Dr. Phibes and the House of Wax Equations were an English psychedelic rock band, formed in 1989 in Crewe, Cheshire, who were active between 1989 and 1995. They were composed of vocalist and guitarist Lawrence Howard King Jr. (sentenced to life in prison for murdering his mother in 1997), bassist Lee Patrick Belsham (died of cancer at the age of 49 in 2017) and drummer Keith York (currently playing various jazz gigs and festivals, while recording, touring, and drumming for The Orb).
The band were regulars in the UK Indie Chart and had some links with other local bands in the North West. The band's name was linked to American actor Vincent Price who starred in House of Wax and the two Dr. Phibes films.
The band toured extensively around the UK and mainland Europe, including a major European tour featuring performances at rock festivals in France, Switzerland and Germany.
Links to Peel[]
Peel discovered the group in 1990 when he played tracks from their debut single, Sugarblast EP, on his radio programmes. Further material from the group were played on his programmes, including two sessions recorded for his shows between 1991 and 1993. They also recorded some tracks for Peel's colleague Mark Radcliffe's late night, Hit The North, radio show in 1992.
Sessions[]
DR PHIBES & THE HOUSE OF WAX EQUATIONS John Peel 18th April 1991
1. Recorded: 1991-04-18. First Broadcast: 11 May 1991. Repeated: 17 August 1991
- Burning Cross / Dreaming/Insomnia / LA Woman
2. Recorded: 1993-05-16. First Broadcast: 18 June 1993. Repeated: 09 October 1993
- Bear Hug / Transparent Hang Up / Wait For The Gripper
Other Shows Played[]
- 1990
- 25 November 1990: Marshmallow Madness (12" - Sugarblast EP) 50 Seel Street
- 09 December 1990: Sugarblast (12" - Sugarblast EP) 50 Seel Street
- 1991
- 05 January 1991 (BFBS): 'Sugarblast (12"-Sugarblast EP)' (50 Seel Street)
- 19 May 1991: Eye Am The Sky (LP - Whirlpool) 50 Seel Street
- 25 May 1991: Eye Am The Sky (album - Whirlpool) 50 Seel Street
- 02 June 1991: Mr. Phantasy (album - Whirlpool) 50 Seel Street
- 16 June 1991: Mirrors (album - Whirlpool) 50 Seel Street
- 28 June 1991 (BFBS): Mirrors (LP - Whirlpool) 50 Seel Street
- 26 October 1991: Hazy Lazy Hologram (EP) 50 Seel Street
- 08 November 1991 (BFBS): 'Hazy Lazy Hologram (12"-Hazy EP)' (50 Seel Street)
- 10 November 1991: Hazy Lazy Hologram (12" - Hazy EP) 50 Seel Street
- 24 November 1991: Hazy Lazy Hologram (12" - Hazy EP) 50 Seel Street
- 29 December 1991: Lazy, Hazy Hologram (12" + 7" - Hazy EP / Hazy Lazy Hologram) 50 Seel Street
- 1992
- 04 January 1992: Lucifer Sam (Compilation album - The Dark Side Of The Pool) Liquid Noise
- 19 January 1992: Lucifer Sam (compilation album - Dark Side Of The Pool) Liquid Noise
- 29 May 1992: Mr Fantasy (Mark Radcliffe session version) (album - Seconds Out Round One) Imaginary Records
- 07 June 1992 (BFBS): Mirrors (album - Seconds Out Round One) Imaginary Records
- 13 June 1992: Mirrors (album - Seconds Out Round One) Imaginary Records
- 08 August 1992: Hazy Lazy Hologram (compilation album - In A Field Of Their Own - Highlights Of Glastonbury 1992) New Musical Express
- 07 November 1992: Misdiagnosedive (Radio Edit) (CD single promo) 50 Seel Street
- 20 November 1992: Misdiagnosedive (CD Single) Virgin
- 1993
- 17 April 1993: 'Moment Of Truth (2xLP – Hypnotwister)’ (Quigley Records)
- 15 May 1993: 'Anti-Clockwise (CD – Hypnotwister)' (Quigley Records)
- 28 May 1993: ‘Burning Cross (2xLP – Hypnotwister)’ (Quigley Records)
- 04 June 1993: ‘Deadpan Control Freak (CD – Hypnotwister)’ (Quigley Records)