Beefeater (band)

Beefeater
Origin	Washington D.C.
Genres	Post-hardcore
Years active	1984–1986
Labels	Dischord Records
Associated acts	Strange Boutique Fidelity Jones Rhythm Pigs Embrace Rites of Spring Peach of Immortality To Live and Shave in L.A. Truth Serum (band)
Past members	Tomas Squip Fred "Freak" Smith Dug E.Bird(Birdzell) Bruce Taylor Mark Shellhaas Kenny Craun

Beefeater was an American post-hardcore band from late 1984 until 1986. Formed by Tomas Squip, Fred "Freak" Smith, Dug E. Bird (Birdzell) and Bruce Atchley Taylor, they were pioneers of the post-hardcore genre and the Revolution Summer which took place in the Washington D.C. hardcore in the mid-'80s with similar bands like Embrace, Rites of Spring and Gray Matter, among others. Their debut LP, Plays for Lovers was released in 1985 on the Dischord and their follow-up House Burning Down was released in 1986, as their farewell LP. Drummers Mark "Two-Chair" Shellhaas and Kenny Craun replaced Taylor on later albums. Squip and Birdzell went on to form Fidelity Jones, while Craun joined the Rhythm Pigs and Fred "Freak" Smith joined Strange Boutique.

While Beefeater's songs had all the angry energy of its hardcore labelmates the energy was channelled as much through funk and jazz as rock and roll. Dug E. Bird's fast-paced bass slap drives a rhythm section over which Fred "Not Sonic" Smith's guitar rides in a way reminiscent of the Minutemen. House Burning Down saw the incorporation of even more non-punk influences, most notably world music and included musical cameos many of the Dischord Records regulars (Ian MacKaye provides an intro to the album, in addition to some saxophone).

Squip's essay in Threat by Example: A Documentation of Inspiration (Martin Sprouse, editor, 1991 Pressure Drop Press: San Francisco, ISBN 0-9627091-1-5) outlines his notably religious world view and motivation, unusual for a Dischord band.

Discography

• Plays For Lovers 1985 Dischord Records (catalog No. 17) Bruce Atchley Taylor plays drums.
• Need A Job 1986 Olive Tree Records (catalog No. 106) Mark Shellhaas plays drums.
• House Burning Down 1986 Dischord Records (catalog No. 23) Kenny Craun plays drums.

External links

Beefeater at AllMusic
Interview with Tomas Squip (now known as Onam Emmet)
Onam Emmet (formerly Tomas Squip) speak about Positive Force shows