Rapeman

Last updated

Rapeman
Rapeman band promo photo.jpg
Rapeman circa 1988
Background information
Origin Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Years active1987–1989
Labels
Past members

Rapeman was an American noise rock band founded in 1987 and disbanded in 1989. It consisted of Steve Albini (formerly of Big Black) on guitar and vocals, David Wm. Sims (formerly of Scratch Acid) on bass and Rey Washam (formerly of Scratch Acid and Big Boys) on drums. In the years since their brief tenure, Rapeman’s sound has also been described as post-hardcore. [2]

Contents

Rapeman were formed as a parallel sister project to the Jesus Lizard, although the latter outlasted Rapeman by several years. [3]

History

Rapeman was formed in 1987 when drummer Rey Washam and bassist David Wm. Sims relocated to Chicago from Texas after the breakup of their band Scratch Acid. [4] Steve Albini had just ended his group Big Black, [4] and was looking to switch to a musical project with a live drummer, instead of his Roland TR-606 drum machine.

Rapeman's initial 1988 releases included the mostly live recorded Budd EP, the "Hated Chinee" b/w "Marmoset" 7" single, and their sole album, Two Nuns and a Pack Mule . [4] The band recorded in Albini's own home studio, often giving production credit to someone named Fluss, later revealed to be Albini's cat.

All of Rapeman’s records were originally released on Touch and Go Records in the US, Blast First! in the UK, and Au Go Go in Australia. Rapeman left Blast First! in 1990 after Albini had an argument with the label over the release of a Big Black record. Touch and Go started distributing in the UK in 1992 and re-released Rapeman's records there.

The band's final record before their breakup, the "Inki's Butt Crack" instrumental 7" single, was issued in 1989 [4] as part of the Sub Pop Singles Club.

Albini later played bass in live iterations of Pete Conway’s solo project, Flour, before going on to form Shellac and expanding his work as a recording engineer. Sims reunited with ex-Scratch Acid vocalist David Yow to form the Jesus Lizard (with Albini recording their albums). [4] Washam went on to drum for former Chrome guitarist Helios Creed. Albini died on May 7, 2024. [5] [6]

Name

The name Rapeman was taken from the Japanese manga series The Rapeman. Albini discovered the manga through a friend who ran an import business, and found its combination of rape fantasies and the superhero genre "simultaneously utterly repellent and fascinating". He described it as "the product of decades of repression and misogyny being expressed through a different cultural tradition". [7] He named the band in a deliberate attempt to repel audiences and do the "opposite" of bands that were desperate to appear on MTV. [8]

Rapeman's name drew criticism and protests at several gigs. [9] In a 2020 interview on the Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal podcast, Albini called it a "flippant choice" that was unconscionable and indefensible. He likened it to getting a bad tattoo. [10] In a 2021 interview with MEL Magazine , Albini said he had been ignorant of women's issues and had falsely assumed that many social problems, such as misogyny and homophobia, were already solved. [7] In a Kreative Kontrol podcast in 2014, Sims said the name was his biggest musical regret. [11]

Discography

Studio albums

Singles and EPs

Compilation appearances

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shellac (band)</span> American rock band

Shellac was an American noise rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1992 by Steve Albini, Bob Weston and Todd Trainer. Their lineup remained consistent until Albini's death in May 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slint</span> American rock band

Slint was an American rock band from Louisville, Kentucky, formed in 1986. The band consisted of Brian McMahan, David Pajo (guitar), Britt Walford, Todd Brashear, and Ethan Buckler. Slint's first album, Tweez, was recorded by engineer Steve Albini in 1987 and released in obscurity on the Jennifer Hartman Records label in 1989. It was followed two years later by the critically acclaimed Spiderland, released on the independent label Touch and Go Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Wm. Sims</span> American musician

David William Sims is an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist of the bands Scratch Acid, Rapeman, and The Jesus Lizard. He has also recorded or performed with Sparklehorse, Rhys Chatham, Shivaree, Pigface, Flour, and others. Sims currently performs experimental solo electric bass as Unfact.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Black</span> American punk rock band

Big Black was an American punk rock band from Evanston, Illinois, active from 1981 to 1987. Founded first as a solo project by singer and guitarist Steve Albini, the band became a trio with an initial lineup that included guitarist Santiago Durango and bassist Jeff Pezzati, both of Naked Raygun. In 1985, Pezzati was replaced by Dave Riley, who played on Big Black's two full-length studio albums, Atomizer (1986) and Songs About Fucking (1987).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Jesus Lizard</span> American alternative rock band

The Jesus Lizard is an American rock band formed in 1987 in Austin, Texas by vocalist David Yow, guitarist Duane Denison and bassist David Wm. Sims. They relocated to Chicago, Illinois, in 1989, where they found kindred spirits in recording engineer Steve Albini and Touch and Go Records. With the addition of drummer Mac McNeilly, they began performing live, eventually attracting an international audience with their powerful live show.

Touch and Go Records is an American independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois. After its genesis as a handmade fanzine in 1979, it grew into one of the key record labels in the American 1980s underground and alternative rock scenes. Touch & Go carved out a reputation for releasing adventurous noise rock by the likes of Big Black, the Butthole Surfers, and The Jesus Lizard. Touch & Go helped to spearhead the nationwide network of underground bands that formed the pre-Nirvana indie rock scene, and helped preside over the shift from the hardcore punk that then dominated the American underground scene to the more diverse styles of alternative rock emerging at the time.

