Green Apple Quick Step

Green Apple Quick Step, often abbreviated as GAQS, is an American rock band from Seattle. Their sound was described as hard-edged, post-grunge rock. The band began as Inspector Luv and the Ride Me Babys in Tacoma, Washington before becoming Green Apple Quick Step, in Seattle, by 1992. The initial lineup under the new name consisted of lead vocalist Tyler Willman, guitarists Daniel Kempthorne and Steve Ross, singer-bassist Mari Ann Braeden, and drummer Bob 'Mink' Martin.

The original lineup recorded and released two records: Wonderful Virus in 1993 and Reloaded in 1995. Their third album, New Disaster, was recorded in 1998, with new lineup including Dana Turner on guitar and Dain Hudson on drums was planned for release that year, but remains shelved. Their music has been featured on the soundtracks for three films, The Basketball Diaries, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and Homegrown.

They disbanded in 1998 and then re-emerged more than a decade later to perform more shows in 2010, with Willman hopeful of releasing their third album. As of May 2010, the band consisted of lead vocalist Ty Willman, guitarist Dana Turner, and drummer Geoff Reading, with guitarist Mike Squires and vocalist Christa Wells joining them for the reunion shows.<ref name=DriscollVolcano>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=IzenmanVolcano>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

History

Early years as Inspector Luv and the Ride Me Babys (1989–1992)

Green Apple Quick Step started as the Tacoma-based band, Inspector Luv and the Ride Me Babys,<ref name=DriscollVolcano/><ref name=Humphrey>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="The Seattle Times">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Weekly Volcano Two">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref> consisting of vocalist Tyler Willman, guitarists Steve Ross and Dan Kempthorne, drummer Bob Martin and bassist Eric Munday.<ref name=Humphrey/> The band played a few shows locally<ref name="Weekly Volcano Two"/> and in 1989, Aroma Records released 700 copies of their numbered, limited edition purple vinyl EP,<ref name=AnotherWorld>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>"Another World",<ref name=Tombstone/> which was recorded at Tombstone Records<ref name=Tombstone>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and contained 4 songs: "Soul Step", "Seamonkeys", "Another World", and "Eleventeen".<ref name=AnotherWorld/> Munday left the band in 1992.<ref name=Humphrey/><ref name=cmoore>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The band that would eventually become Pearl Jam played their first-ever show (when they were still called Mookie Blaylock) for Inspector Luv and the Ride Me Babys, on October 22, 1990 at the Off Ramp Cafe in Seattle.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Reformation and Wonderful Virus (1992–1994)

Later in 1992, the band reformed in Seattle, Washington as Green Apple Quick Step,<ref name=DriscollVolcano/><ref name="The Seattle Times"/><ref name="GAQS AMG">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with a new bassist, Mari Ann Braeden.<ref name="Wonderful Virus">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer Two">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They performed locally, sharing bills with Sweet Water, Meddaphysical and Best Kissers in the World,<ref name="The Seattle Times"/><ref name="The Seattle Times two">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> before recording their debut album, Wonderful Virus, at Bad Animals Studio in Seattle<ref name="Wonderful Virus"/> The album was produced by Daniel Rey<ref name="Wonderful Virus"/> and released in 1993<ref name="Billboard 1995">Template:Citation</ref> through The Medicine Label,<ref name="GAQS AMG"/> which was initially backed by Reprise Records<ref name="GAQS AMG"/> before switching to Giant Records.<ref name="Billboard 1995 two">Template:Citation</ref> They filmed a music video for the album track "Dirty Water Ocean" which depicted the band in a garbage sluice.<ref name="The Stranger">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The band toured in support of the album, performing with bands that included The Pleasure Elite<ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer Three">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Gruntruck and Sister Psychic.<ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer Four">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In order to keep secret a Pearl Jam show at the Off Ramp in Seattle, it was billed as a Green Apple Quick Step show,<ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer Five">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="The Seattle Times three">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> though the band was touring Eastern Washington at the time.<ref name="The Seattle Times three"/> In the middle of their fourth US tour in support of Wonderful Virus,<ref name="Billboard 1995"/> their van was stolen along with all of their equipment inside.<ref name="Billboard 1995"/> The band later packed up their remaining belongings and returned to Seattle to begin recording their second album.<ref name="Billboard 1995"/>

Reloaded (1994–1996)

