CHEER-ACCIDENT

CHEER-ACCIDENT began literally in the first few seconds of 1981 during a New Year's brainstorming party that included JIM DRUMMOND, THYMME JONES, and MIKE GREENLESS. For the next five years, the band (which during this time was really a community of up to 10 musicians) refined their aesthetic by recording many independently-produced cassettes, including the critically-acclaimed 1986 release, "Life Isn't Like That." The band began making sporadic live appearances in the summer of 1987 featuring a pared-down CHEER-ACCIDENT consisting of CHRIS BLOCK on bass, JEFF LIBERSHER on guitar, and Jones on drums. In 1988, the trio recorded "Sever Roots, Tree Dies" showcasing an assortment of moods and instruments under the guidance of noted Chicago producer PHIL BONNET.

For their next release the band turned to internationally-renowned engineer STEVE ALBINI. This successful pairing yielded "Dumb Ask" and resulted in a multi-album contract with England's NEAT Records in mid-1990. They once again enlisted Bonnet, this time on second guitar. In June of 1991, the new line-up recorded "Babies Shouldn't Smoke" that consistently expands the boundaries of rock music while never failing to rock.

1992 was a year of great productivity. Chris Block, frustrated by the group's unwillingness to define itself exclusively as a dissonant band, was asked to leave. He was replaced by bassist/composer DAN FORDEN, whose musicianship and strong work ethic led to a very fruitful couple of years. In addition to performing numerous and always-varying live shows, Forden also contributed to the 150+ minutes of music recorded during that time.

In 1993, CHEER-ACCIDENT (along with FRED KRUEGER) helped create the cable access show "Cool Clown Ground."

CHEER-ACCIDENT teamed up again with Albini in July, 1994, to record "Not A Food" (released in 1996), their 'rock update' with a few decidedly non-rock stumbling blocks. This is a very self-assured work and probably their best match-up with Albini to date. In August, Dan Forden was replaced by ex-FLYING LUTTENBACHERS member DYLAN POSA. In November, they released "The Why Album" featuring 14 well thought-out and catchy pop songs. This was the first time that this aspect of the band had been thoroughly explored. At this point, CHEER-ACCIDENT's live shows had become quite treacherous, much more visceral and much more dynamic. Posa had brought an unbridled kinetic energy to the mix, sending the band further towards exploratory noise and pointless theatrics.

In April of 1997, they came out with their sixth recording entitled, "Enduring The American Dream," a densely structured 72 minute work utilizing a variety of instruments and musical approaches while retaining a cohesive aesthetic integrity. Their most ambitious endeavor up to this point, "Enduring" was recorded over a five-year period and contains 14 pieces that range from lo-fi pop to carefully constructed noise collages to extended-form
rock compositions.

After recording their 52-minute song "Trading Balloons" in May of '97, the band retreated deeply into it's own psyche. From the summer of '97 to the fall of '98 there were long stretches of time where it looked like CHEER-ACCIDENT would never "rock" again. However in September 1998 at Lounge Ax, they whipped out one of their patented "all over the map" heavy prog shows, signaling to the world that they were "back."

On January 22, 1999, CHEER-ACCIDENT performed at Seven Dead Arson. During "Garbage Head," Phil, instead of his usual wailing guitar solo, whipped out a harmonica and "remembered the blues" to the shock of everyone (including fellow bandmates). It was a brilliant, spontaneous, and memorable comedic moment. Sadly, this was to be his final performance. Less than two weeks later Phil died, leaving the band and a large part of Chicago's musical community stunned. Not only a vital member CHEER-ACCIDENT and an engineer adored throughout Chicagoland, Phil was also an uncommonly genuine human being, a person whose integrity was unmatched. Paralyzed by the loss, CHEER-ACCIDENT seriously questioned it's future.

On an early spring day in '99, Jeff, Thymme, and Dylan took a long walk on the north side of Chicago to discuss whether or not they desired to still exist as a band. They concluded that, although Phil was irreplaceable, they would continue on in some capacity. The first step turned out to be the completion of "Salad Days,"
a recording they had begun literally the day before Phil died. These sessions turned out to be exactly what the band needed.
It seemed as though some momentum had returned to the band. However, this proved to be an illusion. Step two of "continuing on" turned out to be... not much. Practices were few and far between and the overall morale was low. As denial and delusion fell away, and everyone began to fully feel the effects of Phil's absence, the summer of '99 became one big "What's next?"

On a late summer night Thymme was telling his friend, JAMIE FILLMORE, all about CHEER-ACCIDENT's current woes - how they felt that they still had some things to contribute, but how they seemed to be missing a necessary component that would allow them to "turn the page." Jamie was sympathetic to the situation and (as a fine musician himself) offered his services. One thing led to another, and by September Jamie was a full-fledged member. Not only does Jamie combine a keen musical sensitivity with formidable technical prowess, he fully understands and involves himself with the "extramusical" aspects of the band (in other words, don't expect the the abstract or idish tendencies to end anytime soon!). It was immediately evident that the Jeff/Thymme/Dylan/Jamie chemistry was something special, paving the way for a spirited return to a high level of productivity.

The dawn of the new millennium found CHEER-ACCIDENT with the self-released "Trading Balloons" (the aformentioned 52-minute song), a steady stream of live shows, and "Salad Days," their first recording for the SKIN GRAFT label. Soon after the band released the first in a series of home recordings, "Variations On A Goddamn Old Man (First)," for PRAVDA RECORDS.

Since then the band has released a 60+ minute soundtrack for a new "Gumballhead The Cat" Comic Book penned by cartoonist ROB SYERS, "Younger Than You Are Now" (archival material from 1981-1984), "Variations On A Goddamn Old Man (Second and Third)," and "What Sequel?"

Stick around... 'cause who knows what's gonna happen next!

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Web:

www.cheer-accident.com

www.myspace/cheeraccident

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MP3 Sample: "Learning How To Fly"
from The Why Album

MP3 Sample: "The Law Of Attraction"
from Enduring The American Dream

MP3 Sample: "Dismantling The Berlin Waltz"
from Enduring The American Dream

MP3 Sample: "Frozen"
from Enduring The American Dream

MP3 Sample: "The Day After I Never Met You"
from Introducing Lemon

Check the MUSIC PLAYER PAGE
to hear music samples from other bands.

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Discography:

• Sever Roots, Tree Dies (LP 1988)
• Dumb Ask (CD 1991)
• Babies Shouldn't Smoke (CD 1993)
• The Why Album (CD 1994)
• Not A Food (CD 1996)
• Enduring The American Dream (CD 1997)
• Trading Balloons (CD 1999)
• Salad Days (CD 2000)
• Variations On A Goddamn Old Man (First) (CD 2002)
•Introducing Lemon (CD 2003)
•Gumballhead The Cat (CD 2003)
•Younger Than You Are Now (1981-1984) (CD 2004)
• Variations On A Goddamn Old Man (Second) (CD 2005)
• What Sequel? (CD 2006)
• Variations On A Goddamn Old Man (Third) (CD 2008)

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