Biography
House of Schock served as the fleeting solo endeavor of Gina Schock, the drummer who had previously anchored the Go-Go's. Shifting from percussion to lead vocals, the Baltimore native—who had performed in Edith "Edie the Egg Lady" Massey's performance art punk outfit Edie and the Eggs while still based locally, prior to her relocation to L.A.—teamed with New Orleans-born bassist Vance DeGeneres, once a member of the regional new wave stalwarts the Cold. The pair christened their collaboration House of Schock, enlisted guitarist Chrissy Shefts and drummer Steven Fisher, and tracked their only release, the 1988 album House of Schock. Though Capitol Records issued the record, scant promotional support followed, and even the strong potential single "Middle of Nowhere" could not prevent its swift disappearance from view, prompting Schock and DeGeneres to part company. Beyond sporadic Go-Go's reunions, Schock largely stepped away from music, whereas DeGeneres gravitated back toward comedy. During the mid-'70s, as a student at college in New Orleans, he had originated the Mr. Bill character alongside roommate Walter Williams, only to forfeit all rights once their short films—featuring DeGeneres as the sinister Mr. Hands—aired on Saturday Night Live. Following a period spent writing and producing for his younger sister Ellen's polarizing sitcom, DeGeneres joined the on-air staff of Comedy Central's The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.
Albums
