Electro-Shock For President

Description

Brainiac was formed in 1992 in a basement in Dayton, Ohio, by Tim Taylor (vocals, synth) and Juan Monasterio (bass), who had been friends since elementary school. Joined by Michelle Bodine (guitar) and Tyler Trent (drums), they released two albums and toured extensively, becoming part of Ohio's rich music scene. In 1994, Michelle left the band and was replaced by John Schmersal. After a 7” recorded with Steve Albini for Sub Pop, the band collaborated with Kim Deal (The Pixies) for Internationale, their first single on Touch and Go. In 1996, they released Hissing Prigs in Static Couture, again produced by Eli Janney, which marked an evolution toward the use of electronic gadgets and noise generators, partially abandoning the Moog. The following year, Jim O’Rourke produced the EP Electroshock for President, accentuating their shift toward a more electronic rock sound. Just as major labels began to show interest, tragedy struck. On May 23, 1997, a few weeks after the EP's release and their return from a European tour with Beck, Tim Taylor died in a car accident in Dayton at the age of 28. Their journey, their legacy, and this tragic death are the subject of the documentary Transmissions After Zero, directed by Eric Mahoney, scheduled for early 2019.