With Nick DiDia and Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard producing,<ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer Two"/><ref name="Billboard 1995"/><ref name="Reloaded">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Green Apple Quick Step began recording their second album in October 1994.<ref name="Reloaded AMG">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The band had befriended Gossard previously and asked if he would be interested in working with the band.<ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer Two"/> The album was primarily recorded at Gossard's home studio,<ref name="GAQS AMG"/><ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer Two"/> though Gossard asked not to receive any royalties.<ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer Two"/><ref name="Billboard 1995"/> Unlike Wonderful Virus, their second album featured Willman splitting vocal harmonies with Braeden.<ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer Two"/><ref name="Billboard 1995 two"/> Green Apple Quick Step's second album entitled Reloaded was released on May 23, 1995,<ref name="Billboard 1995"/> through The Medicine Label and was distributed by WEA.<ref name="Billboard 1995 two"/>

The song "Dizzy", which was featured on the soundtrack to the film The Basketball Diaries,<ref name="GAQS AMG"/><ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer Two"/><ref name="Billboard 1995 two"/> was chosen as the band's first single from the album,<ref name="Billboard 1995 two"/> followed by "Los Vargos" as the second single,<ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer Two"/> while a three-song sampler of "Los Vargos", “Underwater" and "Ed No. 5" was sent to metal and hard rock radio stations.<ref name="Billboard 1995 two"/> Although the songs failed to chart domestically, the single "Los Vargos" charted in Canada on RPM's Alternative 30 chart, peaking at #23 in June 1995.<ref name="RPMChart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In support of the album, they began a residency tour, during which the band played several shows each in the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Phoenix<ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer Two"/><ref name="Billboard 1995 two"/> before a starting a second residency tour of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.<ref name="Billboard 1995 two"/> They performed at the Bumbershoot arts and music festival at the Seattle Center Arena with The Presidents of the United States of America, Sky Cries Mary, Love Battery, Seaweed, The Spinanes and Supersuckers<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and they also supported Candlebox at their New Year's show.<ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer Six">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Willman and Braeden contributed to the song "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'", by Mike McCready's side-project $10,000 Gold Chain, which was featured on the soundtrack to the 1996 film The Cable Guy.<ref name="GAQS AMG"/><ref name="The Cable Guy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Willman also sang with Devilhead,<ref name="GAQS AMG"/> led by Kevin Wood and former members of Hater; recording lead vocals for one song, Buying Milk, on their album Pest Control, released in 1996 on Loosegroove Records.<ref name=DiscogsDevilheadPC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

New Disaster and lineup changes (1996–1998)

Green Apple Quick Step then signed with Columbia Records<ref name="GAQS AMG"/><ref name="Billboard 1998">Template:Citation</ref> and spent over a year writing songs for their new album, prior to which, guitarist Ross left the band<ref name="Billboard 1998 two">Template:Citation</ref> to later, along with Kempthorne, form The Briefs, under the pseudonym Steve E. Nix and Daniel J. Travanti. Guitarist Dana Turner<ref name=Flannel>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> took Ross' place,<ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer"/><ref name="Billboard 1998"/> and they recorded their third album in Los Angeles at Ocean Way Studios with producer Matt Wallace.<ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer"/> GAQS' drummer Geoff Reading noted in a March 2010 issue of his regular column in the Weekly Volcano that after New Disaster was recorded, drummer Bob Martin was also replaced, by Dain Hudson who appeared on the recording and later Geoff Reading who played live shows.<ref name="Weekly Volcano Three">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Reading joined the band in June 1997 following a successful tryout in May 1997<ref name="Weekly Volcano Three"/> and they recorded a music video for the album song "Kid", which was later shown on MTV<ref name="Weekly Volcano Four">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and featured on the soundtrack to the 1997 film I Know What You Did Last Summer.<ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer"/><ref name="Weekly Volcano Four"/> The band performed at the premier of the film,<ref name="Weekly Volcano Four"/> receiving some radio airplay, which was later re-serviced to Seattle radio stations KNDD, KISW, Cleveland station WENZ, and Boston station WBCN.<ref name="Billboard 1998 two"/> Another song from the album, "Stars", was featured on the soundtrack for the 1998 comedy-thriller film Homegrown.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Willman formed a side project, Calm Down Juanita,<ref name="GAQS AMG"/><ref name="Billboard 1998 two"/> with drummer Kevin Guess, that featured bassist Cole Peterson, engineer & project catalyst Steve Wilmans, and contributions from several other notable "players", including Braeden, who also plays bass on one song, Girlfriend,<ref name=CDJ>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> on the five-song EP that band recorded during the summer of 1997.<ref name="cmoore"/>

