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U-Men


The U-Men was an American proto-grunge band, formed in Seattle, Washington in 1981 and active until 1989. They toured extensively across the United States and even had a song by the Butthole Surfers named in their honor. Their musically dirty sound was a forerunner for the later grunge bands to come out of Seattle. Fronted by the enigmatic vocalist John Bigley, the U-Men (whose members also included Tom Price, Charlie Chaz Ryan, Robin Buchan, Jim Tillman, Tom Hazelmyer and later Tony Tone Deaf Ransom) pioneered their own unique brand of alternative rock which could best be described as swamp-o'-billy. Together with Northwest contemporaries Girl Trouble, the U-Men emerged to fill the void left some 16 years previous with the disappearance of Northwest garage rock legends The Sonics, The Wailers, and The Ventures. They updated this traditional Northwest sound with more modern punk rock and post-punk influences most notably The Cramps and Nick Cave's original group The Birthday Party. Largely through word of mouth, rumor, showmanship and the occasional alcohol inspired dust up, the U-Men quickly acquired a dedicated cult following and well-deserved reputation for mayhem, both on and off the stage. Perhaps their most legendary antic was when Bigley set the front of the Seattle Center Mural Amphitheater stage on fire during a Bumbershoot festival performance, and the band played on. The U-Men were managed at different times by Susan Silver (who later went on to marry Chris Corn...

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