Monocled Alchemist

The Royal Nonesuch a mid-80s garage revival band from Springfield, Missouri are under the spotlight. Guitarist “Mad” Jon McKinney confirms the details.

The Royal Nonesuch: Springfield Missouri: Jon McKinney kindly sent me this picture of himself and Walt. This was taken at The Royal Nonesuch gig at NYC Tramps 1986.

He also sent me a demo cassette of ’Something Strange’. This song was aired on a couple of local Springfield radio stations. This was sent out before the 45 vinyl release.

From this playlist I was interested in The Royal Nonesuch song ’Just Can’t Stay’. As far as I know this song was never recorded unless it’s in circulation in demo form.

Does anyone have any live tapes of The Royal Nonesuch? Did anyone see them perform live and wish to comment on their prowess? I’d be interested to know.

Why Should I Care

I’ve finally decided it was time to give their second brilliant record some publicity and a chance for you to hear my favourite neo folk punker. ’Why Should I Care?’ makes my mind hurt because it’s so good.

I’m a sucker for jangle and a memorable tune and guess what? – Yes, ’Why Should I Care?’ is just perfect.

When I first heard it I thought of The Monkees, then the more I kept playing it I’ve thought that it sounds like one of those cool Texan folk janglers by The Briks or The Chessmen. But now I just think it’s The Royal Nonesuch. Whatever, all I know is that Jon McKinney wrote a gem.

I dig the lines:

’Your love’s a road that took me nowhere,
Your love’s a mirror on the wall,
When I need you, you leave me lonely,
You make me sad and that’s not all.’

The other side ’Two Can Play That Game’ is more of a garage punk tune with incessant maracas, harmonica and a cool guitar break.

I don’t think that many Royal Nonesuch 45s are around any more. If you see any for sale my advice is to BUY!

The Royal Nonesuch |Springfield Missouri

The Royal Nonesuch Line-up:

Bez Petefish (lead guitar)
John Marshall (drums, vocals)
Walt Ressmeyer (bass)
’Mad’ Jon McKinney (guitar)

THE ROYAL NONESUCH – ’Something Strange’ / ’You Need Love’ (Unlimited Productions UP-45-2) 1987

The Royal Nonesuch are without doubt one of my favourite neo garage bands. I’m pleased in a way that they only released two 45s because over those four single sides their greatness remains intact. They did not record any mediocrity.

As soon as the needle hits the vinyl you know you’re in for a treat with ’Something Strange’. The backwards tape intro is cool and unlike anything the mid 80s garage bands were doing.

After the slow intro, the song blasts off into ’60s style punk attitude with fuzz and a massive guitar break lasting about 5 seconds (and that prog rock lovers is all you need!!).

According to guitarist Jon McKinney this song was recorded in August 1985 at Ralph Plank’s studio in Springfield, MO. Four versions of ’Something Strange’ were recorded and they plumped for the third take as the single.

One of the takes featured a Farfisa organ and it would be interesting to hear this version if the tape still exists.

You Need Love

The flip ’You Need Love’ is a cover of the classic Danny and the Counts no hit wonder. It’s a classy version and note perfect with throbbing fuzz and garage guitar leads.

This version was recorded by The Royal Nonesuch on the 2nd September 1986 at Max Evan’s Rainbow Studio in Kansas City, MO. According to Jon, it was recorded in one take with no over dubs.

This record is one of the best ’80s garage punk 45s to own but these days it’s a rare item and you may have trouble tracking it down. The Royal Nonesuch RULE!

The Royal Nonesuch |Springfield Missouri

My initial contact

“Hello Jon You’ll probably not remember me but we exchanged emails about 3 years ago after I bought a Royal Nonesuch 45 on ebay. I’m that English guy who digs your old records!

Anyway I thought that I’d share with you my blogspot which you may enjoy. Colin”

Blog: RENAISSANCE FAIR
Post: The ROYAL NONESUCH – Why Should I Care?

