Biography
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Years Active
1966 – present (59 years)
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Founded In
Houston, Harris County, Texas, United States
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Members
- David Grubbs
- Frederick Barthelme
- Gina Birch
- John McEntire
- Mayo Thompson
The Red Krayola (or Red Crayola) is an experimental rock band who formed in Houston, Harris County, Texas in late 1966 by sole constant and primary leader Mayo Thompson, novelist Rick Barthelme, brother of Donald Barthelme (drums) and 17-year old Steve Cunningham (bass). Their discography spans genres including psychedelic rock, avant-garde, post-punk, and experimental music, with over 19 studio albums released.
In 1965, Thompson returned from a school trip to Europe, where he witnessed the burgeoning music scene and was inspired to start a rock band. Initially a garage cover band, they began incorporating live, onstage improvisations with a rotating group of fans, hippies and hangers-on dubbed “The Familiar Ugly", who were featured prominently on their debut album. The band signed to International Artists in 1967, and became labelmates of the 13th Floor Elevators, releasing their debut album The Parable of Arable Land, which featured notable contributions from Elevators frontman, Roky Erickson.
A more experimental follow-up, Coconut Hotel, was completed soon after but shelved for decades. After a stint of performances in Berkeley, the band recorded an album with John Fahey, their label confiscated the tapes and the album has remained lost ever since.
In 1968, the Crayola company ordered the band to change their name, their second album, God Bless the Red Krayola and All Who Sail With It was met with poor sales and reception, after which the original lineup disbanded.
In 1973, Thompson became associated with the conceptual art group Art & Language, partially reviving the band for 1976 release "Corrected Slogans". During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Thompson became involved in the UK post-punk scene, reviving the band this time with its original name, Red Crayola, as American copyright laws did not apply there. He worked with Rough Trade Records, producing releases for bands such as the Raincoats, Cabaret Voltaire and the Fall.
The Red Crayola continued to record albums with shifting lineups. By the 1990s to early 2000s, musicians from the Chicago post-rock scene, such as Jim O’Rourke, David Grubbs, and John McEntire helped revive the band after a short hiatus, with the band singing to independent label Drag City records.
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