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{{short description|American rock band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = The Mermen
| name = The Mermen
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| background = group_or_band
| background = group_or_band
| alias =
| alias =
| origin = [[San Francisco]], Santa Cruz, [[California]], [[United States|USA]]
| origin = [[San Francisco]], Santa Cruz, [[California]], U.S.
| genre = [[Psychedelic rock]], [[surf rock]]
| genre = [[Psychedelic rock]], [[surf rock]]
| years_active = 1989–present
| years_active = 1989–present
| label = [[Mesa|Mesa Blue Moon (Atlantic)]], Kelptone Records
| label = [[Mesa|Mesa Blue Moon (Atlantic)]], Kelptone
| associated_acts = The Shitones
| associated_acts = The Shitones
| website = [http://www.mermen.net www.mermen.net]
| website ={{url|mermen.net}}
| current_members = [[Jim Thomas (musician)|Jim Thomas]] (rock musician)<br>[[Jennifer Burnes]] (producer/bassist/kissmyassrecords.com)<br>[[Allen Whitman]] (bassist)<br>Martyn Jones (drums)
| current_members = Jim Thomas (guitar)<br>Jennifer Burnes (bass)<br>Martyn Jones (drums)
| past_members =
| past_members =
[[Vince Littleton]], 2000-2002<br>
Vince Littleton, 2000-2002<br>
[[Prairie Prince]], 1998-present (alt)<br>
[[Prairie Prince]], 1998–present (alt)<br>
[[Randy Clarke|Randy Clark]], 1999-2000<br>
Randy Clark, 1999-2000<br>
[[Mike Silverman]], 1999-2000
[[Mike Silverman]], 1999-2000<br>
Allen Whitman, 1989-1998, 2004-2014<br>
}}
}}
'''The Mermen''' are an American rock band from [[San Francisco, California]] that formed in 1989.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/16678986.html?dids=16678986:16678986&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+02%2C+1996&author=JOHN+ROOS&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=O.+C.+LIVE%3B+Riding+the+Next+Wave%3F%3B+Mermen+add+a+spacey+guitar+psychedelia+and+an+aggressive%2C+punkish+tone+to+venerable+surf+music. | title= O.C. LIVE; Riding the Next Wage?; Mermen add a spacey guitar psychedelia and an aggressive, punkish tone to venerable surf music | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | edition=Orange County | page=F2 | last=Roos | first=John | date=1996-05-02 | accessdate=2008-04-29}}</ref><ref>[http://www.popmatters.com/review/mermen-amazing/ "The Amazing California Health and Happiness Road Show"] ''Pop Matters''. Retrieved 2015-8-8.</ref> They have since moved to Santa Cruz, California.
'''The Mermen''' are an American [[instrumental rock]] band from [[San Francisco, California]] formed in 1989.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/16678986.html?dids=16678986:16678986&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+02%2C+1996&author=JOHN+ROOS&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=O.+C.+LIVE%3B+Riding+the+Next+Wave%3F%3B+Mermen+add+a+spacey+guitar+psychedelia+and+an+aggressive%2C+punkish+tone+to+venerable+surf+music. | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524205310/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/16678986.html?dids=16678986:16678986&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+02,+1996&author=JOHN+ROOS&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=O.+C.+LIVE%3B+Riding+the+Next+Wave%3F%3B+Mermen+add+a+spacey+guitar+psychedelia+and+an+aggressive,+punkish+tone+to+venerable+surf+music. | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 24, 2011 | title= O.C. LIVE; Riding the Next Wage?; Mermen add a spacey guitar psychedelia and an aggressive, punkish tone to venerable surf music | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | edition=Orange County | page=F2 | last=Roos | first=John | date=1996-05-02 | accessdate=2008-04-29}}</ref><ref>[http://www.popmatters.com/review/mermen-amazing/ "The Amazing California Health and Happiness Road Show"] ''Pop Matters''. Retrieved 2015-8-8.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Presswire |first=EIN |date=November 7, 2023 |title=Joe Satriani Bass Sideman and Mermen Co-founder Allen Whitman Releases New Ambient Soundtrack “Monogatari no Fūkei” |url=https://fox40.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/666963074/joe-satriani-bass-sideman-and-mermen-co-founder-allen-whitman-releases-new-ambient-soundtrack-monogatari-no-fukei/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507011452/https://fox40.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/666963074/joe-satriani-bass-sideman-and-mermen-co-founder-allen-whitman-releases-new-ambient-soundtrack-monogatari-no-fukei/ |archive-date=May 7, 2024 |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=FOX40 |language=en-US}}</ref> They have since moved to Santa Cruz, California.
⚫
The group's sound was originally rooted in [[surf rock|surf]] and [[psychedelic rock]] music of the 1960s, although they have made "sincere attempts to get away from the surf music label"<ref name=AM>{{cite web|last=McDonald|first=Steven|title=Biography of Mermen|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/mermen-p44843/biography|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=22 January 2011}}</ref> and currently delve into many genres, mainly influenced by the band's founder, songwriter and guitarist Jim Thomas' modern melodic visions. The band's music is entirely instrumental and "does a good job of defying description".<ref name=AM /> In concert, the Mermen almost always performs as a trio: electric guitar, electric bass, and drums. They were featured in the soundtrack of the popular [[Sony PlayStation]] video game ''[[Road Rash 3D]]'' and have contributed music for films as well.


