The Fluid

The Fluid were an American Rock band, from Denver, CO, formed in 1984.

History

The Fluid were originally called "Madhouse", and became The Fluid upon the arrival of vocalist John Robinson. Their first show drew a crowd of around 400 people, and they released their first album in 1986, "Punch N Judy". Many people only know them for their split release with grunge superstars Nirvana. In January 2008 all original members of The Fluid announced they will perform for the first time in 15 years at the SubPop 20th anniversary event to be held in Seattle on July 12- 13 2008.

The quintet has its roots in Denver's early 80's punk scene. One local band Frantix, gained a measure of national notoriety with single that radio wouldn't even consider playing, let alone saying over the air. ("My Dad's A F%#$ing Alcoholic"). After Frantix broke up bassist Matt Bischoff began gigging with drummer Garrett Shavlik and guitarist James Clower under the moniker "Madhouse."

On July 5, 1985 with the addition of Rick Kulwicki and Houston punk transplant John Robinson on vocals the Fluid played their first gig at the German House (Denver Turnverein). "The Fluid" was the only name all 5 members could agree upon. The band's reputation as a powerful "live" experience took off from there.

In 1986 the Fluid released their first album "Punch 'n Judy" on local Rayon Records. They toured for the next two years. Punch and Judy was licensed to and released by the German label Glitterhouse.

In 1988 the Fluid released Clear Black Paper on Sub Pop. They were the first non-Seattle band to sign to the label and the fourth album from the Northwest upstart record company.

The Fluid 2008 Reunion Performance

Below follows what is clearly a press release, rather than an unbiased encyclopedic account:

The members of the legendary and influential alternative rock band The Fluid have announced that the group is reuniting to perform at Sub-Pop Records 20th Anniversary Festival in Seattle this July and at selected dates in Denver, Colorado.

Forged in the gritty, unforgiving depths of the Denver punk scene in 1985, The Fluid was one of the most powerful and hardest-hitting acts of the late ’80s and early ’90s. Comprised of vocalist John Robinson, drummer Garrett Shavlick, bassist Matt Bischoff, and guitarists James Clower and Rick Kulwicki, the band was the first non-Seattle signing by the initially provincial Sub-Pop label, which released the group’s scorching sophomore album, Clear Black Paper, in 1988. (The quintet’s debut, Punch N Judy, was released on Denver’s Ray-On Records in 1986 and was later reissued on Germany’s Glitterhouse imprint.)

Due to timing and the band’s associations with Sub-Pop and various acts of the Northwest underground scene—the group were early boosters of Nirvana, and the two acts even shared a split single in 1991—The Fluid has long been lumped in with the period’s so-called grunge movement. But in actuality the outfit’s unapologetically rock ’n’ roll sound bypassed the shallower sludge metal and hardcore punk influences of its contemporary brethren, reaching deeper to hint at the classic styles of forbears like the New York Dolls, The Stooges, the MC5, the Rolling Stones, and the garage bands of the 1960s. Over the course of its four albums and numerous EP and single releases, the group worked with noted producers Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage) and Jack Endino (Nirvana, Mudhoney, Soundgarden).

The Fluid’s utterly devastating live sets are the stuff of legend. Backed by Kulwicki’s and Clower’s wall of wah-wah-laced, cinder-block guitar crunch and the overpowering, locomotive drive of Bischoff and Shavlick, the unhinged, wild-eyed Robinson was a man possessed, a sweat-soaked collision of primordial id and hypnotic transcendence. It’s no wonder The Fluid has been cited as a huge influence by dozens of younger bands and a favorite act of many of the group’s own peers.

The Fluid’s upcoming shows at Seattle’s Marymoor Park on July 12th &13th for the Sub-Pop Records 20th Anniversary Festival and at The Bluebird Theater in Denver on Friday June 20, 2008 will bring together all five of the band’s original members for one of the most rabidly anticipated musical reunions in years—and one that will give fans the rare chance to once again experience firsthand the band’s singular brand of timeless and powerful rock ’n’ roll.

Members

*John Robinson - vocals
*Matt Bischoff - bass
*James Clower - guitar
*Rick Kulwicki - guitar
*Garrett Shavlik - drums

Discography

Albums

*"Punch N Judy" (1986) (RayOn & Glitterhouse)
*"Clear Black Paper" (1988) (Glitterhouse & Sub Pop)
*"Freak Magnet" EP (1989) (Glitterhouse)
*"Roadmouth" (1989) (Sub Pop & Glitterhouse)
*"Glue" (1990) (Sub Pop & Glitterhouse)
*"Purplemetalflakemusic" (1993) (Hollywood)

ingles

*"Tin Top Toy b/w Tomorrow 7" (1989) (Sub Pop SP57)
*"Split 7" with Loveslug - Madhouse (live) b/w Free Fire Zone (live)" (1989) (Glitterhouse GR0057)
*"Split 7" with Nirvana - Candy (live) b/w Molly's Lips (live)" (1991) (Sub Pop SP97)
*"Spot the Loon EP (CD)" (1992) (Fellaheen)
*"On My Feet 7" (Hollywood - white vinyl promo) (1993) (Hollywood)
*"Live 1988 7" (bootleg)

Compilations

Something's Gone Wrong Again: The Buzzcocks Covers Compilation [http://www.discogs.com/release/1368971]

Sub Pop 200

The Grunge Years

External links

* [http://www.subpop.com/artists/fluid The Fluid at subpop.com]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:rbxuak5k5m3v~T0 The Fluid at AMG]