This track is from the Pink Slips' recording session with Conrad Uno at Egg Studios in Seattle in January 1988.  Plans were to issue a second cassette-only release (the cheap way to go in those pre-Internet days), but those plans, and so many others that year, fell through.  The band (uncharacteristically) practiced a lot for the Egg session, using the practice rooms at the Pink Slips' house on the southwest corner of NE 60th and 35th Ave NE (just a few blocks from Egg).  This is the final line-up: Ken Zick, Craig Tebeau and Feliks Banel.  Sigh. It's ALL just yesterday's news.

"Yesterday's News" (1988) Studio Version

Just in time for the 50th anniversary, The Pink Slips go all topical in this 1988 paean to spending too much time in the library at Rose Hill Junior High back in 7th grade, reading and re-reading the JFK assassination book "Four Days."  This was one of the most collaborative of the songwriting efforts between Feliks and Ken, with Feliks bringing a crummy early version to Ken, who spiffed it up nicely and performed the lead vocals.  Features a nice punk-y, buzzsaw-speed musical bridge which does little to detract from the verses and chorus, which probably owe a lot to L.A. band X.  Recorded at Egg Studios in January 1988 with Ken Zick, Feliks Banel and Craig Tebeau.

"Dallas" (1988) Studio Version

From the "white dopes on punk department" comes this Ramones' cover performed by The Pink Slips in the basement of a split-level house just south of the border (south of the border of KIRKLAND, WA, that is, in the tonier suburb of Bellevue, WA).  The date was March 8, 1985, and the Kool-Aid (with extra sugar) flowed like water.  Highlight of this otherwise unremarkable recording is how the crowd sings along on the chorus ("Fun, fun . . . oh baby . . . fun, f-unnnnnnnn . . .").  Ken Zick on vocals and bass; Feliks on guitar; and Drew Bloch (I think?) on drums.  Fun, f-unnnnnnnn!!!!

"Rock 'n' Roll High School" LIVE in a Suburban Basement!

BAND: The Pink Slips

SONG CREDIT: Words & Music by Ken Zick and Feliks Banel; performed by Ken (vocals & bass); Feliks (guitar & vocals); and Dave Roach (drums)

HIGH SCHOOL:  Lake Washington High School, Kirkland, WA

"Fun In High School" (1986)

The Pink Slips were a "Pre-Grunge Era" trio from Seattle's Eastside suburbs (and then the U-District and Ravenna). The band was active from September 1984 to May 1988. Played various underage beerfests in modest split-level homes in a roughly five-mile radius around Lake Washington High School on Rose Hill in Kirkland, then graduated to drunken apartment shows on The Ave, U-District Street Fairs, Scoundrel's Lair, Squid Row, Forest Ridge School and even Medina Days. Recorded at Reciprocal with Chris Hanzsek in September 1986 (cassette-only release "Eclectic Lunch") and Egg Studios with Conrad Uno in January 1988 (about a dozen tracks, never formally released). The band was scheduled to play the legendary Vogue on First Ave in downtown Seattle in June 1988, but imploded immediately following what became The Last Pink Slips' Show Ever (opening for the Walkabouts at the late, great Squid Row in May 1988). Final 1987-1988 line-up was the most fun: Ken Zick, Craig Tebeau and Feliks Banel (IMHO).

The Pink Slips

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