Representative Albums: "Plays for Lovers/House Burning Down," "Plays for Lovers," "House Burning Down"
Biography
Washington, D.C.'s Beefeater was formed in 1984 by vocalist Thomas Squip (the former drummer in Red C), guitarist Fred "Not Sonic" Smith, bassist Dug E. Bird, and drummer Bruce Atchley Taylor. Plays for Lovers, the band's debut album, was released in 1985 on the Dischord label. Two years passed until the band's follow up and final album, House Burning Down. Prior to its recording, Taylor departed and was replaced by Kenny Craun. The band split several months before the album's release, and Squip and Bird went on to Fidelity Jones. Dischord combined both Beefeater albums for release on CD in 1992, and added a pair of bonus tracks. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
Tomas Squip
Fred "Freak" Smith
Dug E.Bird(Birdzell)
Bruce Taylor
Mark Shellhaas
Kenny Craun
Beefeater was an American post-hardcore band from late 1984 until 1986. Formed by Tomas Squip, Fred "Freak" Smith, Dug E. Bird (Birdzell) and Bruce Taylor, they were pioneers of the post-hardcore genre and the Revolution Summer which took place in the Washington D.C. hardcore in the mid-'80s with similar bands like Embrace, Rites of Spring and Gray Matter, among others. Their debut LP, Plays for Lovers was released in 1985 on the Dischord and their follow-up House Burning Down was released in 1987, a year after the band's demise. Drummers Mark Shellhaas and Kenny Craun replaced Taylor on later albums. Squip and Birdzell went on to form Fidelity Jones, while Craun joined the Rhythm Pigs.
While Beefeater's songs had all the angry energy of its hardcore labelmates the energy was channelled as much through funk and jazz as rock and roll. Dug E. Bird's fast-paced bass slap drives a rhythm section over which Fred "Not Sonic" Smith's guitar rides in a way reminiscent of the Minutemen. House Burning Down saw the incorporation of even more non-punk influences, most notably world music and included musical cameos many of the Dischord Records regulars (Ian MacKaye provides an intro to the album, in addition to some saxophone). The EP on the Olive Tree label, was more straight-ahead, sounding a bit more like a Caribbean flavoured Gang of Four meets The Fall.
Squip's essay in Threat by Example: A Documentation of Inspiration (Martin Sprouse, editor, 1991 Pressure Drop Press: San Francisco, ISBN 0-9627091-1-5) outlines his notably religious world view and motivation, unusual for a Dischord band.
Discography
Plays For Lovers 1985 Dischord Records (catalog #17) Bruce Atchley Taylor plays drums.
Need A Job 1986 Olive Tree Records (catalog #106) Mark Shellhaas plays drums.
House Burning Down 1987 Dischord Records (catalog #23) Kenny Craun plays drums.
