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The Feelies: How I (Accidentally) Found Bill Million
During this loose quasi-interview (conducted while fighting traffic on the legendary slice of highway known as I-4), Bill’s detachment struck me immediately. The guitarist spoke of being a Feelie as if it was on par with working at Walgreen’s or slinging hot dogs at Yankee Stadium. An interesting part of his life, yes, but the general Feelie experience did not define him. He certainly did not look wistful as he told old touring tales, nor did he linger on the sweetness of memories’ bliss (despite being able to boast the privilege of having witnessed Axl Rose cry—the fiery rocker was reduced to tears by Lou Reed at an industry function all three attended years ago). When it came to the band once dubbed the greatest thing to come out of Jersey since the light bulb, Million may have well been talking about his lawnmower.
Indeed, the Feelies were not just another no-name band knocking around the Tri-State area during the closing years of the Me Decade. The Haledon-based group pioneered a
warm, quiet guitar-based pop that was in a different league than the brash punk and flashy new wave emerging at the time. Critics adored them; in 1978, the Village Voice named the Feelies the best underground band in New York (an incredible feat, considering the previously noted fact stated they were from the other side of the Hudson). Their debut record, 1980’s Crazy Rhythms, was a lingering, introverted affair that influenced scores of future indie stars (including R.E.M., whose guitarist Peter Buck would co-produce the second Feelies album, 1986’s The Good Earth). With their relatively neat haircuts, business casual style of dress, and a couple of proudly bespectacled members, one could even argue that the Feelies pioneered the “nerd rock” look a full decade before Weezer busted out their cardigans (it would appear Weezer also hijacked the cover of their first record from Crazy Rhythms; both albums feature the band in front of a blue background, staring blankly at the listener).
These are accomplishments some would kill to have on their resume. However, Bill could take it or leave it. He was literally quoted as such in a 1980 New York Rocker piece on the Feelies (“I don’t think music plays that important [a] part in our lives… we pretty much approach it like we can take it or leave it.”) Leave it he did for good in 1991, when he departed New Jersey for the sticky but economically ripe pastures of central Florida without notifying any of the other Feelies (not even singer Glenn Mercer, Million’s songwriting partner and the only other Feelie who was in the band from day one). The group had always been a tad erratic—they waited five years after forming to release their first record, broke up almost immediately after it was released, continued playing together in a variety of strangely named acts, and reformed the Feelies basically whenever they felt like it—but the 1,000 mile relocation of their principal guitarist without so much as a forwarding address drove an awkward final nail through the band’s heart. As Mercer himself put it in a recent Village Voice article, “it was pretty abrupt.” However, the singer and (ostensibly) the rest of the Feelies (whose membership was so varied over the years that listing every single contributor would up the word count of this article tenfold) understood why Bill took off; says Mercer, “He had two kids at that point, and one of the things on his mind… was health insurance.”
25 Comments
The Feelies were an unbelievable breath of fresh air back in the day. To say they set the template for REM is an understatement. If you can find any of their CD’s, grab em. The music is driving, yet hypnotic. Those guys knew how to drive a groove….Thanks for the article!
Wow. I was sitting here, listening to “Only Life,” when i came across this article. How funny.
Yes indeed, they were a hell of a great band, and I pull their stuff out e few times a year to give a listen.
I never should have sold him that coke.
just listening to time for a witness in the car today-weird…
I first read of the Feelies in the listsing in the back New York Magazine. It referred to “while hot” guitar work. I never missed them at Hurrah, the best rock club in the city. Loved this article on Billy.
I was lucky enough to catch the Feelies in early ‘91 when they opened for Lou Reed (the “New York” album tour) at the Berkeley
Community Theater and they were so incredible that I took my girlfriend to see them at a small club in the South Bay a few months later. The Feelies put on a really exciting show and we were disappointed to find that they split up shortly after.
Now we know why ! Thanks !!!
