Mighty Sphincter
Back in the mid 80’s I came across this band from Phoenix called Mighty Sphincter. Their new lp “The New Manson Family” was noted as being produced by Alice Cooper. Since being a big Cooper fan I purchased it. Later I came to find out that Alice Cooper didn’t produce this album but I still loved the sounds from this demented punk band. After listening to “The New Manson Family” I quickly purchased the other vinyls which were a 45 of 4 songs, “Ghost Walking Double EP, and last album “In The Kingdom of Heaven”.
I even purchased a t-shirt that I don’t have anymore But I still have a video collection of Mighty Sphincter live performances and videos.
I purchased all these items through their label Placebo who also carries other punk bands like JFA, Feederz, Sun City Girls to name a few.
There is a really good website that gives more detail of Mighty Sphincter listed below
To give an origin of the band I took a quote from that website http://www.atakra.com/mightysphincter.htm

Doug Clark says:
The idea to form Mighty Sphincter was solely my idea and here's how it happened. Around 1980 I was working at a drag bar and the idea of forming a band that used aspects of drag mixed with my fascination with monster movies and characters seemed like a perfectly acceptable reason to start a band. I brought some of my friends like Joe and Greg into the fold and we started practicing immediately, just in time to open for the Feederz who I had played with before. I brought Ron Reckless into the band because we wanted to make fun of all the incredibly annoying hardcore bands that started touring all over the country. It had become so that the emphasis wasn't on presentation or content of the bands or their songs of the time, but just on how fast you could play. So we started playing with all these crappy hardcore bands in order to make fun of them and to show that we knew how to play. Actually Mighty Sphincter was started to make fun of the entire punk scene in general, I mean if you look at the lyrics of every song on the first two albums, it's just that apparent. "Impetigo" was actually a song that made fun of one of the local girls who had to be "punk rock" and had gotten impetigo from a homemade piercing. Anyways, making fun of the entire punk scene worked. All of the band has always focused on making fun of everything, even ourselves. Christians, gays, punk rockers... Nothing was sacred when it came to being made fun of and we took every opportunity to do so, and still do.”

Any corrections or responses on Mighty Sphincter send to evenspot@yahoo.com title subject “Mighty Sphincter”.

7" EP - 1984 - Placebo Label
1. Heathouse
2. Fag Bar
3. Exterminator
4. Electric Hose-Bag

This 45 includes 4 tracks “ Heathouse”, “Fag Bar”, “Exterminator” “Electric Hose-Bag”
These are really good tunes I wish Ron Reckless stuck around longer.
The guitar in “Heathouse” is one of the best as Ron Reckless vocals gives it the punk attitude.
I like “Fag Bar” and “Electric Hose-Bag” that has a little of Black Sabbath.
After listening to this again I can see the influence Mighty Sphincter had on Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids.
The sleeve gives the following credits …Ron Reckless – vocals, Doug (Count Dominique) Clark – guitar,
Joe Vito Albanese – bass, guitar, and (Mr. Wonderful) Gregory Kirk Hynes – drums.

The 45 comes w/ an orange cover of a drawing what looks like Ron Reckless riding a huge snake w/ a skull that’s punching through the map of the United States w/ the words below reading “A Record For The Hole Nation”
There is also a folder sleeve that wraps around the 45 one side is photo of 3 mentally challenged girls on a lawn and the credits of the 45 are on that side. The other side is an illustration by David Keating of the band w/ small sketches all around them. It sort of reminds me of Robert Crumb interpretation of Hieronymus Bosch ‘Garden of Eden’. Also a single sheet from Placebo records list some of their catalogue and other side list members of the band w/ some quirky comments and for booking information phone Tony Victor.

“Seven of the hardest, greatest inches to come barreling down the Hershey Highway in a long time. Simmering explosive punk metal dished out in four movements. Sounds like Venom and Christian Death played backwards through a jet engine. By the end of this one you all should be fully constricted. Featuring Fag Bar and Exterminator.”
- from The Placebo Catalog

Ghost Walking Double EP - 1985 - Placebo Label
1. Waltz In Hell
2. Chinatown
3. Whipped & Chained
4. Impentigo
5. Bag Lady
6. 120 Days In Sodom
7. Mental Mansion*
8. Inferno Of Joy*
9. Reserection*
10. Ghost Walking*

vocals - Ron Reckless
*vocals - Doug Clark

Side One is songs sung by “the late Ron Reckless” I read in some Mighty Sphincter promo that Ron died in a car crash after the release of their record. I just recently found out Ron hadn’t died and is living in Arizona as a painter.
Interview w/ drummer Greg Hynes on http://www.spontaneous.com/mightysphincter.html
tells us why Ron left the band. “We kicked Ron out due to his heroin problem. Ron is a great guy he is just held back by his problem.”

The other side is sung by Doug Clark, which reminds me of a Bauhaus style in some ways.
As Ron Reckless spoof’s punk w/ songs like ‘Impentigo’, ‘Bag Lady’, and ‘120 Days Of Sodom’ They play more along the lines of Dead Kennedys and such.
Side 2 or as they label it Side A as Ron leaves Doug Clark takes over lead vocals. Now w/ Doug, Mighty Sphincter dropped the lyrics Ron was writing and went into more of horror stories. Doug Clark’s vocals reminds me of Peter Murphy w/ songs like ‘Mental Mansion’, ‘Resurrection’ and ‘Ghost Walking’ Doug brings in more Goth.
‘Inferno’ seems to get cut off at the end. But these are demos they were working on so they show the blemishes which in fact gives it more punk credit.

Credits for the band goes: Douglas Richard Clark guitar, vocals, synth, Joseph Vito Albanese bass, cello, Gregory Kirk Hynes drums, tympani.

