Years active 1979–1981 Origin Vancouver, Canada (1979) Genres Post-punk, New wave | Active until 1981 Members Ian Wallace | |
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Record labels Quintessence Records, Zulu Records Similar Pointed Sticks, Young Canadians, Rodney Graham, The Dishrags, Subhumans | ||
U-J3RK5 (pronounced "you jerk"—the five is silent) was a Vancouver based band from the late 1970s. Their style was post-punk/new wave, but was more art rock than synth pop. U-J3RK5's short lived local success was influenced by the music industry's infatuation with Martha and the Muffins styled male-female bands. The band included local artist celebrities Ian Wallace, Jeff Wall and Rodney Graham, as well as Kitty Byrne, Colin Griffiths, Danice McLeod, Frank Ramirez and CBC Radio host David Wisdom. Their eponymous debut album, portraying the pioneers of Vancouver's school of so-called 'photoconceptualism' or 'post-conceptual photography' in a rare moment of unison, sported an unlikely hit single titled "Eisenhower and the Hippies" - a song inspired by a work of American conceptual art proponent Dan Graham. Their album was released by the indie Quintessence Records with a second pressing on Polygram of Canada.
The band was a rather short-lived affair, allowing the members to concentrate on their art careers instead.
Oh Canaduh! compilation albums featured two covers of UJ3RK5. "Eisenhower and the Hippies" was covered by Man or Astro-man? and "Locator" was covered by Servotron.
Songs
Eisenhower and the Hippies1991
Naum Gabo1979
U-J3RK5 Work for Police1979