NONFICTION
Post Punk / Modern Rock
[Late 1981 thru Spring 1985]
NONFICTION
[w/Barrett Miller on drums]
seen/heard below rehearsing to perform
at Ann Arbor's FUZZ FEST 2022
Laurence Bill Ben
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NONFICTION was Ann Arbor's avant-punk power-trio of the 1980's. Twin brothers Laurence & Benjamin alternated from guitar to bass between sets depending on who was leading the songs. They were one of 12 local bands showcased in the 1st ANN ARBOR MUSIC PROJECT "live" compilation LP in
1982. Laurence's song WALKIE TALKIE was picked as their
contribution to the record. [NOTE: We were the first to coin the term 'modern rock' which was then adopted into the mainstream.]
“... Nonfiction
is perhaps the most creative and exciting band in Ann Arbor. An outgrowth of
the Same Band, Nonfiction is composed of Ben Miller, his twin brother Larry and
former Confessions drummer Bill Frank. Drawing upon influences as rich as Eno,
Hendrix, MX-80 Sound and Pere Ubu, the trio has come up with an unusual fusion.
In live performance, Nonfiction is simultaneously danceable, intelligent and
funny. Though they are the supporting act on the bill, their set should be the
musical highlight of the night ...
Bill Brown, The Ann Arbor News, 21 August 1982
"... There are questions that other musicians would answer until they were blue in the
face (like ‘How did you come up with the name for the band?’) that the members
of Nonfiction will answer in a few short sentences or a sincere ‘I don’t know.’ The bottom line is that they have no need of the gift of gab. Fluent in at
least four different musical languages (jazz, rock, classical and
experimental), they play what they need to say. And, on a good night,
Nonfiction says it so well that the air can be filled with that electric sense
that you were there when something exciting took place ..." Bill Brown, The Ann Arbor News, 20 November 1982
Walking Sideways Talking Backwards
Double LP Cassette / Neoteric Records
© 1984
Side A sported studio cuts while Side B consisted of "live" songs from Ann Arbor's Joe's Star Lounge fall 1982
This cassette was later re-released with Ben Miller's clever arrangement bonus cut of Laurie Anderson's OH, SUPERMAN
"Aggressively avant garde pop. One of the few bands that can handle atonality and a beat at the same time."
Ann Arbor News / November 1984
"...Best local release of the year...”
Detroit Metro Times / December 1984
