The U-Men

When you try to select some key bands, those bands which changed the Seattle scene and turned the grunge term into a reality, The U-Men should be in your list.

The U-Men was formed in 1981 in Seattle and disbanded in 1989, almost a decade and still its legacy is honoured . They played punk rock, they opened a new trend over the United States during 80s, and nobody could ensure how a concert was going to finish. They were the first punk rock band booked at the Bumbershoot Festival in the Seattle Center, they lighted the stage and the moat on fire and kept on playing the songs.

Some gigs of The U-Men were shut down by the Seattle police.

They added talent and pushed forward hard for the alternative music, their own references were bands like The Sonics or The Wailers.

The first lineup was:

• John Bigley, vocalist
• Tom Price, guitarist
• Robin Buchan, bassist
• Charlie Ryan, drummer

John, Tom and Charlie persisted all the time in the band, just the bassist place got changes along the years.

Under the band, there always were a good number of managers behind to help them. These managers later became legend:

• Susan Silver. She later got married with Chris Cornell. She worked with Soundgarden, Screaming Trees and Alice in Chains.
• Bruce Pavitt (co-founder of Sub Pop)
• Larry Reid, the famous punk art gallery tastemaker.

After a short time, the band just was one year old, the first lineup change happened, bassist Robin Buchan left the band and Jill Tillman got in.

But the main point was when the Blackouts moved to Boston, then The U-Men became the most important band in Seattle.

During 1984 and 1985 The U-Men released two EPs, "U-Men" over Bomb Shelter Records in 1984, and "Stop Spinning" through Homestead Records in 1985.

U-Men also added its songs to several compilations in 1986:

• "They" on the Deep Six compilation through C/Z Records.
• "Shoot 'Em Down (live)" on the Woodshock '85 compilation through El Jefe Records.
• "Gila" on the Sub Pop 100 compilation through Sub Pop Records.

There was breaking time, Tom Price and Charlie Ryan joined for few time Cat Butt. Anyway they came back and focused on The U-Men.

Some singles were released on that time, "Solid Action" and "Dig It A Hole" in 1987 over Black Label Records

Only U-Men studio album, Step On A Bug

The only studio album from U-Men was released in 1988 with the name of "Step On A Bug" over Amphetamine Reptile, whose founder and owner was Tom Hazelmyer.

The producer was John Nelson.

Then Tom Hazelmyer replaced Jim Tillman in 1987, but Tom did not stay so much, and Tony Ransom was who played the bass until 1989.

Following singles were released "Freezebomb" and "That's Wild About Jack" over Amphetamine Reptile in 1988.

Two more compilations were released:

• "Bad Little Woman" on the Dope-Guns-'N-Fucking In The Streets, Vol. 1 compilation by Amphetamine Reptile in 1988
• "Bad Little Woman" on the Dope-Guns-'N-Fucking In The Streets, Vols. 1-3 compilation  by Amphetamine Reptile in 1989

Tom Price went to work at Fallout Records, and formed Kings of Rock with Tim Hayes. Later, he joined Gas Huffer and Monkeywrench too.

John Bigley amd Charlie Ryan found The Crows, they recorded for Amphetamine Reptile until 1994, then Ryan left The Crows and joined Duet in Bottle of Smoke.

Bassist Jim Tillman played with several bands, such as Love Battery.

Tom Hazelmyer stayed working with his record label, Amphetamine Reptile Records. He also played in the band called Halo of Flies.

Tony Ransom moved to Alaska and left behind the music scene.

The U-Men provided an expected new in 1997, they were included in documentary Hype!

 

Another important new from the band happened in 1999, thus Chuckie-Boy Records released "Solid Action". This was CD in order to remember their career.

Melvins included  U-Men  on their live album "Sugar Daddy Live" in 2012, over the split series.

From Left to Right,  vocalist John Bigley, bassist Jim Tillman, and guitarist Tom Price. Taken from a gig at the Metropolis in Seattle in 1983.