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Home | About the Band | Discography | Photos | Downloads | Links About The Band - A Brief and Contorted History! It was art; it was a PROTEST! Nay, it was BLENDER POETRY!! It was a dark and stormy night in the fall of 1987 when Trooper David Bielski, and Grooper Jayme Carucci, then members of the pop band "Chaos!", heard that they were being replaced with "Real Musicians". They realized they could make music too, and by golly, they didn't need real musicians either. Hell, they didn't even need real instruments. Following a botched mastering of "Boing (and so it goes)", an intended study hall anthem and entry into a "Bloom County" song-writing contest, David and Jayme split, and they took their damn Nuclear Shower Curtain with them. David was armed with a lyric book (not to be confused with Rov Ostrov), and Jayme came out with all guns blazing, and founded they did, the legendary Kitchen Studios. Jayme and David immediately buckled down and began recording tunes that defined classification. Their debut single, "Kermit The Fribble" was recorded in three takes, (thus three mixes), and was promptly broadcast instantaneously via Southern New England Telephone to their ex-bandmate with a dramatic introduction by super-fan and long time supporter, Heather S., and we quote, "You gotta hear this!!". The song featured no notes, a monotone harmony, and the tale of a muppet meeting an untimely demise. The real star was Herbie the Blender. He was fierce, hungry, and despite the grumblings of others, one hell of an elbow bender. Parties were never the same. Christened as "Troop Groop", the band re-debuted their song a tree trimming party and launched a tour of Southington, Connecticut, long before their debut album was completed. Success of the "Kermit The Fribble" led to the demand for more material, and the songs came in quick succession. "Looking For Ralph!" was the next installment in the "Blender Trilogy" and second single, accompanied by the b-side, "Why the Hell am I Tapping?". Immediately following was the mega-smash, "Don't Drop Me In The Salad", which was remixed into two "Eggplant Jams" before the final recording was nailed down. The band struck gold, and a turning point, with the recording of their epic anthem to fahsionably challenged, "Tacky <<BAM!>>" These tracks were featured on their live debut album, "Live In Southington", and the follow-up EP, "Meet Mr. Blender".
The band spent the spring of 1988 in Kitchen Studios, finalizing the tracks for their full-length debut album, "Fribbles & Giggles", which was issued later that summer and was well received by fans everywhere. All the crowd favorites were there in complete form, along with new favorites like, "I'll Be Nuking You!", "The Wondermix" and the massive, chart-topping, "Joan Crawford (Wire Hanger Boogie)". While critics wrote the band off as members of a "lunatic fringe" committing "blender poetry", Troop Groop wasted no time in planning their next tour, the "Tacky Tour '88" which was performed live at a backyard pool party. It seemed there was no stopping this powerhouse duo... I mean really, it's amazing what they got away with... bashing around Casio electronics and vacuum cleaner pipes. And who could forget the beagle solo? Following their 1988 tour, Jayme and David took to the airwaves with a publicity tour. "Tacky <<BAM!>>" was featured on Central Connecticut State University's radio station, WFCS, and both Jayme and David were showcased on Sacred Heart Univeristy's radio station in a two-part interview. The band quickly followed up "Fribbles & Giggles" with the noteworthy remix album, "Party Time". The press wasted no time comparing this super-duo to arch-rivals Duran Duran. To combat this, Troop Groop launched their own fan club which featured their notorious newsletter, aptly named, "POWER!!" Anxious to prove they were not a one-album wonder, Troop Groop returned to the Kitchen to begin working on their next studio album. In similar fashion, the follow-up project featured hit singles before the album was completed. "I'll Light A Match To You!" was probably the rudest Troop Groop song to date, and arguably the best-crafted "crash-pop" song in their late 80's catalog. "Get Out Of My Life" was probably even more vicious, but who other than Troop Groop would do a two versions of a b-side... "Wishful Thinking", an ode to useless people being run over by tractor trailer trucks. To capitalize on this momentum, Troop Groop showcased their new songs and top hits with a new live show, "Live At Klub Kermit". The photos exist but the live recordings do not... due to a clerical error, they have been lost to time (and that cleric has been fired and subsumed, by fire). To add insult to injury, the band yielded to real-world pressures (college) and never completed recording of their second album, "(Nobody To Take Lightly)". Before going on what seemed to be an indefinite hiatus, Troop Groop met with local producer TMC (The Musical Congress) and re-recorded "I'll Light A Match To You!" with amazing results. The band attempted a reunion in 2007 but this was tabled due to various public service commitments. In 2015, Troop Groop reconvened with intent, and began recording in earnest. Their "recording tour" has taken them to Florida, Provincetown, and Hartford. They've dusted off a few gems from their 2007 sessions, and are rapidly approaching completion of their first songs together in nearly 25 years. Coincident with the return of Bloom County and Duran Duran, though not coincidence, Troop Groop are ready to wrap you up in their Shower Curtain of Radiation, and damn you to dancing to "Nuclear Betty Ford". It's time for a Highball!! - Dave & Jay, 8/21/2015
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