For more Million brilliance try and get a hold of The Trypes s/t EP or Yung Wu’s “Shore Leave” both on Coyote Records, featuring the Million/Mercer combo that made The Feelies so f’ing listenable. Crazy Rhythms never gets old for me. Disney, huh? Nice article.
I loved by dad’s Feelies records (yes on vinyl). Would’ve been nice if the writter could have spent time talking about the Feelies instead of his stupid band flops. –janet
A few things I remember about the Feelies are that they always put on a good show, and I have never seen a band break so many stings during a set as they did. They are sorely missed.
Strings that is, hahaha
I remember seeing The Feelies at Mudd in NYC in ‘81 or so, then in SF at Oasis in ‘85…one of the most exciting music based bands ever! No b.s, just total, pure rock with a unique harmonic sound. They looked like nerds but so did Buddy Holly.
I saw the Feelies play the 8×10 in Baltimore 3 times………great band. I even got to talk to Brenda………M.
There is a song called “Late Birds” on Speed the Plough’s masterpeice album “Marina”. The song which was written by John Baumgartner contains the lyric “Meanwhile I don’t hear you calling, meanwhile you’re not heard from ever” (in the chorus). Could this be referring to Bill? One listen to Glenn Mercer’s new solo album “Wheels in Motion” and you might just feel the ghostly absence of Mr Million as I did/ do hearing it. Not that the album is lacking, it’s just that, while he beleives he is finished musicly, others feel remissed for the chemistry of the quartet, all of whom apear on the Mercer album except Bill.
To TJK:
Thanks for the kind words…and the close listening. Those lines from “Late Birds” were not about Bill. But they could have been. They were actually about another old friend who disappeared in the ether.
Health and Happiness to you,Bill you are Missed
Wow…does that bring back memories.
The Feelies were a remarkable live band. I interview them a couple of times in the early ’80s…at the house in Haledon (I forget if it was Glen or Bill’s). That quote in the article may have been from one of the things I published in NY Rocker. That was a long time ago.
OS FEELIES SÃO A MAIOR BANDA DO MUNDO
What a great article. Bill, I had the privelege, yes, PRIVILEGE, to see the Feelies in Virginia and DC 3 or 4 times, including a show where you openned for Lou Reed in DC. However, the shows at the now-defunct Library in Richmond, VA will remain strongly in my memories. You are missed, yet honored.
Saw The Feelies at Max’s Kansas City!
Top that!!
Million , Mercer, Saughter, Weckerman and Demenski.
Maxwell’s , June 30 and May 2nd. 2008 and Battery Park NYC with Sonic Youth! Can you beleive it? See you there everybody!
Nice interview!
I’m actually traveling from Chicago to Hoboken for their July 1st show (I’m promised myself I’d see them live should a reunion including Mr. Million ever occur).
Thanks for the great story. I just saw one of the reunion shows at Maxwell’s in Hoboken and it was mind-blowingly wonderful. It was as if these folks were playing for the last 17 years – super tight and in top form. Even the new songs fit right into the set. I can understand (some of) the band members desire to drop off of the pop music treadmill, but I hope the new songs the Feelies played point to a new recording in the future. And then maybe a few more shows?
One of the few bands I would see every chance I got. I still do, saw one of the Maxwell’s shows and the 7/4 outdoor show. They have lost nothing, tremendous energy and spirit. Thank you Bill for being willing to do this again. I hope there are more shows coming, but I will take whatever they are willing to do. There are recordings of a couple of the recent shows up at http://www.myctaper.com.
Great story. Often there is value in spending a little time with an older person – and then the coolest stories and … Good thing, someone gifted you that book and Jon was still around
The Feelies were the reason that I started writing music in the ’80s. I was fortunate to see them at the 9:30 and a few other places, and they were as great live as their recordings were. I never really got into the Crazy Rhythms album, but the three following were and are some of the best songs written. Thanks.