Ant-Bee

"Ant-Bee is the brainchild of one Billy James. Formed thru a series of musical experimentations in the recording studio back in 1987 in Los Angeles, Ant-Bee was born. "In 1988, Ant-Bee were signed to the notorious Los Angeles record company Voxx/Bomp Records. The first Ant-Bee album was Pure Electric Honey, and received rave reviews worldwide. The Ant-Bee became an overnight legend in the European underground.

"In 1988, Ant-Bee were signed to the notorious Los Angeles record company Voxx/Bomp Records. The first Ant-Bee album was Pure Electric Honey, and received rave reviews worldwide. The Ant-Bee became an overnight legend in the European underground. The album also featured guest performances by Bob Harris (Frank Zappa) and Rick Snyder ( Captain Beefheart ). In 1990 the live Ant-Bee ensemble was assembled and gigged throughout Los Angeles to the astonishment of most audiences. Also at this time, while recording new material, the first Ant-Bee video was filmed "Here We Go Round The Lemon Tree" which viewed in L.A and Canada. Also during this period a cover version of the Beach Boy's "Do You Like Worms?" was recorded. Oddly through a bizarre turn of events this Ant-Bee version of the song was mistakenly played on a Beach Boys radio show as a rare Beach Boys demo!! It has now surfaced on three european bootlegs as the Beach Boys!!!!

"In 1992 the second Ant-Bee video was filmed "The Girl With The Stars In Her Hair" a much more elaborate production. It was broadcast worldwide to much critical acclaim. At this point Ant-Bee left Voxx records. An EP of new music was released in Germany and several magazines and European labels released rare Ant-Bee tracks. Also during this period Billy James/Ant-Bee began a long (and current) relationship with the original ex-Mothers Of Invention (Frank Zappa's first group). Thus began a series of recordings, filmings and gigs with these legendary artists (Bunk Gardner, Don Preston, Jimmy Carl Black, Motorhead and Roy Estrada). The Ant-Bee was the first to reunite the original Mothers and record them together in 25 years!!! From this unique collaboration came the second Ant-Bee album With My Favorite Vegetables & Other Bizarre Muzik (released Divine Records UK 1994). It also sold very well and received massive press and airplay worldwide!! It especially appealed to Frank Zappa fans.

"In 1994 Billy James relocated to the east coast to record the third Ant-Bee album Lunar Muzik. Now in an elaborate 24 track facility, the third album will soon become a true Ant-Bee masterpiece. Again the original Mothers make guest appearances along with the legendary Daevid Allen of Gong/Soft Machine, Harvey Bainbridge of Hawkwind and the original members of the Alice Cooper Group (Michael Bruce, Neal Smith, Dennis Dunnaway and Glen Buxton - the first time the original group has been recorded together in 20 years!!!), making Lunar Muzik the most ambitious and pioneering project of the decade!!! (more information on this third Ant-Bee album is available on the Bizarre News page). Also to promote the release of this album is the psychedelic video Child Of The Moon. After a tour of the east coast with Michael Bruce the Ant-Bee has begun work recording the fourth album- Electronic Church Muzik which promises to be an even bigger extravaganza then the previous album. This album also features a host of legendary artists like The Mothers, Alice Cooper Group, Jan Akkerman of the legendary band Focus, Peter Banks of Yes and Flash, Zoot Horn Rollo of Captain Beefheart, Daevid Allen of Gong and Gilli Smyth of Mother Gong, to name a few." - http://www.ant-bee.com/history.html

James is a biographer of rock musicians such as Todd Rundgren, The Mothers of Invention, and Grand Funk Railroad. Ant-Bee is currently finishing a fourth album titled 'Electronic Church Muzik'. It will be released December 2010. Additional Ant-Bee information is available at www.ant-bee.com.