New Orleans' raised Parker Dulany, Texas-born guitarist Phil Gammage, bassist Russell Berke, and former B-Girls drummer Marcy Saddy all brought their unique traits to the band however, the soul-baring confessions and surreal lyrics of Dulany created an unmistakable sound and image for the band. Setephen Graziano, the group's late former manager and loyal friends, once wrote: "Parker Dulany's kaleidoscope poetry, alternatively surreal, mundane, horrific and expressionistic, pieced together meaning more through juxtaposition of images rather than through narrative tale. The effect was a veritable pipe bomb of images, musical styles, and cultural references, exploding in the audiences' heads." Certain General possessed a crazed energy onstage that no one else of their time equaled, continually giving the audience an energized performance.

Their first EP Holiday Of Love (1982), recorded by the original lineup, gained them national recognition and further presence in the New York Club scene. 1983 saw a change in the band's lineup as Russell exited and was replaced by Parker's friend Joe Lupo. Slotting in perfectly to the band's mix, Lupo was described by Graziano as "the plutonium rod that fueled the Certain General party reactor."

After the tragic death of their exceptional manager Ruth Polsky due to a car accident outside their Limelight gig in 1986, Certain General were offered a deal in France with French label Barclay. They happily left the states for a while and concentrated on Europe where their music seemed to flourish.

Although there have been many record label changes and a few alterations to the band over the years, Dulan, Gammage, along with Kevin Tooley, continue to record and perform today, still possessing the evocative lyrics and energized grooves that first grasped the audiences' attention in the 1980s.

Discography:

• Holiday of Love, 1982 Labor Records (USA) EP;
• Faraway In America, 1984 SourMash Records (USA) / SM101 LP 1985 L'Invitation au Suicide Records (France) LP;
• November's Heat, 1985 L'Invitation au Suicide Records (France) SM103/I.D.7 LP / 1999 Alive Records (USA) ALIVE0039 CD / 2002 Commotion/Fantastica Records (France) FMS120 2 CDs
• These Are The Days, 1986 Invitation au Suicide Records (France) LP / 2000 Fantastica (France)
• Cabin Fever, 1988 Barclay Records (France)
• Jacklighter, 1991 Barclay Records (France)
• Signals From The Source, 1999 CBGB Records (USA) 004 CD
• Closer To The Sun, 2000 Commotion/Fantastica Records (France)
• An Introduction to War, 2001 SourMash USA Records (USA) SM201 2 CDs
• Live At The Public Theatre, 2002 PreFab International Records (USA) PF/FANTASTICA102 CD
• Invisible New York, 2007 Easy Action Records (UK) 2 CDs
• Stolen Car, 2009

Website: http://www.myspace.com/certaingeneral