Rodan was an American post-hardcore/math rock band from Louisville, Kentucky, active in 1992–95. The band's main lineup included Jeff Muellerand Jason B. Noble on guitar and vocals, Tara Jane O'Neil on bass/vocals, and Kevin Coultas on drums. The band was preceded by an experimental hip-hop project King G & The J Krew, started by Mueller and Noble with Greg King in 1989. They spent two years painstakingly working on a debut album Indestructible Songs Of The Humpback Whale, which was released in 1992. The group started playing live with a more rock-oriented lineup, under the name King Kid International (Jeff and Jason on guitars/vocals, Tara O'Neil on bass, and Jon Cook on drums). Soon after, King Kid Intl became Rodan. Cook soon left the band; he was briefly replaced by John Weiss, and finally by Coultas.
In 1993, Rodan recorded an Aviary demo. Two songs from this tape were re-recorded and released as How The Winter Was Passed 7-inch on Three Little Girls Recordings. Their debut album Rusty on Quarterstick Recordsin 1994 was co-produced by Jason Loewenstein and included six tracks from Aviary, some re-recorded in Chicago by Robert Weston (Shellac). Never officially signed to any label, Rodan had been actively collaborating with Simple Machines – they appeared on several compilations and played at the label's Working Holiday festival.
The band's members played a fictional musical group Truckstop in the cult road movie Half-Cocked, and also contributed to its soundtrack, released by Matador. Kevin Coultas left the band in 1995, replaced by Jon Cook at live shows. Soon after, Rodan disbanded. Members of the group continued working together in various bands: Coultas played with Noble in Rachel's, and O'Neil in The Sonora Pine, while Mueller and Noble started Shipping News in late 1996.
Links to Peel[]
Peel first played Rodan in May 1993 via their 'Darjeeling' song, which came from the 'Inclined Plane' compilation single. Further tracks from the band were played on his shows including a session they recorded for his programme in 1994. After the band split, Peel kept interest in some of the members new bands' such as the Rachel's, Sonora Pine and Shipping News, where he gave them airplay on his programmes.
Sessions[]
1. Recorded: 1994-06-03. First Broadcast: 23 July 1994
- Sangre / Big Things Small Things / Before The Train
Other Shows Played[]
- 08 May 1993: Darjeeling (v/a 7" - Inclined Plane) Simple Machines
- 1994
- 01 January 1994: Tooth Fairy Retribution Manifesto (v/a album - Omphalos) Richie's Lemon-Herb Media
- 11 February 1994: ‘Milk And Melancholy’ (7 inch – How The Winter Was Passed)’ (Three Little Girls Recordings)
- 19 February 1994: ‘Tooth-Fairy Retribution Manifesto’ (Various Artists CD – Omphalos) (Richie’s Lemon-Herb Media)
- 19 February 1994 (BFBS): Milk & Melancholy (7" - How The Winter Was Passed) Three Little Girls Recordings
- 29 April 1994: ‘Gauge (LP –Rusty)’ Quarterstick
- 07 May 1994 (BFBS): Gauge (album - Rusty) Quarterstick