Cheer-Accident | |
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Origin | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
Genres | Progressive rock, alternative rock, punk |
Years active | 1981–present |
Labels | Neat Metal, Pravda, Skin Graft, Cuneiform Records |
Associated acts |
Brise-Glace Dazzling Killmen Dead Rider Dot Dot Dot Gastr del Sol Illusion of Safety Smog The Flying Luttenbachers U.S. Maple Yona-Kit You Fantastic! Harvey Sid Fisher |
Website | Cheer Accident official site |
Members |
Thymme Jones Jeff Libersher Dante Kester Amelie Morgan Mike Hagedorn |
Past members | Chris Block (bass, 1987–1992) Phil Bonnet (guitar, 1993–1999; deceased) Jim Drummond (vocals, 1981–1984) Dan Forden (bass, 1992–1993) Dylan Posa (bass, 1994–2003) Mike Greenlees (drums, 1981–1987) Jamie Fillmore (guitar, 2000-2003) Alex Perkolup (bass, 2003-2012) Carmen Armillas (vocals) Andrea Faught (trumpet) Todd Rittmann (guitar) Scott Rutledge (lyrics collaborator) Evelyn Davis (vocals) |
Cheer-Accident is an American indie rock ensemble headed by Thymme Jones. Jones took the name of the band from a Hallmark Cards shopping display, and first formed the group in 1981 with singer Jim Drummond and drummer Mike Greenlees.
Cheer-Accident's first album, Life Isn't Like That, was released in 1986, after which Drummond and Greenlees left the group. They were replaced by bassist Chris Block and guitarist Jeff Libersher. The group's second release, 1988's Sever Roots, Tree Dies, which was produced and engineered by the Phil Bonnet.
Their 1990 EP, Dumb Ask, was produced by Steve Albini, and following this the group signed to British label Neat Records. However, the album was pressed poorly and the group severed its ties to the label, and went back to recording for Complacency Records with Bonnet, who by that time had joined the group on guitar. Block left the band in 1992 and was replaced by Dan Forden, after which the group returned to the studio.
In 1994, the group released The Why Album and helped start a local Chicago Public-access television show called Cool Clown Ground. Albini recorded the group's next release, Not a Food (recorded in July 1994 and eventually released in 1996). Shortly after these sessions, Forden left the band and was then replaced with Dylan Posa (formerly of The Flying Luttenbachers). By this time, Cheer-Accident members were collaborating regularly with other Chicago indie artists such as U.S. Maple, Bobby Conn, Gastr del Sol, and Smog.
In January 1999, Phil Bonnet died of a brain aneurysm while the group recorded material for its eighth album, Salad Days. The group decided to continue with Jamie Fillmore filling Bonnet's role as guitarist. Also, a 1997 recording session, which yielded a 52-minute song called "Trading Balloons", was released as an EP. Salad Days was finally released on Skin Graft Records in October 2000.