Mirrors, a truly seminal band! Appearing in Cleveland, Ohio at sometime in 1972 they started performing in 1973 before disbanding in September 1975. They were the formative band of the legendary ClePunk scene that lead to the inception of such important acts as Pere Ubu, Electric Eels, Styrenes, Dead Boys, Pagans, Styrene Money Band, Rocket From The Tombs and a host of others.
Debate amongst commentators is often around the subject of whether Mirrors were proto-punk or proto-no wave? Well, maybe both or maybe neither. What we do know is that thet sounded like no other band! Jamie Klimek formed Mirrors having witnessed the Velvet Undergound at La Cave in Cleveland. The experience inspired him to take up guitar, vocal and songwriting duties. Other members: Jim Crook (guitar), Jim Jones (bass – later to be replaced by Craig Bell), Michael Weldon (drums) and Paul Marotta (keyboards/guitar) followed.
Initially gigs were sporadic and generally poorly attended as the band were a minority of one in a non-existent scene. Inspired by Mirrors other bands formed. Jamie Klimek arranged a couple of live extravaganzas and on December 22nd 1974 at The Viking in Cleveland organised the second Extermination Night, the line-up: Mirrors, Rocket From The Tombs and Electric Eels. All for 75 cents!
The band drifted apart as other members formed new bands or joined others. It wasn’t until 1977 that erstwhile fan of the band David Thomas having started his own label released a single ‘Shirley’ b/w ‘She Smiled Wild’ (Hearthen HR 105). Only 1000 copies were pressed and it remains a much sought after collectors item.
In 1989 Mirrors reformed and in 1992 released an album on the Resonance label that closed the day after the record was released. In 1997 Scat included tracks on their Cleveland retrospective ‘Those Were Different Times’.
With the split of Mirrors Jamie Klimek left music before reforming the band, Paul Marotta joined the Electric Eels and formed The Styrenes, Jim Jones joined Pere Ubu, The Styrenes and Easter Monkeys, Craig Bell joined Rocket From The Tombs, Michael Weldon edits ‘Psychotronic’ magazine and Jim Crook left the music business.
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