The watch Al Phlipp Wore to Remind himself to always be happy. And yellow. And restrained on either side of his head by a leather strap.
Before there was Al, of course, there was Trash-that early, historic, pioneering cutting-edge industrial atonal band that gave the world hits like "I Love my Truck" and "A Thousand Afros" and other similar classics. Trash, made up of Jon Taylor, Christian Phipps, Damon Purdy, and various and sundry others such as Steve Taylor and Mark Wilson, was an instant hit smash all around the block.
Chris and Jon at early paparazzi photo-op for first doomed music group effort, Trash.
With endearing monikers like Beercan, Gladbag, Potato Chip and Ashtray, Trash was a darling of the critics, but only regionally popular. This difficulty breaking into the mainstream combined with bitter conflicts over who got to be called Ashtray and who would be called Potato Chip, and the purchase of their first real musical instrument (a Casiotone), Trash came to an end and the members agreed to disband peacefully.
The ex-members of Trash got back together and formed a new group that afternoon, called Skidzo, but Skidzo barely lasted an album before, again, internal arguments (this time over about who had the fat lip, and why Mark Wilson liked to smell his own farts) led to the band's inevitable breakup.
And that was when Al happened.
Christian Phipps and Jon Taylor joined forces yet again, and this time with startling and blinding success. Initiating their incredible career with the ultimate band identity song ("Well, We Are Called the Woo Team"), Al Phlipp and the Woo Team was born.
In the early years, John and Chris worked not just with familiars Mark Wilson, Damon Purdy, Steve Taylor, and Tommy Martin, but with all sorts of other goofballs, like Dominic Dambro, Don Perry, Pointless Hobo, Xanthan Gum, Ah Toe (Jon Taylor's personal Skudzitshu trainer), Listless Cows, Dorsel Finn and some big tall guy named Tim.
Then, Jon met Kevin.
