Science Patrol - 1980's Techno-Pop Band

Science Patrol

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The Science Patrol Story (as told by Our Hero)

The Birth of Science

In the early 80's, I took part in a great pop experiment: the techno-dada-pop, sleep-learning-funk-rap rock band Science Patrol. Named after the superhero team in the japanese cult TV show Ultraman, Science Patrol started out as Mark Bracewell (Spike) and Christopher Pitman (Pity) experimenting with sound, rhythm, and untamed madness in the control room of Bayshore Studios (San Carlos, CA). Most of the Science Patrol recordings were done late at night fueled by donuts and bad coffee, often in a nearly-inaudible environment with really terrible, loud rock bands rehearsing in the adjoining studio.

Talkin' About Virgil Wilson

Pity and Spike asked me to come in and play electric guitar on an experimental piece where Spike was feeding every signal--Pity's voice, the rhythm box, my guitar, etc.--through a Korg synthesizer. The result was a six minutes of insane electronic rhythm and noise, deranged muttering and screaming, called "Virgil Wilson." Our filmmaker friend Steve Perkins heard it and was divinely inspired to make a postmodern-surreal short film entitled Virgil Wilson (Six minutes of suburban disorder).

Bandit Ducks (hep hep!)

Soon after the "Virgil Wilson" sessions, Pity and Spike and I were fooling around in the studio again when I started playing "Bandit Ducks from Outer Space," a song idea that had been kicking around for a few days (I had drawn a picture in my notebook and showed it to Pity -- he said, "that looks like a bandit duck from outer space" -- and I scribbled down the words and chords). We recorded "Bandit Ducks" in the same fashion as Virgil Wilson -- random, directionless, and somewhat distracted. Vocals were recorded in the bathroom, then later erased; Spike laid down the distinctive bass line, Rick came in for the aluminum foil guitar solo, Pity added hissing-and-dive-bombing-insect synthesizers, "Dad" laid down some laid-back rhythm guitar, and we re-recorded my vocals with some new added words and a toy pistol. On the 16-track master tape, Bandit Ducks was a sonic mess of digital delays, reverse reverb, and five or six conflicting guitar tracks. But somehow Spike managed to pull it all together into a definitive final mix.

Talkin'Bout Pop Music

More studio experimentation turned out the classic medley "Pop A B C D" -- our dadaist take on 2-minute pop songs -- which became the B-side of the Bandit Ducks EP. Then came the manic follow-up "Pop F," the deranged rap song "Talkin' 'Bout Virgil Wilson," the disturbed Casiotone polka of "Dereks in the Desert Now (Scared, Mommy! Look, the blood!)," the twisted black comedy of "Severed at the Brain" (based on a true story about Siamese twins joined at the head), and, well, you get the idea.

The Sound of Science

Science Patrol's live set featured our techno-funk-rap songs "Monkey God" and "Oriental Snack" with Pity rapping feverishly about Hanuman and heroin; "The Prisoner" in which Pity and I traded dialogue from the 60's British TV series over a driving rhythm section (featuring Spike's mean bass); a rockin' version of "Bandit Ducks from Outer Space," and our version of the Andy Williams classic "Music to Watch Girls By."

Jammin'

Outside of the studio and the stage, Science Patrol gathered once a week for our "rock jams." Unlike ordinary band rehearsals, we'd get together in Rick's living room and make all sorts of spontaneous improvised music and noise, trading instruments and just having fun. Friends would stop by, sit in, join in, and occasionally take over (as when 15-year old Genie and Lisa and their girlfriends took over our instruments and subsequently formed their own band, "A Happy Death"). Our rock jams inspired more Science Patrol songs, like "Dogs and Girls on Charity Posters," "Mannix Goes West (Pop E)," and "Dada Dub."

Greatness and Self-destruction

Science Patrol was a great band. We released Bandit Ducks/Pop A B C D on 7-inch vinyl and mailed records all over the world. There was a Bandit Ducks Fan Club of 5th graders and a guy named Furry Couch who sent us strange letters. We played at clubs and parties in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Palo Alto. But the volatile mix of random elements and personalities -- the very elements that made Science Patrol great -- inevitably led to its own self-destruction.

After Science

These days, Rick and I are recording as Zru Vogue; we also record solo stuff and soundtrack music for independent film.

"Reminiscent" is a 3-LP Box Set of 1980's international post-punk techno released by Genetics Records in Germany. This excellent "time capsule" box set includes 2 previously unreleased Science Patrol tracks recorded in 1981: "Pop F" and "Dereks In The Desert."

For a complete list of tracks and more information, please visit the Genetic Music web site at www.geneticmusic.de and click on [releases] then [V.A. - Reminiscent].

Limited edition of 500. Includes a 24-page booklet with photos and information about the bands. Special thanks to Marc Schaffer for assembling the tracks and coordinating the project. All profits from sales go to animal shelters!