The Clean are an influential indie rock band that formed in Dunedin, New Ze… Read Full Bio ↴The Clean are an influential indie rock band that formed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1978. The Clean soon forged a distinctive and quirky sound, inspired by punk filtered through to the relatively isolated New Zealand. Although they released several chart-topping singles in their native country, The Clean are a little-known cult band outside of New Zealand, although their influence is surprisingly far-reaching. They became a staple of college radio in the 1980s; Stephen Malkmus of Pavement cites them as a major influence, and the band's droney 80s output is a direct forerunner of bands such as Yo La Tengo and Camper Van Beethoven.
In 1981, a fan of the Clean founded the Flying Nun label to release their first single, "Tally Ho." A follow-up track off one of their early EPs, "Beatnik", also achieved success, as did the second single, "Getting Older". The Flying Nun label went on to be New Zealand's biggest independent record company, championing the Dunedin Sound, a loosely-connected style of music largely produced by bands from this southern city. Others on the label included The Chills, The Verlaines, The Bats, and Sneaky Feelings.
During much of the 1980s, The Clean disbanded, and during this time the Kilgour brothers worked together on an experimental album and EP using the deliberately punning titles "The Great Unwashed" and "Clean Out of Our Minds". Reforming in the late 1980s, the band explored a slightly poppier vein of music while still retaining their experimental edge.
In June 2008 a live album recorded during the 2007 New Zealand tour was released in New Zealand on Arch Hill Records, entitled "Mashed". A new studio album, titled Mister Pop was released on September 7, 2009 on Arch Hill, and on September 8 in the United States on the Merge label.
In December 2009, The Clean announced their first European dates in more than 20 years, supporting the cult U.S band Pavement at Brixton Academy on the 10th of May. They also played at the Pavement curated ATP at Butlins Minehead on the 14th of May. Other dates on the tour included Amsterdam (May 22), Hamburg (May 23), Berlin (May 25) and Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival May 29).
In 1981, a fan of the Clean founded the Flying Nun label to release their first single, "Tally Ho." A follow-up track off one of their early EPs, "Beatnik", also achieved success, as did the second single, "Getting Older". The Flying Nun label went on to be New Zealand's biggest independent record company, championing the Dunedin Sound, a loosely-connected style of music largely produced by bands from this southern city. Others on the label included The Chills, The Verlaines, The Bats, and Sneaky Feelings.
During much of the 1980s, The Clean disbanded, and during this time the Kilgour brothers worked together on an experimental album and EP using the deliberately punning titles "The Great Unwashed" and "Clean Out of Our Minds". Reforming in the late 1980s, the band explored a slightly poppier vein of music while still retaining their experimental edge.
In June 2008 a live album recorded during the 2007 New Zealand tour was released in New Zealand on Arch Hill Records, entitled "Mashed". A new studio album, titled Mister Pop was released on September 7, 2009 on Arch Hill, and on September 8 in the United States on the Merge label.
In December 2009, The Clean announced their first European dates in more than 20 years, supporting the cult U.S band Pavement at Brixton Academy on the 10th of May. They also played at the Pavement curated ATP at Butlins Minehead on the 14th of May. Other dates on the tour included Amsterdam (May 22), Hamburg (May 23), Berlin (May 25) and Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival May 29).
Odditty
The Clean Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Clean:
Anything Could Happen Went to a doctor, said I look so hard And with…
Beatnik He's a rebel, he's a guru, and he's a beatnik He's…
Big Cat You seem like a great big cat On the The couple…
Big Soft Punch …
Billy Two Billy didn't have a lot to say He never ever spoke I…
Do Your Thing Do your thing Do your thing Always someone to put you do…
Draw (In) G to A [W] Hole We'll go to square one We'll go to square one We'll say…
End of My Dream Breaking on my shoes over you Did you think I was…
Fish You had an invitation to ride shotgun in a parade…
Getting Older Oh you're getting older You're getting older And you don't k…
I Can See Will I make it? I don't know I don't know I don't know Will…
I Wait Around Looking back now the summer of '88 When hardcore was young…
Jala How did you forget love? How did you forget love? How did…
Late Last Night Jen, she really rocks my world, I think she is…
Linger Longer Sitting waiting around Linger little longer Ski on covered…
Oddity You say you're going all right Yeah you're going okay You'…
Point That Thing Baby when you say you want me I'll faint and know…
Poor Boy Ven bailame riko asi porque yo le pego clen y…
Sad Eyed Lady The sad eyed lady sits on the edge of town The sad…
Secret Place You'll never find just what you want By running up that…
Slug Song Said don't ever change Or rearrange your mind Don't ever…
Some One Tell me, Tell me that you want me, And I'll be yours…
Stars There's sun shining all of the time Yeah, sun's shining all…
Tally Ho Now, you said it was yesterday, yesterday's another day ha…
Tally Ho! Now, you said it was yesterday, yesterday's another day Had …
The Blue 새파란 하늘이 너처럼 맑게 개인 그런 날들 속에 In love 노을보다 떠오르는 해보다 환히 밝혀주는 Yo…
Thumbs Off this little boy's like all the rest cause he knows just…
Too Much Violence 3Dogg made this one Too much flex, too much flex, too…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Mark J
Same here! Thus is the only song I possess by the Clean - on a compilation LP called Human Music (1988). Just ordered a CD by them. Thank heavens for YouTube I get to hear more material from this top band.
Spectrescup
Justifies the actual and ongoing existence of youtube, the 'pop' 'video' and the internet.I'm not saying its the best thing ive ever seen, but its in the top 1.If I knew what epochal meant...
ncp2666
In the top 1, for sure
Don Gately
I always associate The Clean with The Feelies - similar time period and affect.
bargainbassist
Yep, I agree there. In fact, I recently made a personal playlist consisting of The Clean, The Feelies, Yo La Tengo, The Bats, and (for good measure) The Soft Boys. Bands that combine a deceptively easy groove with some lovely noise. The lead vocal on many Clean songs remind me of Robyn Hitchcock (crossed with Robert Forster). It’s like north New Jersey meets Down Under. 🎸
yukznfunnyz
I decided it. It's official: it's cool.
Stephen Shouldis
Who decided it was ever cool to dance like that..
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle
FIRST COMMENT YAY!! Classic NZ band. Its a bloody shame Flying Nun didn't sign Dane Rumble though.
Brett Collingwood
Interesting, if Dane Rumble had had decent management I reckon Cruel woulda done USA Top 5.
jungfeller
@monacee65 Dude, I was just about to say the same thing, tears of joy! :D