We Are Scientists is an American band, formed in 2000, featuring Keith Murray (guitar and lead vocals), Chris Cain (bass guitar and backing vocals) and previously Michael Tapper (drums and backing vocals). In their own words, the band creates "rock music of the thoughtful, sometimes epic, often loud, vaguely danceable, implicitly humanist variety".[1] The band's sense of humor is often commented upon, particularly their banter and jokes between songs at gigs and their often surreal and humorous answers to questions in interviewscitation needed.
Name
There are many theories behind the band's name. The band did not get their name from the Cap'n Jazz song of the same name. However, another story behind the name is that when they were applying for a loan for the band, they said they were scientists who needed funding for a project (as the bank wouldn't have given them a loan to start up a band). The band actually got their name from a conversation they had with a U-Haul worker. When returning a truck, the worker looked them up and down and asked if they were brothers. They said no, so the man asked if they were scientists.They said no again, but forever regretted it and decided to call their band "We Are Scientists".Their manager, Jack Kilyan has been working with them since they began, musically, personally and theoretically is the driving force behind W.A.S.
There are those who credit the band's name to a scene in Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein," when Professor Frederick Frankenstein (played by Gene Wilder) berates an audience for their bad manners, saying, "We are not children here, we are scientists!"
History
The band met while its members attended the Claremont Colleges. Keith Murray and Chris Cain attended Pomona College; Michael Tapper attended Harvey Mudd College just a few blocks away. The trio formed the band after they had graduated, and have frequently performed free shows at the colleges ever since.
The band has released two self-made LPs and two self-made EPs - Safety, Fun, and Learning (In That Order) LP, Bitchin! LP, In Action EP, and The Wolf's Hour EP - and released their major label debut LP, With Love and Squalor on EMI/Virgin Records. The first three singles are "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt", "The Great Escape" and "It's a Hit". Every song has a video, and they are all available on Crap Attack, which also includes b-sides and a live show.
Keith Murray live at Soho Revue Bar, London, February 2008.
In 2006, We Are Scientists began touring with Arctic Monkeys, Maxïmo Park and Mystery Jets as part of the NME Shockwaves Tour, playing Cardiff and Nottingham en route.
Their music videos typically feature surreal situations such as the band being chased by a man in a grizzly bear costume ("Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt"), having boxing matches ("It's a Hit"), and the three being seemingly connected at the hip throughout an entire day's activities ("The Great Escape"). Three of the videos are directed by Akiva Schaffer. The video for "Inaction" was directed by Eric Gross, a college friend who became a filmmaker.
Their single 'The Great Escape' got a lot of UK recognition from being available as the free download of the week on iTunes.
The band performed "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt" on the December 19, 2005 episode of the Late Show with David Letterman, and "It's a Hit" on the March 14, 2006 episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Throughout February 2006, "The Great Escape" was heard in a commercial for the 2006 Winter Olympics and on another commercial advertising BBC Radio stations. An instrumental version of "The Great Escape" has been used in a commercial from various television comedy shows airing on British station E4. It has also been used in the introductions for various Sky Sports channels.
The band obtained the Xpression FM number one single on May 8, 2006 with "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt".
In 2007 the band was nominated for NME Best International Band Award.
They toured with Kaiser Chiefs at the end of 2007.
It was announced on November 1, 2007 that drummer Michael Tapper would be leaving the band prior to their UK tour. He has not been replaced. Instead, the band has continued to operate as a duo with supporting musicians.
It has been rumoured that Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders has been asked by the band to "fill in" as their part-time drummer on their recent UK tour.
The band's latest album entitled Brain Thrust Mastery debuted in the UK album charts at number 11 after its release on March 17, 2008.
W.A.S. is featured in the soundtrack of the 2008 film Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist.
Members
The band's primary members were originally Keith Murray, Chris Cain and Michael Tapper. However, Michael left the band in 2007, leaving the duo of Murray and Cain. The band is known for their hilarious, nonsensical, witty and often sarcastic sense of humour, often openly lying in interviews and making ridiculous claims that tend to charm both the audience and the interviewercitation needed.
Keyboardist Max Hart joined the band just before Michael Tapper left. After Tapper's departure, the remaining members started looking for a new drummer. Tapper plays some drums on Brain Thrust Mastery and its singles, but the drums are also played by someone only known as Garett. They tried a few different people to play drums for them live, but then hired Adam Aaronson, formerly the drummer for Max Hart's previous band, The High Speed Scene. Max Hart's first gigs were Reading and Leeds Carling Weekend 2007. Adam Aaronson's first gig in the UK was at the Middlesbrough Empire on November 1st, 2007. Before this, he had played at a number of promotional events and signings with the band.
Website
The band is well known for its websitecitation needed, www.wearescientists.com. It features an advice column, reviews of random objects, and other humorous articles. The site also has the more traditional features of a band website--discography, merchandise, and a messageboard.
Discography
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References
External links
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