Bruce Anderson
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Bruce Anderson (October 22nd 1949 - January 12th 2022) was an American guitarist, songwriter, backing vocalist, and member of Ralph Records group MX-80 Sound. He appeared as a guest guitarist on several tracks from The Residents' The King & Eye.
Biography
Early Years (1949 - 1972)
Bruce Anderson was born on October 22nd, 1949 in Oolitic, Indiana.[1] In 1972 he began working as a session musician and songwriter, appearing as a guest on Caroline Peyton's first album Mock Up.
MX-80 (1973 - 1984)
In 1973 he joined Mark Bingham's Screaming Gypsy Bandits, where he met and befriended Dale Sophiea, the group's backing vocalist. After that band broke up, they continued their friendship and formed MX-80 Sound together in 1974.
Ralph Records (1979 - 1984)
After years of development and an LP on Island Records, MX-80 Sound relocated to San Francisco, California, where they began to receive attention as part of the emerging New Wave scene, performing popular shows in local clubs.
They attracted the attention of The Cryptic Corporation, who featured them on the Ralph Records' San Francisco anthology album Subterranean Modern alongside The Residents. Shortly afterwards Cryptic offered the group a multi-album recording contract with Ralph, and funded their second LP, Out Of The Tunnel, as well as their third, Crowd Control.
Due to steadily declining album sales, Ralph Records was forced to drop most of its acts in 1982, as they could no longer finance new recordings for their groups. Unlike other groups, MX-80 Sound did not immediately jump to a new label, and in fact, disbanded, and would continue to feature on Ralph samplers until 1984.
MX-80 & The King & Eye (1985 - 2014)
In 1985 Anderson began self-releasing his albums through his own label 'Quadruped,' and two years later, he formed MX-80, featuring 3/6 of the same members as MX-80 sound. Their first album was the cassette exclusive Existential Lover. A few years later, in the summer of 1989, The Residents saw MX-80 play a concert at Divisadero Street. After a Resident broke his teeth on free popcorn, the group realised that this was a sign that they should hire Anderson to play guitar for them, and immediately following the concert, Anderson was hired to play guitar on The Residents' King & Eye album, which was recorded in August of that year.
Later Career (2015 - 2022)
Although The King & Eye would be Anderson's last brush with The Residents, Anderson continued to release his own music, and reformed MX-80 in 2015, with whom he recorded two more albums, before passing away on January 12th 2022.[2]
Discography
Albums
- MX-80 Sound - Hard Attack (1977)
- MX-80 Sound - Out Of The Tunnel (1980)
- MX-80 Sound - Crowd Control (1981)
- MX-80 - Existential Lover (1987)
- MX-80 - Das Love Boat (1990)
- Brutality (1995)
- MX-80 - I've Seen Enough (1995)
- mx-80 - Always Leave 'Em Wanting Less (1997)
- Strict (1999, with Dale Sophiea, Marc Weinstein & Jim Hrabetin)
- Balkana (1999, with Dale Sophiea, Marc Weinstein, Jim Hrabetin & Dave Mahoney)
- Dean Santomieri - The Boy Beneath The Sea (2001)
- MX-80 Sound - Live At The Library (2002, recorded 1977-78)
- MX-80 - We're An American Band (2005)
- The Inherent Beauty Of Hopelessness (2009)
- MX-80 Sound - So Funny (2015)
Residents Credits
- The King & Eye (1989, guitar on 'Blue Suede Shoes', 'Don't Be Cruel', 'Teddy Bear', 'Devil In Disguise', 'Big Hunk O' Love' & 'Hound Dog')
- Uncle Willie's Highly Opinionated Guide To The Residents (1993)
- Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses (1997, on 'Don't Be Cruel')
- The King & Eye: RMX (2004)
Ralph Records Credits
- Subterranean Modern (1979, co-writer on 'Lady In Pain' & 'Possessed')
- MX-80 Sound - Out Of The Tunnel (1980, guitar)
- MX 80 - Someday You'll Be King & White Night (1980, co-writer)
- Buy Or Die 1980 (1980, co-writer on 'Don't Blame It On Me')
- MX-80 Sound - O Type (1980, co-writer)
- MX-80 Sound - Crowd Control (1981, Co-Writer, Guitar, Backing Vocals, writer of 'Crowd Control' & 'Pharoah's Sneakers')
- Frank Johnson's Favorites (1981, Co-Writer on 'O Type' & 'White Night')
- Buy Or Die 1981 (1981, Co-Writer on 'Why Are We Here?')
- Uncle Willie's Highly Opinionated Guide To The Residents (1993)
- The Residents - Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses (1997, on 'Don't Be Cruel')