Elliott began his musical career as the drummer for punk rock outfit Cloverbottom. Named after a local state-run home for handicapped children, the band released Nashville's first indie rock record, the Anarchy in the Music City EP in 1980. Elliott later experimented with electronic percussion as a member of the Actuals (later known as Factual). Fed up with the stagnant Nashville rock scene, Elliott moved to Chicago in 1982, where he made important friendships with producer Martin Hannett (Joy Division, New Order) and Ministry member Paul Barker. Returning to Nashville in 1985, Elliott served as best man at Hannett's wedding, luring the producer into the studio to work on Dessau's first EP, Red Languages. Working with veteran Nashville rockers Skot Nelson (guitars) and Mike Orr (bass), Dessau would release a series of dance-oriented EPs through the latter half of the '80s, including Happy Mood in 1986. The 1988 Mad Hog EP featured a remix of the minor dance hit "Unshakeable" by Ministry's Al Jourgensen. Both Jourgensen and Paul Barker would contribute to a 1988 cover of Joy Division's "Isolation" which would become Dessau's dancefloor breakthrough. A full-length album, Exercise in Tension, would follow in 1989. Produced by Giles Reaves and including "Isolation," the CD version included "Beijing," Dessau's third (and last) hit dance track. With industrial dance becoming old hat in the face of the Seattle revolution, Elliott disbanded Dessau. ------ Track Listing ------ 1. Never Change -- 2. No Way (Elliott) -- 3. Move Seoul (Elliott) -- 4. Principal Tension -- 5. More Than Mad -- 6. Europe Light -- 7. Shovel -- 8. Isolation(Curtis/Hook/Morris/Sumner) -- 9. Crowfest -- 10. Imperial Hotel Remix --
