
| "Stealth/The Factory" |
| 2006
| "Relax Fallujah Hell Has Come" |
| 2008
| "Golden/Canine" |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20180805195237/http://thedeadc.com/ Archive of the Dead C. fansite] with coverage of the fanzine era.
- [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p169395|pure_url=yes}} Biography and Discography] at allmusic.com
- [http://monsterfresh.com/2010/08/27/michael-morley-interview-dead-c-gate/ Michael Morley interview on MonsterFresh.com] Aug. 2010
{{The Dead C}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dead C}}
Category:New Zealand indie rock groups
Category:Flying Nun Records artists
Category:New Zealand musical trios
Category:Free improvisation ensembles
Category:New Zealand experimental rock groups
Category:New Zealand post-rock groups
Category:Musical groups from Dunedin
Category:Musical groups established in 1986