Exotic Birds

History

Exotic Birds were a synthpop music group formed in 1983 in Cleveland, Ohio, by Andy Kubiszewski, Tom Freer and Tim Adams. Adams left to work with orchestras, but Mark Best and Frank Vale signed on.

In 1985, Trent Reznor, joined the band on keyboards, programming and backing vocals, and soon after, Reznor's roommate Chris Vrenna replaced Freer on drums. However, by 1988, the band had broken up.

Kubiszewski reformed with a new line-up including Doug Beck and Richard Carpenter, and released the group's first CD "Equilibrium". In 1990, they signed to Alpha International Records out of Philadelphia, PA for what was to be their next album. Instead, Alpha repackaged Equilibrium, cutting several tracks, and adding the new song "Imagination" to lead off the disc. Alpha was bought out just days after "Imagination" was released as a single. After Beck departed, Rodney Shields (keyboards) and Marty Step (guitar) joined, rounding out would be the final Exotic Birds' line-up. In 1993, Kubiszewski left to play drums with The The, but returned for one final gig in 1994.

Reznor, Vale and non-Exotic Birds member Mark Addison were the fictional band "The Problems" in Paul Schrader's 1987 film "Light of Day".

One-time Exotic Birds manager John Malm was Reznor's long-time manager and co-founder of Nothing Records.

Discography

• Who Knows Why/Dance the Night Away (7 single, 1983)
• Exotic Birds (1984)
• L'oiseau (1986)
• Equilibrium (1989, reissued 1990)