L.A.P.D. (band)

Last updated

L.A.P.D.
L.A.P.D. band.jpg
From left to right: David Silveria, James Shaffer, Reginald Arvizu, Richard Morrill
Background information
Origin Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Genres Funk metal [1] [2] [3]
Years active1989–1992
Labels Triple X, ANTI-
Spinoffs Korn
Past members

L.A.P.D. (Love and Peace Dude, [4] later Laughing as People Die [5] ) was an American funk metal band formed in 1989 in Bakersfield, California. From 1989 to 1992, the member line-up was James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, David Silveria and Richard Morrill. The group has released one studio album, one extended play, and one compilation album.

Contents

The band was originally formed by Shaffer, Arvizu, and Morrill. Still in need for a drummer, the band placed an advertisement in a local newspaper which was answered by Silveria. Shortly after this, the band recorded a demo album which was meant to be sent out to record companies. Realizing they would have to continue the band in a more populated area in order for them to expand, all of the members but Shaffer left Bakersfield and resided in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California (Shaffer later moved to Hollywood as well). In late 1989, the band was mentored by ARTHOR von BLOMBERG(former Head of A&R with RSO Records) as their manager/Producer, resulting in them getting signed to Triple X Records. The band recorded and released their first extended play in 1989, but it suffered from poor distribution.

In 1991, they released Who's Laughing Now, their first full-length studio album. After the release of their debut album, Morrill quit the band, and the rest of the group set out to form the band Korn. Several of the band's former members have formed solo projects. In 1997, a compilation album consisting of fourteen tracks was released. The band takes its name from the initials of the Los Angeles Police Department.

History

Formation and early days (1989)

L.A.P.D. formed in Bakersfield, California, in 1989. [6] The band was started with Richard Morrill, James Shaffer, and Reginald Arvizu. [7] With both guitarist and bass guitar positions filled, there was still a need for a lead vocalist, as well as a percussionist. Richard Morrill was the only credited vocalist for L.A.P.D.

The band still needed a drummer, so they put an ad in a local newspaper. The ad description stated that they were a "funk, thrash, metal groove band looking for a drummer." [8] This resulted in David Silveria auditioning for the band. Although at the time Silveria was only fifteen, he was still recruited to the band, filling the percussionist position. [8] L.A.P.D. recorded a demo album consisting of four songs, "James Brown", "Stinging Like a Bee", "Jesus", and "Don't Label Me", which were all ready to be sent out to various record labels. [8]

The group left Bakersfield and set out for Los Angeles, California. [8] Shaffer was the only band member that was not in favor of the act. He was the only one to stay in Bakersfield, while all the other band members left. [9] Silveria dropped out of high school to leave Bakersfield. Richard's mother Donna allowed the entire band plus 2 roadies to live with her in a 2 bedroom apartment in Burbank CA. L.A.P.D. began rehearsing at a space located in Hollywood, California, near Western Avenue. [10] Shaffer decided to return to the band when he and his girlfriend broke up. Brian Welch, a guitarist who knew Shaffer and Arvizu when they were in high school (and who later joined the band when they reformed as Korn), would occasionally "check out the [band's] music.

Releases and break-up (1989–1990)

Who's Laughing Now was the band's second release and first studio album. Lunapic 127394217943544 1.png
Who's Laughing Now was the band's second release and first studio album.

L.A.P.D. was performing at several gigs in Hollywood throughout their self-titled EP era. [11] After one of their shows, a local and drumming protege of Gene Krupa known as Arthur Von Blomberg was positioned as manager. [12] After the group was kicked out of their original studio for not paying the rent on time, they quickly found another practice space in Santa Monica, California. [13] In 1990, their manager introduced them to Triple X Records, an independent Los Angeles based record company that has signed artists such as Dr. Dre, Social Distortion, Jane's Addiction, and The Vandals. [14] The company offered them a contract after seeing them in concert. Bassist Arvizu described the contract as "pitiful", but L.A.P.D. still signed and began recording their album. According to Arvizu, the record company did not distribute the album properly. [14] In 1989, the group released their first EP Love and Peace Dude through Triple X Records. [15]

