Where does one start? How about with the guy The Times of London called a “glamourous stick insect”, Steven Tyler. Steven Tyler (Tallarico) was born in Harlem in 1948. Tyler’s grandparents immigrated from Italy in the late 1880’s and were … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Aerosmith 1973-1993 (or; A Field Guide on How to Squander Goodwill) [Part 1 of 5]

Part 1 here. Part 2 here. Part 3 here. Part 4 here. Part 5 here. Part 6 here. In Excelsis EP (2010) / Absolute Dissent (2010) After bassist Paul Raven left the band, he joined up with Ministry (he had … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Killing Joke (or; How to Compose the Soundtrack to Every Apocalypse) [Part 7 of 7]

Part 1 here. Part 2 here. Part 3 here. Part 4 here. Part 5 here. Killing Joke (2003) In 2002, guitarist Geordie Walker and vocalist/keyboardist Jaz Coleman came back together to reform Killing Joke once again. Coleman cited the Invasion … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Killing Joke (or; How to Compose the Soundtrack to Every Apocalypse) [Part 6 of 7]

Part 1 here. Part 2 here. Part 3 here. Part 4 here. Laugh? I Nearly Bought One! (1992) Because there are so many compilations, I’m largely ignoring them, but this one has an important place in the band’s history. Guitarist … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Killing Joke (or; How to Compose the Soundtrack to Every Apocalypse) [Part 5 of 7]

Part 1 here. Part 2 here. Part 3 here. The Courtald Talks (1989) When last we left Killing Joke, they were still broken up, for the second time. The Courtald Talks isn’t really a real Killing Joke album, there’s no … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Killing Joke (or; How to Compose the Soundtrack to Every Apocalypse) [Part 4 of 7]

Part 1 here. Part 2 here. “Birds of a Feather” (1982) / Ha! EP (1982) After the return to the UK of vocalist/keyboardist Jaz Coleman and guitarist Geordie Walker, the duo was set to put Killing Joke back together. Drummer … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Killing Joke (or; How to Compose the Soundtrack to Every Apocalypse) [Part 3 of 7]

Part 1 here. What’s THIS for…! (1981) Six months after the release of Killing Joke, the band showed up at the studio to record the follow up. Singer/keyboardist Jaz Coleman, drummer Paul Ferguson, guitarist Geordie Walker, and Walker’s guitar cabinet … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Killing Joke (or; How to Compose the Soundtrack to Every Apocalypse) [Part 2 of 7]

Back in the long-ago days when Industrial was starting to gain some traction in the mainstream, music magazines weren’t just content with articles on Ministry and Nine Inch Nails. The alternative magazines, and even the metal magazines, were doing these … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Killing Joke (or; How to Compose the Soundtrack to Every Apocalypse) [Part 1 of 7]

I don’t know how to break this to you, but Kurt Cobain committed suicide in 1994. Yet, two years on, three years on, journalists are still asking Krist Novoselic about Cobain’s suicide. In 1996, Novoselic did an interview with Rolling … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Sweet 75 (or; How To Tank Major Label Expectations)

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Part 6. Part 7. Part 8. Part 9. Part 10. Crystal Fairy – Crystal Fairy (2017) The relationship between Melvins and Le Butcherettes began with their 2015 tour. “We really … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Melvins (or; How To Leave Town Before the Gold Rush) [Part 11 of 11]

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Part 6. Part 7. Part 8. Part 9. King Buzzo – This Machine Kills Artists (2014) “If you look at somebody like Bob Dylan, who was heavily influenced by Woody … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Melvins (or; How To Leave Town Before the Gold Rush) [Part 10 of 11]

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Part 6. Part 7. Part 8. Bulls & Bees EP (2012) For some reason, the Scion brand of Toyota decided to market their brand to a young audience by getting … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Melvins (or; How To Leave Town Before the Gold Rush) [Part 9 of 11]

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Part 6. Part 7. Mangled Demos From 1983 (2005) Clearing out the vaults, Melvins released a collection of demos from the original lineup before drummer Dale Crover joined the band. … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Melvins (or; How To Leave Town Before the Gold Rush) [Part 8 of 11]

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Part 6. Electror*tard 2001 On February 6, 2001, Melvins released Electror*tard. Sometimes it’s credited as an album, but really it’s more of an odds n’ sods affair. It was released … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Melvins (or; How To Leave Town Before the Gold Rush) [Part 7 of 11]

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Honky (1997) “So, we got dropped from Atlantic, put out the Honky record about a month later, hit the road, and toured for the next year,” guitarist/vocalist Buzz Osborne recalled. … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Melvins (or; How To Leave Town Before the Gold Rush) [Part 6 of 11]

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Prick (1994) / Stoner Witch (1994) When the time came for the band to record the follow up to Houdini, they were already disillusioned with the major label system. “I have no … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Melvins (or; How To Leave Town Before the Gold Rush) [Part 5 of 11]

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Houdini (1993) By 1992, Pearl Jam’s Ten, Nirvana’s Nevermind, Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger, and Alice In Chains’ Facelift and Dirt had sold tons. All of which, if they hadn’t already gone platinum, they would eventually. The … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Melvins (or; How To Leave Town Before the Gold Rush) [Part 4 of 11]

Part 1. Part 2. King Buzzo / Dale Crover / Joe Preston (1992) Melvins guitarist/vocalist Buzz Osborne said to Flipside in 1991 regarding the KISS solo albums, “I think it was a good idea, but it didn’t work. Those posters … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Melvins (or; How To Leave Town Before the Gold Rush) [Part 3 of 11]

Artist Spotlight: Melvins (or; How To Leave Town Before the Gold Rush) [Part 2 of 11] Part 1. Ozma (1989) “She was always a weirdo, which is what attracted me to her,” guitarist/vocalist Buzz Osborne said. “I knew, within the … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Melvins (or; How To Leave Town Before the Gold Rush) [Part 2 of 11]