Sybil

The Saga of SYBIL

by Ludmilla



Sybil originated in San Mateo, California in 1985 when bassist Mark McLeod (Syd Tybil) and drummer Bill Dellara (Pat Pend) formed a new band with singer/songwriter Michael Marqueson (Roxy). Realizing they had no desire to become a power trio, the three musicians began actively searching for guitarists. First they aggressively recruited local guitar icon James Ray (Cookie Chunks), whose previous band Head On had become legend in the Bay Area. Finally they scooped up a teenage guitarist living on the streets of Hollywood named Billy Wood (Willie Orwonee), and the lineup was complete.



From their very first shows on San Francisco's historic Broadway Street, Sybil was determined to make an immediate impact upon the scene. Dolled up in junkie transvestite couture, the band quickly made a name for themselves with their raucous and raunchy live act, which included interaction with blow-up dolls, pelting the audience with dogfood, and the occasional "wardrobe malfunction."



Although Sybil were quickly becoming infamous throughout the scene for their onstage antics, their nasty reputation would soon come back to haunt them, as several local clubs refused to book the band, convinced they were little more than novelty (not to mention a potential liability). As a result, they found it hard to find gigs outside of the sleazy nightclubs where they first developed their act.



While Sybil may have become notorious for their controversial stage show, the fact was that they also worked hard at crafting a truly unique sound, effortlessly blending the sugary powerpop of Cheap Trick and The Raspberries with the darker overtones of gothpunk bands such as Specimen and The Lords of the New Church. From the razor-sharp opening line of "Murder On My Mind" to the should-have-been-Top-40 chorus of "She Said," Sybil created a musical landscape all their own.



Although the ever-present "personal demons" would eventually bring about Sybil's demise less than two years after their formation, it was not until after the band cut their debut LP, "Every Parent's Dream." Featuring eight original tracks as well as a cover of Stiv Bators' "I Wanna Forget Ya," the album was immediately shelved due to the band's breakup shortly after its completion. But now, twenty years later, the album has resurfaced thanks to the efforts executive producer Regent St. Claire and Retrospect Records .