? and the Mysterians (rock’n’roll)
English version · automatic translation
Anachronique: ? and the Mysterians (rock’n’roll)
? and the Mysterians (pronounced Question Mark and the Mysterians) was a band from Texas, based in Bay City (Michigan). Formed in 1962, it released two albums, including the excellent 96 Tears.
96 Tears came out in February 1966 and very quickly established itself as the starting point for a great many genres: Power Pop, Garage Rock, Punk Rock and psychedelic pop (which would be imitated by The Human Beinz in 1967, among others). Remember, on that note, that The 13th Floor Elevators, written into the history books as the first band of the genre, would not release The Psychedelic Sounds until November of that same year. And note too that the mysterious psychedelia of ? and the Mysterians goes further than its albums. The band’s songwriter, Question Mark, has never confirmed his real identity. On the other hand, he has always claimed to be a Martian who lived a past life alongside the dinosaurs. One day, a voice supposedly told him that he would still be playing his song “96 Tears” in the year 10,000. Apart from that, he’s doing fine.Having had the idea of mixing the old R&B of the day with a nascent Garage sound, that was the statement of Question Mark and the Mysterians. And who knows whether we don’t owe today’s scene to him? The band very directly influenced the Velvet (notably on “White Light/White Heat” and “I’m Waiting for My Man“), and I cannot believe that you can be a reference for the Genius (Lou) without being responsible for part of the History of music.
So, what makes Question Mark and the Mysterians so great? It all lies in its absolute quest for simplicity. Songs such as “Why Me” (which I will absolutely never tire of) or “Do You Feel It?” amply prove it: ? and the Mysterians was one of those bands capable of digging up the universal. And then, 96 Tears is an album of love, about love, for love. “Do Something to Me” (listen to the Jangle Pop sound of the guitar, brilliant, comon’ girl) and “Love Me Baby“, for example, are two fine Pop pieces that make room for Question Mark’s charming voice. That is why Power Pop owes so much to this band. How could you remain unmoved by so much generosity? Impossible.
Question Mark and the Mysterians was at once a very sixties band (see “Midnight Hour“) and a band ahead of its time. The title track of this opus, “96 Tears“, reveals that whole paradox. It is not really hard to place it as early sixties, and yet Question Mark and the Mysterians deconstructs it many times over. Note that this song would reach number one on the Billboard in 1966, back when that still meant something. In short, you find all the power of that aphrodisiac sixties pop, to which ? and the Mysterians adds many variations, a rare thing at a time when the Beatles were only just emerging from their super uniform opuses. “Up Side” and the two don’ts, “Don’t Tease Me” and “Don’t Break This Heart of Mine“, are proof of it. The latter adds the rockabilly power of Elvis and Buddy Holly and the like.
Question Mark and the Mysterians knew how to create hits. “I Need Somebody“, which opens the album, proves it better than the others. Question Mark and the Mysterians delivers a Pop here that recalls the Troggs, a brief and sincere song. At other times, the band flirts with Soul. That is what it does on yet another cover of “Stormy Monday“, adding to the original the touch of artists such as The Cosmic Rays.
No need to look for it, the bad ? and the Mysterians song does not exist. The album is rock’n’roll poetry, an old epic that proves on its own that rock was not a matter of morals or religion (Question Mark was the first son of Mexican immigrants to break through in the business in the United States). In that sense, 96 Tears could have been the spearhead of an America ashamed of its artistic segregation. Imagine the (deep) voice sponsored by the American government: “96 Tears is a must on many occasions: a cool evening with friends? A family meal? A chill, sentimental date? 96 Tears is the album you need. Available at all good record stores”.
Question Mark and the Mysterians is a eulogy to true rock’n’roll, the kind that gets straight to the point and never weighs itself down. For that reason, some critics once decreed that ? and the Mysterians was the first Punk band of all time. To tell the truth, I am not sure that this is what makes ? and the Mysterians a Punk band. I rather think it deserves that label for its sometimes aggressive melodies, its riffs always rapidly distilled and the attitude of its members (photo, photo, photo). I also find in it a musical translation of nihilism. The band’s music was mysterious, as if it came from an unknown place, which the band cultivated, by the way. That, in my view, is where a huge part of the band’s influence on Punk lies. One thing is certain, Question Mark and the Mysterians will go on stirring up debate for a long time. We might as well take part in it in France too, something I have never witnessed, so far…
Related links:
Link to ALL the anachronique articles
Anachronique article on The 13th Floor Elevators
Original version (French)
Alors, en quoi est-ce Question Mark and the Mysterians est si génial ? Tout se trouve dans sa quête absolue de la simplicité. Des titres tels que “Why Me” (dont je ne me lasserai absolument jamais) ou “Do You Feel It?” en attestent largement, ? and the Mysterians faisait partie de ces groupes capables de dénicher l’universel. Et puis, 96 Tears est un album d’amour, sur l’amour, pour l’amour. “Do Something to Me” (écoutez le son Jangle Pop de la guitare, brillant, comon’ girl) et “Love Me Baby“, par exemple, sont deux belles pièces Pop qui laissent place à la voix charmeuse de Question Mark. C’est pour cela que la Power Pop doit beaucoup à ce groupe. Comment rester insensibles à tant de générosité ? Chose impossible.
Inutile de le rechercher, le mauvais titre de ? and the Mysterians n’existe pas. L’album est une poésie de rock’n’roll, une vieille épopée qui prouve à elle seule que le rock n’était pas affaire de mœurs ou de religion (Question Mark était le premier fils d’immigré mexicain à percer dans le milieu aux Etats-Unis). En ça, 96 Tears aurait pu être le fer de lance d’une Amérique honteuse de ses ségrégations artistiques. Imaginez la voix (grave) sponsorisée par le gouvernement américain : “96 Tears s’impose a bien des occasions : une soirée cool entre amis ? Un repas de famille ? Un rencard chill et sentimental ? 96 Tears est l’album qu’il vous fait. Disponible chez tous les bons disquaires”.