Hi Colin,

WOW!!! Looks great! Thanks so much for the kind words about the band and me. It’s good to know that people haven’t forgotten about us. I remember you and look forward to hearing from you anytime!

You will find an attached jpeg of Walt & me at “Tramps” in New York City circa 1987. 

Joey Ramone

It was a fun gig! Joey Ramone was drunk at the bar and Jello Biafra from The Dead Kennedys was telling us that we were jerks for not answering the fan letter he sent to us (I thought his letter was a prank from a friend of mine). 

When I got back to Springfield I got a packet of local obscure records and posters together for Jello to make it up to him. I guess we all lived “happily” ever after except for Joey (too bad he seemed like a pretty decent guy!!!). (Your pal, Mad Jon McKinney)

Hi Colin,

As far as I am concerned you are more than welcome to post the pic on the blog. I will try to find the name of the photographer you should probably give her credit (a very nice and very pretty gal, but her name escapes me at the moment).

Give me a little time and I will scan some more pics for you.

As for Tramps we were one of either two or three bands on the bill. We got the spot we asked for it, I believe it was the middle of 3 acts.

The Nonesuch never really concerned ourselves about headlining or warming up. When we would play gigs with other bands we would do our best to make sure everyone got a chance to be seen and heard.

As a group we prided ourselves on helping new bands get gigs and a foot hold to start touring and promoting. Even though we were often “the drawing act” we would often give the warm up act a 50-50 split of the door and food, gas, a place to stay, etc. to help them cover touring costs.

The Royal Nonesuch |Springfield Missouri

Welcoming everyone

The Nonesuch never had to worry about having bands above or below us do better on the ladder of success (whatever way you gauge it) we welcomed everyone moving forward!

We always believed that a strong healthy music scene was good for everyone.

I still believe to this day that a music scene is a spontaneous community happening that requires a catalyst from inspiration. Another primary ingredient is open minded people creating art/ music and people to appreciate the scene.

The bands and the public are all interdependent and if things are right the energy from artist to artist and patron to artist is what feeds amazing collaborations within the musical community.

If you take away (or add) certain elements the creative flow can whither and die.

Yet one or two creative minds can work independently and spark a new approach that can set the world on fire (in a good or bad way i.e. Lennon and Lenin). The only real competition any artist has is with themselves.

Missed Opportunity

The third Nonesuch single was (and still is!!!) an amazing source of frustration for me! As a band we paid for the recording ourselves form gig money and money I earned working odd jobs.

I paid Coop to design a really cool cover. I took a summer printing class at the college and printed the cover myself.

A friend of ours (who was working for a television station as a cameraman) who used to be in the band shot a professional video for us.

I pitched the video to MTV in person while in N.Y.C. and got the big “fuck off” without them even previewing it.

Airplay then as now was hard to get. Payola in one form or another still seems to grease the wheels of big and little media (we didn‘t have any cocaine, hookers & $$$ for them!!!) so we got limited airplay or press in the states.

Much Music

Still, we were hard to silence! I sent the video to “Much Music” in Canada, an internationally televised video show in Canada & the USA, and they picked it up and put it on heavy rotation!!!

Imaging flipping through late night TV in your home town and seeing your band on a national feed, it was great!

All that remained was to finalize a deal on the 45. We had made an agreement to press the vinyl with a friend of ours in K.C., MO who had discovered the apparitions song “She’s So Satisfyin”. No problem right?!!? All Mark “The Wildman” has to do is to spend between $500 to $1000 bucks on vinyl and the 45 is out (we could repress as needed).

The Nonesuch didn’t even ask to recoup funds paid out to develop the record! All we wanted was a standard royalty after Mark got his seed money back. We both work on developing distribution and promotion channels for the 45.

No tour support or front money from Mark. Simple deal eh?

Well, Mark does a Shel Talmy and suddenly wants an exclusive recording contract for 2 years on the band and will not budge! I kid you not!!!

