Killdozerwas an Americanrockband formed inMadison, Wisconsin,in 1983 with members Bill Hobson, Dan Hobson and Michael Gerald.[3]They took their name fromthe 1974 TV movie,directed byJerry London,itself based on aTheodore Sturgeon short story.They released their first album,Intellectuals are the Shoeshine Boys of the Ruling Elite,in the same year. The band split in 1990 but reformed in 1993, losing guitarist Bill Hobson and gaining Paul Zagoras, and continued until they split up in 1996. Their farewell tour was officially titled "Fuck You, We Quit!", and included Erik Tunison ofDie Kreuzenin place of Dan Hobson on drums and Jeff Ditzenberger on additional guitar.[3]The band released nine albums, including a post-breakup live album,The Last Waltz.
Killdozer | |
---|---|
Origin | Madison, Wisconsin,U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 1983–1996 |
Labels | Touch and Go,Man's Ruin |
Members | Michael Gerald Bill Hobson Dan Hobson |
Past members | Paul Zagoras Jeff Ditzenberger Tom Hazelmyer Erik Tunison Scott Giampino |
Killdozer was notable for its slow, grinding song structures and blackly humorous lyrics, growled ominously by singer/guitarist Michael Gerald at the top of his lungs. Many of their songs were disturbing narratives of small-town life gone awry, and later had a jaded,left-wingpolitical perspective.[3]Killdozer is regarded by many to have helped set the foundation forgrungemusic, despite that genre's association with the city ofSeattle.[4][5]
The band also became famous for itscoversongs, an example beingDon McLean's "American Pie".A version exists on their 1989 all-covers albumFor Ladies Only.[3]Gerald also did a cover ofJessi Colter's "I'm Not Lisa" for the band's 1986EPBurl,dedicated "in loving memory of" the then-livingBurl Ives.The EP in its entirety can be found on the CD version of their 1994 albumUncompromising War on Art Under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.
History
editThe band recorded under theTouch and Go Recordslabel during the 1980s and 1990s and they often toured with or played alongside label mates such asButthole Surfers,Scratch AcidandBig Black.The band frequently recorded with producer and fellow MadisonianButch Vig.Steve Albini(Big Black) recorded Killdozer's 1995 albumGod Hears Pleas of the Innocent.Twelve Point Buckwas the album that broughtButch Vigto the attention ofKurt CobainandBilly Corgan.[6]
Killdozer played with all original members at Touch and Go Records' 25th anniversary celebration in Chicago on September 9, 2006.[7]To promote the event, flyers declared "Fuck You, We Reunite!", harkening back to the name of their farewell tour ( "Fuck You, We Quit!" ). Subsequently, in response to the audience at the concert "pleading for more Killdozer",[8]Touch and Go announced a handful of U.S. tour dates for the fall of 2008.[9]
Meanwhile, drummer Dan Hobson has remained active in the Madison music scene, playing in several bands, including Cement Pond with Tim Sullivan (of Drug Induced Nightmare No. 4) on guitar, Steve Burke (ofThe Gomers) on guitar and vocals, and Gordon Ranney (also of The Gomers) on bass and vocals.[10]The group has released one album entitledVanilla Guerillaon the independent Corporate Hell Inc. record label in 2005. Michael Gerald is a lawyer in Los Angeles.[4]In 2007, he lent his voice to the New Jersey band Hunchback, for their cover of theChristina Aguilerahit "Beautiful",released on their albumPray For Scars(Don Giovanni Records,2008). Bill Hobson is agripin the Los Angeles area.[11]
A 28-track double-disc tribute album,We Will Bury You,was released in 2006 by indie labels-ismist RecordingsandCrustacean Records.Killdozer itself contributed two songs, one to start each disc: a cover ofThe Trammps' "Disco Inferno"and a Butch Vig remix of the Killdozer song" King of Sex ", originally from the band's 1985Snake Boyalbum.
Discography
editAlbums
edit- Intellectuals Are the Shoeshine Boys of the Ruling Elite(1984)
- Snake Boy(1985)
- Little Baby Buntin'(1987)
- Twelve Point Buck(1989)
- Uncompromising War on Art Under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat(1994)
- God Hears Pleas of the Innocent(1995)
Live albums
edit- The Last Waltz(1997 on theMan's Ruin Recordslabel, re-released in 2006 onCrustacean Records)
Compilations
edit- For Ladies Only(1989) – also issued as apicture disc
EPs
edit- BurlEP (1986)
Singles
edit- "Yow!" ( "Lupus"b/w"Nasty" ) (1989)
- "Her Mother's Sorrow" b/w "Short Eyes" (1989 on theAmphetamine Reptile Recordslabel)
- "The Pig Was Cool" b/w "Unbelievable" (1993)
- "We Will Crush You" 10 ", collaboration with Ritual Device (1995 onMan's Ruin Records)
- "Michael Gerald's Party Machine Presents!", collaboration withAlice Donut(1996)
- "Go Big Red" ( "Sonnet '96" b/w "I Saw the Light" ) (1996 on-ismist Recordings)
References
edit- ^Gardner, Noel (March 30, 2016)."The Sound Of Impact: Noise Rock In 1986".The Quietus.RetrievedSeptember 30,2017.
- ^"Killdozer | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links".AllMusic.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.
- ^abcdColin Larkin,ed. (2003).The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music(Third ed.).Virgin Books.pp. 291/2.ISBN1-85227-969-9.
- ^ab"Michael Gerald interview".Markprindle.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.
- ^"Grunge Music".Archived fromthe originalon July 24, 2008.RetrievedAugust 21,2008.
- ^"IZotope, Inc - Audio Processing Technology and Plug-Ins for Pro Tools, VST, MAS, Audio Unit, and DirectX".Archived fromthe originalon October 5, 2007.RetrievedSeptember 23,2007.
- ^"25th Anniversary | Touch and Go / Quarterstick Records".Touchandgorecords.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.
- ^"News | Touch and Go / Quarterstick Records".Tgrec.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.
- ^"News | Touch and Go / Quarterstick Records".Tgrec.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.
- ^"Maximum Ink Music Magazine - rock music online, rock music magazine, new rock music, metal rock music, rock pop music, alternative rock music, punk rock music, rock and roll music, history of rock for Madison and all of Wisconsin Authors".Archived fromthe originalon April 22, 2007.RetrievedMarch 2,2007.
- ^"William H. Hobson".IMDb.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.
External links
edit- Killdozer's Myspace page
- Killdozer performance at WFMU on Election Day 2008
- Mark Prindle's Killdozer record review site,a critical look back at all of Killdozer's releases
- Live 2006 performanceat Touch & Go Record's 25th Anniversary
- Interview with Killdozer in The Second Supper