1313 Mockingbird Lane

1313 Mockingbird Lane, an American garage rock band whose name was inspired by "The Munsters" TV Mansion address, was formed in the late 80's in Albany, NY and prominently featured in Timothy Gassen's definitive book on The Garage and Psychedelic Music Explosion,1980-1995 titled: "The Knights Of Fuzz". Out of thousands of groups in the book, Gassen listed the band among such heavyweight garage acts as The Chesterfield Kings, The Lyres and Flamin Groovies in the all time Hot 100 list.

Group history

The original line up featured Haunted Hausmann (Guitar, Vocals), Kim (Organ), Robin Graves (Bass, Vocals), and Steve E. Luv (Drums). A debut single was produced on Scarab Records 1989 and titled "Hornets Nest b/w My Hearse Is Double Parked". This initial single provided a showcase of super fuzzed guitar and bass, frantic farfisa and drums with equally scary and ghoulish vocal deliveries. The prominent lyrical themes of gloom and doom presented by the band were combined with a healthy dose of tongue in cheek humor not unlike any of the ridiculous scenarios presented by their television heroes The Munsters.

Drummer Steve E. Luv quickly departed and was replaced by former Link Wray "Live In '85" drummer Marty Feier. The band's second release: "The Second Coming Of 1313 Mockingbird Lane" 4 song EP (Scarab Records 1989) was voted by both The Schenectady Gazette and Albany NY's Metroland Magazine as one of the "top local recordings of 1989" and was distributed internationally. This garnered some popularity for the group as far away as Sydney, Australia.

Shortly after the release of their first four song EP, the band signed with Sundazed Records. Sundazed Records has been instrumental in releasing rare and unreleased tracks by scores of 60's garage greats such as The Knickerbockers and The Trashmen in addition to producing high quality vinyl pressings from The Monkees catalog. The band's first full length LP: "Have Hearse Will Travel" was released in 1990 and was also distributed internationally. This slime green slab of wax continues to be sought out by garage rock collectors around the globe. The liner notes for this 13 song LP were written by Blotto (Band) Lead Singer Sergeant Blotto. One track from this rare LP, "Dig Her Up" , appeared again almost a decade later on the Cacophone Records Compilation titled: "Ultra Swank:: Cacophone Sound Action Sampler"

From this point on, the band line up changed more drastically with the eventual departure of both bassist Robin Graves and drummer Marty Feier. Robin Graves hung on for two more singles: "Monkey Cage Girl b/w Pretty Boys" (Scarab 1991) and "Psychedelic Monster b/w Dead Mary" (Scarab 1991). Organist Kim has been noted as saying that the group has gone through more drummers than Spinal Tap (Band). Drummer Marty Feier departed the band for a full time touring gig in The Cast Of Beatlemania which starred members of the Broadway show "Beatlemania" and was replaced by Krusty (Rusty Nales), possibly inspiring the anti Beatles tirade "I Don't Want To Hold Your Hand" which appeared on the follow up CD "Triskaidekaphobia" (Midnight Records 1993).

Krusty was replaced by drummer OP who performed with new guitarist Johnny Wray on the next single "Slow Death b/w Dirty Bitch" (Scarab 1993) and "Froot Boots " EP (Scarab 1993). Op stayed on for the bands signing to Midnight Records which produced their first CD only release "Triskaidekaphobia". Midnight Records is notable for signing and producing a myriad of varied vinyl and CD titles that range from releases by popular American garage rock groups such as The Fuzztones, The Outta Place and The Vipers to titles by R&B and Rock and Roll legend Screamin' Jay Hawkins.

Drummer OP was replaced by Dave Pollack and Johnny Wray was replaced by Ethan on guitar for two more singles: "Alice Dee b/w Spider and The Fly" (Weed 1994) and "Naked b/w Backwash Beach" (Cacophone 1995).

Finally, Brian Goodman of Rochester NY's The Projectiles replaced drummer Dave Pollack for the final two singles: "Devil's Weed b/w Tamala" (Screaming Apple 1995) and "Problems b/w Drambuie" (Cacophone 1996).

The band was additionally featured on several compilation albums including : "What’s All The Fuzz About cassette", What Wave magazine, ww-07, 1989

"Some Kinda Weirdos In That Cave There!" cassette, Cryptic Tymes magazine, 1993

"Ultra Swank: Cacophone Sound Action Sampler 1999" CD, Cacophone Records, 1999

Discography

45 Vinyl Singles

* Hornet's Nest/My Hearse (Is Double Parked),1989 Scarab Records #S-001
* Monkey Cage Girl/Pretty Boys, 1991 Scarab Records #S-004
* Psychedelic Monster/Dead Mary, 1991 Scarab Records #S-005
* Slow Death/Dirty Bitch, 1993 Scarab Records #S-006
* Alice Dee/Spider and The Fly, 1994 Weed Records Weed 011
* Devil's Weed/Tamala, 1995 Screaming Apple Records SCAP #034
* Naked (And Waiting) /Backwash Beach,1995 Cacophone Records, CPR 45003
* Problmes/Drambuie,1996 Cacophone Records, CPR 45005

4 Song Vinyl EPs

* The Second Coming Of, 1989 Scarab Records SCARAB-002
* Froot Boots, 1993, Scarab Records #S-007

13 Song Vinyl LP

* "Have Hearse Will Travel", 1990 Who's Driving My Plane/Sundazed WD40

Full Length CD

* "Triskaidekaphobia", 1993 Midnight Records, MIRCD 152

Compilations

* "What’s All The Fuzz About cassette", What Wave magazine, ww-07, 1989
* "Some Kinda Weirdos In That Cave There!" cassette, Cryptic Tymes magazine, 1993
* "Ultra Swank: Cacophone Sound Action Sampler 1999" CD, Cacophone Records, 1999

Trivia

1313 Mockingbird Lane was shown as the address for Bruce Wayne's (the Batman) house in Batman #648.

1313 Mockingbird Lane was referred to by Fran Fine in The Nanny Season 2 Episode 23 when she tricked a few girls to help Maggie win a kissing competition.

ources

* Gassen, Timothy (1995) "The Knights Of Fuzz".Borderline Productions ISBN 1-899855-02-5.
* Schenectady Gazette Friday, December 29 1989
* Metroland Magazine No.531 December 21-December 27 1989
* www.WraysShack3tracks.com
* http://koti.mbnet.fi/wdd/linkwray5.htm
* www.Blotto.net
* All Music Guide(AMG)
* Batman #648

External links

* http://www.geocities.com/theecaveman/1313mockingbirdlane/1313MOCKINGBIRDLANE.htm
* http://www.purple-cactus.tv/garage-nation/knightsoffuzz.html.
* http://www.Blotto.net.html.
* http://www.wraysshack3tracks.com.html.
* http://www.ipunkrock.com/fuzz/inc/articulofuzz.php?id=962