Specimen (band)

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Specimen

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Origin = Bristol, England
Genre = Goth Glam Rock
Years_active = 1980 – 1985 2006 – present
Label = Sire Metropolis Records
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Current_members = Jon Klein T.bias Stephan X Kimba Tim Huthert
Past_members = Ollie Wisdom Jonny Slut Kev Mills Jon Klein Jonathan Trevisick
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Specimen are a British band formed in the 1980s. Their music has been described as being comprised of many different genres of music, including; Glam, Goth, Punk and Post-punk and are widely credited as one of the pioneers of the Gothic movement, both musically and stylistically.

Biography

The band formed in Bristol, England during 1980. Their first show was at a street party celebrating the wedding of The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. In 1982, the band relocated to Soho, London, where they would play many shows at the infamous club known as The Batcave. Specimen's vocalist Ollie Wisdom founded and ran the club during 1982-1983. Prior to forming Specimen and opening The Batcave, Ollie was the vocalist for another band known as "The Unwanted". Unlike Specimen, The Unwanted were a traditional '77 / '78 style English garage-core punk band.

Unusual for a keyboardist, Jonny Slut became the face of the band and its most famous member, due largely to his striking image and fashion sense.

While the band were together, they never released a full album, only singles and an E.P., though in 1997 two full-length compilations would be released featuring various Specimen songs.

Post-Specimen

After the band went its separate ways, guitarist Jon Klein worked with Siouxsie & the Banshees for seven years, before working with Sinéad O'Connor. He was also in the British 1998 movie comedy "Married 2 Malcolm" in a non-speaking role.

Johnny Slut formed Diskord Datkord with Mark Tinley and Adam Tinley before going on to work with The KLF, Adamski and is now a member of Atomizer. He also founded the Nag Nag Nag club in London, where he is one of the house DJs.

Tim Huthert was a bartender at the Mad Dog in the Fog in San Francisco, CA.

Specimen today

In 2006 original Specimen guitarist and song writer, Jon Klein, collaborated with two past, latter Specimen members Kimba (bass) and Tim Huthert (drums), along with two new members, Stephan X (guitar) and T.bias (vocals). This collaboration resulted in the band's first full-length album, Electric Ballroom, released by Metropolis Records in the summer of 2007. The album featured collaborations with original Specimen members, Olli Wisdom and Jonny Slut. [ [http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=22217_0_2_0_C Glam Goth act Specimen returns with come back album on Metropolis] ]

Current members

*T.bias - Vocals, additional guitar, & keyboards
*Jon Klein - Guitar, vocals
*Stephan X - Guitar, Backing Vox
*Kimba - Bass, Backing Vox
*Tim Huthert - Drums

Former members

*Olli Wisdom - Vocals
*Kev Mills - Bass (Replaced by 'Kimba' after the band relocated to the US)
*Jonny Slut - Keyboards
*Jonathan Trevisick - Drums
*Chris Bell - Drums

Discography

Albums

*"Electric Ballroom" (2007) [ Metropolis Records ]

Compilations

*"Warm Wet Cling - Film Red Velvet Crush" (1997)
*"Azoic "(1997)

E.P.

*"Batastrophe" (1983)

ingles

*"Returning (From A Journey)" / "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (1983) [ London Records ]
*"Beauty Of Poison" / "Tell Tail" (1983) [ London Records ]
*"Sharp Teeth" / "Hex" / "Holes" (1985) [ Trust Records ]
*"Indestructible / "Brainburst" (1986) [ Rampant Records ]

References

* [http://www.postwave.gr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=883&Itemid=10&limit=1&limitstart=1 Jon Klein of Specimen talks about the legendary Batcave, the band's reunion and their first ever actual album]
* [http://www.jungle-records.demon.co.uk/bands/specimen.htm Interview with Jon Klein of Specimen]
* [http://80music.about.com/library/artist/bl_artist060698.htm About.com blurb on Specimen]

External links

* [http://www.specimenreturns.com Official band web site] (Expired)
* [http://www.myspace.com/specimenofficial Band MySpace page]