Formed in 1988 when experimental studio group Gneebnazix (Skizz Cyzyk and Mark Sanders aka ‘Bean’ ) fused with similar act Pre-Fetal Pigs’ Peter Moe aka ‘Meatpole’ to record soundtrack music for films, including the sci-fi spoof “Bad Aliens from Another Planet,” and the blaxploitation spoof “Shank.”
Originally going by the name The Marrys & Cheesey Jane, the name was changed to Blister Freak Circus when they started taking their musical performance art act to live audiences, including frequent impromptu performances in public bathrooms. Their self-distributed cassettes quickly earned them a dedicated international following of experimental music collectors.
By 1993 the group had become a theatrical comedy noise-rock band, with a live act that included playing guitar solos with bowling balls in one hand, covering their audiences in Silly String, handing out free kazoos at shows, and performing from inside “The Tube” (a 3-foot-wide/100-foot-long nylon hose). Cyzyk and Moe shared guitar and vocal duties, with Bazooka Joe’s Jim Doran aka ‘Doorjam’ on bass, and a succession of drummers including Tom Balog (Azathoth), Todd Seltzer, and Chris Fowble aka ‘Manhandler’ (of bands Are These My Pants?, The Mooncalves).
The group frequented The Rev, Memory Lane, the SoWeBo Arts Festival, and The Mansion Theater. They took honors in a BMG/RCA Records worldwide contest to record the world’s worst version of the Velvet Underground song “Sweet Jane.” Their song “Mr. Gup’s Div” was included on the 1995 Baltimore alternative music comp “Walking by A Building” (Hat Factory).
In 1996, their spoof “Love Will Tear Us Apart AGAIN!” appeared on a Joy Division tribute album, while their song “Duhtripper” appeared on the “Listener Supported” comp (You Say When).
The group continued to occasionally get together to record and play live. Doran went on to produce and play with Diana Froley and Honeypump. Sanders went on to play with Whips & Furs. Cyzyk played with numerous other acts (see Cyzyk, Skizz).
Discography:
As The Marrys & Cheesey Jane:
1988(CS) Beef Platter Livertaffy
As Blister Freak Circus:
1988(CS) Beef Platter BLECH! A Rock Opera about a boy born with his head inside-out.
1989(CS) Beef Platter The Pink Tape
1990(CS) Beef Platter The Last Blister Jam of the Eighties
1992(CS) Beef Platter Rhapsody in Plaid: A Rock Opera about a toothless lounge singer.
1993(CS) Beef Platter Flaming Poet Roadside Pisshole
