MX Does MUBI: “Why Are We Here?”
If you subscribe to the MUBI streaming service, you can catch MX’s first video (“Why Are We Here”) created at Ralph Records by Graeme Whifler. We appear at about 19:50 in the film, “Ears, Eyes, and Throats: Restored Classic and Lost Punk Films 1976-1981.” (The film disappears from Mubi’s carousel at the end of September). The classy restoration is by our friend Peter Conheim. The video was filmed in one day in 1981 at the Ralph Records offices on 444 Grove Street. There wasn’t much to it. Someone told us where to walk and what to do. The smoke machines were old school — some petroleum derivative that ruined everybody’s clothes. But the quality remains long after the price is forgotten.
A Tale of Two Magnatones
GRALE feat. Bruce Anderson and Dale Sophiea – 6/16
Grale is a Bay Area-based ensemble comprised of legendary avant-rock band MX-80 Sound members Dale Sophiea and Bruce Anderson, and Gregory Hagan (Angel Archer, Thomas Carnacki).
Out of the Tunnel and Crowd Control Vinyl
KQED Posts MX Featurette
MX-80 Reclaims “SOUND”
A 30-year legal dispute over the MX-80 SOUND name came to an end when a settlement was quietly reached with the estate of the band’s former business manager. As of August 1, 2015, the band known as MX-80 has re-acquired the rights to MX-80 SOUND. The dispute arose from the band’s termination of manager Morley Sappelstein in 1986. At the time, Sappelstein invoked a post-termination provision that entitled the ex-manager to, among other things, half of the band’s trademark rights. As 50% owner, Sappelstein demanded that the band stop using half of its name, severing the “SOUND” from the “MX-80” and for the past thirty years the band has operated as MX-80. In May of 2015, Sappelstein passed away on a tour of Port Everglades. The band contacted Sappelstein’s estate with whom a confidential settlement was reached in August, 2015. The first new release to again feature the band’s full moniker is the soon-to-be-released, “So Funny” produced by MX-80 Sound and Peter Conheim.
Son of MX-80: Welcome Nico!
Drummer Nico Sophiea joined MX-80 SOUND in 2014 and his fresh tracks and slinky patterns adorn the band’s latest release, “So Funny.” (Check out his style on the video, No Shoes No Shirt.) Nico is of course well versed in the band’s music. His dad is Dale Sophiea, bassist and co-founder of MX-80, and Nico’s nursery was next to MX-80’s practice space in the old Scooby’s building in Berkeley. Drums are just one part of Nico’s toolbox. A multi-instrumentalist, he’s also a 2011 graduate of the University of Puget Sound Music School, and performs with several ensembles. Nico currently resides in Seattle.
FTC Frees “We’re An American Band”
More than 10 years after making its controversial ruling, the Federal Trade Commission has annulled its 2005 preliminary decision barring export of the MX-80 album, “We’re an American Band.” The ruling, one of the first under the then-recently enacted “Made in America” Act required demonstrative evidence as to the national origin” of band members. Under the legislation, effective June 1, 2005, companies advertising products with the term “America” or “American” must file certification documentation with the FTC and U.S. Customs demonstrating that “all or virtually all” of the product-including processing and labor that go into the product-must be of U.S. origin. In this case, since the band claimed “We’re an American Band,” as its album title, the FTC required proof of national origin of each band member. The ruling has been officially expunged the band learned after making a Freedom of Information request.