Bewitched was a

noise rock Noise rock (sometimes called noise punk) is a noise music, noise-oriented style of experimental rock that spun off from punk rock in the 1980s. Drawing on movements such as minimal music, minimalism, industrial music, and New York hardcore, a ...

musical project headed by American percussionist

Bob Bert Robert Bertelli, better known as Bob Bert, is an American rock drummer. Biography Based in Hoboken, New Jersey, Bert initially came to prominence as drummer for the experimental rock band Sonic Youth during the early to mid-1980s. Bert playe ...

. It was founded in 1986 after Bert had left the band

Sonic Youth Sonic Youth was an American rock band based in New York City, formed in 1981. Founding members Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals), Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar) and Lee Ranaldo (guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of the b ...

the previous year. The project began as a solo effort but morphed to incorporate several other musicians, including violinist Donna Croughn of

Tiny Lights Tiny Lights was a music group formed by John Hamilton (guitar/vocals) and Donna Croughn (vocals/electric violin) in 1985. Original members include Dave Dreiwitz (bass/trumpet), Jane Scarpantoni (cello), John Mastro (drums). Based in Hoboken, Ne ...

. The music was

influenced with an emphasis placed on Bert's drumming. It also incorporated turntables courtesy of DJ David Cream of Wheat P, which at the time was innovative.

History

After drummer and percussionist

amicably departed from

, he decided he wanted to pursue his own musical project. Concurrent to his involvement in the band

Pussy Galore Pussy Galore is a fictional character in the 1959 Ian Fleming James Bond novel '' Goldfinger'' and the 1964 film of the same name. In the film, she is played by Honor Blackman. The character returns in the 2015 Bond continuation novel ''Trigg ...

, Bert released the ''Chocolate Frenzy'' single in 1986 under the name Bewitched. It featured Suzanne Sasic performing vocals, Mark Cunningham on trumpet and Dave Rick on drums and was produced by

Wharton Tiers Wharton Tiers (born 1953, in Philadelphia) is an American audio engineer, record producer, drummer and percussionist. Biography After receiving a diploma from Villanova University (Radnor Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania), he moved to ...

at his Fun City studio in New York City. The music drew inspiration from

Einstürzende Neubauten (, 'Collapsing New Buildings') is a German experimental music group, formed in West Berlin in 1980. The group is currently composed of founding members Blixa Bargeld (lead vocals; guitar; keyboard) and N.U. Unruh (custom-made instruments; perc ...

, Big Stick and the

Butthole Surfers Butthole Surfers are an American rock band formed in San Antonio, Texas, by singer Gibby Haynes and guitarist Paul Leary in 1981. The band has had numerous personnel changes, but its core lineup of Haynes, Leary, and drummer King Coffey has been ...

. The project went on hiatus for four years while Bert performed a member of Pussy Galore. After they disbanded, Bert was free again to pursue his own musical ambitions and resurrected Bewitched as a quintet. Their debut Brain Eraser was released in 1990 by

No.6 Records No.6 Records was an independent record label, started in 1989 as a subsidiary of Rough Trade Records by A&R representative and booking agent Terry Tolkin. The name of the label came from the British television series ''The Prisoner''; the main ch ...

. The band then released '' Harshing My Mellow'' in 1991. ''

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

'' rated each album two and a half out of five stars. ''Allmusic'' reviewer Stewart Mason found two tracks of ''Brain Eraser'' "listenable enough": the song "I Dunno What to Do" and instrumental "Chuck's Got a Big One".

Discography

;Studio albums *'' Brain Eraser'' ( No.6, 1990) *'' Harshing My Mellow'' (No.6, 1991) ;Compilation albums *'' The Worst Poetry of 1986-1993'' (B.B Gun, 2006) ;Singles *''Chocolate Frenzy'' (Shove, 1986) *''409/Junket's Theme'' (No.6, 1991) *''Makin' Out With Satan/Outta My Face'' (Helter Skelter, 1993) *''Hey White Homey/Troll Doll'' (

Sub Pop Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman. Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, central players in the grunge movement. They are often ...

, 1993)

References

External links

* * {{Authority control American experimental rock groups American noise rock music groups Musical groups established in 1986 Musical groups disestablished in 1993 Musical groups from New York (state) 1986 establishments in New Jersey