The Family Jewels

Biography

"The Family Jewels are a bizarre rollercoaster ride through the minds of some seriously damaged units. A close knit group of four (who seem to share one warped brain), TFJ systematically grinds down insanity and humor to their purest forms, creating a catchy warp/quirk rock that has been proclaimed "brainless brilliance" or "pop/rock expansionism." - Aquarian/EC Rocker Magazine

The Family Jewels are:

bbarry: Lead vocals, bass, theremen

miller: Vocals, keyboards

John "The Legend" Underwood: Lead guitar, vocals, production

Mike Underwood: Drums and the fatty pinch

Former members of The Family Jewels Stage Performance Troupe

The Legendary Joe Azz

Chris "MC Evil Jesus" Wallach

Joe Darone (FIENDZ and Suit of Lights)

Geoff Rickley (Lead singer of Thursday)

The Family Jewels Musical Guests

James "Bellavision" Bellamy, Smooth Vocals

"The Reverend" Andy Chen, Smooth Saxophone

The Beginning

On August 1st, 1991, 13 young men, armed with makeshift instruments, a tape recorder, a dictionary drum, a Casio keyboard, and a lot of liquor joined creative minds to create history. The tapes from that night soon became cult hits. The very next day, 3 men remained. They became one of the most legendary undiscovered bands of the '90's. bbarry. miller. john underwood. The Family Jewels.

Becoming TFJ

Miller, John, and bbarry had instant chemistry and continued recording after those first 2 nights, coming together to create music after work, at odd hours, or simply on the fly. Early on, they knew they had something special. Something different. And, they wanted that difference to be the hallmark of their melody-making.

The trio was soon joined by Mike Underwood, John's younger brother, who took up the task of Jewel drummer. Mike became the go-to for what was cool and not cool. bbarry once said, "If Mikey doesn't laugh, it's not good." After a slow start, "Mikey" became a formidable force on the skins (powered not only by his insatiable hunger for BEEF, but by his love of Korn and Metallica). As a quartet, the band grew creatively.

When asked during a Delaware radio interview, bbarry commented, "We have a weird combo of musical tastes/influences. Miller likes the Cure and old school rap, John is a Pixies and Church fan, I listen to mostly anything except country, and Mikey likes Korn." With this eclectic pallet of musical interests, the band was geared to make their mark on an industry inundated with grunge rock and punk evolutionists.

By 1994, they had created several basement tapes, played a few live shows, and were thirsty for more. After noticing an hysterical ad in the paper, they made an appointment with the legendary Tim Gilles at Big Blue Meenie (BBM) Studios (then located in Gilles's Hackensack, NJ home).

There, they were beaten by Gilles and nearly drove him to the brink of insanity with their pranks and incessant giggling. Bbarry says, "Creativity needs other outlets besides music. We made Mr. GIlles the man he is today." Of the Jewels, Gilles would say, "Every time they were on the calendar, I would get psychosomatically ill. The first album nearly killed me, but it was one of the best I've ever worked on." Many experts agree he should have known something was up when the band showed up for their first appointment and planted 20 bee-themed wind catchers in his front lawn before ringing the bell.

Upon entering BBM, the band got down to business and recorded songs like, "Blinky," "The Number 9 is Assinine," and "Inflate to 20lbs." Most notably, they completed their first single, "Happy as a Fly," a clear vinyl 7 inch record with a B-side entitled, "Phone Sex Girls (aren't pretty)."

The single became an instant underground hit and, through college airplay, the band was on the local radar. To follow up their hit, they shelved their original recordings and reached deep into their bag of tricks for more. By 1996, they recorded their first album with Gilles and were soon signed to a distribution deal with Black Pumpkin Records, home to punk legends The Fiendz.

The Early Years

Soon after, The Family Jewels hit the live circuit in Northern NJ and NYC. The band's live show evolved over the years, but the first shows, when the first album was released, were a sight to see. Hilarious songs such as "Chickenman from Atlantis," "Special K," and "Garbageman," had audiences clammering for more. Accompanied by homeless people, aliens, pimps, and porno-confetti, the live show was energetic and encouraged audience participation. Early stage performers including the Legendary Joe Azz (seen above playing trombone), Geoff Rickley of Thursday fame, Chris "MC Evil Jesus" Wallach, and Joe Darone of the Fiendz and Suit of Lights. Word spread of their performances and soon the band would hear people singing along - especially to the very hooky "Happy as a Fly" and "Chickenman from Atlantis."

The Family Jewels soon became a fixture at the surly Northern NJ punk club, "Connections." Their first show there, they felt out of place and nervous, but took to the stage and won over the crowd instantly. Club promoter, the late Anthony Trance, once said, "I love them. Johann is hysterical." He, of course, was speaking of Johann Palzee, the mentally challenged Swedish vocalist extraordinaire, who, with his gaggle of buddies, interrupted the band's performance to sing his hit song, "Special K."

Trance loved the band and would book them whenever possible, even offering Johann a wheelchair during performances. Fans gathered to witness leisure-suited pimps handing out money with bbarry's head on it, aliens probing people during the show, or the famed Chickenman From Atlantis" who came from nowhere to dance with the hottest chicks in the audience. Overall, it was the bright, hooky sounds that took them by storm. The Family Jewels were becoming local legends.

COMING SOON - 1997 and BEYOND!

The website is gradually being updated, so stay tuned.

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