What synths/etc did SPK use?

tom Cadillac · Post by **tom Cadillac** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:37 am

I'm just rediscovering this band again. I saw them in 1984 and it was one of the most violent gigs I'v been to - chainsaws, steeldrums and bandaging from previous gigs. But I'd like to know what synths and soundprocessing they used. Just out of curiosity I guess.
Though I'd be interested in how they went about getting their distortion/information overload sound.

tim gueguen · Post by **tim gueguen** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:58 pm

I can see why you asked. Type "SPK equipment" into Google and you get a bunch of hits for a British firm that deals in construction equipment. Anyways, the fact one of the members called himself EMS AKS early on makes me suspect they used EMS synths on the early stuff.

Addenda: This page seems to have the official SPK stamp of approval.
http://www.ping.be/~spk/
And they have a MySpace page.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... D=40577889

Jason13 · Post by **Jason13** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:48 pm

I remember seeing SPK on The Tube in the early 80's. Mental stuff I was sure someone was going to get hit with that angle grinder.

Graeme Revell did very well for himself..

http://www.graemerevell.com/

Look at all the cool films he has worked on and he actually married SPK's lead singer Sinan Leong.

More info here..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPK_(band)

Sometime between 83 and 85 Revell was one of the early customers for the Fairlight CMI. A sampler was a logical step given the amount of improvised kit they were using. This is also a good site for info..

http://home.scarlet.be/~spk/spktrevorblake.htm

Enjoy reading.

jaypodesta · Post by **jaypodesta** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 5:12 pm

A Shenai is the most specific instrument they list on the back of the album.

They are also wearing gimp masks - although that probably does little for the sound!

tom Cadillac · Post by **tom Cadillac** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:14 am

thanks for the replies guys. I read some of the texts they put out and they,re really fascinating.

Has anyone else named themselves after their synth???

tim gueguen · Post by **tim gueguen** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:49 am

Moog Yamamoto of Buffalo Daughter.

Re-Member · Post by **Re-Member** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:42 am

tom Cadillac wrote:thanks for the replies guys. I read some of the texts they put out and they,re really fascinating.

Has anyone else named themselves after their synth???

It's actually the other way around for me. My full name is Richard Emil Garcia III and I abbreviated it to R3 once I started experimenting with music about five years ago. Sure enough, Korg recently released a synth called the R3 and it's been a perfect instrument for the kind of stuff I do (distortion heavy minimalist synth punk).