Ah wonderful. A collection of every article known to me about thy great Dead Yeti. It's not many... but hopefully more to come.

1. "Dead Yeti comes to life"
by: Benjy Swearingen
from: The Anvil; 2/21/1992

Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, Smashing Pumpkins, the Dead Kennedys, the Allman Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, Jethro Tull, the Sex Pistols and B.B. King. Band members and listeners use these musicians to describe a rising local band named Dead Yeti. The group, which formed two months ago, has already gained airplay on Rice Radio (KTRU) and is negotiating a contract with Jonathan Michael Records. The group originally consisted of freshman Ben Londa, the lead singer, and freshman Will Robertson, the guitarist, both who attend school here at Memorial High School. Through friends, they met the other two members of the band

"We were at a football game and a friend introduced me to Chris Bowers and Chris Henderson," Londa said. "We told them about the band and they were really interested. They auditioned a few days later and we were formed."

What makes most curious about the band is their name, Dead Yeti. The band members offer two explanations.

"To avoid a long story, we just tell people that (sophomore) Kara (Smith) is the Yeti. That is sort of an inside joke that got started from a misinterpretation of something I said," Londa said. "The true story is that it was the day before Hippie Day at school and someone told me that, but I thought that they said it was Yeti Day. I took up the name and somehow the 'Dead' was added."

Dead Yeti practices once every week or two. Using Night Train Studios, a studio left by the former owner of Will Robertson's house, the band composes, rehearses, and record tracks for friends, radio stations and Jonathan Michael Records.

"Ben writes most of the lyrics. When we're in the studio, he hands Will the lyric sheet. Will glances at it, pauses, and then he starts playing something," drummer Chris Bowers said.

The band has the ability to create songs in a short time. Robertson recalls an incident where the band had to get a demo tape to J.M. Records.

"One time we were all in the studio and we had 5 hours to record 9 songs. We only had three written at the time. In an hour and a half, we wrote six more and recorded nine songs in all."

Smith, a friend of the band who has a demo tape with 11 songs, sometimes finds Dead Yeti hard to listen to.

"Sometimes they're a little hard and distorted," Smith said. "My favorite song is 'L.A. and Elaine,' which is sort of a soft instrumental."

Londa, the band's leader, promotes the band by sending in demo tapes to KTRU. He has also set up gigs for two parties.

"I sent in a demo tape. They really liked 'Melvin' and it was playing within a week," Londa said. "The song is about the principal at Memorial Junior High. It's power strong with one measure played over and over." (Ed. note: ????)

The band also hopes to line up some shows at local clubs.

"We haven't lined up any club to play at; I'd like to play at Fitzgerald's or the Axiom," Londa said. "We do have two gigs for some parties."

Robertson thinks Dead Yeti will go far because people can relate to its light spirit and offers advice to any starting bands.

"To all the little bands out there - don't think about what you're doing and all will turn out well," Robertson said.

2. "That's Good Eatin' - the Dead Yeti Thang"
by: Allison Shaw
from: Surreal Estate - 10/1992

Dead Yeti... need I say more? The sound of Dead Yeti, which lead vocalist (and sometimes guitar) Cow Boris describes as "like God and Satan are gonna switch places, right? This sounds like what happens when they meet in the middle," is punk/thrash. Kind of. You may have caught one of their shows at Zelda's lately: why they haven't been moved to Fitz yet is beyond me. When I talked with Cow, he said that they've actually gotten airplay on godly KTRU already. "It was psycho... like real early in the morning...I had the radio on and then I heard my voice screaming at me. From the radio." Ahh recognition. The other members of the band include Bookworm on things you hit, Armpit Flowers - bass and cabinet-making, and Stiggy on guitar. Sorry Stiggy if I didn't spell that right. Actually I'm not - love me for it. Dammit, I don't have to be sorry...Stig-man is only the 7th guitarist Dead Yeti has been through. Like Spinal Tap's drummers, huh? "Yeah," Cow concedes with a snicker. In the last issue on Dead Yeti's zine, they give the full story on that. They're, um, pretty creative. They've been together since September of 1991 and they didn't really know each other before that. That could be an indicator of how seriously they take it...they're not just 'hey buds let's hop in my garage and try to piss of my parents by bangin' around but not for long.' No, they have a nobler purpose than that: "The message we want to send? Hmmm. Kill everyone. It will promote death." Ooooh, Cow. Couldn't have said it better myself. The band was really started as a joke, but everyone loved it. When Cow and Bookworm found an audience, they got down to making real sound. They're not so serious that they're glam or sell-outs though - when Cow and I chatted about commercialism and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, he snarled, "I hope Flea's dick falls off." Me too. So then I asked about the sort of audience they're starting to get and it sounds like a normal, healthy freak scene. "We do have this one group of skinheads who come to all our shows and start a pit. They (Fitz) always break it up too." Kinda cyclic. Only then did I get to the heart of the beast, when I asked what Dead Yeti's fave breakfast cereal is. "Roadkill." RIGHT ON, I thought. So I'll be fillin' yall in on their next date, but if you can't wait (and you CAN'T), write us!

3. "Dead Yeti"
from: The Oracle, 2/5/1993

Rotating members and loud, angry music make up the most humorous band in school, Dead Yeti. With over eleven membership changes in the last year and a half, the band looks forward to a more stable lineup.

"A stable band means better chemistry, and we really haven't had that," complained drummer Bowers, who, along with vocalist Ben Londa, has been the only constant member.

The most current lineup features Bowers on drums, Memorial sophomore Londa at the mike, and St. Thomas sophomore Alistair Isaac playing bass. While the group had a guitarist while interviewed for this feature, they have since parted ways.

Even with the numerous lineup changes, Dead Yeti has still managed to record several tapes.

"Basically we're just trying to have fun but once we find the right sort of people in the band, we'll be lots better," comments Bowers.

4. "Return of the Yeti" - Letters to the Editor column
from: The Daily Texan, 6/6/2000

Dear Editor:

A couple of things I need to get off my chest. I am Cow Boris. I represent Dead Yeti, a musical being that has returned after many years of being elsewhere.

We have risen like a phoenix from the ashes of the forlorn Houston punk scene.

We came to this city in search of something greater than where we were before - and found your newspaper. We don't like it. It's not that we don't like it per se, in the manner we dislike chicken salad or herpes or Strom Thurmond.

It's more that there are things we are going to change about it and the university you represent.

1. You do not make even the slightest effort to cover punk rock music. You need to cover the punk rock. It's the only rock. There is a great punk rock history page on the UT server but you never mention it. Shame, shame, we know your name.

2. Your name. We need the name to be changed from The Daily Texan to Today's Yeti. Shouldn't be too much of a problem.

3. This 'Eyes of Texas' school song crapola will be changed to a song called 'Squishball,' which you will be hearing shortly.

4. Your newspaper has done nothing to reach out to the marginalized Yeti population which has been historically oppressed by all.

Dead Yeti has come back, and we aren't going anywhere. We don't have anywhere to go. Your campus will be haunted by Yeti very soon.

Cow Boris
deadyeti@beer.com
Austin resident