Santiago Alonso Durango is a Colombian–American attorney and retired musician. He is best known for his work with the 1980s punk rock groups Naked Raygun and Big Black.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Yow</span> American singer

David Yow is an American musician and actor born in Las Vegas, Nevada and best known as the vocalist for the noise rock bands Scratch Acid and the Jesus Lizard. Yow's debut solo album, Tonight You Look Like a Spider, was released in June 2013 on Joyful Noise Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scratch Acid</span> American noise rock band

Scratch Acid was an American post-hardcore/noise rock band from Austin, Texas, formed in 1982. One of the pioneers of noise rock in the 1980s, the band is best remembered as a stepping stone for its frontman David Yow, and bass player David Wm. Sims, both later of The Jesus Lizard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Albini</span> American musician and audio engineer (1962–2024)

Steven Frank Albini was an American musician and audio engineer. He founded and fronted the influential post-hardcore and noise rock bands Big Black (1981–1987), Rapeman (1987–1989) and Shellac (1992–2024), and engineered acclaimed albums like the Pixies' Surfer Rosa (1988), PJ Harvey's Rid of Me and Nirvana's In Utero.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rey Washam</span> American drummer

Reynolds Washam is an American Grammy nominated drummer, who has been performing for more than 35 years. He has collaborated with many bands, the most notable of which include: Scratch Acid, Rapeman, Ministry, the Big Boys, Helios Creed, the Didjits, Lard, Tad and Butthole Surfers offshoot Daddy Longhead. When Jason Schwartzman of Phantom Planet left that band, Washam was hired to fill in on drums for a tour which never materialized. Washam also played jazz with a band, Euripides Pants, that recorded an unreleased album.

<i>Goat</i> (album) 1991 studio album by The Jesus Lizard

Goat is the second studio album by The Jesus Lizard, released in 1991. The album was produced by Steve Albini.

<i>Shot</i> (album) 1996 studio album by The Jesus Lizard

Shot is an album by the band The Jesus Lizard, its first release on Capitol Records. Some copies of the album were accompanied by a documentary titled "Sho(r)t".

<i>Down</i> (The Jesus Lizard album) 1994 studio album by The Jesus Lizard

Down is an album by the Chicago band The Jesus Lizard. It was their last album for Touch and Go records and the last to be produced by Steve Albini.

<i>The Rapeman</i> Japanese manga series

The Rapeman is a Japanese black comedy manga series. It is credited as being created and written by Keiko Aisaki, and illustrated by Shintaro Miyawaki, and ran from 1985 to 1992. The series was discontinued after 13 volumes.

<i>Two Nuns and a Pack Mule</i> 1988 studio album by Rapeman

Two Nuns and a Pack Mule is the only studio album by the Chicago noise rock band Rapeman, released by Touch & Go Records on August 23, 1988. The CD re-release contained the Budd extended play in its entirety.

<i>Budd</i> (EP) 1988 EP by Rapeman

Budd is the first release by the Chicago noise rock band Rapeman. The first three songs on the EP were recorded live. The title is a reference to R. Budd Dwyer, a politician who committed suicide during a televised press conference. The lyrics of the title track contain references to phrases used during the incident.

<i>Scratch Acid</i> (EP) 1984 EP by Scratch Acid

Scratch Acid is the self-titled debut by the Austin, Texas noise rock band Scratch Acid. It was only released on vinyl, but now can be found as the first 8 tracks on the compilation album The Greatest Gift.

<i>Berserker</i> (EP) 1986 EP by Scratch Acid

Berserker is an EP, the final release by the Austin, Texas, noise rock band Scratch Acid. The songs can also be found as tracks 22–27 on the compilation album The Greatest Gift.

<i>Little Miss Carriage!</i> 1992 EP by Didjits

Little Miss Carriage! is an EP by the hardcore punk band, Didjits, released on October 2, 1992, through Touch and Go Records. It was the first to not feature Rick Sims's brother, Brad Sims, on drums.

References

  1. ↑ "Noise Rock Guide: History and Characteristics of Noise Rock". MasterClass . June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  2. ↑ Greene Jr., James (June 26, 2010). "The Weakest Cut: Siamese Dream". Crawdaddy Magazine. Archived from the original on March 6, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2010. [...]This is understandable, considering what end of the spectrum Albini hails from. The guy once fronted a post-hardcore outfit called Rapeman and has written too many scathing punk indictments of mainstream society to count. [...]
  3. ↑ Warwick, Kevin (December 6, 2017). "The Third Coming of the Jesus Lizard". Chicago Reader. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 228. ISBN   0-85112-579-4.
  5. ↑ Corcocan, Nina; Monroe, Jazz (May 8, 2024). "Steve Albini, Storied Producer and Icon of the Rock Underground, Dies at 61". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  6. ↑ Briehan, Tom (May 8, 2024). "Steve Albini Dead At 61". Stereogum. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Burnett III, Zaron (November 8, 2021). "'I'm overdue for a discussion about my role in inspiring 'edgelord' shit': a conversation with Steve Albini". MEL Magazine . Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  8. ↑ Gordon, Jeremy (August 15, 2023). "The evolution of Steve Albini: 'If the dumbest person is on your side, you're on the wrong side'". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  9. ↑ Interview with Steve Albini (May 6, 1994). "Steve discusses the naming of Big Black and Rapeman". Action Park, quoting Rock Names by Adam Dolgins. Archived from the original on May 5, 2007. Retrieved May 21, 2007.
  10. ↑ "Ep150: Steve Albini (Shellac, Big Black, Rapeman)". Radioneutron.com. April 3, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Ep. #92: The Jesus Lizard Week with David Wm. Sims". Kreative Kontrol (vishkhanna.com). April 18, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  12. 1 2 Lazell, Barry (1997) Indie Hits 1980 - 1989, Cherry Red Books, ISBN   0-9517206-9-4
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.