"The battle of the video bands continues"

May 16, 2023 10:46 AM

The MTV Basement Tapes (YT playlist, promo, full episodes (Frank Zappa, Rick Nielsen)) A showcase of videos by (generally) unknown and (usually) unsigned artists and groups, The MTV Basement Tapes (not to be confused with these Basement Tapes) ran from 1983-86.
posted by box (17 comments total)

Martha Quinn was such a fun, upbeat presence.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:18 AM on May 16, 2023 [2 favorites]

She was, next to Christine McGlade of YCDOTV, one of my earliest celebrity crushes.
posted by grumpybear69 at 11:53 AM on May 16, 2023 [6 favorites]

There are only two words you need to know about these videos:

DOG POLICE
posted by stannate at 1:48 PM on May 16, 2023 [4 favorites]

DON'T CRASH THE CAR TONIGHT

GO AHEAD
posted by box at 2:33 PM on May 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

List of artists across the two linked videos:

Chesterfield Kings
Swanky Modes
Eddie and the Tides
T-Venus
Chameleon
Ed Como
Glass Target
Eddie and the Tides
The Nelsons
The Dog Police
Trak
Kim & Callahan

A++ to Dog Police - it's a Queen/Weird Al mashup.
The Nelson's I Don't Mind is a 'nice guy' song - until the end when the singer goes crazy.

I've actually heard of The Chesterfield Kings before. They are basically Rolling Stones II, which considering the Stones material in the late '80s and early '90s, could be a good thing.
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:36 PM on May 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

OMFG the Chesterfield Kings! I was on a Southwest flight from SF to LA many, many moons ago and I sat next to the bass player, who I presumed was a Rock And Roll Person because of his ridiculous hair and imposing size. And he told me all about the band, and how they had done a retro surf record where they all lined up along a surfboard on the cover. I kept thinking how extremely similar they seemed to Spinal Tap.
posted by grumpybear69 at 2:52 PM on May 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

I lurv The Chesterfield Kings.
posted by 3.2.3 at 3:29 PM on May 16, 2023

Another Basement Tape, Fire Town, "Carry The Torch", is a great Byrds homage, but it's more notable now because the drummer is 1990s super-producer Butch Vig.
posted by jonp72 at 4:49 PM on May 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

I've actually heard of The Chesterfield Kings before.

I've heard of them too. They were part of a garage rock revival in the 1980s with bands like The Last, The Lyres, DMZ, and the Lime Spiders.
posted by jonp72 at 4:51 PM on May 16, 2023

The Nelson's I Don't Mind is a 'nice guy' song - until the end when the singer goes crazy.

I saw the video for that. That was a trip. They dress like The Stray Cats, but they play ska? I think these dorks arrived at least a decade too early. With their ska power pop and their offbeat sense of humor, they would have fit right in with the Warped Tour and Blink 182.
posted by jonp72 at 5:04 PM on May 16, 2023

She was, next to Christine McGlade of YCDOTV, one of my earliest celebrity crushes.

MOOSE!
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:26 PM on May 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

I recognize a handful of bands, and I'd probably recognize a few more of the songs, but what a collection of vanished talent (to whatever degree) and enthusiasm.

And after this, we got the mostly signed (to IRS) bands on The Cutting Edge with Peter Zaremba! And then 120 Minutes, I guess.
posted by rhizome at 5:51 PM on May 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

And it would seem this Swanky Modes predated Tapeheads by several years!
posted by rhizome at 5:56 PM on May 16, 2023 [2 favorites]

And then 120 Minutes, I guess.

Way to skip right over (the amazing) PostModern MTV!
posted by mykescipark at 6:30 PM on May 16, 2023 [3 favorites]

I remember the Guadalcanal Diary song fondly, and some bands that played Boston - that 30 Go vid with One Fish Two Fish and others. I also miss Martha Quinn. I think I’ve heard her voice on satellite radio since then. This was a fun walk through the vhs era, thanks OP!
posted by drowsy at 7:21 PM on May 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

History of "Dog Police" by Dog Police, from Basement Tape to Cult Classic

I just watched this & it turns out that NBC actually made a TV pilot based on The Dog Police concept (using a modified version of "Dog Police" as the theme song), which starred both Jeremy Piven and a pre-SNL Adam Sandler!?!?!
posted by jonp72 at 8:34 PM on May 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

Martha Quinn has done some of those Office Rock compilation infomercials.
posted by rhizome at 8:58 PM on May 16, 2023