Beat Happening

Calvin Johnson, Vocals/Guitar
Bret Lunsford, Guitar/Drums
Heather Lewis, Drums/Guitar/Vocals

Formed in 1982, Olympia WA

The band formed while attending Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington and began recording in 1983.  Calvin Johnson was also one of the founders of indie-rock label K Records. The label has been championed by many, including Kurt Cobain, who tattooed the K Records logo on his arm.   K Records was also the first to release Shonen Knife's music via cassette some 7 years before Kurt Cobain started spreading the gospel, and recently released a Teenage Fan Club 7".

   Underground heroes and keepers of the indie flame, Beat Happening are one of the most influential and critically respected bands of the last decade. Calvin, Heather, and Bret have been at it for over 10 years, assaulting the underground music community with a number of homemade cassettes, five proper albums, a retrospective CD, several singles, and a slew of like-minded releases on Calvin's K label.  Bands as diverse as Sonic Youth, Fugazi, Teenage Fan Club, and Nirvana claim to have been greatly influenced by Beat Happening's unique brand of two-chord tin-can pop noise.

   Love 'em or hate 'em, Beat Happening are respected by most, revered by   many, and deified by some. Their indie cred went through the roof in Summer 1991, when Calvin and his K cohort Candace hosted the International Pop Underground Convention in Olympia WA, during which they showcased over 50 bands whose only tie was that they hadn't succumbed to "the corporate ogre"--L7, Fugazi, the Melvins, Scrawl, Thee Headcoats, the Pastels, Jad Fair, Bikini Kill, Fastbacks, Seaweed, Mecca Normal, and more. The event was recently documented in part on the Internation Pop Underground Convention CD and double album on K.          
[Bio information excerpts and photos from Subpop Records press kit]



Three Tea Breakfast  [EP]

    • Released in 1984

      Five-cut, cassette-only EP was their first early release on the K Label.  The songs were recorded in Tokyo. Currently Not Available
    • In My Memory
    • Honey Pot
    • The Fall
    • Youth
    • Don't Mix The Colors


Beat Happening

    • Released in 1985

      The bands first full-length record contained over twenty tracks.                Click To Buy it!
    • Our Secret
    • What's Important
    • Down at the Sea
    • I Love You
    • Fourteen
    • Run Down the Stairs
    • Bad Seeds [Live]
    • In My Memory
    • Honey Pot
    • Fall
    • Youth
    • Don't Mix the Colors
    • Foggy Eyes
    • Bad Seeds
    • I Let Him Get to Me
    • I Spy
    • Run Down the Stairs
    • Christmas
    • Fourteen
    • Let's Kiss
    • 1,2,3
    • In Love With You Thing
    • Look Around









Jamboree

    • Released in 1988

      One of Kurt Cobain's favorite albums, produced by Steve Fisk with some help from  Mark Lanegan.

      Click To Buy it!
    • Bewitched
    • In Between
    • Indian Summer
    • Hangman
    • Jamboree
    • Ask Me
    • Crashing Through
    • Cat Walk
    • Drive Car Girl
    • Midnight a Go-Go
    • The This Many Boyfriends Club




Beat Happening / Screaming Trees  [EP]

    • Released in 1988

      One-off collarboration between the two bands, also part of the "Crashing Through" boxset in 2002.       Click To Buy it!
    • Sea Babies
    • Tales of Brave Aphrodite
    • Polly Pereguin
    • I Dig You


Black Candy

    • Released in 1989

      Project is said to border on sounding like a horror-flick soundtrack.                    Click To Buy It!
    • Other Side
    • Black Candy
    • Knick Knack
    • Pajama Party in a Haunted Hive
    • Gravedigger Blues
    • Cast a Shadow
    • Bonfire
    • T.V. girl
    • Playhouse
    • Ponytail



1983-85

    • Released in 1990

      Compiles 27 early Beat Happening tracks along with early sessions and unreleased tracks.             Currently Not Available
    • Our Secret
    • What's Important
    • Down At The Sea
    • I Love You
    • Fourteen
    • Rund Down The Stairs
    • Primitives
    • I Spy
    • Bad Seeds (Live)
    • Down At The Sea
    • In My Memory
    • Honey Pot
    • The Fall
    • Youth
    • Don't Mix The Colors
    • Foggy Eyes
    • Bad Seeds
    • I Let Him Get To Me
    • I Spy
    • Run Down The Stairss
    • Christmas
    • Fourteen
    • Let's Kiss
    • 1, 2, 3
    • In Love With You Thing
    • Look Around


















Dreamy

    • Released in 1991

      The band's fourth full-length project is considered another gem to have.                    Click To Buy It!
    • Me Untamed
    • Left Behind
    • Hot Chocolate Boy
    • I've Lost You
    • Cry For A Shadow
    • Collide
    • Nancy Sin
    • Fortune Cookie Prize
    • Revolution Come And Gone
    • Red Head Walking




You Turn Me On

    • Released in 1992

      The fifth complete project released by Beat Happening  is their final and maybe their best album.                        Click To Buy It!
    • Tiger Trap
    • Noise
    • Pinebox Derby
    • Teenage Caveman
    • Sleepy Head
    • You Turn Me On
    • Godsend
    • Hey Day
    • Bury The Hammer



Crashing Through   [Boxset]

    • Released in 2002

      Just about everything Beat Happening ever released including their five LPs, EP's and many singles.  Hard to find.  Click To Buy It!
    • Seven Discs Including:
    • Every Studio Album Track
    • Rare Tracks
    • Screaming Trees Collaboration
    • Essay Booklet
    • Rare Photos


Music To Climb The Apple Tree By

    • Released in 2003

      Compilation of B-sides and other rarities from the band.  Click To Buy It!
    • Angel Gone
    • Nancy Sin
    • Sea Hunt
    • Look Around
    • Not A Care In The World
    • Dreamy 
    • That Girl
    • Secret Picnic Spot
    • Zombie Limbo Time
    • Foggy Eyes
    • Knock On Any Door
    • Sea Babies
    • Tales Of Brave Aphrodite
    • Polly Pereguinn
    • I Dig You