Ian Svenonius
| Ian Svenonius | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ian F Svenonius |
| Born | 1968 (age 48–49) |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | Post-punk, indie rock, rock 'n' roll |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments |
Vocals Trumpet |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Labels |
Dischord Records Drag City K Records Southern Records |
| Associated acts |
Nation of Ulysses The Make-Up Weird War Chain and The Gang Scene Creamers David Candy Cupid Car Club XYZ Seahorse Liberation Army |
Ian F Svenonius (born 1968) is an American musician, notable as the singer of various Washington, D.C.-based bands including Nation of Ulysses, The Make-Up, Weird War, and Chain and The Gang. Between his numerous projects, Svenonius has released more than 19 full-length albums and more than 20 singles, EPs, and splits. Svenonius is also a published author and an online talk show host.
His first band, Nation of Ulysses, formed in 1988, was influential in the Washington D.C. punk scene, dissolving in 1992 after failing to record their third studio album. After a short-lived side-project called Cupid Car Club, Svenonius formed The Make-Up in 1995, who combined garage rock, soul, and liberation theology to make a new genre they dubbed "Gospel Yeh-Yeh". The Make-Up dissolved early in 2001, and a year later, Svenonius formed the band Weird War, who were also known briefly as the Scene Creamers. Svenonius' solo work includes the 2001 album Play Power under the fictional pseudonym of David Candy, the book The Psychic Soviet, and as host of Soft Focus on VBS.tv. Svenonius' projects and writings have all shared an anti-authoritarian, Marxist political rhetoric.
Svenonius' first musical group was Nation of Ulysses. The band formed in spring 1988, initially composed of four members, Svenonius on vocals and trumpet, Steve Kroner on guitar, Steve Gamboa on bass guitar, and James Canty on drums, and known simply as "Ulysses". In late 1989, Tim Green joined the band as a second guitarist and the band was renamed to "Nation of Ulysses". The Nation of Ulysses described themselves not as a rock and roll group in the traditional sense, but "as a political party" and as "a shout of secession". Explaining their intent, Svenonius said "it's basically a new nation underground for the dispossessed youth colony. It's all about smashing the old edifice, the monolith of rock and roll".
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