So it all starts with punk rock. But didn't most of the bands in the '80s?

Actually, it starts just a little before that with a '50s cover band called the Flashbacks (or some such name) that had these two guys named Tim Johnson and Charlie Chesterman in it. The band played at some high schools and the sort, but didn't do much. So they both discovered this new British music phenomenon and started developing an interest in it.

This led to a band that had about as many names as people in it (three) when Tim met this drummer Eric at a party. The Crayons (Tim's name for it if I remember correctly) practiced about three or four times in Tim's basement before it was decided that Eric was just not up to the task. So they went back to doing whatever until Eric hooked back up with a high school friend of his about the same time that the high school friend met Charlie (now AKA Chuckie Suicide). And so the first Iowa punk band was born. White Lunch.

The band had Aaron Johnson on guitar and songs, Charlie on guitar and occasional singing, Tim on guitar and occasional singing and Eric on drums. Eric got fired for not being able to play a couple of nights before they were due to play on a local TV show. They got a drummer who could actually do silly things like keep time and after that White Lunch lasted about as long as Aaron's attention span, and Tim and Charlie were back to trying to get their own band going again. This led to the Law.

The Law were the biggest thing in central Iowa for a couple of years. They sold out the one club that would let them play every time they played (which was often). The were responsible for the formation of dozens of other bands. There was a great little scene in central Iowa that was a lot like the great little scenes nationwide that sprang up as a reaction to the punks. The Law were:

• Charlie Chesterman: Vocals and guitar and most of the songs
• Tim Johnson: Guitar and shouts and some songs as well
• Kevin Hensley: Organ (a very, very cool Farfisa), saxophone, vocals and a song or two as well
• Mac Stanfield: Bass (and later Scruffy the Cat member)
• Tad Hutchinson: Drums (and later Young Fresh Fellows member)
• Oh...and pretty much anyone who jumped up on stage. Law shows always had folks up on stage to sing along at some point or another.

So at some point the Law decided to go somewhere where they could get a bigger audience. So they packed up and moved to Boston. Within about a year or so they moved back. Played around for a while. Tad and Kevin went off to college and the band split up. Tim started his own band (he had become less and less interested in Charlie's poppier style) and Charlie and Mac took off back to Boston.

Which led to Scruffy the Cat. Eventually.



This brief bio brought to you by Eric Coleman, who swears that every word is true, even the things he wrote about himself.

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The Law Discography

King Size Cigarette
7-inch (1980--Fly Girl)

Tracks:
King Size Cigarette
Hole In My Heart
Satellite Rock
Reason For Treason
Check out this Iowa Underground site for more information.

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The Law Throw an Instant Party
Cassette (1981--Fly Girl Cassette - 002OK!)

Tracks:
Side A:
Death After Death
Shriner's Holiday
Voodoo Guitar
Beer Please Not Politics
Attention
(My Friend) Ringo
Where Is Groovy Town?

Side B:
Fashion's Face
No More Teenagers
Fuck Off Jack!
Girl I Got Her
(Just Another) Popsong *
What Did Santa Claus Bring You For Xmas? *
Instant Party

Songs marked * were recorded live at the Rat on December 9, 1981

Special thanks to Eric Coleman for the image
click HERE to see it larger.

My Pal God Holiday Record -- Various Artists
(My Pal God Records--1998)

Compilation of Christmas tunes released in 1998 that includes the 1981 song "What Did Santa Claus Bring You For Christmas" by The Law. Check out My Pal God Records for more information.