Ron Reckless vocals on Side One.“The Double EP title isn’t just some marketing gimmick. The split is obvious. From the misanthropic scatology of “A Waltz in Hell” to the gothic grind of “Ghost Walking.” “A Waltz in Hell takes the listener on a perverse tour from “Chinatown” to “Sodom” and all private booths in-between. Ghost Walks explores the metaphysical aspects of the spiritual reflex.”
- from The Placebo Catalog

The cover looks like a statue or a mummified body of an old lady or little girl. I’m not too sure. I do remembering reading somewhere it was a mummified body then again they said Ron Reckless died in a car crash so…
The back cover is a primitive illustration of a play actually titled “A Waltz In Hell” on stage is a huge hydra head w/ 7 snake heads looking as demons. While on stage there are 3 minstrels playing to it. Off in the orchestra pit you have 3 musicians.

The New Manson Family - 1986- Placebo Label
(This is actually the only full album recorded by The Mighty Sphincter)

1. The New Manson Family
2. Drop Dead
3. Blood Banquet
4. Good Morning*
5. Helter Skelter**
6. Bedlam
7. Rich And Dead
8. Centerfold Murders
9. Genuine Argyle
10. Stretching Heads And Tails
11. Final Reward
12. Kings
13. Constrictions In E

* written by Ron Reckless
** The Beatles

“The long awaited second coming. An intense interplay of bass, guitar and drums which comes together with the strength and precision of a Spiders Web. Originally available only by perception but now this record can be had by anyone with the balls and the bucks. A tribute to the spirituality of violence and required listening for anyone who aspires to grandeur. Produced by Alice Cooper.”
- from The Placebo Catalog

Of course as previously noted Alice Cooper DID NOT produce this album.
When I purchased this album it came w/ a sticker that reads
“Caution! This Album Contains Material That Can Be Considered Morally Hazardous To The Listener. It Is Not Recommended For Persons Of Any Age And Should Be Forbiden To Those Under The Age Of 21.”

With lyrics such as the title track from “The New Manson Family” you know why this sticker was posted.

The familys back together again, spreading blood and sin
We got more drugs, we got more guns and this time we’ve won
Will take your daughters in the night, Will teach em’ to fuck
Will teach em’ to kill, with drugs in their heads and knives in their hands
Will send them out with charlies plan!
Kill kill the pigs kill cut out their eyes
Kill kill the pigs, kill rip off their ears…

With sounds of all the instruments playing over one another and the graphic lyrics makes this one of the most hardcore punk albums of all time.
There is one song written by Ron Reckless titled “Good Morning”. Also “Rich And Dead by Johnny Precious from the band 45 Grave. The rest written by Doug Clark and some w/ Greg Hynes.

Since this album has Charles Manson theme of murder and mayhem it might as well include The Beatles song "Helter Skelter" which is to me a good version.
Another song "Bedlam" starts off w/ The Munster's theme song w/ lyrics by one of Shakespeare's play.

The band credits on this album are: Doug Clark guitar, vocal, Joe Albanese bass, vocal, Greg Hynes drums, vocal

In The Kingdom of Heaven - 1987 - Placebo Label
(The last vinyl EP from The Mighty Sphincter)

1. Hollywood Goes To Hell
2. When The Clocks Run Down
3. I Don't Live Today*
4. Hitler Painted Roses
5. In The Kingdom Of Heaven
6. Secret Ceremony

* Jimi Hendrix

“With Sphincters original singer dead from a car wreck after the first EP and the original bass player replaced after being hospitalized with Aids. This EP preceeds the institutionalization of lead guitarist Doug Clark for insanity and contains his final Sphincter performance “In The Kingdom of Heaven” is the newest offering from the band who’s members never seem to live past the age of 25.”
- from The Placebo Catalog

Now The Mighty Sphincter seemed to play off on the changing band members such as the faux death of Ron Reckless. As for the original bass player I believe they are talking about David Wiley who was
a guest player w/ the band, later died of medical complications related to Aids in 1986.
As for Doug Clark going insane I haven’t read anything about it but I believe it just gave the band more press and a tragic tale ending of punk’s most chaotic band. Greg Hynes did say that Doug should always be w/ a guitar in his hand.

“In The Kingdom of Heaven” is the closest to mainstream. With a new vocalist Bil Yanok and bass player Wayne (Sleepy) Frost. Then Doug Clark changing his name to Dominic Royale just playing guitar. Greg Hynes on drums and vocals.
Bil Yanok has a similar style to Doug Clark so you still have the goth vocals.
I think they would of taken off if they stuck to it and had the right record promoters.

Some of my favorite songs are “In The Kingdom of Heaven”, “When Hollywood Goes To Hell” and “Hitler Painted Roses” the latter song btw comes from a short story from the same name by Harlan Ellison.

There is also an excellent version of Hendrix's "I Don't Live Today" that Doug..oh I mean Dominic Royale plays his best like he ever play any less.

There is even some videos to these songs. As I said before I have a vhs of Mighty Sphincter and on “Hitler Painted Roses” shows some war footage during the video.

Much later I found out they produced some recordings. One is a 7 inch & the other was a limited CD.
I haven’t heard them but I will list them below.

House of No Return 7" - 1993

The Holy Unholy CD - 2000
Self Released - numbered edition of 150

Greg says they only made 150 recordings of this album that was basically sold by word of mouth.

In 1993 at the Mason Jar in AZ, Mighty Sphincter played a reunion show w/ Doug and Greg the only original players.

There is a myspace page but don't know if it's actually run by doug Clarke or any member of Mighty Sphincter at
http://www.myspace.com/mightysphincter