Ritual Tension
| Ritual Tension | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Post-punk, experimental rock, alternative rock |
| Years active | 1983–1990 |
| Labels | Sacrifice Records CBGB/Celluloid Records Safe House Records |
| Associated acts | The Situations, Crop, Carnival Crash, Live Skull, Swans, the Honeymoon Killers, Ultra-Hug, Elliott Sharp's Carbon, Rhys Chatham, False Prophets, Reed Ghazala, Sweet Lizard Illtet, the Shockley Brothers, Big Hat No Cattle, Confunktion Junction |
| Past members | Ivan Nahem Andrew Nahem Claire Lawrence-Slater Michael Jio Marc Sloan Michael Shockley |
Ritual Tension was an American experimental rock band that formed in 1983 in New York City. They released two studio albums and an EP, all recorded at Martin Bisi's BC Studio in Brooklyn, and a live album taken from shows at CBGB, before their dissolution in 1990. At the same time, various configurations of the band members took part in art performances around Manhattan such as Pyramid Club and PS 122.
Ritual Tension began with brothers Ivan and Andrew Nahem (sons of baseball player Sam Nahem). They had played together in a band they formed called Crop at San Francisco punk rock clubs in the late 1970s. Ivan had previously played drums in The Situations. Crop's lineup also included former Situations roadies Tom Paine and Mark C. Ivan Nahem, Paine and C. moved to New York City in 1980. Displeased with the direction of the band in the new location, Ivan left to form Carnival Crash with longtime friend John Griffin Morrisey and Norman Westberg (the latter had auditioned for Crop at C.'s loft). Carnival Crash split up while recording in the studio and Ivan released a 1983 single, "Edge of Night", under the name Ivan X. Paine and C. subsequently formed Live Skull, while Westberg joined Swans.
Andrew Nahem then moved to New York City and the brothers began rehearsing together in the East Village. The band, as Tension, made their live debut on May 5, 1983 at the Speed Trials music festival at White Columns. Reviews were positive for their 25-minute performance of "All Wound Up", performed with drum machine, guitar, effects and vocals.
Claire Lawrence-Slater was added on bass and eventually Michael Jio on drums. They began playing East Village clubs, rehearsing in the Honeymoon Killers studio. Lawrence-Slater left the band, later playing with Honeymoon Killers and Ultra-Huge. She was replaced by Marc Sloan.
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