Urinals (band)


The Urinals are an American punk rock band from Southern California, United States. Known for their minimalist approach to songwriting and recording — their lyrics have been called "punk haiku" — the band influenced other punk rockers of the 1970s and 1980s including the Minutemen. They have also been known as 100 Flowers and Chairs of Perception.

History

Founded in 1978 by John Talley-Jones, Kjehl Johansen, and Kevin Barrett, the band's first performance was a parody of punk rock performed for a talent show at their UCLA dorm. Though none of the group's members could play their instruments well, they continued to perform in on-campus venues. Their songs were usually short, seldom utilizing more than two chords.
The band’s first off-campus show was at Raul’s in Austin, Texas. Returning to L.A., they appeared with such groups as The Go-Go's and Black Flag. A roughly-recorded, four-song EP produced by Vitus Matare followed. After developing a somewhat more sophisticated sound, the band changed its name to 100 Flowers, but disbanded in 1983.
In 1996, the band reformed as the Urinals, releasing a CD of new material in 2003. They later took the name Chairs of Perception before again becoming the Urinals in 2008.

Discography

As 100 Flowers:
As 100 Flowers:
The Minutemen covered "Ack Ack Ack Ack" on the albums The Politics of Time and 3-Way Tie . A video of the song, directed by Talley-Jones, would be the Minutemen's last video due to the death of D. Boon.
No Age covered "Male Masturbation" on their EP Eraser.
Mika Miko covered "Sex" on their LP We Be Xuxa.
Yo La Tengo has covered "Black Hole" and "Surfin' with the Shah". "Black Hole" was also covered by the Leaving Trains, Angry Angles, Women, Gun Club, and Grass Widow.
"I'm a Bug" was covered by Halo of Flies, Lili Z., The Meatmen, Ceremony, Sex Cult and Metz.
"Hologram" was covered by Digital Leather and Human Eye.
Other bands to cover Urinals songs include Butthole Surfers, The Dishes, The Reds, Mike Watt, and Eleventh Dream Day.