Green Apple Quick Step continued to play shows in Seattle,<ref name="Weekly Volcano Two"/> and they played a show with 10 Minute Warning in Portland.Template:When<ref name="Weekly Volcano Five">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Though a March 3, 1998<ref name="New Disaster AMG"/> release date was set for New Disaster,<ref name=DriscollVolcano/><ref name="GAQS AMG"/><ref name="New Disaster AMG"/> Green Apple Quick Step's management was not satisfied with the label's efforts to promote the album, pulling itTemplate:When from the label with hopes of gaining another record deal.<ref name="Weekly Volcano Four"/> Green Apple Quick Step disbanded soon after.<ref name="GAQS AMG"/><ref name="Weekly Volcano Four"/>

Post-breakup activities (1998–2009)

Calm Down Juanita released their self-titled debut EP in 1998, and then recorded a follow-up LP, Undertown, which they released in 2002.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref name=syffal>Template:Citation</ref> Braeden also formed a female trio called Celebrity Damage.<ref name="GAQS AMG"/> Willman also recorded lead and backing vocals for some tracks on Stone Gossard's debut solo album, Bayleaf, released in 2001.<ref name="Bayleaf">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer Seven">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> One of the tracks he sang, "Unhand Me", was chosen as the first single from the album.<ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer Seven"/>

Willman also performed with several other projects including Hula Bess in July 1999, with former Gigolo Aunts' Phil Hurley<ref name="The Stranger two">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Mass Sugar in 2007–2008.<ref name="The Stranger three">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Reading joined New American Shame, in 1999,<ref name="NAS AMG">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> before joining Loaded, with former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan, the following year.<ref name="Reading Volcano">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="LA Weekly">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> When Loaded went on hiatus in 2002, he formed The Disciples, that would later become The Chelsea Smiles, with Christian Martucci, Todd Youth, and Howie Pyro<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> before Loaded reunited in 2008.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Tribute Shows (2009–2010)

A reconstituted Green Apple Quick Step performed at the Showbox at the Market in Seattle on December 20, 2009.<ref name="The Stranger four">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After speaking with Ken Connell at the Hell's Kitchen in Tacoma about performing another Green Apple Quick Step show,<ref name=DriscollVolcano/> they later performed there on March 26, 2010.<ref name=IzenmanVolcano/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with a stage lineup consisting of Willman, Turner, and Reading, with guitarist Mike Squires of Reading's previous band, Loaded, and singer Christa Wells. Willman has expressed hope of releasing the band's third album. The following May 20, they played at the Crocodile Café in Seattle.<ref name=DriscollVolcano/>

Reunion (2018)

Ty, MariAnn, Steve, Dan, and Geoff played two sold out shows with Candlebox at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle July 21, and 22, 2018. The original line up less Bob Martin (Geoff Reading on drums). They also played the Crocodile on December 23, 2018.Template:Citation needed

Musical style

Green Apple Quick Step's music was described as post-grunge,<ref name="GAQS AMG"/><ref name="New Disaster AMG">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> alternative rock,<ref name="Billboard 1995"/><ref name="Seattle Post-Intelligencer Three"/> pop rock<ref name="Billboard 1998"/> and psychedelic rock.<ref name="Reloaded AMG"/><ref name="New Disaster AMG"/> They have drawn some comparisons to the music of Jane's Addiction<ref name="Billboard 1998"/><ref name="New Disaster AMG"/> and Porno for Pyros.<ref name="New Disaster AMG"/> Reviewing Reloaded for Allmusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine stated that the band "expands their sound by adding other styles to their basic grunge rock" and that "Experimenting with psychedelia and adding a better pop sensibility, the band sounds more confident and accomplished".<ref name="Reloaded AMG"/> Erlewine also reviewed the unreleased New Disaster album, stating that "the band concentrates on hard-edged post-grunge rock.", and said of their sound that it was "tighter than ever, but they still have trouble coming up with indelible hooks and melodies."<ref name="New Disaster AMG"/>

Band members

• Tyler Willman – lead vocals (1991–1998, 2009–present)
• Mari Ann Braeden – bass guitar, vocals (1991–1998, 2018–present)
• Daniel Kempthorne – guitar, backing vocals (1991–1998, 2018–present)
• Geoff Reading – drums (1997–1998, 2009–present)
• Steve Ross – guitar (1991–1997, 2018–present)

Former members

• Bob Martin – drums (1991–1997)
• Dana Turner – guitar (1996–1998, 2009)

Discography

• Wonderful Virus (1993)
• Reloaded (1995)
• New Disaster (1998)

Further reading

• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book Template:In lang

External links

• {{#if:|Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs|{{#if:Template:Wikidata|Template:Wikidata Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at DiscogsTemplate:EditAtWikidata|Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs}}}}
• Feel my Way video
• Kid video
• Los Vargos video