San Franciscan
Power Pop band founded by childhood friends, vocalist/drummer/multi-instrumentalist Andy Sturmer and keyboardist Roger Joseph Manning Jr. in 1990, from the ashes of
Alternative Rock 1980s band Beatnick Beatch. The group image was decidedly retro, a deliberately kitschy, brightly colorful, psychedelic look with gaudy bellbottoms, Dr. Seuss hats, frilly shirts, lollipops and umbrellas, a Flanderization of
The Beatles'
Yellow Submarine-style fashions meeting a
Hanna-Barbera cartoon come to life.
Musically, the band drew from many
'60s and
'70s, particularly in regards to catchy, sunny, singalong pop with playful, intelligent (and often
lyrically dissonant) lyrics. Elements of
Queen,
The Beatles,
The Beach Boys, the Zombies,
The Monkees,
The Banana Splits,
Electric Light Orchestra, Badfinger,
Supertramp and
XTC shaped the style of the band
* Manning first met guitarist Jason Falkner because he placed an ad for bandmates which mentioned XTC
, they had their own distinctive style, one which influenced countless
Power Pop group following their demise in 1994. Their arrangements were meticulously detailed, and their songs
had a tendency to stick in your head long after you've heard them.
Though the band failed to get much success in a mainstream way in the era of
Grunge, and they only produced two albums in their
short lifetime. They are known for
one hit, the
Partridge Family-like "Baby's Coming Back", promoted by a
HannaBarbera-produced Animated Music Video.
Members
- Andy Sturmer - vocals, drums, keyboards, guitar
- Roger Manning - keyboards, vocals
- Jason Falkner - guitars, bass, vocals (1989-1992)
- Tim Smith — bass, vocals (1992-1994)
A whole bunch of other session musicians contributed to
Bellybutton, while on
Split Milk the band were joined by guitarists Lyle Workman, Jon Brion (who also handled some of the arrangements) and bassist Tom Wolk.
Discography
- Bellybutton (1990)
- Spilt Milk (1993)
Jellyfish provides examples of the following tropes:
- Band of Relatives: Roger and Chris Manning were in the original lineup, though only Roger got to record with the band.
- Earworm: Almost every song they've done.
- Epic Rocking: "Ignorance Is Bliss", written for a Nintendo tribute album.
- Genre Roulette
- Name's the Same: A different Roger Manning is an alternative folk singer from New York. Hence Jellyfish-Roger crediting himself as his full name, Roger Joseph Manning Jr., to avoid confusion.
- Lyrical Dissonance: "Bedspring Kiss"; "Now She Knows She's Wrong"
- Nice Hat: In their "The King Is Half Undressed" video.
- Reclusive Artist: Andy Sturmer.
- Retraux
- Revolving Door Band: Andy Sturmer and Roger Manning were the only two members to stay the course of the band. Interestingly enough, they were the defacto leaders of the band.
- They Also Did: Sturmer has gone on to produce and write for Puffy Ami Yumi (who covered Jellyfish's "Joining a Fan Club"), and scored soundtracks for Teen Titans, Ben10, My Friends Tigger And Pooh, Kick Buttowski and Fish Hooks.
- Roger Manning has worked as a session musician with Air, Beck, Morrissey, Glen Campbell and Blink-182 (he plays the piano and synth during the bridge of "All the Small Things").
- Original guitarist Jason Falkner guested on a Paul McCartney album, and recorded two instrumental Beatles lullaby tribute albums under the banner of ''Bedtime With The Beatles".
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