In 1991, L.A.P.D. recorded their second album, Who's Laughing Now . Released on May 3, 1991, it was their first full-length studio album, and consisted of eleven tracks. After they recorded the album, the group's lead vocalist, Richard Morrill, [16] left L.A.P.D. and [17] Bassist Arvizu wrote: "Richard Morrill quit L.A.P.D when he met his wife (m. 1993) Rania. So Munky [Shaffer], David [Silveria], and I had to start all over again." [17] While looking for a new singer, they heard Jonathan Davis singing for the alternative metal band Sexart. [17] After the show, the remaining band members of L.A.P.D. asked him to join their band. Shortly after this, [18] the band changed their name to Korn and added Brian Welch to the line-up. [19] [20]

Post–breakup and subsequent projects (1992–2010)

The band continued on through Shaffer, Arvizu, and Silveria, who soon added Jonathan Davis as lead singer and Brian Welch as another guitarist. [21] Bassist Reginald Arvizu, (now known better as "Fieldy") released a solo album entitled Rock'n Roll Gangster on January 22, 2002. [22] In 2006, Fieldy formed the band StillWell with Q-Unique and P.O.D. drummer Noah "Wuv" Bernardo. [23] Fear and the Nervous System is currently one of James Shaffer's (now known by band members as "Munky") side projects, formed in 2008. [24] Aside from projects by the members of L.A.P.D., in 1997 a compilation album was also released. [25] The album featured songs from both their EP, Love and Peace Dude, and their full–length studio album, Who's Laughing Now. [25] In 2010, L.A.P.D. had a short revival, when Morrill began playing with a new line-up that included Derek Campbell (guitar), Andy Serrano (drums) & Jason Torres (drums), Troy Sandoval (bass) & Kevin Guariglia (dj) in Denver, CO. The group recorded a 5 track demo, that was never officially released, but was posted on the band's social media pages. The group split in early 2011.

Style and influence

The group considered themselves to be a "funk, thrash metal groove band" when they posted an ad in a Bakersfield newspaper. [8] Bradley Torreano from AllMusic noted that the band was "a far different beast than what its members would move on to," while also saying it incorporated "elements of funk into their thrashy stew." [6] Bassist Reginald Arvizu described L.A.P.D.'s music as being "very heavy", and also said that "audiences loved [them]." [13] [14]

L.A.P.D.'s art and visual imagery complemented the themes of their music and performance. The band members adopted a "baggy hip-hop street way of dressing". Bassist Arvizu had dreadlocks, and said that there "was absolutely nothing femme about [the band]." [26]

When the band was first started, their lead vocalist introduced them to bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Faith No More, and the group has since cited them as major influences to their musical style. [7] [27] The group is considered to have launched the careers of three members of the nu metal band Korn. [6] Drummer David Silveria said that "L.A.P.D. really was good for us because we learned about the industry and how things work." [28] Korn has influenced bands such as Slipknot, Saliva, Breaking Benjamin, Cold, and Flyleaf. [29] [30]

Discography

YearTitleLabelTypeRef
1989Love and Peace Dude Triple X Records Extended play [31]
1991 Who's Laughing Now Studio album [32]
1997L.A.P.D. Compilation album [25]

Members

NameYears activePositionRef
James Shaffer 1989–1992Guitar [7]
Reginald Arvizu 1989–1992Bass [7]
David Silveria 1989–1992Drums [8]
Richard Morrill1989–1992Vocals [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korn</span> American nu metal band

Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, originally formed in 1993 by James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu and David Silveria, who were members of the band L.A.P.D. Their current lineup features Shaffer (guitar), Arvizu (bass), Brian "Head" Welch (guitar), Jonathan Davis (vocals), and Ray Luzier (drums), the last of whom replaced Silveria in 2007. The band is notable for pioneering and popularizing the nu metal genre.

<i>Korn</i> (album) 1994 studio album by Korn

Korn is the debut studio album by American nu metal band Korn. It was released on October 11, 1994, through Immortal and Epic Records. Before recording the album, the band was approached by Immortal/Epic Records after a performance in Huntington Beach, California. The band signed to their label because they did not want to "sign away all of their creative freedom". The band would record at Indigo Ranch Studios in Malibu, California, with producer Ross Robinson, who also produced their 1993 demo Neidermayer's Mind. The recording took place from May to June 1994. After the recordings, Korn toured with Biohazard and House of Pain.

