InSoc history

HISTORY

1981 - 1988;
THE OLD DAYS -

1988 - 1993;
THE MIDDLE DAYS -

1993 - Present;
THE NEW DAYS -

The three links above will lead you to extensive review of the history of Information Society.

This albums bar will take you to the AV InSoc Discography.

The table below is a simple timeline of major events. The arrows link into the more detailed accounts above.

YEAR EVENTS DETAILS MUSIC

1981 - Paul Robb decides to form band, chooses name; "Information Society" from Alvin Toffler's "Future Shock".
- Paul meets Kurt Harland (Larson) Valaquen in high school in New Brighton, MN.

1982 - Paul invites Kurt to join Information Society, along with Pamela Brussman.
- First InSoc meeting held 01/82 at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN.
- Paul, Kurt, and Pam perform first live InSoc show at The Seventh St. Entry (1st Ave.) in Minneapolis, MN. The band plays about one show a month.
- Kristie Leader joins InSoc.

1983 - Jim Cassidy joins InSoc.
- InSoc continues to play shows in Minneapolis area with 5 players.
- First InSoc 5-song E.P. recorded in March. 1000 copies printed. Appx. 20 sold.
- InSoc goes on first tour: 5 shows: Chicago IL., Columbia MO., St. Louis MO., Omaha NB.
- Paul begins work at Red House studios on "Creatures Of Influence".

1984 - Paul records "Running" with songwriter Murat Konar.
- "Creatures Of Influence" finished.
- Jim moves to Seattle.
- Wide Angle records in Minneapolis releases "Running" as a single.

1985 - Twin Tone records in Minneapolis releases "Creatures Of Influence".
- Wide Angle's record pool distributes copies of "Running" to DJ's in New York.
- "Running" becomes a local club favorite in New York.
- Jim moves to Boston. Meets Amanda Kramer.
- Joey Gardiner takes the song to Tommy Boy records in New York and convinces them to re-mix and release the song on their label.
- Kurt moves to Vienna, Austria.

1986 - Joey Gardner re-mixes "Running" for Tommy Boy records.
- Tommy Boy releases "Running", which becomes a radio hit in New York and Miami.
- Kurt returns from Vienna.
- Jim moves back to Minneapolis.
- InSoc re-forms as Jim, Kurt, Paul and Amanda, and begins doing 2-3-song shows in New York and Miami areas.
- InSoc plays New Music Seminar. (Which was partially owned by the owner of Tommy Boy.)
- Tommy Boy agrees to sign Information Society to the label and fund an album.
- Vito Bruno begins managing the band.
- Tommy Boy is half-purchased by Warner Brothers records.

1987 - InSoc begins recording album in Minneapolis with Joey Gardner producing.
- Warner Brothers decides to "option" the band, and put out an InSoc record on their Reprise label, with Tommy Boy handling the singles. They request the recording start over with new studio and producer.
- Kurt purchases The Car from Carl Olson of White Bear Lake, MN.
- Fred Maher introduced to band by Warner Brothers. He is chosen as producer.
- First album is recorded in New York at Platinum Island studios.
- Album is mixed at Unique studios in New York.
- Scott Mehno becomes manager of the band.

1988 - 440 cubic inch engine installed into The Car.
- Release of first album delayed due to Warner Brothers' concerns about the use of Star Trek samples.
- Concerns resolved with help from Leonard Nimoy.
- Tommy Boy releases "What's On Your Mind" single.
- All four band members move to New York.
- Reprise records (Warner Brothers) releases eponymously named "first" album.
- Early sales and radio success incite Reprise to fund the making of a video for "What's On Your Mind", Mark Pellington directs.
-The Car moved to NYC.
- Amanda no longer in InSoc.
- Second single and video released for "Walking Away". Mark Pellington directs.
- First real tour since 1983.

1989 - Single and video of "Repetition" released. Mark Pellington directs video.
- More touring.
- Single of "Lay All Your Love On Me" released.
- Club MTV tour.
- Tommy Boy now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warner Brothers.
- First Brasilian shows in Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo.
- Body modification begun on The Car.
- Songwriting for "second" album begins.

1990 - InSoc records "HACK" with Fred Maher producing at Axis studios.
- Body modification on The Car finished. Engine rebuild begun.
- Tommy Boy releases "Think" as first single, Reprise releases video for it. Peter Hewitt directs.
- Reprise (Warner Brothers) releases "HACK".
- Second series of shows begins.

