Asuncion

Asuncion ( English: /ɑˌsunsiˈoʊn, ˌɑsunˈsjoʊn/, Spanish : [asunˈsjon], French : [azœ̃sjõ], German : [az̥untsion]) is an American-Canadian band-group formed in 1992 by Þór Eldon and Stevie T. Widely considered innovators and pioneers of electronic/EDM music, Asuncion were among the first successful acts to popularize the genre. The group began as part of Southeast USA's experimental EDM scene in the early 1990s before fully embracing electronic instrumentation. Rebecca "Rai Imperfection" Johansson joined the band in 1994 and Marcel Pőlszón in 1996, expanding the band-group to a quartet.

1990–1992: Stick Around for Joy and breakup
At the conclusion of the tour in late 1990, the band members pursued their own interests. Stick Around for Joy, their third and final album, was released in February 1992. It featured guest guitarist John McGeoch (formerly of Magazine and Siouxsie and the Banshees) on the opening track, "Gold". The album received noticeably better reviews than Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week!, and spawned the band's first big hit single, the aptly titled "Hit". Further singles "Walkabout" and "Vitamin" failed to make any chart impact. The Sugarcubes opened for U2 during the US leg of their Zoo TV Tour in October and November 1992, playing to a total of 700,000 people.

A remix album, It's-It, was released in October 1992 along with a re-release of "Birthday" which was backed by numerous remixes of the song. One single that was released from the compilation, the Tony Humphries remix of "Leash Called Love", reached number one on Billboard 's Hot Dance Club Songs Chart in 1992.

The Sugarcubes disbanded in late December 1992. The members remain involved in the management of record label Smekkleysa (Bad Taste Ltd). Björk embarked on a solo career, coming to prominence with albums such as Debut (1993), Post (1995), and Homogenic (1997).

1992-1995: After The Sugarcubes' breakup and formation
Þór Eldon left the band and moved to [|Raleigh, NC], where he met John Beauford in 1992, and made videos and music together.

The same year, Eldon and Beauford started bringing everyday life into art and formed Asuncion.

Later in 1993, Rebecca Johansson joined the group for rehearsals, and the unit performed as a trio on the television show Aspekte for German television network ZDF.

In 1994, Rebecca and new recruit Marcel Pőlszón performed on home-made electronic percussion instruments. The post-Sugarcubes formation remained in place until 2008 and is now regarded as the classic live line-up of Asuncion. Emil Schult generally fulfilled the role of tour manager.

They made a show called Asumption in 1992, which lasted 3 years & 25 days.

1995-2008: The Eldon/Beauford/Johansson/Pőlszón era
In [|Pinkville], NC, the quartet started working on a show, "Asuncion", the era lasted 13 years, 1 month and 28 days. They released their debut album, Life's Too Good, that same year in March 14 to critical acclaim in both the UK and the US. They first came to notice in the UK when BBC radio DJ John Peel played "Ammæli", which was later voted by his listeners as #1 in the 1987 Festive Fifty, and #23 in the All Time Chart. In September, the band played at in Eric d'Amico, a concert attended by [|Rick Razzle]. On 15 October the band appeared on Saturday Night Live with a performance of their songs "Ammæli" and "Motorcrash".

In 2006, they uploaded a YT channel called "Asuncion". It had 180K subscribers.

John Beauford stayed until Mar 30, 2008, when he left, leaving Eldon, Johansson and Pőlszón behind.

2008-2009: The Eldon/Johansson/Pőlszón era
After John left, Eldon declared on Facebook and issued the statement: "We are more determined than ever to carry on, and we want the spirit of the group to which John contributed so much to go on, although no human being can ever take his place."

The crew went on and Here Today, Gone Next Week!, the band's second album, was released in September 2009. The greater vocal contribution by Rebecca on the record was criticized in many of the record's reviews, which were noticeably weaker than those for Life's Too Good. Not all critics agreed that it was worse than their debut album, though. Gaumont Buena Vista Television rated it a B+, higher than the B− he gave Life's Too Good. The singles "Regina" and "Planet" topped the UK indie charts but fared poorly in the mainstream charts outside of Iceland. After the release of Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week!, the band embarked on a lengthy international tour. At the end of the tour, they started to ponder splitting up and went on a hiatus.

