The Squid's Ear Magazine


Ravenstine, Allen : Four Stories Book [BOOK] (Recommended Records)

The original EML synthesizer player for the unique and forward-thinking Cleveland rock band Pere UBU, Allen Ravenstine presents an illustrated book with four stories written during his touring days and referring to those years, originally published in Cleveland Edition, The ReR Records Quarterly, and The Penguin Book of Rock and Roll Writing.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Allen Ravenstine-author

Mary Thomas-illustrations


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44-page perfect bound, paperback, 148 cm x 210 cm

UPC: 9780956018434

Label: Recommended Records
Catalog ID: AR-BOOK1
Squidco Product Code: 27435

Format: BOOK
Condition: New
Released: 2019
Country: UK
Packaging: Book
First published 1988-1990.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Slim, 44-page perfect bound, paperback containing four stories. Illustrated by Mary Thomas. These four stories were written while Allen was working and touring with the Cleveland band, Pere Ubu, and refer directly to those years. Previously published in The Cleveland Edition, The ReR Records Quarterly and The Penguin Book of Rock and Roll Writing. Allen Ravenstine was born in Canton, Ohio in 1950. In 1968 his parents were killed in a car crash. He was a student at Ohio State University when students protesting the Vietnam War were shot at Kent State. All universities in Ohio closed, so he left Columbus, where he was studying English literature, never to return. In the following years he worked with an EML analog synthesizer and a Teac four-track tape recorder and in 1974 bought the Plaza, a ramshackle apartment building in Cleveland's inner city, which soon became the home of painters, poets, writers and musicians. In 1975, he co-founded the legendary Cleveland band, Pere Ubu in which he worked until 1988... leaving to become an airline pilot. Taking up music again in 2012, he appeared with Robert Wheeler in the film 'I Dream of Wires', recorded two album length records, 'Farm Report' and 'City Desk'. In 2014, he released his first solo CD, 'The Pharaoh's Bee'. The critically acclaimed 'Waiting for the Bomb' followed in 2018. Allen lives in New York City with his wife Ann."Recommended Records


44-page perfect bound, paperback, 148 cm x 210 cm

Artist Biographies

"Allen Ravenstine (born May 9, 1950) is an American keyboard player, most recognized for his work in the experimental rock group Pere Ubu. In 1991, he quit music to become a commercial airline pilot.

Allen Ravenstine was born on May 9, 1950. He had much exposure to music at a young age, his interest derived from his mother playing Sergei Rachmaninoff and other classical music and his father's interest in jazz and percussion records. He played the trombone in grade school but quickly lost interest. Ravenstine's first real experience as an artist came in 1971 after abandoning his college pursuits. He met visual artist Bob Bensick, who was experimenting with sending distortion into oscillators and out to a stereo system. Eventually, they discovered a way to attach lights and have them work in conjunction with the sounds being produced and decided to stage art shows. The act was short lived as Ravenstine moved out of the area and lost contact with Bensick. Soon after, Ravenstine purchased his first synthesizer, an ElectroComp EML 200, and began associating with the garage band Rocket from the Tombs and recording their performances.

Ravenstine owned the apartment building called "The Plaza", which served as home and gathering place for the developing art and music scene in Cleveland in the early 70s.

Ravenstine first worked with Pere Ubu in 1975 after being asked to contribute to the band's recording of "30 Seconds Over Tokyo". However, he was discouraged by the thought of having to perform live shows and opted to discontinue his involvement with the band. After watching Pere Ubu perform at a few venues, Ravenstine changed his mind and returned as a full-time member of the band, replacing keyboardist Dave Taylor. He continued his work with Pere Ubu until 1989 with the release of Cloudland, when he decided to leave the group and pursue his own interests.

Ravenstine obtained a pilot's license after Ubu's initial breakup, and after leaving the band permanently, worked as a flight instructor and charter pilot. He also completed a novel which was never published. Ravenstine largely avoided musical activity of any kind after leaving Pere Ubu, once making a guest appearance at a Red Krayola show in Los Angeles in 2004. In 2012, an invitation to contribute to "I Dream of Wires: The Modular Synthesizer Documentary" led to the recording of an impromptu duo performance on the EML-101 and 200 synthesizers, with current Ubu synthesist Robert Wheeler. Culled from this were a pair of albums and singles, entitled City Desk/Farm Report, which were self-released in 2013. On June 29, 2018, he released a solo album entitled Waiting for the Bomb on Recommended Records.

In reviewing Dub Housing, critic John Dougan writes, "Ravenstine, who may be one of the all-time great synth players colors the sound with ominous whooshes of distortions, blips, and blurbs that sound like a sped-up Pong game." "

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Ravenstine)
3/25/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Music Lessons

2. The Bombadier's Son

3. The End of the Road

4. The Last Steps to Heaven

5. Letter from Cliff Bernstein

Related Categories of Interest:


Book
Rock and Related
Progressive Rock
New in Rock Forms

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