U-MEN, The

The U-Men, Graven Image Gallery, Seattle, 1983, photo courtesy Rachel Tilman

Homebase: Seattle, WA.
Misc Notes: The U-Men was an influential Seattle post-punk band that formed in 1981 and was active until 1989. They toured extensively across the United States and their musically "dirty" sound was a forerunner for the later grunge bands to come out of Seattle. Fronted by the enigmatic vocalist John Bigley, the U-Men (whose members also included Tom Price, Charlie "Chaz" Ryan, Robin Buchan, Jim Tillman, Tom Hazelmyer -- and later Tony "Tone Deaf" Ransom) pioneered their own unique brand of alternative rock which could best be described as "swamp-o'-billy." The U-Men emerged to fill the void left by the disappearance of '60s Northwest garage rock legends like the Sonics, the Wailers, and Paul Bearer and the Hearsemen. They updated that traditional Northwest sound with more modern punk rock influences.

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