A New York outfit. Their name, chosen by lead singer Jeffrey Moon and extracted from the 'The Tibetan Book of the Dead', reters to a "return to reality". The inclusion of I'm Five Years Ahead Of My Time on Pebbles, Vol. 3 has made it something of a classic among collectors of psychedelic punk. Deservedly so in view of its haunting intro. and fine fuzztone guitar work. Subsequently it has resurfaced on other compilations:- Born Bad (The Songs The Cramps Taught Us), Songs We Taught The Cramps and Get Primitive (The Best Of Pebbles). Rusty Evans of The Deep/Freak Scene wrote the 45 for The Third Bardo along with songwriter Victoria Pike, who was married to The Third Bardo's producer Teddy Randazzo (of Roulette Records) at the time. The excellent flip side of the 45 can also be heard on Vile Vinyl, Vol. 2 and Magic Carpet Ride whilst another version of it appears on Freak Scene's Psychedelic Psoul LP. If that wasn't enough, David Walters (author of the excellent "Children of Nuggets" book) has pointed out that the version of My Rainbow Life on Glimpses Vol. 4 is an acetate version, 20 seconds shorter than the final single and with a different mix! Both sides of the 45 can also be now heard on Psychedelic Microdots, Vol. 3 (CD).
In the early seventies, their lead singer Neufeld released an album under another pseudonym, Chris Moon. In the 1980s The Nomads did a fine cover version of I'm Five Years Ahead Of My Time and Kenne Highland's Majestic Gizmos reworked it into He's Five Beers Ahead Of Your Time (!) on the LP of that name.
In 1999, Rusty Evans has helped re-record I'm Five Years Ahead Of My Time, My Rainbow Life and a number of other tracks with his son's band Kaos. Although currently unreleased, the new recordings are great, capturing the spirit of the originals. Rusty may also be writing some new material for The Third Bardo themselves, who played live again on May 16th 1999 with a line-up of Jeff Moon aka Neufeld, Damian Kelly and Ricky GoldClang from the original band. As for former drummer Bruce Ginsburg his whereabouts are unknown - somewhere in California, whilst Richie Seslowe sadly died of a drug overdose in the eighties.
(Vernon Joynson / Max Waller / John P. Melendez)
01. I'm five years ahead of my time 2:38
02. Rainbow life 2:39
03. Dawn of tomorrow 2:12
04. Lose your mind 2:15
05. Rainbow life (alternate version) 2:32
06. I can understand your problem 2:17 (Jeff Monn)
Written by R. Evans, V. Pike, except as indicated
Bass - Damian Kelly
Drums - Bruce Ginsberg
Guitar - Richie Seslowe , Ricky Goldklang
Lead Vocals - Jeff Monn
