Hardy Fox

Hardy Winfred Fox, Jr. (March 29, 1945 – October 30, 2018) was an American musician. He was co-founder of the band The Residents as well as their primary composer.[1][2] From 1982 to 2016 he was the president of The Cryptic Corporation.[3] During his 44 years with The Residents, and after leaving the band in 2016, he recorded as a solo artist under many names, such as Charles Bobuck, Combo de Mechanico, Sonido de la Noche, Black Tar, and more. His newer solo albums were published by Austrian record label Klanggalerie. He was married to Steven Kloman.[4]

Hardy Fox
Background information
Birth nameHardy Winfred Fox, Jr.
Also known asCharles Bobuck
BornMarch 29, 1945
Longview, Texas
DiedOctober 30, 2018(2018-10-30) (aged 73)
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Years active1969-2018
LabelsKlanggalerie
Associated actsThe Residents, Fred Frith

On September 21–22, 2018, he announced that he was ill and sick, and had something in his brain.[3][5] On October 30, 2018, he died of brain cancer[6] known as glioblastoma.[7]

History

Early life

Hardy Winfred Fox II was born on March 29, 1945 in Longview, Texas. Fox developed an interest in music at the age of 6, after hearing selections from his grandfather's Jazz 78 collection. It was through this collection that he was exposed to Stan Kenton's Artistry in Tango, as well as the music of Jimmie Lunceford and The Dorsey Brothers,[8] his earliest experiences with playing music came from describing his nightmares to his mother by bashing on a piano, and talking in strange voices.[9] For part of his childhood Fox's father became a missionary, and moved the family to the Southern Philippines, where a young Fox was exposed to Kulintang music, a style he would imitate for his entire career. The family later returned to Texas after his father 'Lost his faith'.[10] At the age of 18, Fox enrolled in Louisiana Tech University, where he became roommates with later Cryptic Corporation member Homer Flynn. The two bonded other their shared musical interests, and became fast friends. They graduated four years later with a major in art and a minor in business.[11]

Pre-Residents (1969 - 1972)

In 1969, Fox & Flynn moved to San Mateo, California.[12] That same year, they began to record themselves performing strange music[13] on a high end two-track tape recorder he had been gifted by a Vietnam Veteran.[14] In early 1971, Fox, now joined by other collaborators, anonymously submitted a demo tape to Harve Halverstadt at Warner Brothers Records with the hopes of being signed by the label. They received a rejection letter addressed to 'The Residents', which inspired the group to named themselves Residents. Unincorporated.[15] In 1972 Fox, along with the rest of Residents Uninc moved into a warehouse at 20 Sycamore Street in San Francisco, where they set up their first recording studio.[14] That same year, Ralph Records, Uninc's own record label, released their first EP, featuring four songs by Residents Uninc under various pseudonyms.[16]

The Residents (1973 - 2015)

It wasn't until February of 1973, when the group started recording their debut LP, Meet The Residents, that the group had finally become 'The Residents'. According to Fox's own words, there were no Residents before then, only a loosely bonded friendship of a few people who liked to record together.[17] The group's first LP was far from a success, only selling 40 copies within its first year of release.[18] In 1974 Fox began to take lessons on a Moog Modular System at Different Fur Studios, but found that it was far too technical and expensive for him.[19] In 1976, Fox and Flynn, as well as fellow Louisiana Natives John Kennedy and Jay Clem formed 'The Cryptic Corporation', an organisation intended to deal with the business side of Ralph Records and The Residents.[20] The Cryptic Corporation bought The Residents their first synthesizer, an ARP Odyssey costing $1,200[19] ($5,563 in 2021 Money[21]). Hardy last used the Odyssey in 2008, and sent it to composer Ego Plum in June 2018.[22] It wouldn't be until the release of the group's third LP, Fingerprince, that they would received mainstream attention following a favorable review of all three of the group's LPs in British music magazine Sounds.[23] With their sudden and unexpected success, the group moved into a new studio at 444 Grove Street, San Francisco, where they would record until 1983, when John Kennedy, owner of the studio, would retire as president of The Cryptic Corporation, taking the building with him as well.[24] Following Kennedy's retirement, Fox became President of The Cryptic Corporation, a role he would retain until 2016.[25]

