Nihilist Spasm Band

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The Nihilist Spasm Band (NSB) is a London, Ontario-based band. The band was formed in 1965 by Hugh McIntyre, John Clement, John Boyle, Bill Exley, Murray Favro, Archie Leitch, Art Pratten, and Greg Curnoe. Leitch has since retired, Curnoe was killed in a bicycle accident in 1992, and McIntyre died of heart failure in 2004. The band members are mostly local artists; none are trained musicians.

The term spasm band refers to a band that uses homemade instruments. Indeed, most of the NSB's instruments are modifications of other instruments, or wholly invented by the members. In addition to the homemade instruments, members are encouraged to improvise. The range of the improvisation is such that instruments are not tuned to each other, tempi and time signatures are lacking, and the members push the ranges of their already homemade instruments by engaging in constant innovation.

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