The Royal Nonesuch |Springfield Missouri

It would have meant that he would have to be bought out on any and all future releases by any label we wanted to work with.

If we released the record on our own I was warned that it could mean a potential lawsuit. So we shelved the 45 and the best chance we had to launch our career to the next level we had to go to!

I am sure Mark never meant to harm us, but he inadvertently set us back a year. Don’t get me wrong about Mark, I think he was just trying to watch out for his own interests.

I haven’t talked to him in 20 years, but I would still wish him well, he was then and in my mind is still our friend. The inability to work through the issue was the real problem, but I don‘t take it personal.

The timing was devastating for the band. We were fighting for the recognition and support that would allow us the time & money to write songs, record a real album, tour more extensively and promote our vision. Instead of moving forward it was another set back.

The psychological impact on the band was one of more disillusionment. It was one more factor (of many) that helped to lead to our ultimate demise.

Cave Comes Alive

The “Cave Comes Alive” tracks are out of phase copies of cassette demos. I feel they are a pale reflection of what were actually very nice almost HiFi sounding tracks.

The original masters are probably lost forever, so I guess I should be glad they came out at all even if it is in a weak demo format.

The real tragedy of the Nonesuch is that almost everything we released is little better than a demo. From the start we were after punchy loud raw recordings.

We never had a chance to record with my engineer/ producer friend Mark Neill.

I believe he could have done the best possible work with us if he was given the chance. Mark has an amazing musical vision while integrating the most incredible tone and dynamics that anyone can pull out of any recording artist!

Colin if you still want a copy of The Tell Tale Hearts “Take A Look Inside”/ “I’m Ready” I have more of them (maybe some autographed by the band). Just send me your address and I’ll mail it and some other stuff to you for free.

“Take a Look Inside” was a song I wrote about interpersonal problems we had in The Nonesuch directly related to the east coast tour.

It was written while I was in The Nonesuch, but only recorded as a demo with slightly different lyrics by The Nonesuch. When I joined The Tell Tale Hearts Bill & me reworked the lyrics.

The Royal Nonsuch: Springfield Missouri

Circus Mind

The “Circus Mind” 45 and “Take A Look Inside” are both on my label NEVERMORE. Carl Rusk played as a sideman in the band when we recorded “Circus Mind”. Carl’s lead work is really nice. The arrangement was done by Mike Stax and Bill Calhoun (it was one of their better ideas).

There would have been a great album in the new Tell Tale Heart line up had Bill not relapsed. The originals were amazing, but almost everything got buried (story of my life!).

Our label motto for NEVERMORE was “never before and never again!” Rather appropriate looking back on it.

As for Chris Hillmen that’s a whole other can of worms that keeps dogging me.

Sorry for the long letter, but you triggered a lot of old memories off. There is a novel in the history and story of The Royal Nonesuch, maybe one day I will write it! All these years and I have never lost an ounce of passion for my music. (Your pal, Mad Jon)

Hi Colin,

The Chesterfield Kings

Man, that is sad! I had no idea Doug had died. He was a very nice guy. He was down to earth and probably the easiest member of the band to talk to.  I only met him the one time when I was promoting a concert with The Kings and us in Springfield, MO circa ’86 or ’87.

They were only in town for less than 2 days. That gig is a long story! The police were after me for months after that one (through no fault of The Kings or my actions or anyone else at the gig).

It was a fun gig all the same and I liked The Kings, they seemed like decent people. I have only talked with them a few times since then, but I wish them well.

Ironically, The Chesterfield Kings were on a late night national talk show the other night. I saw them by accident (I was just in the right place at the right time!). 

They didn’t talk they just played one song. They still sound pretty good!  I wish them well! 

Too bad about Doug though. Let me know if you hear the cause of death.  What a drag!!!

I will try and get the 45 packed up soon. I am on overdrive for a about the next week.

Take care of yourself Colin! (Your pal)

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