Curt Wilson

U Totem is the combination of the 5uus and the Motor Totemist Guild. This pairing has brought out the best parts of both bands, combining the abstraction and lyricism of the 5uus with the classical control and tambre of the MTG. Keyboards, bassoon, guitar, bass, flute, drums and voice combine to produce major stunners.
"U Totem is characterized by unsurpassed technique and perfect sound; in addition, this music is well written and well orchestrated...this must surely be the CD of the year!-Gateavisa.

"The closest thing to Henry Cow in complexity...world class playing and singing...there is nothing else like this now."-Chris Cutler.

"Uncompromising in melody, harmony and rhythm...superbly played throughout."-Facelift.
- Cuneiform Records

"After the school orchestras and marching bands were a slew of Rock n Roll cover bands, playing Hendrix, Montrose and Zeppelin - that sort of stuff. Then came a period of New Wave bands. The most important of these to me was Curt Wilson's "Maps to The Stars' Homes", as it was the germination of 5uu's. Curt and I cut our teeth up and down the Sunset Strip during those days, playing the Troubadour, FM Station, the Whiskey, Madame Wong's and probably every other club in Hollywood, trying to get a record deal in the hope of becoming Rock Stars. But Hollywood is a bogus business, so it wasn't too long before I had conscientiously made the decision to steer the band away from both the glamorous ignominies of fame, and the fatalistic, squat-culture of Punk, which would have been another option because we were pals with the Black Flag guys. Alas, instead, we went the "Rock In Opposition" way, and ended up in the fatalistic, squat culture of Punk surroundings, anyway. Until, of course, the internet brought back some interest in the 70's recordings of dinosaurs like Yes and Genesis, and furthered it by bringing to fruition a whole line of younger bands who poorly imitate them. From there, our school of music got thrown to the dogs by being labelled "Prog", thus killing any chance of us becoming Rock n' Roll stars and attracting the ubiquitous, hormonal attributes of gorgeous, young groupies." - Ragazzi

By 1980, Kerman and friends had formed 5uu's, with the moniker coming from an L.A. street gang's graffiti; which provided free publicity. Under the wing of Curt Wilson, a local pop singer, the group began a two-year recording process in 1984, with Kerman being the main foundation and energy for the project. Their first record was Bel Marduk & Tiamat, tagged "a wonder" for a first album. A contact with Chris Cutler of Recommended Records led to a recorded track, "Compromisation," in the label's magazine that promoted the work of the Rock in Opposition bands. The California Outside Music Association, consisting of local musicians promoting the more radical sounds which were developing, arranged for 5uu's first concert at the Branch Office Bar (1986) in Torance, CA, and the band's first radio broadcast on KXLU. - Allmusic

Wilson writes funky, danceable love songs that are shiny, bright and welcome on my airwaves anytime. I have always appreciated good pop tunes with memorable melodies, sensible and sensitive lyrics, as well as concise song structures.

Musicianship-Several of the songs were stretched to allow guitarist Grady Shawver, bassist Michael McLinden, and drummer MB Gordy solos that betrayed a strong progressive/jazz leaning. Keyboardists Kathy Dean and Skip Martinelli provided mostly padding and sound effects. Overall, the band played well together, executing arrangements that someone has put a lot of thought into. In a crackerjack band, Wilson is the prize. He has a strong, obviously well trained voice that handled each song with pwoer, energy and and a wealth of emotion. This is as good as it gets.

Performance-Wilson is a natural, making even choreographed moves look spontaneous. His was agreat performance.

If musical performance were all that mattered, then it would take a yard full of snakes to keep the world from beating a path to Wilson's front door. He's got the songs, the band, and he's awfully good looking.
-Tom Kidd - Music Connection