In May of 1996, with a handful of releases under their belts, the kings of the insanity sound, then known simply as: The Champs, began recording their magnum opus, III. This time their sights were set beyond the still diminutive cassette format and trained squarely on a gatefold double album — the perfect medium for Total Music ™. Over the next year, in between touring up and down the west coast, the band began to mold their Kubrickian monolith.
In May of 1997, after lugging a console, tape machines, speakers and a smattering of outboard gear up three flights of stairs, the band mixed the album in the bedroom of a third floor apartment, directly overlooking the 280 freeway. Ultimately, the eclectic San Francisco label, Frenetic, took the plunge and generously emptied their modest coffers to fund the manufacture of III, which was released under the legally distinct band name: C4AM95.
After the release of III, The Champs continued to tour the US, embarking on (and completing) six tours before the turn of the millennium. It was at this point the powers that be at Drag City International realized they could sit on the sidelines no longer and committed to release the band’s aptly titled follow-up, IV. However, one obstacle stood in the band’s way to global dissemination of Total Music ™ : the seemingly benign moniker they had saddled themselves with so many years earlier. After much discussion and consultation with The Oracle, it was determined that adding the supplemental “Fucking” to The Champs name would clear up any confusion regarding another band of the same name from the 1950’s and provide lasting legal indemnification.
For this special 26th anniversary edition of III, the album was remastered by the band from the original master tapes, lacquers expertly cut by John Golden and artwork restored by forensic experts at Drag City. Long sought after on eBay, Discogs and the like, this will be the first time that this master stroke of musicality will be made widely available.
Listen to the first taste of III, “Dale Bozzio”, and pre-order your FLAWLESS double LP for May 26th!