⚫
The group's sound was originally rooted in [[surf rock|surf]] and [[psychedelic rock]] music of the 1960s, although they have made "sincere attempts to get away from the surf music label"<ref name=AM>{{cite web|last=McDonald|first=Steven|title=Biography of Mermen|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/mermen-p44843/biography|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=22 January 2011}}</ref> and currently delve into many genres, mainly driven by the melodic visions of the band's founder, songwriter, and guitarist Jim Thomas. The band's music is entirely instrumental and "does a good job of defying description".<ref name=AM /> The Mermen perform as a [[power trio]]: electric guitar, electric bass, and drums, with occasional guests for live concerts. They were featured in the soundtrack of the [[Sony PlayStation]] video game ''[[Road Rash 3D]]'' and have contributed music for films as well.
⚫
Their 2010 album, ''In God We Trust'', was their first release in a decade and followed in December 2012 by their first full-length Christmas release, "Do You Hear What I Hear - A Very MERMEN Christmas".


⚫
The 2010 album, ''In God We Trust'', was their first release in a decade. It was followed in December 2012 by their first full-length Christmas release, "Do You Hear What I Hear - A Very MERMEN Christmas".
⚫
Thomas also fronts The Shitones, an associated band that features some of the same personnel (usually Thomas alongside Jennifer Burns on bass and Shigemi Komiyama on drums before his 2014 death.<ref>[http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2014/03/06/rip-shigemi-komiyama-halu-owner-and-shitones-drummer/ RIP: Shigemi Komiyama, Halu owner and Shitones drummer], Paolo Lucchesi (2014) SFGAte.com, accessed 29 November 2017</ref>) While Mermen feature Thomas's original compositions almost exclusively, the Shitones are a [[cover band]] that emphasizes [[instrumental rock]] hits of the 1950s and '60s by the likes of [[Link Wray]] and [[The Ventures]], along with instrumental versions of songs by [[Neil Young]], [[The Grateful Dead]], [[Jimi Hendrix]] and others.


⚫
Thomas also fronts The Shitones, an associated band that features some of the same personnel (Jennifer Burnes on bass, and Shigemi Komiyama on drums prior to his 2014 death.<ref>[http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2014/03/06/rip-shigemi-komiyama-halu-owner-and-shitones-drummer/ RIP: Shigemi Komiyama, Halu owner and Shitones drummer], Paolo Lucchesi (2014) SFGAte.com, accessed 29 November 2017</ref>) While Mermen feature Thomas's original compositions almost exclusively, the Shitones are a [[cover band]] that emphasizes [[instrumental rock]] hits of the 1950s and '60s by the likes of [[Link Wray]] and [[The Ventures]], along with instrumental versions of songs by [[Neil Young]], [[The Grateful Dead]], [[Jimi Hendrix]] and others.
Jim Thomas is currently composing and recording The Mermen's as-yet-untitled seventh release.


