Human Hands is a band with a long history. Formed in 1978 in the nascent L.A. punk scene, the band was more closely associated with what is loosely known as the Pasadena scene, bands with more of an art influence than the average L.A. punk band of the time. The original members were Dennis Duck, Juan Gomez, Bill Noland, Rick Potts and David Wiley.
After making a few recordings (the 7” single “Trains vs. Planes” and the 12” “Jubilee” with DJ Bonebrake from X on added percussion), some notable opening slots (particularly for Magazine at the Whisky a Go Go on their first Los Angeles shows) and playing some of L.A.’s most notable clubs of the era, the band broke up at the end of 1981.
Dennis joined Steve Wynn in The Dream Syndicate and, with Steve, was the only member in the band from beginning to end. Bill joined Wall of Voodoo and Juan formed The Romans with Michael Uhlenkott of Monitor and Keith Mitchell (later of Mazzy Star) and made two albums, You Only Live Once (available on CD on Warning Label Records) and Last Days At The Ranch, produced by Steve Wynn. Rick performed with the experimental group Solid Eye, among others. Sadly, David passed away in 1986.
Asked to open for the reformed Savage Republic at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood in November of 2002, Juan, Rick and Dennis recruited Pierre Smith (guitarist for El Vez, formerly with New Marines) as a second guitarist and Jeff White (formerly of... well, formerly a fan of the band and of the various members’ other projects) to sing. Rick left the band in 2003 and was replaced on bass by Marc Salata.
This latest incarnation of Human Hands has played regularly at some of L.A.’s best clubs, such as The Knitting Factory, Spaceland, The Dragonfly, The Echo, and at the Tuesday night club Kiss or Kill in Silverlake. They have released an EP (“Emily Watson Extended Play”) and have a brand new, full-length CD called “Backyard Anthems.” The band has been favorably compared to early Talking Heads, They Might Be Giants, Television, and early R.E.M. and their shows are regularly chosen for the “This Week’s Recommendations” list in the L.A. Weekly.
