THE TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE


Terrifying Experience "One After The End" 7" (Southern 18551-7)
by Chris Jern, TE #1 fan deluxe


I first heard the Terrifying Experience in June of 1997, when they opened for Guided By Voices at The Asylum in Dayton, Ohio. Being familiar with Mitch Mitchell's prior work with GBV in no way prepared me for the awesome ROCK that the TE layed down! I mean, sure, I knew that Mitch likes to crank up his Marshall amp *really* loud, but the TE could have shut down even Motorhead with their volume that night! A later gig at Chicago's Lounge Ax proved that the band was no mere fluke - these guys meant business! All the four members write, so the songs display a remarkable variance of styles, immediately recognizable as the Terrifying Experience.

A little bit of history for you... Mitch Mitchell was a member of GBV from their debut EP "Forever Since Breakfast" right up until the "Mag Earwhig" album (MM in fact appears on several tracks on that release), and he was an integral part of the band's live appeal during that time period. You know - the short guy smokin' a cigarette, with the white Les Paul, and Marshall amp set to "10"... Anyhoo, when GBV mainman Robert Pollard dissolved the old band to hook up with Cobra Verde, he suggested to his old bandmate Mitch that the time was right for MM to front his own band - so, Mitch called up old pals Duane, Geoff, and Craig-O (who did a tour or two as GBV's drummer) and the TE was born. After woodshedding a while, many songs were learned, and the band had soon enough material for several albums.

A split 7" with Illyah Kuryahkin on the Arena Rock label was followed by a cut on the "Fuel" compilation CD (also on Arena Rock) Then a 7" and later a mini CD on the Albert Ayler Jukebox label followed in short order. Somewhere in between, I got a demotape from Mitch - and the song "One After The End" took hold of my brain, not to let go until I convinced the band that it had to be released on Southern Records. Mitch was into the idea, so I booked some recording time at Chicago's Uberstudio, and toted a few vintage amps over there for the lads to use. The song they pitched me for the b-side, "Hollis Wants To Put His Hands Around My Neck", was written shortly before their trek to record - and simply put, it floored me - an easy choice to go with, ya know? The recording went smoothly - Uberstudio's Mark Schwartz and Brendan Burke perfectly capturing the band's sound for the first time on tape! Mitch borrowed my buddy's Rickenbacker guitar, and used my 1956 Fender Twin amp. He overdubbed with the famous white Les Paul. Duane went with his trusty Les Paul, going through a Colorsound Tonebender into a 120 watt Orange stack. Geoff used his P-Bass/Ampeg SVT, and Craig-O used some crazy snare that sounded like a bleedin' CANNON! Mark, Brendan, and I all collaborated on the mix - the proof's in the pudding, and this pudding is very tasty indeed!

Sleeve artwork was done by the internationally acclaimed graphic artist Art Chantry, and was printed by Chicago's own Fireproof Press.

This 7" will be available in an edition of 500, via mailorder ONLY, from Southern Records, PO Box 577375 Chicago, IL 60657-7375