NOMEANSNO *

      NOMEANSNO → In 1979 (at age 25), Rob Wright returned to his family’s home in Victoria after studying in Calgary. John, Rob’s younger brother by eight years, played drums in the school jazz band, and the two were inspired to play punk∼rock after seeing D.O.A. perform at the University of Victoria.
They began rehearsing in their parents’ basement, and took the name Nomeansno from an anti∼date rape slogan on a graffitied wall. NoMeansNo recorded its earliest material in the months that followed on a TASCAM four∼track recorder, with Rob playing electric guitar & bass, John playing keyboards & drums, and both brothers singing. Some of these recordings were issued as their first two self∼released 7”s, the “Look, Here Come the Wormies / SS Social Service” single (a 1980 split with Mass Appeal, whose recording lineup featured both Wright Brothers), and the “Betrayal, Fear, Anger, Hatred” EP of 1981. Year when the brothers began performing live as a bass&drums duo. Some songs they were playing at the time were included on their debut album “Mama” self∼released in 1982. That same year, John played with the local band Infamous Scientists, that disbanded in 1983, and their guitarist & vocalist Andy Kerr joined NoMeansNo few months later. The “You Kill Me” EP (published in 1985 on Undergrowth Records) confirmed the power∼trio formula and their second album —and first with Andy Kerr— “Sex Mad” (initially edited on 1986 by Psyché Industry Records) further expanded the band’s experimental progressive punk darkest sound. In 1988, the trio signed with Alternative Tentacles and issued two releases recorded with producer Cecil English : “The Day Everything Became Nothing” (EP) & “Small Parts Isolated and Destroyed” (LP). The tours began to follow & grow one another…

• 1989, pivotal year, see the release of the album that would propel them into the upper international underground spheres → “Wrong” !!! Their extensive touring in support of the record is documented on the “Live+Cuddly” album, recorded in Holland in 1990. The 3 compadres no longer needed to do odd jobs on the side, while remaining totally independent and out of the commercial circuits…

• In 1991, NMN released a collaborative LP with Jello Biafra “The Sky Is Falling and I Want My Mommy”. Shortly thereafter, they issued “0 + 2 = 1”, their fifth album and final release with Andy Kerr whom emigrated to the Netherlands. He went on to release two LPs with Hissanol (a collaboration with Scott Henderson of Shovelhed). He subsequently released a solo album in 1997 before forming the duo Two Pin Din with Wilf Plum of Dog Faced Hermans in 2005…

• The Wright brothers focused on their side project → The Hanson Brothers. Rob began performing solo as Mr. Wrong, appearing as a character dressed as an authoritarian priest. John became a member of D.O.A. for several years. The brothers also continued to expand Wrong Records, their own imprint. In 1993, the siblings assembled material for a sixth Nomeansno LP and recorded “Why Do They Call Me Mr. Happy?” as a duo…

>>> It was at this exact time that the compilation Mr. Right & Mr. Wrong “One Down and Two to Go” was released → That now ! a N G R r ! just repress in a special double∼vinyls version∼expansion in 2027 <<<

• Tom Holliston joined NMN for touring in support of «Why Do They Call Me Mr. Happy?», and second drummer Ken Kempster joined later in 1993 to complete their first four∼piece lineup. Kempster went on to tour sporadically with NOMEANSNO over the next four years.

• Holliston & Kempster debuted on “The Worldhood of the World (as Such)” in 1995. Then the eighth studio album (2xLP) “Dance of the Headless Bourgeoisie” in 1998. And in 2000, the band issued its final Alternative Tentacles album “One”. The band left the label of Jello Biafra in 2002 and began slowly reissuing their back catalogue through Wrong Records. NOMEANSNO continued touring extensively, but ultimately took six years to release their next & last tenth album “All Roads Lead to Ausfahrt” released in August 22, 2006 by the label AntAcidAudio…

• The band toured frequently in the years that followed, but ceased recording albums. They next released two EPs “Tour EP 1” (aka Old) & “Tour EP 2” (aka Jubilation). NoMeansNo continued performing live through 2013. Tom Holliston continued to perform with the Showbusiness Giants and release solo albums, while John Wright began working as musical director for the all∼robot rock band Compressorhead. In 2015, Nomeansno was inducted into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame. They played an acoustic set at the awards ceremony, and a Ramones cover set (with Byron Slack on drums) on New Year’s Eve, which became their final public appearances. Holliston announced his departure from the band in August 2016. On September 24, John Wright announced the band’s official retiremente.

• Fall 2023, PM Press published the band’s authorized biography “NoMeansNo : From Obscurity to Oblivion : An Oral History”, written by radio host Jason Lamb. In 2023 John Wright’s solo project DEAD BOB issued the album “Life Like” and toured in its support with a live band featuring Ford Pier and other great friendly musicians… Since 2024, No Means No returned under the BATwings of Alternative Tentacles…