The History of Neon Lips

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THE HISTORY OF NEON LIPS

The genesis of Neon Lips was a Halloween party at Judd Lees’ house in 1982 where several inebriated attendees reignited a love for 60’s hits and a long-dormant ability to play rock instruments. The initial group consisted of Jeff (“I’m a Believer”) Hollingsworth on guitar, Larry (“Handsome…and some”) Ransom on bass and vocals, Judd (“Too Tall”) Lees on his red-sparkle Ludwigs, Harry (“Cheesy Farfisa”) Schneider on keyboards, and Russ (“Marching Band”) Perisho on sax. Based on Senor Schneider’s love of Sonics basketball and his reluctance to perform publicly, he was unceremoniously dumped (can you say “Pete Best”?). He was replaced by Kay Hoogland who agreed to undergo a lobotomy to forget years of classical training and learn the six-note organ solo in “Midnight Hour.” Jill (“ We love you, Seattle!”) Lacefield joined on vocals, and the band was ready to perform British invasion hits by The Kinks, The Who, The Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. [Band trivia. First song learned: “Set Me Free” by the Kinks; first song performed live: “Shapes of Things” by the Yardbirds.] In a random exercise of sick humor, band manager Peter Sloan suggested the name “Parvo”--a virus that kills puppies. The name stuck and Parvo was soon unleashed on an unsuspecting public.

Parvo was luckier than most bands; the personnel changes were few and weren’t acrimonious. In 1983, Flip (“I can get into these pants, but I’ll be damned if I can get out of them”) Morse joined as guitarist and vocalist extraordinaire. With Morse’s addition, the band started headlining major venues (bowling alleys in Tukwila, puppet shows at the Woodland Zoo, fundraisers for politicians). In settlement of a threatened class action lawsuit by Stet, the band agreed to change its name to “Neon Lips”—a name inspired by a t-shirt of the huge neon lips outside a Bellevue…ahem…adult toy store. The years of touring took their toll. In 1985, bass player Larry Ransom dropped out to write B-movie screenplays in Hollywood and was replaced by Mike (“Guitar repairer to the stars”) Lull. Sax player Russ Perisho disappeared during a show in Oregon and turned up in the Bagwan Ragneesh’s inner circle. Cliff (“My back is bothering me and I can only lift a beer”) Peterson jumped in to take over the sax duties. Vocalist Jill Lacefield retired to raise ostriches for an unsuccessful kiddie ride venture. And still Neon Lips rocked on, adding more current dance tunes.

With the new millenium has come a new resolve to introduce the Lips to a whole generation of fans who, thanks to senior dementia and drug flashbacks, have forgotten they’ve seen us before. Neon Lips’ latest addition is sax player and vocalist Michael ("Hell, I don't mind carrying that cabinet. I used to carry the whole damn show." and "Who stole my drink?") Kelbaugh, a veteran of the lounge circuit who knows where they make the best—and cheapest Harvey Wallbangers in town. So, as the Seattle Post Intelligencer once said: “Lock your doors..sequester your children…the Lips are coming!”

Lips of Old
Here are some great pictures of Neon Lips of old.
(circa late 80's.)

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