fuck

Resigning themselves to a career of obscurity simply by virtue of their name, F**k formed in Oakland, CA, in 1993 after bandmembers Timmy Prudhomme (vocals), Kyle Statham (guitar, violin), Ted Ellison (bass, piano), and Geoff Soule (drums) became fast friends while detained in a police holding cell. Establishing their home base on the other side of the bay in San Francisco (although Prudhomme soon relocated to New York City, forcing a bicoastal musical existence), they bowed in 1994 with the single "Monkey Beauty Shotgun," followed by a series of 7" releases and compilation appearances that found the vulgarity of their moniker consistently at odds with the increasing loveliness of their popcraft. The group's full-length debut, Pretty...Slow, appeared in 1996 on three separate labels -- Rhesus (F**k's own imprint), Walt, and Esther (soon renamed Lamplighter) -- with financing and distribution costs divided equally between each company; the same deal was in place for Baby Loves a Funny Bunny, issued that same year, but in 1997 F**k signed to Matador, where they released the excellent Pardon My French. Conduct followed a year later; Cupid's Cactus was issued in early 2001. Those Are Not My Bongos was released three years later by Future Farmer Recordings. ~ Jason Ankeny