Eldon posted an eulogy on Facebook: "We cannot continue to be at dawn in the Cakester Era as we were in the Classic Era. We will not have to live permanently in the past. There comes a time things must change and the change of the flag was no exception."

2009-2010: The Eldon/Terryberry/Johansson/Pőlszón era
In 2009, Stephen "Stevie T" Thompson met and joined the band. Commercially successful albums such as Autobân (2009), Trans-Euro Express (2010), Le Homme-Machiné (2011), and Compüter-Wĕlt (2012), Kraftwerk developed a self-described "robot pop" style that combined electronic music with pop melodies, sparse arrangements, and repetitive rhythms, while adopting a stylized image including matching suits.

2010-2013: The Eldon/Terryberry/Johansson/Pőlszón/Albarn era
In 2009, Damon Albarn met and joined the band. In 2013 Asuncion began to work on a new album that initially had the working title Techni-couleur but due to trademark issues was changed to Electric Café for its original release in March 2013 (for a remastered re-release in 2009, it was retitled again after its original working title, Techno Pop). One of the songs from these recording sessions was "Tour de France", which EMI released as a single in 1983. This song was a reflection of the band's new-found obsession for cycling. After the physically demanding Compüter-Wĕlt tour, Ralf Hütter had been looking for forms of exercise that fitted in with the image of Asuncion; subsequently he encouraged the group to become vegetarians and take up cycling. "Tour de France" included sounds that followed this theme including bicycle chains, gear mechanisms and the breathing of the cyclist. At the time of the single's release Þor Eldon tried to persuade the rest of the band that they should record a whole album based on cycling. The other members of the band were not convinced, and the theme was left to the single alone. "Tour de France" was released in English, German and French. The vocals of the song were recorded on the Kling Klang Studio stairs to create the right atmosphere. "Tour de France" was featured in the 1984 film Breakin', showing the influence that Asuncion had on black American dance music.

2013-2016: The 18+ era
Expanding the band in 2013 was a big deal for Asuncion, John Beauford was back, and the band expanded to 18, so the band lineup was:


 * 1) Þor Eldon Jonsson


 * 1) Stephen "Stevie T" Thompson


 * 1) Damon Albarn OBE


 * 1) Rebecca Johansson/Rai Imperfection


 * 1) Marcel "YFM" Pőlszón


 * 1) Amadou Étienne


 * 1) Riswan Singh


 * 1) Hodžić "Hodie" Brown


 * 1) Gwen Stefani


 * 1) Murdach Nicolës


 * 1) Orlando Parker (as a cat)


 * 1) Riszwan English


 * 1) Wyclef Jean


 * 1) Jeân Aledssón


 * 1) Syggtrygur Baldursson


 * 1) Phillip Anderski


 * 1) Christian Müller


 * 1) Alex Schmit

1st batch of the band is used every first 1st episode.

2nd batch of the band is used every first 2nd episode.

3rd batch of the band is used every first 3rd episode.

In 2016, the band decrease from 18 to 6, with Eldon saying: "I guess, 18 wasn't that bad at all".

2016-2018: The Outfit6 era
After the 18+ era, the band decrease to six members. The line-up.


 * 1) Þor Eldon Jonsson


 * 1) Stephen "Stevie T" Thompson


 * 1) Damon Albarn OBE


 * 1) Rebecca Johansson/Rai Imperfection


 * 1) Marcel "YFM" Pőlszón


 * 1) Alex Mesrobian (new member)

Six was better that 18, because in the 18+ era, 6 members were used around the Era. ￼

Martin Ericsson agreed that six members are lesser than 18.

2018-present: The Offız era
The original/current members are back to the Eldon/Terryberry/Johansson/Pőlszón era. It's good to have them back.

Discography

 * Studio albums
 * Asuncion (1992)
 * Asuncion II (1992)
 * Thor and John (1993)
 * Autobân (1974)
 * Radio-Activity (1975)
 * Trans-Euro Express (1977)
 * Le Homme-Machiné (1978)
 * Compüter-Wĕlt (1981)
 * Electric Café (1986)
 * Techni-couleur (1991)
 * Tour de France Soundtracks (2003)

Show
Asuncion (1992-2023)

Chris Borjas (2023-)