the slickee boys

Biography

The Slickee Boys were a Washington, D.C.-area band founded in 1976 by guitarists Kim Kane and Marshall Keith, with Martha Hull as the original lead vocalist[2][3]. The group quickly became local favorites, known for their energetic live shows and a genre-blending sound that mixed psychedelic and garage rock, new wave, rockabilly, exotica, and punk—a style they dubbed 'slickee-delic'[1]. After a period of rotating members, the band’s defining lineup solidified in 1979 with Mark Noone on vocals, Emory Alexa (later John Chumbris) on bass, and Dan Palenski on drums, alongside the founding guitarists[1][2]. Their creative peak produced a trio of singles from 1979–1981 and the 1983 album Cybernetic Dreams of Pi[1]. The Slickee Boys were stalwarts of the D.C. punk scene, mentoring many in the early hardcore wave and holding the record for most performances at the iconic 9:30 Club with 81 shows[1]. They released several albums, including Uh Oh...No Breaks! (1985) and Fashionably Late (1988), before disbanding in 1991, though they continued to reunite annually for holiday shows in the D.C. and Baltimore area for years afterward[2]. Their legacy endures as pioneers who helped shape the region’s vibrant underground music culture.

Fun Facts

• The band’s name comes from a GI slang term for Korean street toughs who sold black market goods to American soldiers, reflecting Kim Kane’s interest in Asian culture and his own Korean heritage[3][4].
• Kim Kane designed all the band’s distinctive album covers and logos, and self-released early material on his DIY label, Dacoit[2].
• The Slickee Boys hold the record for the most performances at D.C.’s 9:30 Club, with 81 shows[1].
• Despite their underground status, the band found a passionate following in France, leading to a European tour and a live album recorded in Rennes in 1988[4].

Members

• John Chumbris - bass guitar
• Kim Kane - electric guitar
• Keith Marshall - keyboard
• Keith Marshall - electric guitar
• Mark Noone - lead vocals

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• 1960s Garage/Punk Bands - Stylistic influence (General 1960s punk/garage rock) [1970s–1980s]

Key Collaborators

• Kim Kane - Co-founder, principal songwriter, guitarist (All Slickee Boys releases, Date Bait) [1976–1991]
• Marshall Keith - Co-founder, lead guitarist (All Slickee Boys releases, solo work) [1976–1991]
• Mark Noone - Lead vocalist (from 1978) (Slickee Boys releases, Rhodes Tavern Troubadours) [1978–1991]
• Dan Palenski - Drummer (Slickee Boys releases, solo singles) [Late 1970s–1991]
• Emory Alexa (Olexa) - Bassist (Early Slickee Boys releases) [Late 1970s]
• John Chumbris - Bassist (later lineup) (Later Slickee Boys releases, Glory Fountain) [1980s]
• Martha Hull - Original lead vocalist (Early Slickee Boys releases) [1976–1978]

Artists Influenced

• D.C. Hardcore Scene - Mentored early hardcore bands (D.C. punk scene development) [Late 1970s–1980s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. This party sucks (Live at last / Fashionably late)
2. Gotta tell me why (Live at last / Fashionably late)
3. When I go to the beach (Live at last / Fashionably late)
4. Pictures of matchstick men (Live at last / Fashionably late)
5. You've Got What It Takes (Cybernetic Dreams Of Pi)
6. Gotta Tell Me Why (Uh Oh ... No Breaks!)
7. When I Go to the Beach (Cybernetic Dreams Of Pi)
8. What A Girl Can't Do - The Slickee Boys (Meet The Reekers)
9. Here to stay (Live at last / Fashionably late)
10. Escalator 66 (Cybernetic Dreams Of Pi)

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found in search results; no Wikipedia URL available.)
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #pop-punk, #power-pop, #surf-punk