Ric Menck

I'm tall and skinny. I mostly prefer animals to people. I've been playing drums since I was just a sprig. Over the years I've provided the teenage beat for artists as divergent as Matthew Sweet, Susanna Hoffs, the Tyde, the Pernice Brothers, Aimee Mann, Stephen Duffy, Mia Doi Todd, Frausdots, the Gigilo Aunts, Andrew, Bitter Bitter Weeks, the Novenas, Marianne Faithfull, Liz Phair, Shoes, Bobby Sutliff, the Windbreakers, Parthenon Huxley, Darren Cooper, the Flatmates, Choo Choo Train, the Springfields, the Blinkies, Get Smart, the Reverbs, and of course, the little band that couldn't, Velvet Crush. If you'd like, I'll play drums on your record too! Just released is my new 7-inch 45 RPM vinyl single available via Parasol Records (www.parasol.com). The top deck features a version of "Hey War Pigs" by Kimberley Rew (Soft Boys, Waves), and on the flip there's a cover of "Teenage Head" by the Flamin' Groovies. Watch for my long delayed second solo album to be released in 2008. Finally available is my book about the Byrds' incredible Notorious Byrd Brothers album. It's part of the much lauded 33 1/3 series printed exclusively by Continuum Publishing of New York and London, and should be available in hipper bookstores around the globe. I want to tell you about a record label I operate called BIRD SONG, which specializes in contemporary California Music. So far we've released exciting debuts by THE QUARTER AFTER (featuring mega-talented jangle mavens, the Campanella Brothers), SNOW & VOICES (a musical collective centered around the songs and mystique of Lauri Krantz), and most recently, THE NOW PEOPLE (sublime soft rockers who draw reference from esoteric 60's freak-geniuses like Brian Wilson and Curt Boettcher). Also available on BIRD SONG is the orgiastic soundtrack to racontuer Tony Marsico's indie film classic, CAMP BURLESQUE (featuring hot little numbers by Matthew Sweet, Velvet Crush, the Martini Kings, Peter Case, the Del Reys, John Doe, Big Sandy, Tito & Tarantula, Dave Alvin, the Cruzados w/Bob Dylan, Stereo Blues w/John C. Reilly, and many more). I'm very proud to announce the signing of BEN FORREST DAVIS, an extraordinarily talented songwriter who used to be a member of highly taughted pop-rockers, Sugarcult. Ben's wonderful solo debut, "Roughs," is available now (All Bird Song releases can be obtained directly from www.parasol.com) Besides Bird Song, I am also partial operator (with my best buddy Geoff Merritt) of another label called REACTION RECORDINGS that specializes in reissuing classic albums from decades past. We're extremely excited about the release of Field Of Fire, the second solo album by legendary Televsion guitarist RICHARD LLOYD, which has now been expanded to include a remastered version of the original album as well as a completely disassembled and re-worked version of same. The new Field Of Fire package also includes extensive liner notes by Richard and venerable rock journalist Bill Flanagan, as well as unseen photos from the original album sessions. Besides Richard's album, Reaction has also released compact disc recordings by THE ACTION (60's mod/psych legends from Great Britain), THE CRIPPLED PILGRIMS (underapprecaited 80's post-punk jangle from Washington D.C.), THE VERTEBRATS (equally underappreciated late 70's garage grit from Champaign, Illinois), and the one and only musical album by WALT KELLY (creator of "Pogo", the most beloved cartoon possum in all of history). All of these fine discs can be obtained directly from www.parasol.com.