![]() That has been proven throughout recorded history. That concept is called “Peace through strength”, and it has always worked where applied. Instead, you must be strong enough to deter their aggressive behavior. You can’t “co-exist” with a group of people like that. The basic tenet of Communism and Radical Islam, for instance, is world domination. Unfortunately, that simply isn’t the case. What these idealists don’t understand is that in order to have “World Peace” all of the people on the planet have to want the same goal. What are their politics and views on world affairs? Farther and farther left, thanks to the radically leftist professors who dominate our colleges. Now, those people are the parents of todays college kids. Many of the college kids of the 1990’s were the children of parents who came of age in the 1960’s, the era of the Vietnam War and “Peace Movement”, with it’s radical ideas and peace symbols. Among the items for sale was a bumper sticker which said “Stop the Violins – Visualize Whirled Peas!” Obviously it was a jest on the peace movement saying of the period, “Stop the Violence – Visualize World Peace”. Pestana later played on and off with James, and currently sits the kit with The Nematoads.When my daughter was attending Colorado State University in the mid 1990’s she worked in the library bookstore. Hembrook & Pestana reunited in 1998 to form the rhythm section of Id, Ego, Superego which played South By Southwest in 1998 and then broke up soon after. James went on to found such instrumental bands as Squid Vicious, Johnny Vortex and currently The Nematoads. James & Hembrook decided to call it quits. James and Hembrook also lent their talents to the short-lived Austin "supergroup" called Selma, which made a recording of the Uncle Tupelo song New Madrid. They had showcases at an out of the way venue during SXSW, and had opening gigs for a number of similar instrumental and rockabilly bands. Whirled Peas continued to gig in Austin, supporting various members of the instrumental/surf/ska-punk scene. War & Peas also did not post large sales in the blues-dominated Austin Music Scene. ![]() Reviews of the Whirled Peas portions of the tape were favorable: Jennifer Summers was featured on a vocal arrangement of the Daniel Johnston song "Walking the Cow." This song, along with REM cover "White Tornado" and Whirled Peas original "Loungitude" were featured on a compilation album of mainly songs originally by Replacements called "The Fans Hit Back" in 1994. In 1994, the band went to Snooty Fox Studios in South Austin to record ten songs for what would become "War and Peas." War and Peas was recorded on 16 track ADAT, with 4 tracks for drums, one each for bass and guitar (dry) with additional tracks open for guitar effects and vocals. The initial run of cassettes was sold at local gigs and attempts were made to get them on the shelf at local indie record stores. This was released on cassette in 1993 as "Visualize Me Baby!" The recording was done by Hembrook, using rented equipment in a spacious North Austin practice space. ![]() ![]() Studio work began on the first recording. Hembrook took on the role of frontman, introducing the songs and providing chatter between songs, while changing instruments or tuning, etc. Hembrook & Pestana arranged their own parts. James was the songwriting force behind the band, bringing in the basic chord sheets and working out leads. The band hoped that releasing this song as a single would lead to some local success, but initial cassette and vinyl releases were met with little fanfare. Coincidentally that tune was used to open Quentin Tarantino's movie Pulp Fiction. James brought several arrangements to the band, and they began working on such tunes as Dick Dale's Misirlou. James was a huge fan of Surf Music, a style made popular in the 1960-1965 time frame by such artists as Duane Eddy, The Ventures and Dick Dale and the Deltones. He moved to Austin in October 1992 from Huntsville, Alabama. James started first band, Rattletrap, in 1992, playing bass. These early efforts, along with attempts to add a second guitarist, did not gel, so Borst suggested the rhythm section continue with another guitarist, Ted James who might fit better stylistically. The style favored more metal, led by Borst. Hembrook had access to the Geology 100 Lecture hall on UT Campus, so that became their rehearsal space through late 1992. Pestana suggested they all meet up to play & start a band. Pestana noted that he was a drummer and knew a guitarist, Christoph Borst. Part of Hembrook's belongings included a bass guitar and amplifier. George Pestana was living in the apartment complex, and offered to help Hembrook move in. Robert Hembrook had just finished his service in the Army and was moving into Sandstone Apartments east of the University of Texas Campus in Austin. Members of the band first met at an Austin, Texas apartment complex in the summer of 1992.
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