Mission of Burma

Mission of Burma

Mission of Burma is a post-punk band from Boston, United States, formed in 1979. The group’s core line-up consists of Roger Miller, Clint Conley, Peter Prescott and Martin Swope, with Bob Weston later taking over Swope’s role in the live and recording setup. The band is associated with art punk, indie rock and post-punk, and Miller, Conley and Prescott share singing and songwriting duties.

Style and approach

Mission of Burma develops punk’s basic energy through abrupt changes in dynamics, unusual time signatures, shifting chord patterns and tape effects. Their sound is often described as a wall of noise, but one that keeps a direct sense of power and urgency. The group also draws on formal musical training in the way it uses tape work, rhythmic changes and non-standard song structures.

Early years and first split

In its early period, the band’s audience is mainly concentrated around Boston, and its recordings are issued on the Boston label Ace of Hearts. The group’s original run ends in 1983, after the release of its only full-length studio album in that first period, Vs.. The split follows Roger Miller’s worsening tinnitus, caused by the volume of the band’s live performances. The group is also due to tour with Joy Division in 1980, but that tour is cancelled after the death of Ian Curtis.

Reformation and later releases

Mission of Burma reforms in 2002, with Bob Weston replacing Martin Swope in the tape and mixing role. The reunited band records and releases ONoffON, produced by Weston with Rick Harte and the group, through Matador Records. In 2009, it records 14 tracks for The Sound The Speed The Light, with two non-album songs appearing on a 7-inch single before the full album release. The band later leaves Matador and records Unsound for Fire Records; the album is preceded by the single “Dust Devil”.

Legacy and influence

Mission of Burma is widely treated as an influential post-punk and experimental rock group. Its impact is cited by artists including Nirvana, Superchunk, Creed, The Grifters, R.E.M., Sonic Youth, Throwing Muses, Yo La Tengo, Soul Asylum, Pixies, Sugar, Catherine Wheel, Guided by Voices, Graham Coxon and Moby. R.E.M. regularly covers “Academy Fight Song” on its Green tour, while Graham Coxon and Moby both cover “That’s When I Reach For My Revolver”.

Later activity

The group gains renewed attention during the 1990s, including through Michael Azerrad’s Our Band Could Be Your Life, which features the band. By 2019 it states that it has no plans to make further albums, and it is officially finished by June 2020.