The Urinals

The Urinals were a three-piece punk rock band formed in 1978 in Los Angeles. They had a severely pared-down, frenetic sound, sometimes opting for no more than two chords in a song (for example, "Hologram" and "Ack Ack Ack Ack"). They played shows with proto-hardcore luminaries such as Black Flag and Middle Class, and inspired the very influential Minutemen, who covered "Ack Ack Ack" on their final studio album 3-Way Tie (For Last),

Related Topics:
Punk rock - Los Angeles - Ack Ack Ack Ack - Black Flag - Minutemen - Ack Ack Ack - 3-Way Tie (For Last)

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They released three 7-inch records on their own Happy Squid label over the next two years, which remained relatively rarely heard until the re-release of this material on 1996's Negative Capability CD retrospective on Happy Squid/Amphetamine Reptile. It is currently in print on Warning Label/Happy Squid. In 1981, they changed their name to 100 Flowers, but continued to play music in the minimalist vein of their early songs.

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In addition to their influence on early punk, the Urinals/100 Flowers' songs were also redone by later indie bands like Halo of Flies and Yo La Tengo.

Related Topics:
Indie - Halo of Flies - Yo La Tengo

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The Urinals were:

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• John Talley-Jones - vocals, bass;
• Kevin Barrett - drums, vocals;
• Kjehl Johansen - guitar, vocals

The Urinals are still active and continue to give performances. Kjehl Johansen was replaced by Roderick Barker, and the band released their first full-length album in 2003, "What Is Real And What Is Not" on Warning Label Records.

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