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{{About|the San Francisco punk/post-punk band|the Chicago band|The Sleepers (Chicago band)|other uses|The Sleepers (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = The Sleepers
|image =
|background = group_or_band
|caption =
|years_active = 1978, 1980–81
|origin = [[Palo Alto]], [[California]], [[United States]] |
|Status =
|genre = {{Plainlist|
* [[Punk rock]]
* [[Rock music|Rock]]
* [[Post-rock]]}}
|label =
|current_members =
|past_members = {{Plainlist|
* [[Ricky Williams (musician)|Ricky Williams]]
* Michael Belfer
* Paul Draper
* [[Tim Mooney]]
* [[Brian MacLeod (U.S. musician)|Brian MacLeod]]
* Ron MacLeod
* Mike White}}
|website =
}}

'''The Sleepers''' was a [[San Francisco]]-based band, formed in 1978. They were one of the earliest punk bands in San Francisco, and later took on a darker, moodier [[post-punk]] sound before breaking up in 1981.<ref name="AllMusic" />

The band was made up of vocalist/lyricist [[Ricky Williams (musician)|Ricky Williams]], guitarist Michael Belfer, bassist Paul Draper, and drummer Tim Mooney.<ref name="discography" />

==Biography==
The band formed in [[Palo Alto]], [[California]], in 1978. Michael Belfer had been trying to form a band with his friend, Tim Mooney, and Belfer had decided he wanted former [[Crime (band)|Crime]] drummer [[Ricky Williams (musician)|Ricky Williams]] for vocals, as "he was so awesome looking". The band's compositions were spontaneous, as lyricist Williams didn't have the discipline to write out lyrics, but had "fantastic improvisational abilities". The band released a five-track 7-inch [[Extended play|EP]] in late 1978, and then broke up, with Belfer playing in [[Tuxedomoon]] during 1978 and 1979,<ref name="JonSavage" /> and Williams co-founding [[Flipper (band)|Flipper]], from which he was fired before the band made any recordings "for being too weird".<ref name="AllMusic" />

In 1980, the band reformed and released a single, "Mirror"/"Theory", and an album, ''Painless Nights''. The new lineup on the LP featured Brian MacLeod (drums), Ron MacLeod (bass), and Mike White (guitar/effects). Williams' abuse of [[amphetamine|speed]] led to erratic and violent behavior, which culminated in his passing out on stage on the second date of the group's East Coast tour at [[New York City|New York]]'s [[Hurrah (nightclub)|Hurrah]]. The band broke up onstage after this incident.<ref name="JonSavage" />

Belfer returned to college and graduated in [[Musical composition|composition]] and [[cultural studies]]. He played guitar and keyboards in [[Black Lab]] from 1996 to 1999. Williams went on to handle vocals in [[Toiling Midgets]], and later died of a [[heroin]] [[overdose]] at the age of 37 in 1992. Mooney, who later drummed for the bands [[American Music Club]] and [[Sun Kil Moon]], died in June 2012.<ref>[http://www.pitchfork.com/news/46880-rip-sun-kil-moon-american-music-club-drummer-tim-mooney/ R.I.P. Sun Kil Moon, American Music Club Drummer Tim Mooney | News | Pitchfork]</ref>

==Discography<ref name="discography" />==

===Singles & EPs===
'''Seventh World''' 7" [[Extended play|EP]] (1978)
{{Track listing
|headline = Side One
|title1 = Seventh World
|title2 = No Time
|title3 = Flying}}
{{Track listing
|headline = Side Two
|title1 = She's Fun
|title2 = Linda}}

'''Mirror / Theory''' 7" Single (1980)
{{Track listing
|headline = Side One
|title1 = Mirror}}
{{Track listing
|headline = Side Two
|title1 = Theory}}

'''Holding Back''' 1994 7" single, recorded 1980
{{Track listing
|headline = Side One
|title1 = Holding Back}}
{{Track listing
|headline = Side Two
|title1 = B Side}}

===LPs===
'''Painless Nights''' (1980)
{{Track listing
|headline = Side One
|title1 = When Can I Fly?
|title2 = Walk Away
|title3 = The Mind
|title4 = Intro
|title5 = Forvever}}
{{Track listing
|headline = Side Two
|title1 = Zenith
|title2 = Theory
|title3 = B-Side
|title4 = Los Gatos}}

===Compilations===
'''The Less an Object''' (complete discography compilation album)
{{Track listing
|title1 = Seventh World
|note1 = alternate version
|title2 = No Time
|title3 = Flying
|title4 = She's Fun
|title5 = Linda
|title6 = Mirror
|title7 = Theory
|title8 = Holding Back
|title9 = When Can I Fly
|title10 = Walk Away
|title11 = The Mind
|title12 = Intro
|title13 = Forever
|title14 = Zenith/Theory
|title15 = B-Side
|title16 = Los Gatos
|title17 = Step Back
|note17 = previously unreleased
|title18 = Let Me Free
|note18 = previously unreleased}}

==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="AllMusic">{{Allmusic
| id = p23383
| label = The Sleepers
| first = Richie
| last = Unterberger
| accessdate = 2011-11-02}}</ref>

<ref name="discography">{{Cite web
| url = http://www.angelfire.com/indie/object_music/sleepers.html
| accessdate = 2011-11-02
| title = Sleepers Discography}}</ref>

<ref name="JonSavage">{{Cite web
| url = http://www.jonsavage.com/journalism/sleepers/
| title = Buried Treasure: The Sleepers
| accessdate = 2011-11-02
| author = [[Jon Savage]]
| publisher = [[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]
| year = 1999}}</ref>

}}
{{Ricky Williams}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sleepers}}
[[Category:Punk rock groups from California]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1978]]
[[Category:Musical groups from San Francisco]]

The Sleepers (San Francisco band) - Revision history

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