Back to the Basics
Wipers created music that mattered
by Leah Bobalova
Music that is free from the hands of big business. Music with integrity that stands the test of time. Music that matters.
In the '80s, many rock bands and solo artists espoused independent ideals; few were actually successful in their attempts to avoid playing big record companies' little reindeer games.
But then there was Portland's Wipers, the brainchild of Northwest music cult legend Greg Sage. The Wipers started out as a recording project of Sage's in 1978 and ended up recording 10 albums in over 21 years. The Wipers were pioneers—redefining punk rock with its first album, Is This Real? in 1979 and setting the tone for what would later be called "indie rock" so to speak.
"My thoughts were that the mystique built from the lack of playing the traditional rock & roll promotion game would make people listen to our recordings much deeper with only their imagination to go by", Sage relates on www.zenorecords.com. "I thought it would be easy to avoid press, shows, picture, interviews."
Sage's musical vision survived numerous lineups over the years, as well as criticism by industry bigwigs who couldn't understand his disgust for the music industry game. This desire to remain truly independent garnered Sage and the Wipers credibility from the likes of Thurston Moore, Hole and even Kurt Cobain (he loved the band so much that he paid for the recording of the 1991 tribute album Fourteen Songs for Greg Sage and the Wipers).
For fans, it seems that Sage's commitment to the true principles of music is just not enough. As evident from this article and others like it, fans are still curious about what makes Sage tick. To shroud the band in even more mystery, the cult legend and his longtime collaborator/bandmate Steven Plouf relocated from Portland to Arizona in the mid-to-late '90s.
The Wipers have not toured the US since a farewell tour in January 1989—and it is highly unlikely that Sage and pals will hop on the reunion bandwagon like many "independent" bands are now. For fans old and new, maybe the only way to feel the power of the Wipers is to have a listen.
Zeno Records, Sage's label, recently issued Live at the I-Beam, a 17-song, 60-minute CD featuring a live recording from the house sound board of San Francisco's I-Beam back in 1987. Vinyl reissues of the Wipers back catalogue are also available.
But the ultimate for both new and longtime Wipers' fans is Zeno Records' CD box set that includes Is This Real?, Youth of America and Over the Edge. Highlights include a restored version of Is This Real? with its original song order; bonus tracks and outtakes for each album and even some live stuff.
 Listening to the boxed set, you'll see there's enough high-pitched ringing guitar noise to send you off to another planet. Sage's voice, brazen and tough, cuts through all the sociopolitical crap and stirs up a feeling of urgency with every song. Standouts include a different mix of the Wipers sort-of hit "Romeo" and "Scared Stiff", an unreleased song that was initially recorded during the Youth of America sessions.
Also included is a booklet with some cool photos. One is a rejected cartoon cover of the Youth of America album: the back cover features a black and white photo of Sage and his dog Sid. The photo was considered "too wimpy", according to the liner notes.
If the box set is not enough, fans can read through a Sage-penned history of the band, at the Zeno Records Web site (www.zenorecords.com) and catch up on other projects Sage is working on. An unofficial site, Wipe Out with the Wipers is also a good source of information. It includes rare interviews, lyrics to three albums, tabs and even some photos.
The Discography of Greg Sage
WIPERS
Is This Real? (Park Ave.) 1980 (Sub Pop) 1993
Alien Boy EP7 (Park Ave.) 1980
Youth of America EP (Park Avenue) 1981 (Restless) 1990
Over the Edge (Brain Eater) 1983 (Restless) 1987
Wipers (Enigma) 1985
Land of the Lost (Restless) 1986
Follow Blind (Restless) 1987
The Circle (Restless) 1988
The Best of Wipers and Greg Sage (Restless) 1990
Silver Sail (Tim/Kerr) 1993
The Herd (Tim/Kerr) 1996
Power in One (Zeno) 1999
3 CD Box Set: Is This Real? — Youth of America — Over the Edge (Zeno) 2001
GREG SAGE
Straight Ahead (Enigma) 1985
Sacrifice (For Love) (Restless) 1991
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Eight Songs for Greg Sage and the Wipers EP7 (Tim/Kerr) 1992
Fourteen Songs for Greg Sage and the Wipers (Tim/Kerr) 1993
For a great interview with Greg, go to: www.inmusicwetrust.com/articles/31h05.html |