1991 - Touring continues.
- InSoc plays Rock In Rio in Brasil.
- First major tour in Brasil.
- The Car moved back to MN, then placed in storage in Wisconsin.
- Songwriting for "third" album begins.

1992 - "Peace & Love Inc." recorded with 4 different producers: Mike Thorne, Eric Kupper, Karl Bartos, and Joey Beltram.
- Video for "Peace & Love, Inc." made, Mark Pellington directs.
- Touring for P&LI begins.

1993 - More touring, including 2nd major tour of Brasil.
- Tommy Boy decides to drop Information Society.
- Paul decides to quit the band, Jim follows.
- Kurt agrees to purchase the name and logo of the band from Paul & Jim.
- Paul Moves to St. Paul/Minneapolis MN.
- Jim moves to Portland OR.
- Kurt moves to San Francisco.
- Donnie Graves becomes manager.
- Songwriting for fourth album begins.

1994 - Songwriting for fourth album continues.
- Search for new label begins.
- 2 InSoc songs appear on CatCompilation 1.
- First video game music: X-Men 2 for the SeGa Genesis.

1995 - Search for new label continues.
- 1 InSoc song appears on CatCompilation 2.
- Video game music continues, including BALLZ3DO for 3DO game consoles.
- 2 InSoc songs appear on Cat Scan 1.

1996 - SeGa comissions CD versions of X-Men 2 music and releases them on LaserLight records under the name "SeGaTunes".
- More songwriting for fourth album.
- InSoc tours Brasil one more time to fund recording of fourth album.
- Fred Maher agrees to produce fourth album.
- Recording of "Don't Be Afraid" begins.
- Cleopatra records agrees to sign InSoc.
- InSoc.org established.
- The Car moved to San Francisco.

1997 - "Doomsday", cover of Star Trek T.O.S. incidental music recorded for Cleopatra's "Sci-Fi Cafe" compilation CD.
- Two more songs written for album.
- Cleopatra releases DJ-only single of two songs from fourth album.
- Steven Seibold selected to produce the bulk of "Dont' Be Afraid".
- Fourth album finished.
- Cleopatra releases "The Darkest Hour" compilation of covers, including InSoc's version or Gary Numan's "Are 'Friends' Electric?".
- "Sci-Fi Cafe" released.
- The Car brought to Burning Man. Kurt gives car to David King.
- "Dont' Be Afraid" released.
- Official website opens.