==Albums==
==Albums==
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* ''Food for Other Fish'' (1994)
* ''Food for Other Fish'' (1994)
* ''Live at the Haunted House'' (1995)
* ''Live at the Haunted House'' (1995)
* ''A Glorious Lethal Euphoria'' (1995)
* ''[[A Glorious Lethal Euphoria]]'' (1995)
* ''Songs of the Cows'' (1996)
* ''Songs of the Cows'' (1996)
* ''Only You'' (1997)
* ''Only You'' (1997)
* ''Sunken Treasure'' (1999)
* ''Sunken Treasure'' (1999)
* ''The Amazing California Health and Happiness Road Show'' (2000)
* ''The Amazing California Health and Happiness Road Show'' (2000)
* ''[[In God We Trust (Mermen album)|In God We Trust]]'' (2010)
* ''In God We Trust'' (2010)
* ''[[Blues Of Elsewhere]]'' (Jim Thomas solo) (2011)
* ''Blues of Elsewhere'' (Jim Thomas solo) (2011)
* ''Do You Hear What I Hear - A Very MERMEN Christmas'' (2012)
* ''Do You Hear What I Hear - A Very MERMEN Christmas'' (2012)
* ''We Could See it in the Distance'' (2017)
* ''We Could See it in the Distance'' (2017)
* ''Fish Out of Water'' (pending release Dec 2017)
* ''The Magic Swirling Ship'' (2017)
* ''A Murmurous Sirenic Delirium'' (2019)
* ''Splendeurs Et Miseres'' (2021)


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.mermen.net Mermen official website]
* [http://www.mermen.net Mermen official website]
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mermen/50638303843 Mermen official Facebook]
* ''[https://archive.org/details/Mermen The Mermen live concerts]'' at [[archive.org]]
* [http://www.myspace.com/mermensurf Mermen official MySpace]
* [https://archive.org/details/Mermen The Mermen live concerts]'' at [[archive.org]]
* [https://archive.org/iathreads/post-view.php?id=51915 Mermen equipment recovered]
* [https://archive.org/iathreads/post-view.php?id=51915 Mermen equipment recovered]


===Live shows===
===Live shows===
* [https://archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=4259 Live At Cubberly Community Center - 20 March 1998]
* [https://archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=4259 Live at Cubberly Community Center - 20 March 1998]
* [https://archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=4840 Live At Zephyr Bar 9 July 1999]
* [https://archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=5034 Live at Slims - 5 January 2002]
* [https://archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=5034 Live At Slims - 5 January 2002]
* [https://archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=22190 Live at 19 Broadway - 11 December 2002]
* [https://archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=22190 Live At 19 Broadway - 11 December 2002]
* [https://archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=5036 Live at Great American Music Hall - 3 January 2003]
* [https://archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=5036 Live At Great American Music Hall - 3 January 2003]
* [https://archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=6685 Live at Fernwood Resort - 19 July 2003]
* [https://archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=6685 Live At Fernwood Resort- 19 July 2003]
* [https://archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=12331 Live at Mavericks Surf Shop - 27 February 2004]
* [https://archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=12331 Live At Mavericks Surf Shop - 27 February 2004]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBUWyx6TyEA Live at Half Moon Bay Yacht Club - 6 April 2008]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBUWyx6TyEA Live At Half Moon Bay Yacht Club - 6 April 2008]
* [https://mermen.net/20100130-mermen-independent/ Live at The Independent - 30 January 2010]
* [https://mermen.net/20150404_the_chapel/ Live at The Chapel - 14 February 2015]
* [https://mermen.net/20180610_the_haight_ashbury_street_fair/ Live at Haight & Ashbury Street Fair - 10 June 2018]
* [https://mermen.net/20190621_miners_foundry/ Live at The Miners Foundry Nevada City - 21 June 2019]
* [https://mermen.net/20190517_mermen_cocoanut_grove/ Live at Cocoanut Grove Santa Cruz - 17 May 2019]
* [https://mermen.net/20190802_great_american_music_hall/ Live at Great American Music Hall - 14 August 2019]
* [https://mermen.net/2020021314-fillmore/ Live at The Fillmore - 14 February 2020]
* [https://mermen.net/20201112_the_chapel/ Live at The Chapel - 12 November 2020]
* [https://mermen.net/20210925-the-center-for-the-arts-grass-valley/ Live at The Center for the Arts, Grass Valley - 25 September 2021]
* [https://mermen.net/20220320-the-mermen-great-american-music-hall/ Live at Great American Music Hall - 20 March 2022]
* [https://vimeo.com/770414586 Live at Taros Essaouira Morocco - 22 September 2022]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mermen, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mermen, The}}
[[Category:Rock music groups from California]]
[[Category:Rock music groups from California]]
[[Category:Surf music groups]]
[[Category:American surf music groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from San Francisco]]
[[Category:Musical groups from San Francisco]]
[[Category:American instrumental musical groups]]
[[Category:American instrumental musical groups]]

