ADMONISHING THE BISHOPS
a brief guide to the Sun City Girls on the web

There is no official Sun City Girls website, just as there is really no official Sun City Girls anything. In fact, their entire aesthetic mission seems to be to tear down the concept of "official" and god bless 'em for it. However, Sun City Girls junkies like myself have gotta have something, and after digging through numerous Google returns (1,600 to be exact) I've come up with some things worth a look.

Probably the best article I've ever read on the elusive subject of the Sun City Girls is right here, written by one Derek Monypeny for the commendable music e-zine Perfect Sound Forever. At the end of this article is a link to an excellent interview with guitarist Rick Bishop. This originally appeared in Popwatch magazine, and is easily the most extensive and straight-faced media appearance the Girls have yet offered. (Although it seems to still have its share of subterfuge and misinformation.) There's also a link to a page featuring some recent live photos. WARNING: if you're really into the SCG mystique, you might want to stay away from this page, as it features many shots of Rick Bishop looking and dressing almost exactly like my high school basketball coach.

Longtime "fourth Girl," engineer/producer Scott Colburn, has a comprehensive discography of the band at his Gravelvoice site. This is the closest thing to an "official" Sun City Girls website. Probably the best fan site on the Sun City Girls is right here. Again, it's basically just a discography, but features good commentary, good cover reproductions, and an especially extensive section on all the self-released SCG cassettes.

Finally, there's an official Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 website, featuring a whole bunch of tour diaries by bassist Anne Eickelberg. These span about ten years-worth of shows, including some missives written about the legendary SCG/TFUL282 tour of 1992. Check out the site for yourself, but I've separated out some of the more SCG-relevant anecdotes from the pen of Ms. Eickelberg:

10/24/92
The good and the bad tail each other. Last night in Winnepeg the Sun City Girls took me from one beautifully insane dimension to another. Every possibility evident and rising within my heart: my mind jammed open & so expertly twisted. Alan in whiteface makeup crouching and leaning over the balcony above Charlie and Rick. Stilted/flowing gestures, flicking ashes gleefully upon them. Singing that incredibly female-like song. And Charlie behind a gay cartoon cow mask. They scared me. More, more more! No band has ever taken me this far. Not the Buttholes, Caroliner or National Disgrace. More. Sigh.
       Then we got detained at the fucking border again. Supposed pot residue in ______'s jacket. he gets humiliated and fined $500. Fuck the USA. ______ is a god-like being. he radiates otherness. The scum cops can't see it. I'm in love with SCG.

10/30/92
I proclaimed my love for the Sun City Girls. I was completely beside myself with insane girl-crush over seeing them again. I forced my way up front and felt like I was going to come...into another goddamn fucking dimension. "Where's my four boyfriends?" (them & recording master Scott)

11/15/92
Last night at Masquerade in Atlanta. Us and SCG opening for the Dead Milkmen.
Such a huge goddamn club. I got into a nasty state of mind due to the hurry up, dude! atmosphere, even while I was piling excellent free pasta and vegetables into my face. When I heard the soundman ask if SCG could play something with some melody I became even more full of disgust. I need to learn to not get so wound up and pushed around by the atmosphere. No one was being decisive or quick enough for me.
I flew, enraged, into the backstage and began to drink Budweiser and gulps of water and smoke cigs.
I hung in that room the whole time, unable to go check out the rest of the club--the other levels: Purgatory and Hell.
I stayed in Heaven though I felt it naught. Focusing my attention on Alan and Rick helped. Finally crept out, wandered out, curiosity getting me going, as SCG were taking the stage.
The room was packed. Fucking kids! 14,15,16,17 years old pressed up against the expanse of the stage. The reality of the possibilities of the situation nearly made my head explode.
I couldn't even look anymore; I ran backstage again, grinning insanely and saying over and over these kids are going to have their minds blown! Then I ran back out and watched. I was so excited that my mind and spirit were several yards above my body as I thought: this is what WE face as well--a young, captive audience. Difficult, yet simple.
SCG almost immediately split the crowd into factions. Confusion, joy, bullish hatred, drunken bellows, flipping the bird; others cheering support. I knew I would completely get off on this. Preaching to the completely uninitiated. They are going to go home and mull this evening over. Talk and argue with their friends about it. How fine.
Alan became more and more certain of his control over the crowd, and the frontman for the Dead Milkmen and their manager were soon along side backstage, screaming their support. Alan threatening to kick anyone's ass who had the guts to come on stage. He eats them for breakfast. Telling everyone how great it is that they paid for it and HE'S going to get some of their money!
This made the Dead Milkmen guy nearly rocket through the ceiling, jumping up and down, clapping and yelling Yes! Fuck, YES!

  Alan Bishop of the SCG

Anne Eickelberg, bassist and sometime tour diarist of the TFUL282