Note from Bill Bell
The birth of Sheer Funk and Misery was both fascinating and utterly amazing to watch. As Spencer’s Dad I thought it was ‘cute’ that he was in a band. I was happy that he’d found others to play music with and (probably even happier) that he wasn’t apt to quit school or leave home before graduation now that he had his band. Matt Hill (a founding member of the band not yet named Sheer Funk and Misery) remembers:
The four years I spent at Lahser High were no different than anyone else. If there was a difference it would be in who touched me and who was closest to me. My junior year was a year that came with memories that I will be forced to never forget. Most of them were not pleasant, but if I was asked to do them all over I would in a second. The reason why this is relevant is because during that year a person was amongst me that would impact my life very drastically in the years to come. Spencer Bell transferred into my school that year and at first I was weary of him only because he didn’t talk to me much. He was in the same acting class as I was. He was always one of the first kids to come up on stage, or to present a monologue. Meanwhile all the other students struggled trying to memorize the same thing. He always used words only the teacher could understand, and his speech demonstrated his knowledge at all times.
It was a normal day and I was procrastinating on a project in the library when Ryan Hagelman had asked me if I knew how to sing, and rap. I was weary of him at first too because I had never talked to him before. He said he needed a singer for his band so they could perform in the variety show that year and I said yes. We practiced a lot and got ready for tryouts which were a couple weeks away. I was nervous for tryouts but to no avail we did a great job. Then we thought we would stay for a little longer and see who else was going to try out and see everyone else’s routine. Spencer came up on stage and played a song called Big Blue Sun, and instantly the song had everyone’s head bobbing along to it. It was the most beautiful song written by someone I was so close to. You could look around the room and see everyone’s face that had never talked to him before and see the shock that such an amazing song was coming from him. The fact that he had written it himself was even better. Immediately after tryouts were over the entire band ran up on stage and talked to him and asked him to play with us sometime. Spencer agreed to have a jam session with us.
After playing just once together Spencer was already a part of the band. So instead of Spencer having a separate set, and us having a separate set, we just combined the two. For those that had heard Spencer’s song at tryouts couldn’t stop thinking about that song. Spencer’s name was buzzing through the hallways instantly. It wasn’t long before we hung out together everyday. Since he didn’t have a car I would always drive him home after school and I would always pick him up from his theatre practices in Royal Oak . Since then we were inseparable and hung out every day. I remember I looked up to him because he liked to party like a true rock star. I remember I used to drive him, and Jessie around during lunch so they could smoke.
I remember I bought a pipe that I was smoking tobacco out of to be cool and Spencer came with me to pick it out. I found out quickly after many stomach aches that it wasn’t so cool and I gave it to Spencer. Spencer’s music and personality I was addicted to after getting to know him. I remember I kept thinking how could this person have been in my class for so long without ever saying a word to him. I used to call him for advice on my relationship all the time and he was always there rain or shine to help me out.
About a week before the show Spencer and I were on our way to band practice and he screamed quick I need paper!!! I looked all over my car for some but couldn’t find any. He said again I NEED PAPER!!! I then asked why, as I looked at him with confusion. He then reached into my backseat where there was a paper bag, and tore it up and started writing on it. He then looked at me with that classic Spencer smile, and said “for a song dude!”
At first I was pissed and in shock that I nearly swerved across two lanes, hit another car, and almost hit the median looking for paper. But then after that I was just anxious to get to band practice in one piece. Alex’s house was only five minutes away, and by the time we got there the entire paper bag was full front, and back with lyrics to a song that was in his head.
That night we were trying to think of a name for our band. We even went so far as to try names like The Cartoon Junkies, or The Big Red Button. Everyone had their own idea for a name but nobody could agree on one. The next day was the day of the first show and Spencer and I were sitting next to each other in acting as usual. Spencer was reading a book called The Invisible Man and he looked at me and said “I’m going to flip to a random page close my eyes and point at a sentence, and see if maybe well find something cool.” I don’t recall what page he ended up falling on but when he chose it and picked the sentence he read out the words sheer, funk, and misery. Me and Spence looked at each other instantly, and said THAT’S THE NAME! We just hoped that Ryan, Pierce, and Alex would think the same, which of coarse they did. That night at the show I was so nervous I nearly threw up minutes before we went on. But as soon as the curtains opened and they started playing it was much easier. It was just the five of us, and the music that was produced by them was incredible. Spencer was the brains of it though. His music, his knowledge, and his interpretation of life was a huge influence on all of the music they made. I remember when I was out of the band I was depressed because I knew I wasn’t going to be a part of that experience anymore. Sometimes I would run into the other band members and everything was fine. I was always friends with Spencer though. Him and I never had a single confrontation or any terrible conversations. Every aspect of me being around him bettered my life in every way.
Sheer Funk & Misery at Lahser High School (Matt Hill second from Left)
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