Severed Heads

Profile:Severed Heads is an Australian group based and founded in Sydney in 1979. The group was originally known as Mr. and Mrs. No Smoking Sign who started recording in 1977 and comprised of Richard Fielding and Andrew Wright. Tom Ellard joined the group in 1979 and shortly thereafter Wright departed. Once Wright left the group Fielding decided to change the name to Severed Heads. Fielding eventually left the group too, in 1981, citing it as becoming "too rock 'n roll", leaving Ellard as the sole continuing member of the group. A variety of people have played in Severed Heads, including Garry Bradbury, Paul Deering, and Stephen Jones, but over time the group has devolved to Tom Ellard.
Early Severed Heads music was characterised by the use of tape loops, noisy arrangements of synthesizers, and other dissonant sound sources, putting Severed Heads in the general category of industrial music. After several releases in that vein, Severed Heads began incorporating various popular music tropes, such as a consistent 4/4 rhythm, strong melodic lines, and resolving chord arrangements. This move was underscored by the incorporation of mimetic devices, such as drum machines. The result was a striking hybrid of the avant garde, industrial and pop. Combined with Ellard's thin but gently eerie vocals and elliptical poetic lyrics, Severed Heads were signed to Nettwerk Records in North America, and Volition Records in Australia, and charted in 1984 with the song "Dead Eyes Opened". This deal lead to a world tour, which was as much a multimedia event, thanks to the video work of Stephen Jones.
On 4th February 2008 Tom Ellard of Severed Heads announced the end of the "Severed Heads". This is followed by a 2009 announcement on sevcom.com that Op.4 is forthcoming. It is not determined what form this release will have.
URLs:http://www.sevcom.com/
http://www.severed-heads.co.uk/
Members:Andrew Wright (8), Garry Bradbury, Richard Fielding, Robert Racic, Stephen Jones (3), Tom Ellard
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Releases:
Ear Bitten / No Vowels, No Bowels (LP)   Terse Tapes 1980
Ear Bitten / No Vowels, No Bowels (LP, Pla)   Not On Label 1980
Clean ◄ (3 versions)   Dogfood Production System ... 1981
Since The Accident (Album) ◄ (4 versions)   Ink Records ... 1983
Blubberknife ◄ (2 versions)   Ink Records ... 1984
Dead Eyes Opened ◄ (7 versions)   Ink Records ... 1984
City Slab Horror ◄ (3 versions)   Ink Records ... 1985
Clifford Darling, Please Don't Live In The Past (Album) ◄ (3 versions)   Ink Records ... 1985
Goodbye Tonsils (12")   Ink Records 1985
Petrol ◄ (2 versions)   Volition ... 1985
Stretcher ◄ (2 versions)   Ink Records 1985
Stretcher (Album) ◄ (2 versions)   Volition ... 1985
Come Visit The Big Bigot (Album) ◄ (7 versions)   Nettwerk ... 1986
Dead Eyes Opened (Maxi, Single) ◄ (4 versions)   Nettwerk ... 1986
Gashing The Old Mae West (12", EP, Ltd)   Ink Records 1986
Propellor (12")   Ink Records 1986
Twenty Deadly Diseases (12")   Nettwerk 1986
Bad Mood Guy (Album) ◄ (6 versions)   Volition ... 1987
Come Visit The Big Bigot With Dead Eyes Opened ◄ (2 versions)   Nettwerk ... 1987
Hot With Fleas ◄ (2 versions)   Nettwerk ... 1987
If I've Told You Once I've Told You A 1000 Times (VHS, PAL)   Volition 1987
Kato Gets The Girl (VHS, PAL)   Volition 1987
Severed Heads (VHS, PAL)   Ink Records, Ikon 1987
Bulkhead (12")   Volition 1988
Bulkhead (Album, Comp) ◄ (6 versions)   Nettwerk Europe ... 1988
Greater Reward ◄ (6 versions)   Nettwerk ... 1988
Many A Wonderful Picnic Has Been Ruined By Blubberknife (2xCass)   Terse Tapes 1988
All Saints Day (Maxi) ◄ (4 versions)   Volition ... 1989