Self Identification and Early Solo Works (1985 - 2002)

In December 1985, whilst The Residents were on their 13th Anniversary Tour, Fox's eyeball mask, which had been constructed for the cover of their 1979 album 'Eskimo', had been stolen from backstage. The group decided use a skull mask they'd previously used as a prop for their Third Reich 'n Roll music video as a replacement. Because of this, the group began to internally refer to Fox as 'Dead Eye Dick', and later, Mr. Skull.[26] This was the first of many aliases that Fox would undertake for his music, the second being Max Steinway,[27] credited as pianist and producer on The Residents' 1997 'Pollex Christi' EP.[28] From 1999 to 2013, Fox recorded at least 3 solo works credited to The Residents, In Between Screams (1999), Dog Tag (2009), & Halloween (2013), all later credited to Charles Bobuck when released on his bandcamp page.[29]

During the 2001 'Icky Flix' tour, Fox began recording a solo EP, entitled 'High Horses', inspired by an acid trip he had taken 31 years prior.[30] The EP was released under the name 'Combo de Mecanico' and would become Fox's first release outside of The Residents. In 2002, Fox recorded his first album worth of solo material, a 30-minute suite entitled Maxine, which would be released under the Bobuck name in 2012.[31] In 2002, Fox began to tire of the touring process, and as such, asked Eric Drew Feldman to temporarily take his place as keyboardist on the Demons Dance Alone tour.[32]

Charles Bobuck (2010 - 2016)
Hardy Fox as Chuck (Left) Bob (Right), 2010

Talking Light (2010 - 2012)

For the 2010 Talking Light tour, The Residents each undertook unique pseudonyms, the singer as Randy Rose, the guitarist as Bob, and Hardy, as Charles 'Chuck' Bobuck.[33] These new identities allowed for The Residents to pursue solo works in a way previously un-thought of, with Rose undertaking a solo show, and Hardy and Bob forming a new band, 'Sonidos de la Noche'. Sonidos de la Noche released one album, Coochie Brake in 2011, featuring entirely Spanish vocals.[34] One year later, Hardy, under the Bobuck name, released his first solo album, GOD-O: Music for a Gallery Opening through The Residents' digital store.[35] Throughout 2012, Bobuck released five solo albums, GOD-O, CB Suite (A collection of outtakes from Coochie Brake), Codgers On The Moon, Maxine (Recorded 2002), and Lying Horse Rock. As a companion piece to Codgers, Fox published a website of the same name. The website acted as an 18 page[36] memoir of sorts,[37] providing background on 'Bobuck' which had previously been kept secret, such as details of his youth and equipment. Hardy would continue to create new websites for his major releases, each acting as both context for the album and additions to his memoir.

The Wonder of Weird (2013)

The 2013 'Wonder of Weird' tour saw The Residents assume the Randy, Chuck & Bob characters once again. The show would delve deeper into the characters minds, in particular Randy's, revealing the characters' lifelong sex addiction.[38] Halfway through the show, Randy would tell the audience that Chuck lived on a chicken farm with his husband. A fact both true of the Bobuck character, and Fox.[39] Towards the end of the tour, Fox began to experience Arthritis, and found that not even surgery was helping, and so, decided that the next tour would be his last.[40] In 2013 he released his sixth solo album, Life Is My Only Sunshine.

