The Jabbers

The Jabbers are an American punk rock band. Once fronted by a young GG Allin at the beginning of his career in the late-'70s to mid-'80s, many of his most well known songs were recorded with this band, such as "Assface", "Don't Talk to Me" and "Bored to Death".

Most notably, Allin's singing voice had not yet deteriorated. The music is of much higher quality in terms of both sound recording and playing than Allin's later output. The heavily New York Dolls and Stooges-influenced music itself is a catchy mix of power pop and hardcore punk, like most of Allin's early material up until the mid-1980s. The group disintegrated in 1984, around the time when the depravity of Allin's increased heroin addiction had grown and he was regularly in and out of prison.

Allin's early theatrics, subject matter and lyrical content was tame compared to his future output and antics, but was not without snotty humour. One review of the only Jabbers album with Allin, Always Was, Is And Always Shall Be, states: "Amazingly enough, the violent hatred, sexual and psychological degradation, and staggering stupidity only hint at the heights (or depths) Allin would reach later."^[1]

Embryonic versions of the band appeared as early as 1977, focused around Allin (singing and occasionally playing drums), his brother Merle Allin on bass, and various local guitarists. By 1979, the live group featured bassist Alan Chapple and guitarist Rob Basso; guitarist Chris Lamy joined in 1980, and Michael O'Donnell became the group's drummer in 1983.^[2] The group disbanded in May 1984, and Allin next led The Scumfucs. Their complete recordings with Allin are on the Banned in Boston compilation.

In 2003, Chapple, Lamy, and O'Donnell reformed the band with new singer Wimpy Rutherford and lead guitarist Harlan Miller (both ex-members of the pop punk group The Queers). They released an album entitled American Standard in 2005 on Steel Cage Records.

Discography

Singles

as GG Allin & The Jabbers

• "Bored To Death" "Beat, Beat, Beat" b/w "One Man Army" (Orange Records - 7" - 1979)
• "1980's Rock 'n' Roll" b/w "Cheri Love Affair" (Destiny Records - 7" - 1979)
• Always Was, Is And Always Shall Be (Uncredited) Orange Records LP 1980
• "Gimme Some Head" b/w "Dead Or Alive" Orange Records 7" 1981
• "You Hate Me & I Hate You" (Public Animal No. 1) Orange Record 7" 1982 (first 100 stickered with "The Jabbers" in red on white background)
• "You Hate Me & I Hate You" Catch 22 Records (England) 7"
• "No Rules" "A Fuck Up" b/w "Up Against The Wall" "NYC Tonight"
• Banned in Boston (Uncredited on 1989 version; main credit on 1990 version) (1989/1990)
• Banned in Boston (1990)
• For Those Who Can Take It Raw no label listed 7" 2000
• Occupation Blood 2000 Records 7"

as GG Allin

• Insult & Injury Volume 3 - 5-26-82 Providence, RI And More Black & Blue Records CD 1997
• Insult & Injury Volume 1 - 1977-1982 Banned In Boston Black & Blue Records CD 1993
• Banned In Boston Part 1 Black & Blue Records CD 1998
• Banned In Boston Part 2 Black & Blue Records CD 1998

as The Jabbers

• "American Standard (2005)

References

External links

• Official site
• Jabbers Interview by Spanky Payne of Twisted Press & The Spanky Payne Radio Show
• Allmusic
• 2006 Audio interview with The Jabbers on The NH Edge