Rotund For Success (Album) ◄ (10 versions)   Nettwerk Europe ... 1989
Since The Accident (With Tracks From Blubberknife) - 1983-1984 Part 1 (CD)   Nettwerk, Volition 1989
Big Car (Remix) (Maxi) ◄ (4 versions)   Volition ... 1990
Overhead (VHS)   Nettwerk 1990
Cuisine (Cass, Album, Dol)   Nettwerk 1991
Cuisine (With Piscatorial) (Album) ◄ (5 versions)   Nettwerk ... 1991
Retread (Comp, MiniAlbum) ◄ (4 versions)   Volition ... 1991
Twister (Maxi) ◄ (2 versions)   Volition 1992
Dead Eyes Opened Remix (Maxi) ◄ (2 versions)   Volition 1994
Gigapus (Album) ◄ (4 versions)   Volition ... 1994
Trance Techno (CD, Comp)   Nippon Crown 1994
Dead Open Eyes (12")   Cosmo Records 1995
Heart Of The Party (Maxi) ◄ (2 versions)   Volition 1995
Haul Ass (CDr)   Sevcom 1997
Contoured Stimulation (Music Server Volume 2 Of 4) (CDr)   Sevcom 1998
Airconditioning Your Productivity (Music Server Volume 3 Of 4) (CDr)   Sevcom 1999
Ear Bitten 79 - 99 (CDr)   Sevcom 1999
Gashing The Old Mae West / Kato Gets The Girl (CDr)   Sevcom 2001
Gigapus Plus HOTP (CDr, RE)   Sevcom 2001
Twister + Retread (CDr)   Sevcom 2001
OP (CDr)   Sevcom 2002
Op 1.2 (CDr)   Sevcom 2004
Op 2.0 (CDr)   Sevcom 2005
Op 2.5 (Millenium Cheesecake) (CDr, Album)   Sevcom 2005
The Illustrated Family Doctor (Original Film Soundtrack) (CD + DVD + File, MP3, 160)   Mana Soundtracks 2005
Under Gail Succubus (2xCDr)   Sevcom 2006
Viva! Heads! (CD)   LTM Publishing (Les Temps Modernes) 2006
ComMerz (2xCD)   LTM Publishing (Les Temps Modernes) 2007
Adenoids 1977-1985 ◄ (2 versions)   Vinyl-on-demand 2008
S.H. Garbage! Thrown Out / Demos And Abondonned Music / (Come Visit) The Bigot (Version) (Cass)   Not On Label  
Remixes:
Complications (CD) Fleshmachine (The Farm... Decibel 1996
Dislocations (2xCD) Demi God (Severed Head... Zónar 1997
Hooray!! (Maxi) ◄ (2 versions) Hooray!! (Severed Head... Shock (2) ... 1997
Electronic Battle Weapons (2xCD) Hooray!! (Severed Head... Sony Music Entertainment (Australia) 1998
I Snog, Therefore I Am... (2xCD) Hooray!! (Severed Head... Hymen Records 1999
Poisonous Friend (Maxi) ◄ (2 versions) Poisonous Friend (Seve... Dependent Records ... 2004
Glasses Cannot Go To The Puzzle Remixed ◄ (2 versions)   Not On Label 2005
Production:
Nettwerk Sound Sampler: Food For Thought (Cass) Nature 10 (Bad Mood Ve... Nettwerk 1987
Bugged Out! Presents Suck My Deck (CD, Mixed, Comp) Dead Eyes Opened (Joak... React 2004
Kult Klassix Vol. 2 (2xCD) Dead Eyes Opened Total Recall (3)  
Appears On:
Exorcise This Wasteland (LP, Album) This Septic Vein Nettwerk 1987
Tracks Appear On:
A Selection (LP) Eat Roland M Squared 1981
Entrave et Étouffement, from Australia... (2x10") Lambourgini L'Invitation Au Suicide 1982
Live At The Wireless - The EP (12", EP) In Flesh Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC Music) 1983
Vita Nova (Cass) An American In Paris, ... Vita Nova 1983
Beyond The Southern Cross (2xLP, Comp) Petrol Ink Records 1984
Goodbye To All That (LP) Dead Eyes Opened Red Flame 1985
Dry Lungs II (LP) Clairaudience Placebo Records 1986
Headset One (Cass) George The Animal Dead Man's Curve 1986
Nettwerk Sound Sampler: Food For Thought (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Nature 10 (Bad Mood Ve... Nettwerk 1987
Rayate (Cass, Mixed) Dead Eyes Opened Raya Records 1987
A Factory Volition Video Presentation (VHS, Comp, Promo) Greater Reward Remix, ... Factory Records Australasia, Volition 1988
Ashes And Diamonds (The Underground Educational Entertainment Program 2) (LP) George The Animal Red Flame, Ink Records, Underground Magazine 1988
