Originally together from 1981-1983, they played basement and club shows fairly often. Aside from the 1983 cassette Flex Your Mind, though, no recorded material was available from them until 1998's Devolver CD-R anthology. Several songs on the album were produced by their friend (outsider psychedelic singer-songwriter) Bobb Trimble.
At their first-ever gig, the band distributed a simultaneously prank-ish and poker-faced "manifesto", using 60s rock album liner notes as a wobbly template. It began:
"...Was it only 3 or 4 weeks ago that the future PREFAB MESSIAHS first pooled their cosmic energies and talents, and – crooning their messages about our Plastic Age – decided to totally revolutionize Pop Music? The Concept was shocking in its boldness – 4 young men with a Destiny – from the Store 24 to Mister Donut their eyes burned with what they saw, even as they lapped it up faster than a small order of McDonald's fries. Reality could not keep the PREFAB MESSIAHS down! Still, if the Media is the Message, just what are these guys talking about? In short, they're talking about you and me and no one in particular – about the kind of Eternal Struggle that most "bands" and "musicians" don't even realize exists..."
Armed with borrowed guitars, puny amps, and a mission to confound the status quo, the three Clark University undergrads began a unique post-punk musical trajectory through the burgeoning-yet-insular Wormtown (Worcester, MA) underground.
The stark reality of the Reagan Era had already taken hold, with its yuppie-driven consumerist, conformist and "product"-focused fetish culture. In an attempt to deal with it all, our heroes sought refuge in the Dada reverie and post-WWII existentialism that ended up yielding their moniker. In the New Religion of mall culture, product placement and instant gratification, "prefab messiahs" like Ronald McDonald and the Pillsbury Dough Boy were trotted out by their corporate masters to replace the old guard of unprofitable prophets.
That was the working Concept, at least – and the The Prefabs mischievously (naively?) married it to an unlikely collision of primitive post-punk, grainy psych, and left-field garage pop – all at a time when terms like "indie" and "alternative" weren't even bandied about yet.
The Prefab Messiahs have reunited (or as they say, "re-franchised") several times for the Wormtown Anniversary Bash festivals, including the 20th in 1998 and the 25th in 2003. The anniversaries marked time since the first issue of the '70s/'80s punk fanzine Wormtown Punk Punk Press.
An appearance of the "2008 franchise" of the Prefabs occured at the Wormtown 30th Anniversary Bash on May 3, 2008, in a combined set with Bobb Trimble. Guest members in this franchise included Gary War and Ned Egg (Gary was a member of Ariel Pink's band; also, Gary and Ned previously comprised the band Chas. Mtn.).
In early 2011, Almost Ready Records (known for their The World's Lousy With Ideas compilation series) issued a 7" single of archival Prefabs material, "Franz Kafka / Prefab Sun".
In December 2011, Fixed Identity released Peace Love & Alienation, a collection of eight archival Prefabs songs newly remastered by Jay Rajeck (of TRS-80), who has also worked with Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti. Two of the songs were produced by Bobb Trimble in 1982.
In June 2012, the band embarked upon on a four-date 30th Anniversary "Reunion micro-Tour™" with Bobb Trimble's Flying Spiders, playing shows in New York and Massachusetts. Other bands playing on the tour included Spectre Folk, Sore Eros, Weyes Blood and the Dark Juices, and Secret Lover.
In September 2013, Burger Records reissued the Prefabs' Devolver on cassette. Also beginning in 2013, the band began their first new sessions in 30 years, recorded by Doug Tuttle (formerly of MMOSS) and Jesse Gallagher (ex-Apollo Sunshine; recorded the first Quilt LP).
On March 10, 2015, Burger Records and KLYAM Records co-released the 8-song Maxi-EP Keep Your Stupid Dreams Alive, the band's first new sounds in 32 years. The album peaked at #58 on the CMJ Top 200 Radio chart, and was widely praised.
On January 26, 2018, Lolipop Records and Burger Records will co-release the 10-song Psychsploitation Today, the band's fourth album.
College Radio
The Prefab Messiahs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Digging records from the local store
Hear the DJ seldom seen, google eyes and skin of green
In the basement at the
College Radio
College Radio
Basement Radio
You might feel sort of like a star
Careful not to touch that dial
'Cause the signal can't reach very far
In a triple-decker town where the sky is like a frown
And the factories and dreams are falling down
Cut some classes, take a chance, buy an amp and strike a stance
You'll be heroes on the
Underground Radio
Underground Radio
Basement Radio
The lyrics of The Prefab Messiahs' song "College Radio" depict a rebellious individual in a college dorm, someone who thinks outside of the norm and engages in a countercultural pursuit by digging through records at a local store. The song introduces a DJ at the college radio station who is described as seldom seen, with unusual physical attributes such as google eyes and green skin. This DJ operates in the basement of the college, further emphasizing the underground nature of the radio station.
The chorus of the song highlights the excitement and sense of accomplishment that comes with having one's voice heard on the airwaves. Getting on air at the college radio station can make one feel like a star, drawing attention to the empowerment and self-expression that are associated with this medium. However, the lyrics also caution against being too quick to change the station, as the signal of these small-scale college stations has a limited reach. This serves as a reminder that the impact of one's voice may be confined to a relatively small audience.
The second part of the song's lyrics shifts the focus to the larger setting of a triple-decker town, where the atmosphere is described as gloomy, with a metaphorical frown in the sky. In this town, factories are closing down and dreams are fading away, reflecting a decline in both the economy and aspirations. Against this backdrop, the lyrics suggest that cutting class and taking a risk can lead to becoming heroes on the underground radio, further highlighting the rebellious spirit and the desire to challenge mainstream ideas. The mention of buying an amp and striking a stance conveys a sense of defiance and determination that can be expressed through music and DIY broadcasting.
Overall, "College Radio" by The Prefab Messiahs captures the spirit of individuality, rebellion, and the pursuit of alternative forms of expression. It celebrates the college radio DJ and those who strive to make their voices heard despite limited reach. The song also acknowledges the larger social context of a declining town and encourages taking chances to create a meaningful impact through the underground radio scene.
Line by Line Meaning
You're a rebel in a dorm, thinking just outside the norm
You are a nonconformist who challenges the conventional thinking, residing in a dormitory.
Digging records from the local store
Exploring and discovering music by searching through vinyl records at a nearby store.
Hear the DJ seldom seen, google eyes and skin of green
Listen to an elusive DJ with curious eyes and an unusual appearance.
In the basement at the College Radio
Engaging with rebellious, underground music in the basement of the college radio station.
And if you get on the air
If you manage to go live on the radio
You might feel sort of like a star
You may experience a sense of stardom or importance.
Careful not to touch that dial
Be cautious not to change the radio station frequency.
'Cause the signal can't reach very far
Because the radio signal has limited range and cannot reach a wide audience.
In a triple-decker town where the sky is like a frown
In a town characterized by tall buildings and an atmosphere of gloom or sadness.
And the factories and dreams are falling down
Where both industries and aspirations are in decline or failing.
Cut some classes, take a chance, buy an amp and strike a stance
Skip some academic sessions, take risks, purchase an amplifier, and adopt a strong and distinct position.
You'll be heroes on the Underground Radio
You will become highly regarded figures within the realm of alternative, non-mainstream radio.
Underground Radio
A reference to the subversive and countercultural nature of the radio station.
Basement Radio
Highlighting the unconventional and hidden location of the radio station, emphasizing its underground identity.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Xerox Feinberg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Prefab Messiahs
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