The Three O'Clock is a defunct United States alternative rock group associated with the Los Angeles 1980s Paisley Underground scene. Lead singer and bassist Michael Quercio is credited with coining the term "Paisley Underground"[1] to describe a subset of the 1980s L.A. music scene which included bands such as The Three O'Clock, Dream Syndicate, Rain Parade, Green on Red, and the Bangles.
History
Formation and early years as The Salvation Army: 1981-82
The Three O'Clock originally formed under the name The Salvation Army in 1981. The original lineup was Quercio (lead vocals, bass), John Blazing (guitar), and Troy Howell (drums). They released a single ("Mind Gardens" b/w "Happen Happened") on The Minutemen's New Alliance label in November, 1981. At this juncture, Quercio (then billed as "Ricky Start") was the band's sole songwriter, and the group played mildly psychedelic pop-influenced tunes with a decidedly punk-ish energy.
By the end of the year, Blazing left and was replaced by Gregg Gutierrez, later known as Louis Gutierrez. Quercio reverted to his real name, and this lineup of The Salvation Army signed with LA independent label Frontier Records and released a self-titled debut LP in May 1982.
Name change to The Three O'Clock and early success: 1982-83
In the summer of 1982, legal problems with the actual Salvation Army forced the band to change their name. "The Three O'Clock" came from the time of day the band rehearsed. Almost exactly coincident with the August 1982 name change, Howell left the band and Mike Mariano (keyboards, ex-Great Buildings, ex-The Falcons) and Danny Benair (drums, ex-The Quick, ex-Choir Invisible, ex-The Falcons) joined. Frontier would later reissue the Salvation Army LP under the group name Befour Three O'Clock in 1986, and again in 1992.
Still signed to Frontier, The Three O'Clock issued their 'debut' EP Baroque Hoedown in late 1982, followed by a full length LP in 1983 entitled Sixteen Tambourines, both produced by Earle Mankey. The Three O'Clock had developed into a power-pop ensemble with 1960s garage band influences. Quercio and Gutierrez co-wrote almost all the band's material, with occasional assists from Mariano. They received airplay in Southern California, notably on influential LA station KROQ. "Jet Fighter" from Sixteen Tambourines became a national college radio hit.
The I.R.S./Paisley Park Years: 1984-88
The Three O'Clock signed to I.R.S. Records for their next album, 1985's Arrive Without Travelling. Producer Mike Hedges recorded the album in Germany. The band had a minor hit with "Her Head's Revolving", whose video received regular airplay on MTV. "Half the Way There" was also released as a 12" single, and featured a Motown style drumbeat and rich harmonies.
In 1986, guitarist Steven Altenberg replaced Gutierrez for Ever After, produced by Ian Broudie. Quercio once again was the band's chief songwriter. "Suzie's On The Ball Now" was the single, which gained minor airplay on stations like KROQ in Los Angeles. It was a synthpop song in the current fashion of the time, and rather uncharacteristic of the band's previous sound.
In 1988, guitarist Jason Falkner replaced Altenberg for the Ian Ritchie-produced Vermillion, on Warner Bros. Records by way of Prince's Paisley Park Records imprint. Prince himself contributed an upbeat song "Neon Telephone" to Vermillion under the pseudonym "Joey Coco". The album was a critical and commercial failure, and did not dent the charts. It was the last Three O'Clock album.
Breakup and aftermath: 1989-present
The Three O'Clock disbanded shortly after the release of Vermillion despite reviewers who emphasized the "baroque" nature of their later music and its pretty harmonies. "Arrive Without Travelling" and "Ever After" were released in 2002 on a single CD.
Michael Quercio briefly joined Game Theory in 1990. Thereafter, he founded Permanent Green Light, who released two albums, and later The Jupiter Affect. Quercio continues to play in L.A. pop bands.
Louis Gutierrez played with Louis and Clark and then became a principal member of Mary's Danish.
Jason Falkner joined Jellyfish, then The Grays, before launching a successful solo record career in the mid-1990s.
Danny Benair went to work for various record labels and the entertainment and media industries.
Offers to reunite the band have been unsuccessful.
Discography
Albums
as The Salvation Army:
as Befour Three O'Clock
- Befour Three O'Clock (1986) Reissue of Salvation Army LP
- Happen Happened (1992) CD Reissue of Salvation Army LP, plus 9 bonus tracks
as The Three O'Clock
Rarities
- Christmas Fan Club 7" Single Regina Challey
- "Insect Collector" Track on Shonen Knife Tribute CD
References
External links