Funky Alternatives 3 (Comp) ◄ (4 versions) Jetlag (Exclusive Remix) Concrete Productions ... 1988
Nettwerk Sound Sampler Volume Two - A Food For Thought (Album) ◄ (4 versions) Greater Reward Nettwerk ... 1988
Cycle One - Sector One (3x12", Gre) All Saints Day (Art Ma... Razormaid Records 1989
No More Machines (2x12") Dead Eyes Opened Polar Records (Spain) 1990
Attitude (VHS) Greater Reward (Origin... Nettwerk 1991
Dead Time's Exploding Dream (CD, Comp) Hot With Fleas (Extend... Nettwerk 1991
Funky Alternatives, 18 Exclusive Techno Remixes (Cass) Jetlag ROIR (Reachout International Records) 1991
New Wave Club Class•X 2 (CD) The Ant Can See Legs Antler-Subway 1991
High - A Dance Compilation (2xCD) Twister (Act Of God Edit) Volition 1992
Untitled (LP) Dead Eyes Opened Hook Records 1992
Electrocity Vol. 3 (CD) Dead Eyes Opened Ausfahrt 1993
Nettwerk Sound Sampler Vol. 4 - Possessed (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) The Tingler (Itch-E & ... Nettwerk ... 1993
Razormaid Anniversary Nine-Point-Zero (Box + 10xCD, Comp) All Saints Day (Razorm... Razormaid Records 1993
Home Grown (CD) Arrivederci Coma Sony Music Entertainment (Australia) 1994
Boiling Point (CD) Dead Eyes Opened Remix... Volition 1995
C-Lektor (LP, Ltd, Pur) More Fun Ant-Zen 1995
Colloquium { 1 (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) A High Standard Of Dyi... Dark Star ... 1995
Decadence (5xCD, Comp, Enh, Ltd) Dead Eyes Opened, Grea... Nettwerk 1995
Decadence Disc One (1984 To 1987) Beta Pre-Release Version (CD, Smplr, Promo) Dead Eyes Opened Nettwerk 1995
Trance & Progressive Vol. 3 (CD) Dead Open Eyes UMM 1995
Triple J Hottest 100 - 2 (2xCD, Comp) Dead Eyes Open (Remix) Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC Music) 1995
13 Years Of Electronic Lust (CD) New Life COP International 1996
98 New Wave Club Class•X Traxx!!! (Box + 7xCD) The Ant Can See Legs Play It Again Sam [PIAS] 1996
Dancemachine: The Best Of Hitmachine Dance (CD) Dead Eyes Opened BMG Music (Australia) 1996
In The Mix (CD, Comp, Mixed) Heart Of The Party (Pa... Volition 1996
Electrosphere - A Collection Of Synthiepop & Wave Volume 1 (CD, Comp) Heart Of The Party Sub Terranean, Sub Terranean 1997
Exclusive Alternatives (The Best Of Funky Alternatives) (CD, Comp) Jet Lag Cleopatra 1997
Resonance (CD) Heart Of The Party (Ba... Decibel 1997
Trance Pacific Express (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) More Fun Deviant Records 1997
Electronic Battle Weapons (2xCD) Heart Of The Party Sony Music Entertainment (Australia) 1998
Maxi Pop V ◄ (2 versions) Dead Eyes Opened Contraseña Records 1998
Alternator One: Best Of Funky Alternatives (CD, Comp) Jet Lag New Millennium Communications, New Millennium Communications 1999
Industrial Meltdown (3xCD) Jet Lag Cleopatra 1999
Industrial: Music Of The Shadows Vol. 3 (CD, Comp) Dead Eyes Opened (Aust... K-Tel International (USA), Inc. 2000
TRM Sessions One (2xCD) Dead Eyes Open (Re-ope... Global Recordings 2000
80's History - The Session (2xCD, Mixed) Dead Eyes Opened Contraseña Records 2001
Back To Mine (Comp) ◄ (3 versions) We Have Come To Bless ... DMC Publishing ... 2002
Coliseum Presenta Ex-Alumnos - La Vieja Escuela (2xCD, Mixed) Dead Eyes Opened Bit Music 2002
Machines And Noise (Volume 2) (CD) Jet Lag Mastertech Pty Ltd. 2002
Something Stirring Deep Below (CDr) Drown, Nature 10, Drea... Sevcom 2002
The Bedroom Sessions (CD) Cyflea, Rated R Mixmag 2002
Electronation - Are You Part Of It? (2xCD) Dead Eyes Opened Boudisque Records 2003
Spook Factory (2xCD) Dead Eyes Opened Contraseña Records 2003
Triple J's Hottest 100 - Hottest Box (9xCD + Box) Dead Eyes Open (Remix) Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC Music) 2003