Shadowland (2014 - 2015)

The Shadowland tour began on May 2, 2014, it was intended as a Mini-Tour lasting only seven dates. Fox wanted the show to represent the death of Randy, Chuck & Bob, and the rebirth of The Residents, showcasing their drastic new sound direction. However, designing such a drastically new new sound proved too demanding on Fox, and so a show celebrating The Residents' past was instead created. The group also wished to record a new album immediately following the conclusion of the Mini-Tour, however, this was scrapped in favor of a second leg. Fox retired from The Residents at the conclusion of the second leg,[41] and was replaced by Eric Drew Feldman on all following tours.[42]

Post-Residents (2015 - 2018)

Following Fox's departure from The Residents and The Cryptic Corporation, he began to publish a bi-monthly email newsletter entitled Hacienda Bridge, with the first issue released on October 1, 2016. The newsletter would be credited to Hardy Fox and Charles Bobuck. Starting with the March 1st 2017 issue, the newsletters featured a serialized digital novella entitled, The Stone. The final chapter of The Stone revealed that Fox and Bobuck were one and the same.[43] Following this reveal, the Bobuck character was retired and Fox began working under his own name. In 2018, he released two solo albums, one mini album, and an EP [44] before retiring completely.[45] In September he was diagnosed with glioblastoma,[7] and announced his illness by adding assumed death dates to his website.[46] He died on October 30, 2018 at age 73.

Personal life

Fox's first wife, Nessie Lessons, frequently appeared on Residents recordings from 1980 to 1983. They divorced circa 1983, when Hardy met Steven Kloman.[47] Hardy married Kloman in 2008. He had two sisters, Diane Pasel and Linda Perez.[48]

Studio album discography

With The Residents

Main article: The_Residents § Discography

Hardy Fox performed on Residents recordings from 1972's Santa Dog to 2015's Shadow Stories with his final writing for the group appearing on 2017's The Ghost of Hope.

Solo Works

As Hardy Fox

Year Title Label Notes
2018 Hardy Fox Klanggalerie
Rilla Contemplates Love
Posthumous
2020 Killing Time Klanggalerie
MiniAlbums / EPs
Year Title Label Notes
2016 Black Tar - 13 Tiny Tunes for Hallow's Eve Bandcamp MiniAlbum, credited to C. Bobuck / H. Fox
2018 A Day Hanging Dead Between Heaven And Earth Klanggalerie MiniAlbum, With Fred Frith
Nachtzug EP, based on sketches that also became The Ghost of Hope by The Residents.
Posthumous
2019 Black Tar and the Cry Babies Klanggalerie Compilation
Singles
Year Title Label Notes
2017 Wink Bandcamp
Duet
2018 Paying The Sun
Posthumous
2019 25 Minus Minutes Klanggalerie

As Charles Bobuck

Year Title Label Notes
2012 GOD-O: Music For A Gallery Opening Cryptic Corporation/RSD
CB Suite RSD Featuring Nolan Cook
Codgers On The Moon Ralphlet Outlet
Maxine RSD Recorded 2002
Lying Horse Rock Cryptic Corporation
2013 Life Is My Only Sunshine Ralphlet Outlet
2014 The Highway
Roman De La Rose MVD Audio
2015 Missing Soldiers - The Favorite Songs Of Clara Barton Klanggalerie Credited as 'Bobuck'
As A Child I Sold The News Bandcamp
What Was Left Of Grandpa Klanggalerie
2016 The Swords Of Slidell
Bobuck Plays The Residents
2017 Nineteen-Sixty-Seven Credited as 'Bobuck'
Posthumous
2020 Oddities Klanggalerie Credited as 'Bob Uck & The Family Truck', recorded 2013 - 2015
Mini Albums/EPs
Year Title Label Notes
2011 Lying Horse Rock Bandcamp Expanded album version released on CD
2016 Black Tar - 13 Tiny Tunes for Hallow's Eve MiniAlbum, credited to C. Bobuck / H. Fox
Later Tonight Klanggalerie EP
Trump Bandcamp
2017 Clank Clank Clank Klanggalerie

As Hardy Fox
  • The Delta Nudes - Greatest Hiss (1973, released 2013)
  • KU01 - Ralph Radio Special (1981) [Interviewee]
  • The Residents - Third Reich 'n Roll Hardback Book (2005) [Photography]
  • Bob Uck & The Family Truck - Oddities 2013-2015 (2015, released 2020) [Writing, Performance, Production, Artwork]
  • The Theory Of Obscurity - A Film About The Residents (2016) [Editorial Consultant]
  • Charles Bobuck - The Swords Of Slidell (2016) [Narrator]
  • Charles Bobuck - Later Tonight (2016) [Executive Producer]
  • Charles Bobuck - Plays The Residents (2016) [Executive Producer]
  • Charles Bobuck - Thanksgiving In Bed (2016) [Illustration]
  • Charles Bobuck - Nineteen-Sixty-Seven (2016) [Production, Arrangement & Performance]

