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UWEB Newsletter Vol. 3, No. 1

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UWEB Newsletter Vol. 3 No. 1 is the ninth issue of the newsletter published by the official Residents fan club UWEB, sent to subscribers in March 1991.

The newsletter

Collectabilities

Elsewhere in this newsletter, in the Q+A section, some one asked about the most collectable RZ records. At the time I had no idea, but I passed the Question by Tom Timony, who provided me with the following:

(in no particular order)

  • Third Reich & Roll box set
  • Meet The Residents First Edition lp
  • Santa Dog First Edition (2 7inch singles)
  • Babyfingers First Edition 7inch
  • Schwump First Edition 7inch
  • Satisfaction First Edition 7inch
  • Fingerprince First Edition lp
  • Beatles Play the Residents...7inch
  • Third Reich & Roll white vinyl lp
  • Duckstab 7inch w/neon lable
  • Duckstab clear vinyl one-sided 12inch

Slow Bob

By the time you read this, if you are an American and watching your favorite cable-TV channel, MTV (??) you already know that The Eyeballs Wonders are in super heavy rotation with "Slow Bob in The Lower Dimensions". How does some weird esoteric group get into heavy rotation on a mid-American music network? Simple. Just get MTV to pay for the video!

Well, obviously, I have left out a few important pieces of information. "Slow Bob" is actually the brain child of director/animator, Henry Selick. Henry has a robust relationship with MTV as a result of animating a large number of the MTV logo identification pieces. These pieces are what many refer to as the best thing on MTV. And while MTV seems to strive to meet the tastes of the average American teen blob, a number of people who run the network are anything but tasteless blobs themselves.

These folks have backed Henry on "Slow Bob", and suggested the REZ to do the sound effects, music, and dialogue. But here's the MTV press release to read for yourself.

"Slow Bob in the Lower Dimensions" (1990, Color, 5 min) is a short film by award winning San Francisco director Henry Selleck. The music and sound design was composed by the notorious avant-garde musical group The Residents. "Slow Bob" is the pilot for a new animated series for MTV: Music Television.

The Story (Synopsis)

Two bizarre twin sisters wake up in the middle of the night and set out to have a little sadistic fun with their "stupid stepbrother", Bob. They sneak past their parent's room and up to Bob's miserable space in the attic. Peering through the keyhole, they see Bob sleeping in his accustomed piece on the ceiling. One of Bob's only friends, an iguana, wakes Bob with a few drops of "Jump Start" Cola. A spider with a flair for calligraphy and a few other iguanas summon Bob to a mysterious "emergency". While his amazed stepsisters look on. Bob disappear in a blinding flash of light.

Bob finds himself transported to a different dimension - into the world of the peaceful Photo People. At the moment, they are being attacked by a flying army of vicious scissors. No longer imprisoned by the lower dimensions, and hence no longer slow and awkward, Bob is now a graceful animated character. He springs into action and singlehandedly defeats the scissor attack. The queen of the thankful Photo People hails Bob as "Mr. Potemkin", and seems to know him. She presents Bob with the magic watch around her neck. But before Bob can ask her any questions, he is sucked back into the lower dimensions again.

Back in his room, Bob is attacked and painted head to foot by his cruel stepsisters (a truly disturbing scene). They laugh as the iguanas look on sadly. The piece ends on an ominous note, with the image of the Queen in Bob's watch warning him to "watch out".

So, if this thing takes off with MTV as a long running series (as is hoped) - this could become a major sound work for the band certainly eclipsing TV work for "Pee Wee Herman".

Q and A

Q. I have four questions. 1. I bought a RZ album that says, "Warning this record is purely made for disc-jockys and is not intended for commercial use." Is it a bootleg? 2. Why does N. Senada get all the song credits on the Baby Sex cover? 3. The "Intro" before "Something Devilish" on the "Supper" album... is that N. Senada or an RZ? 4. Can UWEB print a list of current values for the most collectable RZ records?

A. 1. The album you mention is a bootleg. 2. N. Senada doesn't get all the song credits on that cover, I checked. 3. N. Senada was definitely involved in the performance and I believe it was him. No one will confirm or deny. 4. I'm not a collector and therefore don't think about such things. Maybe one of the BUDDIES would supply the information if there is sufficient interest.

Q. I have six questions. 1. I saw a video from German TV that had a wonderful version of "Jambalaya". Is that version releasable? 2. Why is "Monstrous Intro" of "Babyfingers" not on the "Fingerprince" CD? 3. How can we Europeans hear the "Pee Wee Herman" music? 4. Where are the "Vileness Fats" and "Census Taker" CD's? 5. Are you releasing the "CUBE E" intermission music? 6. What has happened to the video "The Eyes Scream"?

A. 1. That version of "Jambalaya" was not recorded other than on the video. I don't recall having seen it in the tape storage room, but there is so much there that is unmarked. 2. Apparently it was added for the "Babyfingers" release and was not originally on the three-sided "Fingerprince". When "Fingerprince" was restored, the original sequence was used. 3. Pee Wee Herman has not approved an album yet of music from his show. Perhaps I can arrange a few excerpts on a future UWEB project. 4. CUBE E robbed the time that was going into back catalogue preparation. The "Vileness Fats/Census Taker" CD's are still planned for release. I don't know when. 5. There are no plans for the release of the intermission music. 6. "The Eyes Scream" is in limbo somewhere in the UK. There is no new word on the distribution plans of Palace Video (who owns it).

Q. I have three questions. 1. Are there plans to release "George and James", "Bali H'ai", 10 years in 20 minutes" or "Assorted Secrets" on CD? 2. A French reporter said THEY performed "Carmina Burana". Is that true? 3. Is there really no video of "The 13th Anniversary Show"?

A. 1. "George and James" will be released eventually. "Bali H'ai" is actually "We're a Happy Family/Bali H'ai" and is on "The Commercial CD". "10 years" and "Assorted Secrets" will not appear on CD. Why should they? 2. "Carmina Burana" has never been performed by THEM. 3. There is no official or professional video of the "The 13th Anniversary Show".

Q. Why is the new "CUBE E LIVE IN HOLLAND" album entirely from Spain and not Holland at all?

A. It is mostly Spanish recordings, but I understand that "Ober" and the final ten minutes of the recording are from Holland. The band wanted to call it "Live in Holland" because of the previous two "Live in Holland" releases.

Q. I heard that one or more of the RZ is homosexual. Is this true?

A. Considering that they prefer to keep their names and faces private, I can't imagine that they are wild about having their genitals discussed. If they wish to discuss their sexual orientation, race, religion, gender, politics or philosophy, I am certain they would feel inclined to do so through their art. As far as their liberalism is concerned, I did hear one say "I'm only prejudice against people who are prejudice".

Q. Is it true that two of the RZ are married and have children?

A. See above answer.

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