Steel Pole Bath Tub is an American rock band, formed in 1986 in Bozeman, Montana, United States, by Mike Morasky (guitar/vocals) and Dale Flattum (bass/vocals).
Formed in Bozeman, Montana in 1986 by Mike Morasky and Dale Flattum, the duo soon moved the band to Seattle, Washington, where they recruited drummer Darren Mor-X of early noise punk band Mr. Epp and The Calculations to join them. The group stuck around in Seattle for a while before relocating to San Francisco, California in 1988.[1]
The band became known for their chaotic, noisy style and frequent use of television and movie samples, with several 7" singles and albums on Boner Records, becoming a mainstay of the San Francisco music scene.[2]
The only album released on Slash contained few samples, which had previously been a staple of the band, at the insistence of Slash's legal department.[3] The band hoped their second album for Slash would be a cover of The Cars' first album in its entirety, but the label would not allow that idea, and then deemed the demos the band submitted (which contained three Cars covers) unlistenable and refused to release them.[3]
The band would not release any more significant material until the rights to the music they recorded for Slash reverted to them in 2002.[3] In 2002, the band released those recordings as the album Unlistenable, the title a play on a Slash executives comments on the material,[3] and reformed to play the Beyond the Pale festival at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco in November 2002, where they co-headlined with Neurosis and Tarantula Hawk.[7]
They reunited to play a show at the Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, Oregon, on September 4, 2008, as a part of MusicFestNW. The group's song "Train to Miami", from the album The Miracle of Sound in Motion, was featured in a November 2008 television advertisement for the PC and Xbox 360 game, Left 4 Dead.[8] Mike Morasky is also responsible for writing and performing the songs by the fictional band, Midnight Riders, in the game's sequel, Left 4 Dead 2.
On August 11, 2023, Steel Pole Bath Tub released their first music since 2002 in the form of "The Skulls Tape", a re-release of an early cassette. The band also once again reunited, this time at Rockefeller's in Houston, TX to perform at a reunion celebration for the rock club Emo's on September 9, 2023. Noah Landis joined the band for keys, samples, and sound effects throughout the set. The songs "Black Eye Fixer", "Action Man Theme", and "The Seventh Hour of the Seventh Day" also featured children of the original band members on keys and percussion.
Milk Cult, with Morasky and Flattum (and sound man Eric Holland) using the names The Bumblebee and C.C. Nova, released four albums between 1992 and 2000. Their last album, Project M13, was the result of an invitation from the French Government to be guests of the La Friche Art Collective in Marseille.[10]
Novex, a Dale Flattum and Kent project, recorded with Vern and Justin at the Unwound farm, which was released as Kleptophonica (2002).[11]
The Hand is a side project including Dale Flattum and Zak Sally of Low.
"Take Me Back or I'll Drown Our Dog" - 7'/12" - (Alternative Tentacles, 1991)
"Meathook Up My Rectum" - 7' - (Alternative Tentacles, 1991)
Compilations
"Meathook Up My Rectum" - The Bat is Back - (Alternative Tentacles, 1669
C.C. Nova
1994 - Milk Cult C.C. Nova Dispatch (Communion)
Related Research Articles
Boner Records was an American independent record label in Berkeley, California, owned by Tom Flynn. Between 1982 and 1993, Boner released recordings by Fang, Verbal Abuse, MDC, Boneless Ones, Duh, Steel Pole Bath Tub, Melvins, The Warlock Pinchers, Hell's Kitchen, and Superconductor.
Slash Records was an American record label originally specializing in local punk rock bands, active from 1978 to 2000. It was notable as one of the first and most successful independent record labels in alternative music, before its eventual acquisition by Warner Music Group.
The Nein is an indie rock band from Durham, North Carolina, and is composed of former members of The White Octave, Steel Pole Bath Tub, and Piedmont Charisma. The band is signed to the Canadian label Sonic Unyon.
Tumor Circus was a collaboration between Jello Biafra and members of Steel Pole Bath Tub and Grong Grong. They released one self-titled album in 1991.
Virus 100 is a compilation album released by Alternative Tentacles. Featuring cover versions of Dead Kennedys songs performed by various artists, the album celebrates the record label's 100th release and its 10th anniversary.
Milk Cult was an American San Francisco-based electronic band. Founded as a studio-only project in 1990, the band's nucleus comprises musicians Dale Flattum, Eric Holland and Mike Morasky. Morasky and Flattum are also known for being founding members of the noise/industrial rock group Steel Pole Bath Tub, which the duo continued their involvement with concurrent to Milk Cult. Milk Cult is known for their found-sound experiments and dense sample-based compositions, as well as their collaborations with numerous musical acts, including Faith No More, Jawbreaker, Grotus, Neurosis, Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 and The Geraldine Fibbers.
Your Choice Records was a German independent record label that was founded in 1988 by producer Tobby Holzinger. The label specialized in independent punk music, including live releases of German and other international acts. Holzinger provided a share of the record sale profit to various animal rights organisations.
Your Choice Live Series 019 is a live album by Steel Pole Bath Tub. It was recorded live at Alte Turnhalle in Albig, Germany by Rock City Studios on September 17, 1992 and mixed in San Francisco by Steel Pole Bath Tub. This album is the first full-length live album by Steel Pole Bath Tub, produced by Tobby Holzinger.
Mike Morasky is an American composer, visual effects artist, director and programmer. He composed the scores for the Valve games Team Fortress 2, the Left 4 Dead series, Portal 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Half-Life: Alyx and Counter-Strike 2. He worked on visual effects for the Lord of the Rings and Matrix films, and founded the underground art bands Steel Pole Bath Tub, Milk Cult and DUH.
Butterfly Love is the debut studio album by the American band Steel Pole Bath Tub. It was released in 1989 by Boner Records.
Lurch is an EP by Steel Pole Bath Tub, released in 1990 by Boner Records.
Lurch/Butterfly Love is a compilation album by Steel Pole Bath Tub, released in 1990 by Boner Records.
Tulip is the second studio album by Steel Pole Bath Tub, released in 1990 by Boner Records.
The Miracle of Sound in Motion is the third studio album by Steel Pole Bath Tub, released on May 10, 1993 by Boner Records.
Scars From Falling Down is a studio album by Steel Pole Bath Tub, released in 1995 through Slash Records.
Love God is the debut studio album by the electronic band Milk Cult, released in 1992 by Boner Records.
Project M-13 is the fourth and final studio album by Milk Cult, released on March 7, 2000, by 0 To 1 Recordings.
DUH was a San Francisco-based alternative and noise rock supergroup. The band comprised an ever-rotating line-up that featured members of Steel Pole Bath Tub, Faith No More, Models, Fang, Milk Cult, Phantom 309, Pansy Division and Despise You.
Unlistenable is the fifth studio album by Steel Pole Bath Tub, released on September 24, 2002, by 0 to 1 Recordings.
Some Cocktail Suggestions is an EP by Steel Pole Bath Tub, released on November 8, 1994 by Boner Records.
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