Biography
The Thrown Ups originated from a concept of a group that avoided rehearsals and original compositions altogether. Opening for Hüsker Dü in February 1985 at their debut performance, the musicians arrived with raw oysters prepared for hurling should the crowd respond poorly. Although the reaction proved favorable, the band showered the audience with the shellfish regardless. This tactic soon turned routine, prompting the addition of visual components to offset any musical shortcomings. Among the Thrown Ups' best-known configurations stood vocalist Ed Fotheringham, guitarist Steve Turner, drummer Mark McLaughlin (aka Mark Arm), and founder/bassist John Beezer (aka Leighton Beezer). Beezer first encountered these future collaborators during a house party he hosted in February 1984. Performances remained unpredictable, as illustrated by an event known as "the Bloody Pooper," in which Fotheringham attached a ketchup bottle to tubing that released the condiment from the rear of his trousers, leaving spectators drenched and alarmed.
Seattle's Thrown Ups formed in 1984 inside the basement of the residence shared by Beezer and initial vocalist Steve Mack. With assorted instruments available on the premises, the pair extended invitations to any visitors for impromptu sessions regardless of musical ability. Frequent guest Mike Faulhaber eventually picked up guitar duties, and with a drum machine completing the lineup the Thrown Ups came into existence. Mack departed before year's end and relocated to Europe, where he established That Petrol Emotion alongside two ex-members of the Undertones. Fotheringham assumed vocal responsibilities in fall 1984, soon joined by mutual acquaintance Scott Schickler on drums. Faulhaber exited by October 1985 to move to England. Beezer crossed paths with guitarist Steve Turner at Seattle's Brookes Brothers store, outlined the band's improvisational approach, and recruited him for the vacant guitar position. Turner initially resisted yet accepted once Beezer clarified that no songwriting or rehearsals would be required. Schickler departed in 1986, coinciding with McLaughlin's exit from Green River; McLaughlin stepped in on drums for the Thrown Ups.
The group began appearing at Seattle clubs including the Vogue and Scoundrel's Lair, supporting acts such as Bundle of Hiss. Mid-year, Turner contacted Amphetamine Reptile Records founder Tom Hazelmeyer regarding a potential release. Hazelmeyer showed initial indifference until a fragment of a practice tape was played, after which he committed to issuing all Thrown Ups material. Prior to this arrangement, the label had existed solely for Hazelmeyer's own band, Halo of Flies; the Thrown Ups became its first signed act. The band tracked the Felch single at Reciprocal Recording with engineer Jack Endino. Early 1987 brought critical notice, notably from future Matador Records co-owner Gerard Cosloy, and nearly every listener responded positively. That summer the musicians returned to Reciprocal to record the Smiling Panties single, issued later in the year. They followed with the Eat My Dump 7" in February 1988; an outtake titled "You Lost It" surfaced on the Sub Pop 200 compilation of Seattle bands.
Turner and McLaughlin had meanwhile launched Mudhoney with Melvins bassist Matt Lukin and former Bundle of Hiss drummer Dan Peters. On Halloween, Mack returned with That Petrol Emotion, which was receiving MTV airplay, for a Moore Theater concert where the Thrown Ups served as openers and utilized That Petrol Emotion's amplifiers. The extreme volume raised concerns among That Petrol Emotion's road crew about potential equipment damage, prompting them to appear onstage mid-set and reduce the levels. Beezer later recounted, "Patrick McDonald, the classic big-paper rock critic, panned us as being loud, sloppy, garage-inspired crap." He added, "[McDonald] was right -- apparently he hadn't heard of grunge yet." In 1989 Amphetamine Reptile included a Felch-session track on its Dope, Guns and Fucking in the Streets, Vols. 1-3 compilation. That same year the Thrown Ups again worked with Endino at Reciprocal to complete their sole full-length, Melancholy Girlhole, issued the following year on Germany's Glitterhouse label and domestically by Amphetamine Reptile as three 7" records.