Latest revision as of 17:23, 7 November 2024

The Mermen
OriginSan Francisco, Santa Cruz, California, U.S.
GenresPsychedelic rock, surf rock
Years active1989–present
LabelsMesa Blue Moon (Atlantic), Kelptone
MembersJim Thomas (guitar)
Jennifer Burnes (bass)
Martyn Jones (drums)
Past membersVince Littleton, 2000-2002

Prairie Prince, 1998–present (alt)
Randy Clark, 1999-2000
Mike Silverman, 1999-2000

Allen Whitman, 1989-1998, 2004-2014
Websitemermen.net

The Mermen are an American instrumental rock band from San Francisco, California formed in 1989.[1][2][3] They have since moved to Santa Cruz, California.

The group's sound was originally rooted in surf and psychedelic rock music of the 1960s, although they have made "sincere attempts to get away from the surf music label"[4] and currently delve into many genres, mainly driven by the melodic visions of the band's founder, songwriter, and guitarist Jim Thomas. The band's music is entirely instrumental and "does a good job of defying description".[4] The Mermen perform as a power trio: electric guitar, electric bass, and drums, with occasional guests for live concerts. They were featured in the soundtrack of the Sony PlayStation video game Road Rash 3D and have contributed music for films as well.

The 2010 album, In God We Trust, was their first release in a decade. It was followed in December 2012 by their first full-length Christmas release, "Do You Hear What I Hear - A Very MERMEN Christmas".

Thomas also fronts The Shitones, an associated band that features some of the same personnel (Jennifer Burnes on bass, and Shigemi Komiyama on drums prior to his 2014 death.[5]) While Mermen feature Thomas's original compositions almost exclusively, the Shitones are a cover band that emphasizes instrumental rock hits of the 1950s and '60s by the likes of Link Wray and The Ventures, along with instrumental versions of songs by Neil Young, The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix and others.

Albums

[edit]
  • Krill Slippin' (1989)
  • Food for Other Fish (1994)
  • Live at the Haunted House (1995)
  • A Glorious Lethal Euphoria (1995)
  • Songs of the Cows (1996)
  • Only You (1997)
  • Sunken Treasure (1999)
  • The Amazing California Health and Happiness Road Show (2000)
  • In God We Trust (2010)
  • Blues of Elsewhere (Jim Thomas solo) (2011)
  • Do You Hear What I Hear - A Very MERMEN Christmas (2012)
  • We Could See it in the Distance (2017)
  • The Magic Swirling Ship (2017)
  • A Murmurous Sirenic Delirium (2019)
  • Splendeurs Et Miseres (2021)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Roos, John (1996-05-02). "O.C. LIVE; Riding the Next Wage?; Mermen add a spacey guitar psychedelia and an aggressive, punkish tone to venerable surf music". Los Angeles Times (Orange County ed.). p. F2. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
  2. ^ "The Amazing California Health and Happiness Road Show" Pop Matters. Retrieved 2015-8-8.
  3. ^ Presswire, EIN (November 7, 2023). "Joe Satriani Bass Sideman and Mermen Co-founder Allen Whitman Releases New Ambient Soundtrack "Monogatari no Fūkei"". FOX40. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  4. ^ a b McDonald, Steven. "Biography of Mermen". Allmusic. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  5. ^ RIP: Shigemi Komiyama, Halu owner and Shitones drummer, Paolo Lucchesi (2014) SFGAte.com, accessed 29 November 2017
[edit]

Live shows

[edit]
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