Exclusive Interview: The Prefab Messiahs Strike Back
Updated: Sep 15, 2021
These new wave punkers aim to bring you back to reality with their new single, "21st Century Failure". A nice jam for anyone who wants to grab a bag of popcorn and take a gander at the world's current affairs.
(From Left to Right) Doc Michaud,Trip Tompson, Xeerox Feinberg
Originally formed in Worcester Massachusetts during the 1980's, the Prefab Messiahs began as a DIY group among a local community of fellow creatives. Another group of freaks seeking an outlet for expression; up and comers learning the tools of their trade. They didn't really know what they were doing and hadn't tapped into the significance of their music, but who really does from the get go?
After playing a variety of local shows and wrapping up a few short recording sessions, the group disbanded in 1983 once Trip Thompson moved to a new school. Although the band came to abrupt halt, the idea of Prefab Messiahs was still alive and well which allowed the group to remain in contact over the years.
With the release of their project Devolver, the group started to play shows again during the 2010's. After an enjoyable time playing the songs on the road, they decided to regroup and start writing new material. Eventually, they gained the attention of LA/OC legends like Burger Records and Lollipop Records to release their albums, Keep Your Stupid Dreams Alive and Psychsploitation Today.
By creating the art/sounds for all their albums and music videos, The Prefab Messiahs have succeeded in forming their own stream of new wave. Often giving a voice to those who don't agree with the state of our current reality here on Earth, their music speaks to a younger crowd while giving insight into the world before the invasion of the Internet. With all that's going on around the world, their new single "21st Century Failure" is sure to pop anyone's bubble of blind optimism.
We had the opportunity to chat with the group about their experiences over the years.
Here's what they had to say:
Q: Could you describe what the scene like when you first started up in the 1980s?
A: (Trip Thompson) That depends on whether you mean the national scene, or the local scene that we started out in ("Wormtown," aka Worcester MA). The national scene then was very different, mostly because there was no internet. Music freaks had to rely on some combination of fanzines, magazines, college radio, adventurous record stores, and open-minded club bookers. Information was more scarce and took longer to filter out to those who were interested.
(Xeerox Feinberg) As far as our local scene, Worcester was mostly a classic hard rock and heavy metal town, but a local punk and new wave scene had taken root there a few years before we started. It was mainly supported by a couple community radio stations, a couple of little nightclubs, and a fanzine, Wormtown Punk Punk Press. Without that burgeoning new original music scene, we never would have gotten any sort of foothold…or really have had a reason to exist. Wormtown was the whole music world to us at that time, strange as that is to think.
Q: Did you ever tour? What were some memorable concerts you played?