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Biography
Multiple issues|copy edit = June 2011|original research = June 2011|primarysources = September 2007Infobox musical artist | | name = Helium| image =| caption =| image_size =| background = group_or_band| origin = Boston , Massachusetts | genre = Noise pop , post-punk | years_active = 1992–1997| label = Matador Records | associated_acts = Dumptruck, Autoclave (band)|Autoclave | website =| current_members = Mary Timony Ash Bowie Shawn Devlin| past_members = Mary Lou Lord Brian Dunton Helium was an United States|American alternative rock band formed in the summer of 1992. Originally calling themselves "Chupa", its founding members were Mary Lou Lord , Jason Hatfield ( Juliana Hatfield|Juliana 's brother), Shawn King Devlin (drums) and Brian Dunton (electric bass guitar). http://bostonphoenix.com/archive/music/97/09/04/HELIUM.html Wonder Woman, Brett Milano, The Phoenix (newspaper)|Boston Phoenix , September 4, 1997 Devlin and Dunton were both also in the band Dumptruck at the time.
Mary Timony (formerly of the band Autoclave (band)|Autoclave ) soon replaced Mary Lou Lord on vocals and guitar as Lord was reluctant to go electric. After Jason Hatfield left the band, they changed the name to "Helium". Timony became known for her Lolita (term)|Lolita -esque image (e.g. short schoolgirl skirts and hairstyle) and naughty lyrics, much like Helium's then-labelmate Liz Phair . She was also known for her fairly husky, vibrato-less, monotone singing style.
Their first release was a 7" single entitled " The American Jean " (1993), which was followed by the 7" " Hole in the Ground ." They released their first EP, Pirate Prude , in 1994. Shortly after the release of Pirate Prude , Dunton left the band and Polvo guitarist Ash Bowie (boyfriend of Timony at the time) joined on bass. The band makes an appearance in the 1994 cult roadmovie Half-cocked (movie)|Half-cocked . In 1995, they released their first full-length release, The Dirt of Luck , and played the second stage of Lollapalooza . Two of the band's music videos ("Pat's Trick" and "XXX") were critiqued by MTV's animated teen pundits Beavis and Butt-head . Adam Lasus produced and engineered The Dirt of Luck , Pirate Prude , and all the singles up to 1995.
In 1997, the group released the EP No Guitars before releasing their second album, The Magic City (Helium album)|The Magic City . They toured the United States in early 1998 and disbanded shortly thereafter in 1998. Timony began a solo career and Bowie released an album of old four-track recordings under the name Libraness .
Discography
Albums
Title
Year
Label
The Dirt of Luck
1995
Matador Records
The Magic City
1997
Matador Records
EP's
Title
Year
Label
Pirate Prude
1994
Matador Records
Superball+
1995
Matador Records
No Guitars
1997
Matador Records
Singles
Title
Year
Label
" The American Jean "
1992
Warped Records
" Hole in the Ground " (b/ w "Lucy")
1993
Pop Narcotic (on orange vinyl)
" Pat's Trick " (b/ w "Ghost Car")
1995
Matador Records
" Superball " (b/ w "What Institution Are You From" & "Lucky Charm")
1995
Matador Records
Compilations
Title
Year
Label
Rock Stars Kill
1994
Kill Rock Stars
Half-Cocked - The Motion Picture Soundtrack
1995
Matador Records
Music videos
Year
Title
Director
Album
1994
XXX "
David Kleiler
Pirate Prude
1995
" Pat's Trick "
David Kleiler
The Dirt of Luck
1995
Superball "
Tryan George
The Dirt of Luck
1995
Honeycomb "
Brett Vapnek
The Dirt of Luck
1997
" Leon's Space Song "
The Magic City
References
reflist
External links
http://www.epitonic.com/artists/helium.html Helium on epitonic
http://www.matadorrecords.com/helium/biography.html Matador bio
Helium (band) DEFAULTSORT:Helium Category:American indie rock groups Category:Musical groups established in 1992 Category:Musical groups from Boston, Massachusetts
Copyright Citations
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