Biography
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Years Active
1987 – 1988 (1 year)
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Founded In
Washington, D.C., United States
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Members
- Brendan Canty (1987 – 1988)
- Eddie Janney (1987 – 1988)
- Guy Picciotto (1987 – 1988)
- Michael Fellows (1987 – 1988)
- Mike Fellows
Happy Go Licky was a short-lived reunion of Washington, D.C. rock music group Rites of Spring. The band formed in spring of 1987 and broke up after their final show at D.C.'s 9:30 Club on New Year's Day in 1988. The last song they performed at that show was the Rites of Spring song Drink Deep. (That was the only time the group performed a Rites of Spring song).
Though comprising the same personnel as Rites of Spring (Eddie Janney and Guy Picciotto on guitar and vocals, Mike Fellows on bass and vocals and Brendan Canty on drums) their music was vastly different. Happy Go Licky was far more experimental, often incorporating tape loops and sound effects into their live performances; their songs were often largely or entirely improvised, and featured unusual structures. Lyrically, it appeared that the members were moving away from the emotionally-charged themes that were prominent in their earlier work; in some ways, the vague and abstract lyrics of Happy Go Licky foreshadowed the lyrical work of Guy during his tenure in Fugazi. This, along with the artsier sound of Happy Go Licky, certainly showed a transitional phase in Washington, DC from "Revolution Summer"-type bands like Rites of Spring and the experimental post-hardcore of Fugazi.
Their short life span did not allow them to get into the studio, however an EP of taped live performances was self-released and later rereleased with extra tracks on Peterbilt/Dischord as Will Play.
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