Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus
This page is decidedly off-topic for this website... that's why its filed under "Odd Jobs." If you're a legal researcher who stumbled in by accident, get back to work. If you're a fan of the Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus fan who staggered in from the internet, you're invited to continue.
The Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus is one of the most interesting and unusual musical experiences I've ever encountered. A mix of Christian, mystic, European, and experimental sound - they really defy the "genre" category in your iTunes collection. They're also notoriously anonymous... it is challenging to find any information about them. Google "Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus" and you'll find a handful of references to the band; most provide a discography without much elaboration. A few discuss the apparently deliberate anonymity the band seems to relish. I built this site to catalog what I have been able to find about the band. I've noted the source for all the info I've posted, though I couldn't guarantee the validity of any of it. If you've got information to contribute here, or if you were a member of the Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus and are interested in collaborating a bit more formally on a biographical work - let me know.
The band derived its name from a fictional terrorist group featured in the 1977 movie "That Obscure Object of Desire". They're widely referred to as being based in Liverpool, UK.
Official Site: The closest thing I've found to an official website for the band is this myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/revolutionaryarmyoftheinfantjesus. It features this photo, apparently of some of the band:
The inscription on the photo (i.e. "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent") is from the liner notes of their final release, 1995's Paradis.
The band's discography is available from discogs.com at this link: http://www.discogs.com/artist/Revolutionary+Army+Of+The+Infant+Jesus,+The
Their works include (title / year / label & format)
The Gift Of Tears / 1987 / Probe Plus (LP)
Mirror / 1991 / Probe Plus (LP / CD)
Paradis / 1995 / Apocalyptic Vision / (CD, 4-song EP)
The group also has one track on a compilation:
"I Walk Life's Road," on Intone Unreleased Projects 1995/1997, Vol. 2 / 1997 / Intone
Band Members: The only list of band members I have found comes from a Welsh music website: "Revolutionary Army of Infant Jesus – band (formed 1985), feat; Jon Egan (ex Dead Trout), David Seddon, Paul Boyce, Sue Boyce, and Les Hampson (original lineup from the ‘Gift of Tears,' Probe Plus Oct 87). Bronek Kramm, Angela Taylor and 'Bill' all joined later." Source: http://link2wales.co.uk/liverpool-n-z/liverpool-r/.
Interviews: I've only been able to locate one interview with the band; from 1992, with Cross Rhythms (a UK music website). It is online at http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/The_Revolutionary_Army_Of_The_Infant_Jesus_Audio_visual_revolutionaries/35770/p1/ in its entirety; every other interview of the band I have found in fact quotes from this single interview. I'm not sure of the copyright issues just yet (I'll ask Cross Rhythms for permission to reprint the article here) but its a good read.
Other than this, I've found little information about the band members, their inspiration, history, or story of how they met, collaborated, and ended. Here's what I have found:
David Seddon: Apparently has a user profile on a gaming website (http://boardgamegeek.com/user/Admiral%20Fisher) which contains some interesting biographical data. I've left off the stuff more on-topic for the gaming forum, but included some of his profile info of interest to Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus enthusiasts: "I am married with two kids (9 and 7). I am a part-time stay at home dad and part-time supply teacher who lives in the East Midlands of the UK - although I was born and spent most of the first part of my life in Liverpool - the Pool of Life! I've also lived in Southport, Bath, Durham, Darlington and Leicester. Previous jobs include an Arts Officer in Liverpool and a Supply Officer for the Royal Navy...something to do with submarines...very hush, hush, you know!... My Avatar is named after Admiral Sir John Fisher (known as Jacky). He is a big hero of mine and is maybe one of History's forgotten great men. Basically, he formed the fleet that GB fought WW1 with. He was responsible for the building of Dreadnoughts and Battle-Cruisers and he totally revamped the way the Navy worked. He turned it from a self-satisfied, lazy unit full of waste and obsolescence, into a modern unit with the best trained men in the world running the most powerful fleet in the world. Not only that, but he was one of the more fascinating characters of recent history. He was colourful and charming, liked to sing and dance, was full of interesting quotes and was really good to his men. All of that was very different from his dull, beaurocratic contemporaries. He was a close friend of King Edward V11 and Winston Churchill and served Britain late into his life as First Sea Lord. I have visited his house and met his great-grandson.... My other hobbies are watching Liverpool Football Club (and trying not to get upset about it), playing music (saxophone and piano),listening to music and photography. I also write children's picture and poetry books and am attempting to get more of them published. Since my kids are now both at school I have been able to get my sax and pen out more often! I do a bit of juggling when I get the time (3 balls are easy and I can do 4 for a time). If I had more time I could get my real golf clubs out instead of having to play Playstation golf.... However, time has been more limited recently, as I have gone back to university to study Counselling - I've always been interested in psychological matters and find my background in philosophy has helped. I'll end up with an MA and a new career. Philosophy and counseling may have helped me solve a lot of life's problems - but maybe not Age of Steam! My theoretical persuasion is person-centered (ala Carl Rogers), though I have a strong leaning for Existential Therapy and Philosophical counseling, too.... I've played in a rock band, which was the second biggest selling artist signed to Probe Records in Liverpool. We made two albums and two mini-albums in the mid-late 80s and early 90s. We have a My Space page or two dedicated to us...so we're not forgotten! I still like to do a bit of songwriting when I get the urge, but these days other things take up most of my energy!... I'm really into music and have pretty broad taste. If pushed, I'd name The Beatles, Mozart and Chopin as the music I love the most." Mr. Seddon also references That Obscure Object of Desire (the movie from which the band derived its name) in a separate post on that forum: "Have you seen That Obscure Object of Desire? That too, is odd, but rather good.... It's more arty than his other pics and not quite so weird. There is a surrealist group of terrorists, The Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus, who blow up art they don't like. That's the sub-plot." (Source: http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/79915/i-can-recommend-a-game-or-movie-for-1-gg.)(Accessed 17 Sep 2012)
Bronek Kram: Gave a favorable review to an event at which the band either played live, or their music was played. (Source: http://www.chipwork.com/waxery/workhaus/nxn97/opening.html. The review is signed "Bronek Kram, Tutor, Community College."
I've been able to find no other information about band members Jon Egan, Paul Boyce, Sue Boyce, Les Hampson, or Angela Taylor or Bill.
Other connections:
-- The original name of the 1995 release was 'Paradise', but an error happened in the croppping of the artwork. (Source: http://www.automatapedia.com/index.php?title=The_Revolutionary_Army_of_the_Infant_Jesus_-_Paradis). This tidbit is interesting because the attributed source for the information is Samuel Durling, one of the members of the Swedish industrial group Mental Destruction. I would not have predicted or anticipated a connection between the two groups, but there may be one.
That, my friends, is all I've got. If you have more - please send it my way with whatever sourcing you can provide. And to the band, if they ever run across this page: thanks for some amazing music.