Historical Timeline
1986- SlowBurn Records was founded by a group of high school friends and musicians in Chicago Illinois. School mates Eric Johnson (guitar), Young Arnold (bass) form their first band White Elephant along with vocalist Ben Johnston and drummer Bob Shive. The band covers material like “House of the Rising Sun” and “You Really Got Me.” White Elephant also begins to write some originals like “Big City Blues” and “I Wanna be a Rock Star.”
December 1986- SlowBurn Records, in effect, is born as members of White Elephant purchase a four track tape recorder and begin to experiment with recording techniques. Drummer Bob Shive leaves the band to cover more ‘current’ material like The Clash with party band Johnny Phlemn. Ben Johnston also quits as vocalist. The remaining members, Johnson and Arnold, focus on writing and recording.
December 1987- SlowBurn Records completes production on its first unofficial release, Universal’s “Blind Child and the Garden,” a collection of original material written and performed by Eric Johnson, Young Arnold and others. It was decided that these 4 track projects were to be recorded under the name Universal and would include material from whomever chose to contribute. “Blind Child and the Garden” was the first of many collaborative projects that became a SlowBurn tradition. These early recordings had little or no percussion-- rounded out by guitar, bass, effects and vocals. The material reflected influences from Barrett-era Pink Floyd, The Kinks, Bob Dylan and the blues/rock fusion of The Blues Breakers, Mike Bloomfield and others.
April 1989- During the previous year, Johnson and Arnold, along with drummer Brian Pott, formed the live counterpart to the early Universal recordings, Isis Rising. The band rehearsed original material, covered songs by Hawkwind and Jimi Hendrix, and played a handful of parties. Isis Rising tried out for the high school talent show with their epic 15 minute long “Easy Journey to Other Planets.” Unfortunately, their live debut was postponed. The band did not pass the audition because the song was too long and probably too weird.
May 1989- SlowBurn Records invests in a new Tascam Porta Two 4 track. The SlowBurn family graduates high school. Isis Rising is disbanded.
September 1989- Eric Johnson meets long time SlowBurn drummer Bryan Kohl (a.k.a Otto Terrorist) and forms seminal freak-rock band Cesare’s Dog. Electric oboist John Galuska, vocalist Jonathan Levitt and bassist Jeff Pedderson rounded out The Dog’s line-up for the next year. SlowBurn Records completes production on its sixth and final full length project under the collective name Universal, “Oceans.” This initial era comes to a close and the collective moniker Universal was abandon for a new name that reflected a new direction.
Bryan Kohl
Cesare's Dog 1989