Welcome to my Astro-Man archive

This site is meant to be a visual archive of every variation of every Man... or Astro-Man? 7" single ever released. Most of what you'll see here comes from my personal collection. As information pours in I will post it, so please comment if you think you have something to add. I have no intention of posting MP3s here. I'm sure you can find the music elsewhere. This is just an attempt to collect information about the band's prolific creation of singles into one spot. If you can get past the fact that I rarely clean my scanner, I think you'll enjoy what you find here.

Use the Table of Contents on the sidebar if you are looking for details on a specific 7".


Monday, February 28, 2011

Kill Geeksville


Man... or Astro-Man? Meet Teenage Caveman, commonly referred to as the Kill Geeksville record, was a split 7" EP by Man or Astro-man? and Teenage Cavemen (billed as both Teenage Caveman and Teenage Cavemen on the release). It was put out by Worry Bird Records (WOE-22) in 1994. MOAM? contributed two songs: "Bombora" (an original Surfaris cover) and "Surf Terror." The two songs were recorded at Zero Return studios by James Marrer (credited on the sleeve as Jim Morer). Teenage Cavemen also did two songs: "Phantom Stranger of your Heart" and "Sidekick." The cover was printed on glossy cardstock that was folded in half. There was no printing on the inside cover. The record was only pressed on opaque black vinyl.

Here is a scan of the record:


This was the first split single that MOAM? did. Many more would follow. This one featured a lesser known southern band that, because of some shared membership, is often referred to as an Astroman side-project. I'm not sure if we can really call the Teenage Cavemen a side-project, since they seem to have risen from the same Auburn, Alabama music scene at around the same time. There was some band member crossover, though. It is a little tough to pin down who was who since the members of both bands used assumed names. I know for certain that original Astroman Birdstuff (Brian Teasley) was also the drummer for the Teenage Cavemen. Bill Bradley, who played briefly in MOAM? as Mr. Neutron (most notably at Garageshock '94) was also a member, as was his eventual Astroman replacement Captain Zeno (Jason Russell). Russell was also the founder of the Homo Habilis record label, and would later play with the Quadrajets. Rounding out the Cavemen were fellow Quadrajet Rob Hauck, and a guy named Hardy Gilbert (the only one not in either MOAM? or the Quadrajets).

Here is a photo of Mr. Neutron (Bill Bradley) performing with MOAM? at 1994's Garageshock:

Of course, this rundown of Teenage Cavemen members only accounts for five of the six players listed on the back of the split single. I'm not sure who the other member was, though I've long heard that Dr. Deleto (Jeff Goodwin) was also involved. As contributor Abraham Lincoln III points out, it is interesting to think of Teenage Caveman as a training ground for several generations of Man or Astro-Man? members and as a sort of precursor to the Quadrajets. Teenage Cavemen released at least one other record, a single on Homo Habilis records called Spirit of Wildwood. Interestingly enough, there are only five band members shown on that single's front cover illustration. Here is a scan of that single:



4 comments:

  1. I believe both Birdstuff and Dr. Deleto were members of The Teenage Cavemen, making this the first recording of a Man or Astro-man? side-project.

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  2. Teenage Cavemen also had a single on Homo Habilis that might predate this recording. It was called Spirit of the Wildwood. I know TC is a side project, but I have never been able to piece the whole story together.

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  3. I saw Teenage Caveman's actual names listed once, and I'm not totally sure but I think the band contained: Birdstuff, Bill Bradley (who'd later join MOAM? briefly as Mr. Neutron), Jason Russell (Homo Habilis Records owner, future MOAM? member Captain Zeno, future Quadrajet), maybe Dr. Deleto, and at least one more future Quadrajet, possibly Chet Weise.

    Hopefully someone can chime in with more correct information.

    It's interesting that this side project contained both several generations of MOAM? members and was possibly a Quadrajets prototype.

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  4. I drew the cover, and I don't recall there being more than five at the time, but I don't recall exactly which combo of the candidates were there. Don't believe Chet was involved, though. Mainly, I remember being late getting it done and being frustrated that the blue came out as dark as it was (should have been 100% Cyan, like the Spirit's suit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_(comics)). Looks like I drew (right to left): Jeff (Dr. Deleto), unknown (possibly Bill), Birdstuff, Hardy, and Jason.

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