1981 - 1988; THE OLD DAYS -
1988 - 1993; THE MIDDLE DAYS -
1993 - Present; THE NEW DAYS -

YEAR	EVENTS	DETAILS	MUSIC
1981	- Paul Robb decides to form band, chooses name; "Information Society" from Alvin Toffler's "Future Shock". - Paul meets Kurt Harland (Larson) Valaquen in high school in New Brighton, MN.
1982	- Paul invites Kurt to join Information Society, along with Pamela Brussman. - First InSoc meeting held 01/82 at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. - Paul, Kurt, and Pam perform first live InSoc show at The Seventh St. Entry (1st Ave.) in Minneapolis, MN. The band plays about one show a month. - Kristie Leader joins InSoc.
1983	- Jim Cassidy joins InSoc. - InSoc continues to play shows in Minneapolis area with 5 players. - First InSoc 5-song E.P. recorded in March. 1000 copies printed. Appx. 20 sold. - InSoc goes on first tour: 5 shows: Chicago IL., Columbia MO., St. Louis MO., Omaha NB. - Paul begins work at Red House studios on "Creatures Of Influence".
1984	- Paul records "Running" with songwriter Murat Konar. - "Creatures Of Influence" finished. - Jim moves to Seattle. - Wide Angle records in Minneapolis releases "Running" as a single.
1985	- Twin Tone records in Minneapolis releases "Creatures Of Influence". - Wide Angle's record pool distributes copies of "Running" to DJ's in New York. - "Running" becomes a local club favorite in New York. - Jim moves to Boston. Meets Amanda Kramer. - Joey Gardiner takes the song to Tommy Boy records in New York and convinces them to re-mix and release the song on their label. - Kurt moves to Vienna, Austria.
1986	- Joey Gardner re-mixes "Running" for Tommy Boy records. - Tommy Boy releases "Running", which becomes a radio hit in New York and Miami. - Kurt returns from Vienna. - Jim moves back to Minneapolis. - InSoc re-forms as Jim, Kurt, Paul and Amanda, and begins doing 2-3-song shows in New York and Miami areas. - InSoc plays New Music Seminar. (Which was partially owned by the owner of Tommy Boy.) - Tommy Boy agrees to sign Information Society to the label and fund an album. - Vito Bruno begins managing the band. - Tommy Boy is half-purchased by Warner Brothers records.
1987	- InSoc begins recording album in Minneapolis with Joey Gardner producing. - Warner Brothers decides to "option" the band, and put out an InSoc record on their Reprise label, with Tommy Boy handling the singles. They request the recording start over with new studio and producer. - Kurt purchases The Car from Carl Olson of White Bear Lake, MN. - Fred Maher introduced to band by Warner Brothers. He is chosen as producer. - First album is recorded in New York at Platinum Island studios. - Album is mixed at Unique studios in New York. - Scott Mehno becomes manager of the band.
1988	- 440 cubic inch engine installed into The Car. - Release of first album delayed due to Warner Brothers' concerns about the use of Star Trek samples. - Concerns resolved with help from Leonard Nimoy. - Tommy Boy releases "What's On Your Mind" single. - All four band members move to New York. - Reprise records (Warner Brothers) releases eponymously named "first" album. - Early sales and radio success incite Reprise to fund the making of a video for "What's On Your Mind", Mark Pellington directs. -The Car moved to NYC. - Amanda no longer in InSoc. - Second single and video released for "Walking Away". Mark Pellington directs. - First real tour since 1983.
1989	- Single and video of "Repetition" released. Mark Pellington directs video. - More touring. - Single of "Lay All Your Love On Me" released. - Club MTV tour. - Tommy Boy now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warner Brothers. - First Brasilian shows in Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo. - Body modification begun on The Car. - Songwriting for "second" album begins.
1990	- InSoc records "HACK" with Fred Maher producing at Axis studios. - Body modification on The Car finished. Engine rebuild begun. - Tommy Boy releases "Think" as first single, Reprise releases video for it. Peter Hewitt directs. - Reprise (Warner Brothers) releases "HACK". - Second series of shows begins.
1991	- Touring continues. - InSoc plays Rock In Rio in Brasil. - First major tour in Brasil. - The Car moved back to MN, then placed in storage in Wisconsin. - Songwriting for "third" album begins.
1992	- "Peace & Love Inc." recorded with 4 different producers: Mike Thorne, Eric Kupper, Karl Bartos, and Joey Beltram. - Video for "Peace & Love, Inc." made, Mark Pellington directs. - Touring for P&LI begins.
1993	- More touring, including 2nd major tour of Brasil. - Tommy Boy decides to drop Information Society. - Paul decides to quit the band, Jim follows. - Kurt agrees to purchase the name and logo of the band from Paul & Jim. - Paul Moves to St. Paul/Minneapolis MN. - Jim moves to Portland OR. - Kurt moves to San Francisco. - Donnie Graves becomes manager. - Songwriting for fourth album begins.
1994	- Songwriting for fourth album continues. - Search for new label begins. - 2 InSoc songs appear on CatCompilation 1. - First video game music: X-Men 2 for the SeGa Genesis.
1995	- Search for new label continues. - 1 InSoc song appears on CatCompilation 2. - Video game music continues, including BALLZ3DO for 3DO game consoles. - 2 InSoc songs appear on Cat Scan 1.
1996	- SeGa comissions CD versions of X-Men 2 music and releases them on LaserLight records under the name "SeGaTunes". - More songwriting for fourth album. - InSoc tours Brasil one more time to fund recording of fourth album. - Fred Maher agrees to produce fourth album. - Recording of "Don't Be Afraid" begins. - Cleopatra records agrees to sign InSoc. - InSoc.org established. - The Car moved to San Francisco.
1997	- "Doomsday", cover of Star Trek T.O.S. incidental music recorded for Cleopatra's "Sci-Fi Cafe" compilation CD. - Two more songs written for album. - Cleopatra releases DJ-only single of two songs from fourth album. - Steven Seibold selected to produce the bulk of "Dont' Be Afraid". - Fourth album finished. - Cleopatra releases "The Darkest Hour" compilation of covers, including InSoc's version or Gary Numan's "Are 'Friends' Electric?". - "Sci-Fi Cafe" released. - The Car brought to Burning Man. Kurt gives car to David King. - "Dont' Be Afraid" released. - Official website opens.