Bugged Out! Presents Suck My Deck (CD, Mixed, Comp) Dead Eyes Opened (Joak... React 2004
How To Kill The DJ [Exhibit B] (12") Dead Eyes Opened (Joak... Kill The DJ Records 2004
Misch Masch (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Dead Eyes Opened (Joak... Four Music 2004
The Glimmers ® (Comp) ◄ (4 versions) We Have Come To Bless ... Eskimo Recordings 2004
Clubheroes (CD, Comp, Mixed) Dead Eyes Opened Serial Killer Vinyl 2005
Inner City Sound (2xCD, Comp) Dead Eyes Opened Laughing Outlaw Records 2005
Music For Film Cults Classics Curios 52nd Sydney Film Festival (CD, Comp) Pour Chiens Moyens (Th... Sonic Arcana 2005
Selections From Decadence (CD, Smplr, Promo) Greater Reward (Wicked... Nettwerk 2005
The Ottoman Empire (CD) Mong (Live) Couch Fort Records 2005
Essential New Wave - Volume 4 (CD) Dead Eyes Opened EMI Music (Belgium) 2006
FabricLive.29 (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Dead Eyes Opened (Exte... Fabric (London) 2006
Fabriclive. 29 (Radio Mix) (CD, Promo) Dead Eyes Opened (Orig... Fabric (London) 2006
Mind The Gap Volume 60 (CD, Comp) The Ant Can See Legs (... Gonzo Circus 2006
Tales From The Australian Underground - Vol. 2: 1977-1990 (2xCD) Dead Eyes Opened Feel Presents 2006
The Kings Of Techno (2xCD) The Ant Can See Legs Rapster Records 2006
The Kings Of Techno - Part A (2x12") The Ant Can See Legs Rapster Records 2006
Can't Stop It! II (Australian Post-Punk 1979-84) (CD) Lamborghini Chapter Music 2007
Upgrade Digital Sampler (8xFile, MP3, Comp) Three Doors Down (Vers... Transmission Communications 2007
72 Horas : La Ruta A Valencia (2xCD, Comp + DVD-V) Dead Eyes Opened Blanco Y Negro (2) 2008
72 Horas: La Ruta A Valencia (Vinyl 2) (12", Smplr) Dead Eyes Opened Blanco Y Negro (2) 2008
Mmm, Betty! (CD, Comp) Greater Reward (Dub) Endless Flight 2008
Mmm, Betty! Vol.2 (12") Greater Dub Endless Flight 2008
Ok_Computer (CD, Comp) Dead Eyes Opened Mojo Magazine 2008
The Northside Revival (12", W/Lbl) All Day Sins Medusa Edits 2008
Gettin' Down Under (CD, Promo) Dead Eyes Opened (Re-o... Sony Music Entertainment (Australia)  
Kult Klassix Vol. 2 (2xCD) Dead Eyes Opened Total Recall (3)  
Z-3 (CD) All Saints Day Razormaid Records  
Unofficial Releases:
The Vinyl Salvation 1 (LP, Comp) Dead Eyes Opened Eden Music (3) 1996
Sarcastic Part I (2x12") We Have Come To Bless ... Not On Label 2006
Live At The Asylum (File, MP3, Comp, Mixed, VBR) Dead Eyes Opened Led Manville 2008
Versus Satanicus III (File, MP3, Comp, VBR) Higher Eyes Opened Led Manville 2008
Electric Funky Afro Sound Vol. 3 (LP, Comp) We Have Come To Bless ... Electric Funky Afro Sound Records  
New Wave Mix Vol. 7 (CDr, Mixed, Ltd) The Ant Can See Legs Not On Label (New Wave Mix Series)  
Return Of Flexi-Pop Vol. 3 (CDr) Adolf A Carrot? Flexi-Pop  
User Reviews:
, Jan 01, 2006

One of my favorite bands to listen to when I was in high school. Over the years they went from industrial/experimental to techno/industrial-pop and I must say that I dont care for anything after the release "Cuisine (With Piscatorial)". What I loved most about Severed Heads was their ability to make industrial and cheese sounds so cool and it was something to sing to as well. "Dead Eyes Open" will always be a classic but I loved "Petrol (Remix Five)" and "We Have Come To Bless This House (Remix Two)" best, which just so happen to be on the Maxi single as "Dead Eyes Open".
Tom Ellard also runs Sevcom and his focus is re-releasing the old Severed Heads releases on CDr, which is good seeing as how most of the originals are sold out.

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