Παρθενογένεσις

One of the first New Wave bands of Greece, Parthenogenesis formed in 1978 in Athens, Greece by Τάκης Πολυχρονόπουλος (vocals), Γιώργος Μακρίδης (bass, vocals), Κώστας Ποθουλάκης (guitar, vocals).and Αλβέρτος Λεβής (drums).

Most of their songs were born out of experimentation during their practice sessions. The band was playing exclusively its own material, and the only exceptions were “The House of the Rising Sun” and the “Wild Thing” that were arranged in order to keep the audience’s interest throughout the shows. During Easter of 1979, they wrote a manifesto at the “Katara” studio at Ilioupoli, Athens, which was resulted from an intrinsic pursuit of counteraction regarding their view on things and ideas.

In the summer of 1979, the band started to change and a new musical proportion was gained, after the entrance of keyboardist Bill Lodd (Billy Knight, ex-Trash) in the group. After a period of continuous rehearsals, Stelios “Manson” (drums) was firstly chosen, but in the end Chris Stoligas (Χρήστος Στόλιγκας) fulfilled this position. During the winter of 1980, Κώστας Ποθουλάκης left the band (going to form Homicide, and then The Reporters and Villa 21) and Tommie Bouzianis (Θωμάς Μπουζιάνης) replaced him on guitar.

Parthenogenesis were usually lively performing, gaining distinctions in several contests like these of Kyttaro club (June 1980) and the magazine Pop & Rock (1980). Despite that, in February 1981, right after playing a concert at 'Cine Κνωσσός' (Πλατεία Αμερικής, Athens) along with Magic De Spell & Homicide, the band disbanded. Their musical impact, however, was carried to and influenced other important bands of the Greek new wave music scene of the 80s. Polychronopoulos and Makridis formed Forward Music Quintet, Levis played with Scoria and Slow Motion, Lod formed Statues In Motion, and Bouzianis with Stoligas formed X Mandarina Duck.

Their only recorded document was put on tape during the summer of 1980 at the “Katara” studio. It was finally released in 2012 by Greek labels B-Otherside and ειρκτή.