DNA (band)

DNA on DNA 2004 - No More Records, NoCD12. The following were all released on the A&M Records label. American Clavé Sampler: various artists (one DNA track) 1993 - American Clave (USA), AMCL 1020/1026 (2xCD). Finally in 1997, Gary Cherone joined with Van Halen for their album called Van Halen 3, issued in 1998, and he left Van Halen in 1999-2000. Last Live at CBGB 1993 - Avant (Japan), Avant 006 (CD). Extreme disbanded in 1996. The Fruit of Original Sin: various artists (Three DNA tracks) 1981 - Les Disques Du Crepuscule, twi 035 (2xLP). The subsequent record Waiting for the Punchline, released on February 7, 1995, containing the singles "Hip Today", "Unconditionally", and "Cynical" was even less successful than III Sides to Every Story.

A Taste of DNA 1981 - American Clavé, AMCL 1003EP (12"). The band was sued, but they quickly settled out of court, later releasing a new version of the film clip. No New York: various artists (Four DNA tracks) 1978 - Antilles, AN 7067 (LP). The video for the first single, "Rest In Peace" was inspired by a film short by the National Film Board of Canada called "Love Thy Neighbour". "You & You" b/w "Little Ants" 1978 - Lust/Unlust Music, 11-CAN-234. Sales of the ambitious concept album III Sides to Every Story, released on September 22, 1992, were disappointing despite the record receiving critical acclaim from some quarters. They have since taken the name The DNA Disciples to avoid confusion with the no wave band described above, and also produced a second Suzanne Vega remix, "Rusted Pipe". Extreme was one of the many bands to receive diminished attention from music fans and the recording industry when musical tastes changed in a rush following the release of Nevermind by Nirvana.

DNA was also the pseudonym taken by two British dance producers for a remix of Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner". The subsequent single, Hole Hearted, also an acoustic and sweetly-sung tune was also successful, rising to Number 4 on the same popular music chart. The contemporary indie rock band Blonde Redhead takes its name from a DNA song. It later became a huge smash, hitting Number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 in the United States. Lindsay and Mori and to a lesser extent Crutchfield have remained active in music. The acoustic ballad "More than Words" entered the Hot 100 on March 23, 1991, at Number 81. DNA on DNA, a comprehensive CD chronicle of the band, was released by No More Records in 2004. Neither single was successful, and album had fallen off the charts when A&M sent the third single to a number of radio stations in Arizona.

DNA's final encore was a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love." Sadly, this is not included on the CD Last Live at CBGB, released more than a decade later on John Zorn's Avant label. "Decadent Dance" and "Get the Funk Out" were released as singles. It's a measure of the cult following the band had developed that its final concerts were three consecutive sold-out nights at CBGB. It revolved around a loose concept, following the path of young boy Francis as he wandered through a decadent, degraded and corrupt society. Lindsay, Mori, and Wright decided to dissolve the band in 1982. The record, which showcased Bettencourt's extraordinary guitar-playing prowess, was an ambitious and complex mixture of funk, pop and glam metal sounds. Some live DNA tracks appeared on compilation albums while the band was still in existence. Michael Wagener, who had previously worked with Dokken and White Lion was engaged to produce Extreme II Pornograffitti 1990.

DNA recorded but one (brief, approximately 10 minutes) album - A Taste of DNA - for Kip Hanrahan's American Clavé label (later on Rough Trade) in 1980. Moderate sales of Extreme's first record were enough to support a second album. Live shows were frequent in this period, but rarely outside of the CBGB - Mudd Club - TR3 circuit in lower Manhattan.
. The Lindsay-Mori-Wright lineup of DNA developed something of a cult following between 1979 and 1982, but more with art than with rock audiences. The first single was "Kid Ego", a song that Cherone would later admit made him cringe. Song structures became tighter, briefer, more abstract, and have been compared to haiku. In 1988, the band signed to A&M Records and recorded their self-titled debut which was issued in 1989.

The music became even more spare and angular, with Wright's bass lines creating a sometimes menacing sound. The band had accumulated approximately 55 songs by the time A&R director Bryan Huttenhower signed them to A&M Records. As Wright played bass and not keyboards, and was the only member of the band really to have any conventional instrumental technique, the change in DNA's sound was dramatic. The band gradually developed a strong local following, and was named "Outstanding Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Act" at the Boston Music Awards in 1986 and 1987. He was replaced by Tim Wright, previously of the Cleveland band Pere Ubu. Cherone and Bettencourt began writing songs together and played numerous shows in the Boston area. Shortly after the recording of No New York, Crutchfield left DNA to form a new band, Dark Day. Following an altercation between the rival groups over communal dressing rooms Cherone, Geary, Bettencourt and Badger decided to form a new band.

The other three bands appearing on this album were The Contortions, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, and Mars. Vocalist Gary Cherone was in a band with drummer Paul Geary, whilst guitarist Nuno Bettencourt was in a band with bassist Pat Badger. Within their first year, they had cemented their reputation as a paradigmatic no wave band when Brian Eno selected them as one of the four groups documented on the No New York LP, the first recording to expose no wave groups to an audience outside of lower Manhattan. Extreme was formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1985. This lineup of DNA played occasionally at CBGB and Max's Kansas City and recorded one 7" single.
. After the rapid departure of Stevenson and Cervenka, Lindsay and Crutchfield hastily recruited Ikue Mori - a Japanese woman with little command of English and no drum set - to be DNA's drummer. Being asked about their style, Extreme categorized their music as 'Funky Metal'.

This incarnation of the band was very brief, not playing even one concert. Some of Extreme's influences, Queen and Van Halen, are easily apparent from their music's multi-part vocal harmonies and electric guitar tone and virtuoso techniques. Stevenson went on to play bass for Teenage Jesus and the Jerks; Cervenka was the younger sister of Exene Cervenka of X. Extreme was an American funk metal / hard rock band which achieved popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. DNA originally consisted of Lindsay, Crutchfield, Gordon Stevenson, and Mirielle Cervenka, and took its name from a song by another no wave band, Mars. See also Extreme value, Extreme sports, Extremophile. Their music was described as spare, noisy, and angular and was compared to some of Captain Beefheart's output and even to Anton Webern. Running Gag (1995).

Rather than playing their instruments in a traditional manner, they instead focused on making unique and unusual sounds. Waiting for the Punchline (1995). Formed in 1978 by guitarist Arto Lindsay and keyboardist Robin Crutchfield, DNA were inspired by a promoter who wanted a band composed of first-time musicians. III Sides to Every Story (1992). DNA was a short-lived but influential New York rock band, associated with the no wave movement. Pornograffiti (1990). Extreme (1989).

Michael Mangini. Paul Geary. Gary Cherone. Nuno Bettencourt.

Patrick Badger.