Over the subsequent two years Turner and McLaughlin focused primarily on Mudhoney, leading Beezer to dismiss the remaining members in 1991 and label them sellouts. He later described the accusation as a convenient pretext to sidestep conflict; the actual motive was recognition that the band had outlived its viability. While Turner and McLaughlin continued with Mudhoney, Beezer formed El Grand Conquistador and Stomach Pump and later worked as a program manager and developer at Microsoft. Fotheringham turned to visual art, creating covers for Mudhoney and numerous Verve jazz releases. The complete Thrown Ups Amphetamine Reptile discography was collected on the album Seven Years Golden, released January 28, 1997, which added three bonus tracks. Beezer noted that one unreleased song, "Bucking Retards," served as an early version of Mudhoney's "Keep It Out of My Face."
Seattle's Thrown Ups formed in 1984 inside the basement of the residence shared by Beezer and initial vocalist Steve Mack. With assorted instruments available on the premises, the pair extended invitations to any visitors for impromptu sessions regardless of musical ability. Frequent guest Mike Faulhaber eventually picked up guitar duties, and with a drum machine completing the lineup the Thrown Ups came into existence. Mack departed before year's end and relocated to Europe, where he established That Petrol Emotion alongside two ex-members of the Undertones. Fotheringham assumed vocal responsibilities in fall 1984, soon joined by mutual acquaintance Scott Schickler on drums. Faulhaber exited by October 1985 to move to England. Beezer crossed paths with guitarist Steve Turner at Seattle's Brookes Brothers store, outlined the band's improvisational approach, and recruited him for the vacant guitar position. Turner initially resisted yet accepted once Beezer clarified that no songwriting or rehearsals would be required. Schickler departed in 1986, coinciding with McLaughlin's exit from Green River; McLaughlin stepped in on drums for the Thrown Ups.
The group began appearing at Seattle clubs including the Vogue and Scoundrel's Lair, supporting acts such as Bundle of Hiss. Mid-year, Turner contacted Amphetamine Reptile Records founder Tom Hazelmeyer regarding a potential release. Hazelmeyer showed initial indifference until a fragment of a practice tape was played, after which he committed to issuing all Thrown Ups material. Prior to this arrangement, the label had existed solely for Hazelmeyer's own band, Halo of Flies; the Thrown Ups became its first signed act. The band tracked the Felch single at Reciprocal Recording with engineer Jack Endino. Early 1987 brought critical notice, notably from future Matador Records co-owner Gerard Cosloy, and nearly every listener responded positively. That summer the musicians returned to Reciprocal to record the Smiling Panties single, issued later in the year. They followed with the Eat My Dump 7" in February 1988; an outtake titled "You Lost It" surfaced on the Sub Pop 200 compilation of Seattle bands.
Turner and McLaughlin had meanwhile launched Mudhoney with Melvins bassist Matt Lukin and former Bundle of Hiss drummer Dan Peters. On Halloween, Mack returned with That Petrol Emotion, which was receiving MTV airplay, for a Moore Theater concert where the Thrown Ups served as openers and utilized That Petrol Emotion's amplifiers. The extreme volume raised concerns among That Petrol Emotion's road crew about potential equipment damage, prompting them to appear onstage mid-set and reduce the levels. Beezer later recounted, "Patrick McDonald, the classic big-paper rock critic, panned us as being loud, sloppy, garage-inspired crap." He added, "[McDonald] was right -- apparently he hadn't heard of grunge yet." In 1989 Amphetamine Reptile included a Felch-session track on its Dope, Guns and Fucking in the Streets, Vols. 1-3 compilation. That same year the Thrown Ups again worked with Endino at Reciprocal to complete their sole full-length, Melancholy Girlhole, issued the following year on Germany's Glitterhouse label and domestically by Amphetamine Reptile as three 7" records.
Over the subsequent two years Turner and McLaughlin focused primarily on Mudhoney, leading Beezer to dismiss the remaining members in 1991 and label them sellouts. He later described the accusation as a convenient pretext to sidestep conflict; the actual motive was recognition that the band had outlived its viability. While Turner and McLaughlin continued with Mudhoney, Beezer formed El Grand Conquistador and Stomach Pump and later worked as a program manager and developer at Microsoft. Fotheringham turned to visual art, creating covers for Mudhoney and numerous Verve jazz releases. The complete Thrown Ups Amphetamine Reptile discography was collected on the album Seven Years Golden, released January 28, 1997, which added three bonus tracks. Beezer noted that one unreleased song, "Bucking Retards," served as an early version of Mudhoney's "Keep It Out of My Face."
Albums