Radio Reptiles Biography

(Below was written by Tom Smith of the Radio Reptiles 2-23-05)

Radio Reptiles recorded a lot, but with the exception of three songs done at a "real" recording studio, all of it was done on a Teac 4-track. Some of that's being cleaned up for a cd, now that home recording gear allows us to do it cheaply & at home! Some RR songs have been played on WPLR's Local Bands show. A lot of live tapes also exist, thanks mostly to Hank Hoffman, as well as one live set on video caught by ernst at an oasis d'neon benefit.
Radio Reptiles were Jeff Fisher (guitar, vocals, writer of 90% of the material), Mat Poland (bass, vocals), and myself. The band started in 1980 as a very noisy trio, sounding sort of like The Who crashing thru Captain Beefheart tunes. We probably had things in common with Wire, Pere Ubu, and Gang of Four. By the time we quit in spring of 1983, a few more pop-influenced tunes creeped into the repertoire, but we always played hard. I wish I'd kept better records of what we did, but when I recently thumbed through a scrapbook of old posters, I was surprised at how many other local bands we'd played with during those 3 or 4 years at Ron's Place, Brothers III (inc. w/Lost Generation), and a few other places. The band's highest profile gig was opening for Pere Ubu at the Great American Music Hall on Whalley Avenue.
Jeff now lives in New Hampshire. Mat returned to his native Maine. Both still play part-time. Anyway, that's the short version!