RUINEDNATION

So now that we’re knee deep in this year’s election and after countless debates with a multitude of choice phrases from all candidates, I’ve been thinking that what we need is EBN a performance group that was ten years too early.

EBN or Emergency Broadcast Network was one of the most unique bands I have ever listened to and seen in concert. The first time I ever heard of them, some friends and I went to a now defunct night club in downtown DC called The State of the Union and EBN was performing there for it’s Halloween party. There was a massive video wall on stage with a mock presidential podium which had arms attached to the sides and when the show started a man in a suit and a megaphone (EBN ringleader Josh Pearson) stepped up to the podium and their started set.

It was a relentless cycle of video clips and loops perfectly synced to music and Pearson would occasionally add his own words to the performance via a megaphone. It was the most brilliant thing I have ever seen as George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Dan Quayle, Dan Rather, and countless others were the real singers of this band. But then at the end of the show the two arms attached to the podium raised and at the end of these arms were the tips of fake missiles and then the missile heads popped off streams of confetti shot out and the show was over. Following that performance I heard that they were invited to produce video and open for U2 during the Zoo TV tour and also they provided video for Lalaplooza via their custom built Mobile Distribution Vehicle.

After years searching I finally got my hands on Commercial Entertainment Product VHS (1992) which was in effect their first album. It’s very entertaining and the highlight is of course their rendition of “We Will Rock You” but clearly video was their strong suit as the music was just times just generic techno. Then in 1995 they followed with a proper CD Telecommunication Breakdown unfortunately the amount of videos was limited to just 3 songs, but the music was a lot better and the production much more dense as they enlisted Jack Dangers (aka Meat Beat Manifesto) to helm the music side of the record.

Alas EBN had to call it quits as the cost of live performances far exceeded the price bookers wanted to pay and also with the amount of equipment they brought with them, they also had strict stage requirements which made booking that much more difficult. To make matters worse they were also unfortunately signed to TVT Records, one the worst run record labels I ever seen. They did serve a role in the blurring of lines between music and video as a performance as they introduced technology to trigger video through VHS players via MIDI.

We Will Rock You - Commercial Entertainment Product

Electronic Behavior Control System - Telecommunication Breakdown

Psychoactive Drugs - Commercial Entertainment Product

Watch Television - Commercial Entertainment Product

Syncopated Ordinance Demonstration #1 - Commercial Entertainment Product

Documercial - Commercial Entertainment Product

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