Few things go together as well as bicycles and music. (As if you didn’t already know that) And here are a few of the people who can prove it to you. Our only question is: Why are none of these bands called “The Spokes”?
The Cycologists
Linsey Pollack has a one-man show on Cycology, the art of playing the bicycle. As Professor Squealy Deetbum, he demonstrates the sound of a clarinet made from a bicycle seat stem, bike frame percussion, a gear cable cello, tuned wheel spokes, a handlebar harmonic flute, and other various bicycle parts turned instrument. He is also a member of the Cycologists, a three piece band consisting of Pollak, Ric Halstead, and Brendan Hook, all playing bicycle parts.
Pollack is far from the first cycologist. A spritely 22-year-old Frank Zappa appeared on the Steve Allen Show in 63′ as a “musical bicyclist”, playin two bicycles as instruments. Zappa enlisted the help of Allen and the studio band to produce spontaneous noises and poetry for this performance.
While we’re on the subject, here’s another example of music made with bicycle parts. These acts literally making music through their bikes are rare finds, but there are other ways bands combine their love of music and their love of bicycles.
Dutch Cyclist Music Corps
The Dutch Cyclist Music Corps (translated here) formed in 1927 by Dutch army conscripts. With armrests welded to their bicycle handlebars they could play while riding in formation. Another group of Northern European descent is the Crescendo Cycling Brass Band who have been riding bikes and playing pop music since 1973. They were just a regular marching band from Opende in the Netherlands, when one fateful day they decided to spice up their act with bicycles. The bicycle routine became so popular they’ve been asked to perform all over Europe and as far away as Japan.
The band bicycle (with a lower case b) embarked on a bicycle tour across America in 1995, stopping in small towns along the way, making new fans, and selling records. They did it again, and again, and drew more publicity and even sponsorships from bike companies. Then finally they were offered a record contract! The band still plays together occasionally. You can keep up with bicycle through their MySpace page.
The Ginger Ninjas are taking the relationship between bicycling and music a step further by using their bikes as a green energy source, for both transportation and stage power.
“In 2007, the Ginger Ninjas became the first band in the history of rock and roll to tour by bicycle, unsupported by automobile. On a 5,000 mile [8,000 km] odyssey from their home in Northern California to the pyramids of southern Mexico, they promoted transportation cycling while also exploring the frontiers of pedal-generated electricity, using their own bikes to power a hyper-efficient sound system.”
Even if you aren’t part of a band, you can participate in bicycle music by attending a bicycle music festival.
Or you could get some friends together to perform a piece written just for bicycles.
Or watch for your opportunity to join a public performance of bicycle music.