<i>Life Is Peachy</i> 1996 studio album by Korn

Life Is Peachy is the second studio album by American nu metal band Korn. It was released on October 15, 1996, through both Immortal Records and Epic Records. After the release of Korn's 1994 self-titled debut album, the band reunited with Ross Robinson to produce and went back to Indigo Ranch Studios to record. Life Is Peachy features such themes as drugs, social encounters, sex, betrayal, and revenge. The album has fourteen tracks, excluding the hidden track after "Kill You". Martin Riedl photographed its cover art, and its title is credited to Korn's bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu. Life Is Peachy was Korn's first significant breakthrough, which came from constant touring after the debut album's release and building a fan base, thus fueling great expectations.

<i>Take a Look in the Mirror</i> 2003 studio album by Korn

Take a Look in the Mirror is the sixth studio album by American nu metal band Korn. Released on November 21, 2003, through Epic Records and Immortal Records, it is the last Korn studio album to feature their full original lineup, as their original guitarist Brian "Head" Welch left the band in February 2005 until his return in 2013. Original drummer David Silveria also left Korn before the end of 2006 after the release of their next album See You on the Other Side. It was also the last studio album by Korn under the Epic and Immortal labels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Welch</span> American guitarist

Brian Philip Welch, also known by his stage name Head, is an American musician. He is a guitarist and founding member of the nu metal band Korn and his solo project Love and Death, where he also provides vocals. Along with fellow Korn guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer, Welch helped develop Korn's distinctive sound that defined the nu metal aesthetic beginning in the mid-'90s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reginald Arvizu</span> American bassist

Reginald Quincy Arvizu, also known as "Fieldy", is an American musician, best known as the bassist for nu metal band Korn. He is also the guitarist/bassist for rock band StillWell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Shaffer</span> American guitarist

James Christian Shaffer, also known by his stage name "Munky", is an American musician best known as a co-founder and guitarist of the nu metal band Korn. He was ranked at No. 26 of Guitar World's 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Silveria</span> American drummer (born 1972)

David Randall Silveria is an American musician, best known as the original drummer for nu metal band Korn from 1993 until leaving the band in 2006. He then became the drummer for Infinika, which was formed in 2012 and disbanded in 2015. As of 2019, Silveria was the drummer of a band called Breaking in a Sequence (B.I.A.S).

<i>Greatest Hits Vol. 1</i> (Korn album) 2004 greatest hits album by Korn

Greatest Hits Vol. 1 is a compilation album released by American nu metal band Korn in October 2004. The album features select tracks from their first six studio albums presented in reverse chronological order. There are two previously unreleased songs on the compilation: a cover of Cameo's "Word Up!" and a compilation of all three parts of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" and "Goodbye Cruel World". These were the final songs recorded with their full original lineup, as guitarist Brian Welch left the band shortly after the album's release in February the following year, until his return in 2013, by which time drummer David Silveria had departed permanently.

Korn Kovers is an unreleased cover album project by American nu metal band Korn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fieldy's Dreams</span> Solo project by Korns bassist Fieldy

Fieldy's Dreams is a rap project by Korn bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, active from 2000 to 2002. His first album, the gangsta rap album Rock'n Roll Gangster, was released on January 22, 2002. Most of the lyrics and music were by Fieldy himself, with Polar Bear helping out with the rest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alone I Break</span> 2002 single by Korn

"Alone I Break" is a song written and recorded by the American nu metal band Korn for their fifth studio album Untouchables. It was released as the album's third single in November 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Got the Life</span> 1998 single by Korn

"Got the Life" is a song by American nu metal band Korn. It was released in 1998, as the second single from their third album, Follow the Leader (1998). The song was recorded in April 1998 at NRG Recording Studios. The band decided they would release the song as a promotional single after each member found that there was something "special" about the song. The single had "phenomenal success", and its music video was requested more than any other video on MTV's TRL, making it the first officially "retired" music video.

<i>Big Ones of Alternative Rock vol. 1</i> 1996 compilation album by various artists

Big Ones of Alternative Rock vol. 1 was a compilation released in 1996.

<i>Whos Laughing Now</i> (album) 1991 studio album by L.A.P.D.