As Charles Bobuck
  • The Delta Nudes - Greatest Hiss (1973, 2013)
  • The Residents Present The Delta Nudes (1973, 2016)
  • The Residents - Triple Dub-Ya: The Way We Were Melbourne (2005, 2012) [Remix, Editing]
  • The Residents - Lonely Teenager (2011)
  • Sonidos De La Noche - Coochie Brake (2011) [Keyboards]
  • The Residents - The Rivers of Hades (2011) [Producer]
  • Th* R*sidents - D*ck S*ab 35th Anniversary (2012) [Illustraion]
  • The Residents - Bad Day On The Midway (Music From The Game Reconsidered) (2012) [Contraption]
  • The Residents - Mush-Room (2013) [Contraption]
  • The Residents - Radio Thoreau Download Series (2013 - 2014) [Fix]
  • The Residents - The Wonder of Weird (2014)

Under Other Pseudonyms
  • The Residents - Pollex Christi EP (1997) [Piano & Production, as Max Steinway]
  • Combo de Mecanico - High Horses EP (2001)
  • The Residents - Commercial Album DVD (2004) [Interface Design And Blue Movies, as Sami Selmo]
  • The Residents – The Rivers Of Hades (2011) [Package Assembly, as Sammi Selmo]
  • Sonidos De La Noche - Coochie Brake (2011) [Package Design, as Sammi Selmo]
  • Charles Bobuck - Lying Horse Rock (2012) [Package Design, as Sammi Selmo]
  • Charles Bobuck - GOD O: Music For A Gallery Opening (2012) [CD Cover & Package, as Sammi Selmo]
  • Charles Bobuck – Maxine (2012) [Image, as Sammi Selmo]

Instrumental Residents Projects

Residents projects believed to be uncredited Fox solo works

  • 4 Daze (1981, released 2017. Collaboration with Renaldo & The Loaf)
  • For Elsie (1987)
  • Hunters (1995)
  • Pollex Christi EP (1997)
  • The Original Disfigured Night Arrangement EP (1997, released 2009)
  • Scattered Unfinished Music Sketches (1997, released 2009)
  • I Murdered Mommy (1998, released 2004, Mini-Album)
  • Night of The Hunters (2005)
  • Animal Lover Instrumental (2005, released 2008)
  • Music To Eat Bricks By (2006, released 2019)
  • The River of Crime! Instrumental (2006, released 2008)
  • Tabasco (2006, released 2010)
  • Voice-Less Midnight (2007, released 2010)
  • Strange Culture / Haeckel's Tale (2007, released 2010)
  • Smell My Picture (2008)
  • Postcards from Patmos (2008)
  • Hades (2009)
  • Ozan EP (2010)
  • Chicken Scratching with The Residents (2010, Mini-Album)
  • Dollar General (One Lost Night In Van Horn, Texas) (2010)
  • Chuck's Ghost Music (2011)
  • Bad Day On The Midway (Music From The Game Reconsidered) (2012)
  • Mush-Room (2013)

Bibliography

as Charles Bobuck
  • (2016) THIS

as Hardy Fox
  • (2017) The Swords of Slidell
  • (2017) Wallpaper
  • (2017) The Stone

References
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  3. "News machine - The Residents". November 21, 2018. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018.
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  7. "Hardy Fox, of the Avant-Garde Band the Residents (Maybe), Dies at 73". nytimes.com. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
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  26. "RzWeb: The 13th Anniversary Show (1985-87)". 2005-02-09. Archived from the original on 2005-02-09. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
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  40. Bobuck, Charles (2015). This. US. p. 42.
  41. Bobuck, Charles (2015). This. US. p. 73.
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