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Severed Heads

Band, 1979-2008 AU, Sydney
Electronic
A.k.a. Headless Corpses Sevcom All Stars

Severed Heads is an Australian group based and founded in Sydney in 1979. The group was originally known as Mr And Mrs No Smokin' Sign who started recording in 1977 and comprised of Richard Fielding and Andrew Wright (8). Tom Ellard joined the group in 1979 and shortly thereafter Wright departed. Once Wright left the group Fielding decided to change the name to Severed Heads. Fielding eventually left the group too, in 1981, citing it as becoming "too rock 'n roll", leaving Ellard as the sole continuing member of the group. A variety of people have played in Severed Heads, including Garry Bradbury, Paul Deering, and Stephen Jones (3), but over time the group has devolved to Tom Ellard. Early Severed Heads music was characterised by the use of tape loops, noisy arrangements of synthesizers, and other dissonant sound sources, putting Severed Heads in the general category of industrial music. After several releases in that vein, Severed Heads began incorporating various popular music tropes, such as a consistent 4/4 rhythm, strong melodic lines, and resolving chord arrangements. This move was underscored by the incorporation of mimetic devices, such as drum machines. The result was a striking hybrid of the avant-garde, EBM and Synth-pop. Severed Heads were signed to Nettwerk Records in North America, and Volition Records in Australia, and charted in 1984 with the song "Dead Eyes Opened". This deal lead to a world tour, which was as much a multimedia event, thanks to the video work of Stephen Jones. A period of more or less dance music influenced releases followed until Volition went bankrupt and Nettwerk dropped the band which led to a re-activation and digital distribution via their own SevCom imprint. On 4th February 2008 Tom Ellard announced the end of the "Severed Heads". However, they continue to play occasional live shows and played on 16th and 17th December 2011 at the 10th Anniversary BIM Fest in Antwerp, Belgium. In 2013 they played the Adelaide Festival in Australia again. 2015 saw a performance at the Metro in Chicago for Cold Waves IV, as well as a North American tour. 2016 saw performances in Europe and back on their home turf Australia.

     
Members
PortraitRobert Racic
1964-1996 AU
PortraitTom Ellard
voc *1962 AU
PortraitGarry Bradbury
ttbl, voc AU
PortraitRichard Fielding
ttbl, syn *1959 AU
PortraitStephen Jones
syn *1951
Stewart Lawler
key AU
Andrew Wright
syn
PortraitSimon Knuckey
bvoc AU
Paul Deering
ttbl, voc, sampler AU
Popular Tracks   
Dead Eyes Opened on Dead Eyes Opened by Severed Heads
Lamborghini (Petrol 1982) - Mixed on DJ-Kicks [DJ Mix] by Mount Kimbie & Kai Campos
Lamborghini - Petrol April 1982 on Lamborghini / Petrol by Severed Heads
We Have Come to Bless the House on City Slab Horror by Severed Heads
Always Randy - Mixed on DJ-Kicks [DJ Mix] by Mount Kimbie & Kai Campos
All Saints Day on Rotund for Success by Severed Heads
Dead Eyes Opened - Radio Edit on Dead Eyes Reopened by Severed Heads
A Million Angels on Since the Accident by Severed Heads
Lamborghini on Can't Stop It! II - Australian Post-Punk 1979-84 by Various Artists
Twenty Deadly Diseases on the Big Bigot by Severed Heads

Track list and 30sec audio provided by


Band Membership
Discography



Title Artist Year Type
Brave New Waves SessionSevered Heads2018Album
DonutSevered Heads2017Single
DonutSevered Heads2017Album
Beautiful Arabic SurfaceSevered Heads2016Single
Big Saints Reward EP (88 - 90 Dubs)Severed Heads2015Album
Better Dead Than HeadSevered Heads2015Album
Lamborghini / PetrolSevered Heads2015Compil.
RA.EX132 Severed HeadsSevered Heads2013Single
Op (chOPed)Severed Heads2011Album
Haul Ass ProfessionalSevered Heads2011Album
Showbag HDSevered Heads2010Album
Adenoids 1977-1985Severed Heads2008Compil.
ShowbagSevered Heads2008Album
ComMerzSevered Heads2007Compil.
Op 3Severed Heads2007Album
Viva! Heads!Severed Heads2006Album
Under Gail SuccubusSevered Heads2006Album
Op 2.5 (Millenium Cheesecake)Severed Heads2005Album
The Illustrated Family Doctor (Original Film Soundtrack)Severed Heads2005Album
The Robot Peepshow 2Severed Heads2005Album
Op 2.0Severed Heads2005Album
Paleolithic (1982-1994)Severed Heads2004Album
Op 1.2Severed Heads2004Album
The Robot PeepshowSevered Heads2003Album
Controlled Time (Music Server Volume 4 Of 4)Severed Heads2003Album
OPSevered Heads2002Album
Gashing And KatoSevered Heads2001Album
Cubicle Broadcasts (Music Server V.1)Severed Heads2001Album
Twister + RetreadSevered Heads2001Album
Ear Bitten 79 - 99Severed Heads1999Album
Airconditioning Your Productivity (Music Server Lite)Severed Heads1999Album
Haul AssSevered Heads1998Album
Contoured Stimulation (Music Server Lite)Severed Heads1998Album
Dead Open EyesSevered Heads1995Album
Heart Of The PartySevered Heads1995Single
Trance TechnoSevered Heads1994Compil.
GigapusSevered Heads1994Album
TwisterSevered Heads1992Single
Cuisine (With Piscatorial)Severed Heads1991Album
RetreadSevered Heads1991Compil.
OverheadSevered Heads1990Album
Big Car (Remix)Severed Heads1990Single
Rotund For SuccessSevered Heads1989Album
All Saints DaySevered Heads1989Album
Greater RewardSevered Heads1988Album
BulkheadSevered Heads1988Compil.
Bad Mood GuySevered Heads1987Album
Come Visit The Big Bigot With Dead Eyes OpenedSevered Heads1987Compil.
Kato Gets The GirlSevered Heads1987Album
If I've Told You Once I've Told You A 1000 TimesSevered Heads1987Album
Hot With FleasSevered Heads1987Single
PetrolSevered Heads1986Album
Twenty Deadly DiseasesSevered Heads1986Album
Gashing The Old Mae WestSevered Heads1986Album
The Big BigotSevered Heads1986Album
PropellorSevered Heads1986Album
Goodbye TonsilsSevered Heads1985Album
Clifford Darling, Please Don't Live In The PastSevered Heads1985Album
StretcherSevered Heads1985Compil.
StretcherSevered Heads1985Album
City Slab HorrorSevered Heads1985Album
Dead Eyes OpenedSevered Heads1984Album
Since The AccidentSevered Heads1983Album
CleanSevered Heads1981Album
Ear Bitten / No Vowels, No BowelsSevered Heads / Rhythmyx Chymx1980Album
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Acknowledgements
To all the music fans that are contributing on Discogs, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Thanks to Franz Flückiger for providing Storygram used to visualize band membership.
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