Who's Laughing Now is the only full-length studio album by American funk metal band L.A.P.D., released in 1991. Songs from the album, along with the tracks from the band's first release, Love and Peace, Dude, also appeared on the 1997 compilation album L.A.P.D.

<i>Neidermayers Mind</i> 1993 demo album by Korn

Neidermayer's Mind is a demo tape by American nu metal band Korn. It was produced by Ross Robinson and released in 1993. The demo is a rarity, but finished versions of the songs appeared on subsequent Korn albums.

"Faget" is a song by the American nu metal band Korn. It is the sixth track from the band's self-titled debut studio album. The song is about how Korn's lead vocalist, Jonathan Davis, was bullied in high school for being into arts, wearing eyeliner, being into new wave music, and wearing frilly shirts. According to Jonathan Davis, he was constantly called names such as "faggot".

<i>Korn Live: The Encounter</i> 2010 video by Korn

Korn Live: The Encounter is a live release by American nu metal band Korn, to promote their studio album Korn III: Remember Who You Are. It premiered on Sunday July 11, 2010 on HDNet, and then streamed on the band's Myspace profile. It was the band's first live album to feature drummer Ray Luzier who joined the band in 2009, as well as the second to last live album recorded as a quartet before original guitarist Brian “Head” Welch returns to the band in 2013.

"Insane" is a song by American nu metal band Korn. It was released as a promotional single from their twelfth studio album The Serenity of Suffering.

"Black Is the Soul" is a song by American nu metal band Korn. It was their third single off of their twelfth studio album The Serenity of Suffering. It peaked at number 10 on the Billboard US Mainstream Rock Songs chart in November 2017.

References

Bibliography
Notes
  1. ↑ Arvizu 2009, p. 37.
  2. ↑ Furman, Leah (2000). Korn: Life in the Pit . St. Martin's Griffin. p.  24. ISBN   0-312-25396-6. black metal.
  3. ↑ "Korn". Loudwire . Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  4. ↑ Welch 2008 , p. 27
  5. ↑ Welch 2008 , p. 32
  6. 1 2 3 Torreano, Bradley allmusic ((( L.A.P.D. > Overview ))) Allmusic. Retrieved May 11, 2010
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Arvizu 2009 , p. 36
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Arvizu 2009 , p. 37
  9. ↑ Arvizu 2009 , p. 38
  10. ↑ Arvizu 2009 , p. 39
  11. ↑ Arvizu 2009 , p. 48
  12. ↑ Arvizu 2009 , p. 50
  13. 1 2 Arvizu 2009 , p. 52
  14. 1 2 3 Arvizu 2009 , p. 53
  15. ↑ "Love and Peace, Dude - L.A.P.D. | Releases | AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  16. ↑ Arvizu 2009 , pp. 54–55
  17. 1 2 3 Arvizu 2009 , p. 55
  18. ↑ Arvizu 2009 , p. 60
  19. ↑ Arvizu 2009 , pp. 58–59
  20. ↑ Arvizu 2009 , p. 65
  21. ↑ Small 1998 , pp. 16–18
  22. ↑ Franklin, Wayne. "Fieldy's Dreams: Rock 'n' Roll Gangster – PopMatters Music Review". Retrieved August 5, 2010
  23. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Dirtbag - Stillwell | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  24. ↑ FEAR AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM official site on Emotional Syphon Recordings WEBSITE LAUCNHING SOON Archived July 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  25. 1 2 3 allmusic ((( L.A.P.D. > Overview ))) Allmusic. Retrieved May 11, 2010
  26. ↑ Arvizu 2009 , p. 59
  27. ↑ Arvizu 2009 , p. 40
  28. ↑ Furman, Leah (2000), Korn: Life in the Pit, St. Martin's Press, p.  27, ISBN   0-312-25396-6
  29. ↑ "allmusic ((( Korn > Overview" Allmusic. Retrieved June 8, 2010
  30. ↑ Arnopp, Jason (2001), Slipknot: Inside the Sickness, Behind the Masks, Ebury, pp. 7–23, ISBN   0-09-187933-7
  31. ↑ Arvizu 2009 , p. 54
  32. ↑ allmusic ((( Who's Laughing Now > Overview ))) Allmusic. Retrieved May 11, 2010

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.