Just as the bombs started falling on Baghdad in early 2003, some of San Francisco most eccentric performers and whimsical characters (Bishop Joey/Ed Holmes, Steven Raspa, Blake More, Jarico Reese, etc.) set out for New York City accompanied by three ten foot tall, three hundred pound fiberglas Dachshund Heads. Careening across America, the crew visits the Grand Canyon, Graceland, the Gateway Arch, Mt. Rushmore, the Washington Monument and many other celebrated roadside attractions along the way. Hauled in tow behind the SF Cyclecide Bike Rodeo’s 1966 Gillig Autobus, the Doggies encounter the spirit of America during a confusing period. Roadside encounters with citizens and rendezvous with eccentric artist comrades through out the “Middle” States are the heart of this journey.
Chuck Cirino is an action/exploitation movie director, producer, movie musical score composer, and a (largely unheralded) early pioneer and originator of the concept of “Reality TV.” Chuck was made the first in depth feature Burning Man Video in 1994 (to be available online soon). Chuck filmed many mid-90’s Cacophony events for his TV show and filmed Affiliated groups such as People Hater, Seemen and the like.
Ed Holmes, in addition to 3 decades of St. Stupid Parades and over 20 years as writer/director/actor in San Francisco’s world renowned Mime Troupe, Ed, due to his physical appearance and devious inclination doubled as the 46th Vice President of the US of A on numerous occasions.
VP Dick Cheney at Obama Ceremony San Francisco 1/20/2009
Survival Research Labs, founded in 1978 by Mark Pauline, Eric Werner and Matt Heckert was the group that most directly and profoundly initiated the entire genre of modern machine art. Every battle-bot, junkyard war, exploding machine event and mechanical myth-busting sound bite owes this protean group and it’s grinning avatar Mark Pauline a tip O’ the hat. In the mid-90’s there was a lot of cross-over between SRL and Cacophony.
The SF Doom show:
This is just one of many SRL shows one can enjoy via YouTube.
The history of the most influential underground cabal you’ve never heard of
