Artist description Shadow Puppet Disco takes music back to a time of festivity without being intimidated by the privileged few and their musical jargon. With no musical knowledge and only simple instruments, SPD has invented their own musical style: Fad Jazz. Fad Jazz combines the styles of rap, rock, punk, folk, classical, inde, country, jazz, and big band in a musical conglomeration that appeals to everybody regardless of their musical sensibilities. However, Fad Jazzs biggest influence is rustic American jug bands. Like jug bands, Fad Jazz is raw and unrehearsed, often improvised. SPD shuns expensive guitars, amps, and recording studios, which only the rich can afford. Instead, SPD creates music with ordinary household items and other crude instruments, usually purchased at dollar stores. Instruments including a doll head, paint cans, a jaw harp, screwdrivers, a sweet potato ocarina, spoons, a pencil sharpener, and a penny have helped SPD create music. Unlike most jug bands, Shadow Puppet Disco does record their songs to help them reach the masses. However, Shadow Puppet Disco uses only the crudest recording equipment (usually a Fisher-Price tape recorder purchased at Good Will). The low quality of SPD recordings preserve the untamed quality of Fad Jazz and help assure that Shadow Puppet Disco will never be mistaken for the elitist bands the rule the radio.

Music Style Fad Jazz

Musical Influences Wesely Willis, Magnetic Fields, rustic American Jug Bands, Elvis Costello, Pixies, Backstreet Boys, New Kids on the Block, Mr. Rogers, Benny Goodman, Bob Marley

Similar Artists Wesely Willis, Magnetic Fields, Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, Ween, Weezer, 98 Degrees

Artist History Who the hell is Shadow Puppet Disco? What the hell am I doing at this site? My friend, you are about to become one of the fortunate few who will experience the newest revolution in modern music. Shadow Puppet Disco is taking the nation by storm with their uncompromising music and groundbreaking Fad Jazz style. And you, my friend, are about to become a part of the Fad Jazz revolution. Shadow Puppet Disco origin dates back to 1982 brewing inside Frey’s brain. Despite having no money after being fired from his job at Wendy’s, Frey had big dreams and bigger ideas. During Frey’s senior year at Leesville Road High School in 1982, he formed a band called The Paranoid Parabolas, the precursor to Shadow Puppet Disco. Frey was the only member of The Paranoid Parabolas and his only instrument was his voice. While standing on chairs in the high school cafeteria, Frey would sing (many of these original songs would go on to become SPD classics) to a few adoring fans, but he was largely ignored by his indifferent peers who would rather eat their lunch. By the time Frey graduated high school, The Paranoid Parabolas had developed a small, but devoted following. By the fall of 1983 Frey was attending community college and continuing to sing in the Leesville high school cafeteria. An unexpected friendship in Frey’s “History of Jug Bands” course was the first step that changed The Paranoid Parabolas into Shadow Puppet Disco. Nitram mentioned to Frey that he liked hitting things with sticks to make interesting noises. Frey joined Nitram to the band immediately. Nitram and Frey joined together with Cactus enthusiast Hot Chicken after meeting him at his cactus booth in the flee market. Still in need of a harmonica player, Frey went to the local Family Dollar and asked the clerk (Ishmahel) to join SPD. Shadow Puppet Disco bought their original plastic instruments (kazoo, harmonica, paint cans, plastic sax) in the same dollar store. By early 1984, the four members of Shadow Puppet Disco, along with little Mandy (their dedicated roadie who was on his third try for graduating high school) began writing songs. For more info go to our webpage: www.geocities.com/frey47 !!!

Group Members Frey, Hot Chicken, Nitram, Ishmahel, Xela Warrior Prince

Instruments Kazoo, harmonica, drums, keyboards, jaw harp, bass guitar, a doll head, paint cans, a jaw harp, screwdrivers, a sweet potato ocarina, spoons, a pencil sharpener, and a penny

Albums Awareness of Being Alive, Sewerside Suicide, Self-Titled (out of print)

Press Reviews "SPD is true to their down to earth and humble roots. They grew up in an age where rock and roll was all about money and fame. In rebellion against these twisted values, SPD has focused on creating quality music with only household items. And instead of accepting the intolerant and uncompassionate dynamic of only using those with talent, they chose to embrace mankind as a whole and use those with and without musical talent. Why should only those gifted musically be able to take part in the the beautiful creative process? So I say to you, SPD, rock on!" -Zaphoid

Location Raleigh, NC - USA

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