The Black Gang

Last updated
The Black Gang
Also known asThe Black Gang Crew
(Baiza/Hodges lineup)
Origin San Pedro, California
Genres Punk rock
Years active1997–present
(currently on hiatus)
Labels Columbia, Kill Rock Stars, Clenchedwrench
Members Mike Watt
Nels Cline
Bob Lee
Past members Stephen Hodges
Joe Baiza
Steve Reed

The Black Gang was a rock music trio formed in 1997 by American musician Mike Watt to record and tour behind his second solo album, Contemplating The Engine Room (Columbia Records, 1997). [1] [2] Of all of the "project" (short-term bands) Watt has formed since the disbanding of Firehose in 1994, The Black Gang (named after Navy slang for sailors who work on a boat's or submarine's engine room) has gone through the most permutations of any of Watt's backing groups.

For the recording of the album in May 1997, Watt tapped guitarist Nels Cline (whom he had recorded and toured with on his previous solo album, [3] Ball-Hog or Tugboat? ) and sometime Tom Waits drummer Stephen Hodges. [1] Commitments with the Geraldine Fibbers kept Cline from touring with Watt for most of the tour, and Watt hired Joe Baiza to replace him. Watt's longtime soundman since Firehose, Steve Reed, was officially added to the touring lineup as well. Reed sang backing vocals from behind the mixing board and played sound effects for some of the songs (via a CD-R), in addition to his normal sound engineering duties.

A one-time five-member version of the band with both Cline and Baiza playing guitar along with Watt, Hodges and Reed, played a one-off gig in Long Beach in 1998 that was recorded and later released as bonus download-only tracks on the 20th Anniversary vinyl release of ...Engine Room and as a separate digital-only album, Contemplating the Engine Room: Live at Jillian's, Long Beach '98 - Five-Man Opera.

Hodges left the band for other commitments and was replaced by Bob Lee in 1998, starting with a spring European tour. Baiza then departed The Black Gang after some work-related conflicts with Watt; Cline was by then able to rejoin the band for one last tour leg behind the album. To mark the occasion, Cline composed a new song, "This is a Prayer", which was debuted during his tour stint, and later immortalized on a 7-inch EP released on the Kill Rock Stars label.

After retiring the piece, Watt continued to play some gigs with the Cline/Lee Black Gang lineup. An intention by Watt to record a new album with this lineup was derailed by a near-fatal illness Watt suffered in January 2000, which would inspire his next solo album, The Secondman's Middle Stand .

Watt and Cline frequently play together as members of the improvisational jazz/punk ensemble Banyan, [4] in between Cline's commitments with Wilco and as a solo artist, and Watt's own schedule with Iggy Pop & The Stooges and as a solo act.

Watt reformed the Nels Cline/Bob Lee version of The Black Gang for a new album, recorded in 2009 in a marathon three-day recording session. The album has yet to be released but was originally set for a 2015 release on Watt's own clenchedwrench label.

Watt and Hodges reunited when the latter was tapped to play drums with mssv, replacing Jim Keltner who had recorded with Watt and Mike Baggetta on the album Wall of Flowers but was averse to touring.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Watt</span> American musician

Michael David Watt is an American bassist, vocalist and songwriter. He co-founded and played bass guitar for the rock bands Minutemen (1980–1985), Dos (1985–present), and Firehose (1986–1994). He began a solo career with the 1994 album Ball-Hog or Tugboat?, he has since released three additional solo albums, most recently in 2010 with Hyphenated-man. He is also the frontman for the supergroup Big Walnuts Yonder (2008–present), a member of the art rock group Banyan (1997–present) and is involved with several other musical projects. From 2003 until 2013, he was the bass guitarist for The Stooges.

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

Firehose was an American alternative rock band consisting of Mike Watt, Ed Crawford, and George Hurley (drums). They were initially active from 1986 to 1994, and briefly reunited in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. Boon</span> American guitarist and singer (1958–1985)

Dennes Dale Boon was an American musician, best known as the guitarist, singer and songwriter of the punk rock trio Minutemen. He was born on April 1, 1958, in San Pedro, California, and formed Minutemen in 1980 with bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley. Minutemen were known for their politically-charged lyrics and energetic, fast-paced music, and they released several influential records during their career. Boon died in an automobile accident on December 22, 1985, at the age of 27. Despite his early death, Boon's contributions to punk rock and independent music have been widely-recognized. He is remembered as an important figure in the history of these genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nels Cline</span> American guitarist and composer

Nels Courtney Cline is an American guitarist and composer. He has been the guitarist for the band Wilco since 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banyan (band)</span> Musical artist

Banyan is an art rock/alternative rock band with heavy jazz and funk influence based in Los Angeles, California.

<i>Ball-Hog or Tugboat?</i> 1995 studio album by Mike Watt

Ball-Hog or Tugboat? is the 1995 debut solo album by American musician Mike Watt, previously known for his work as the bass guitarist and songwriter for the punk rock groups Minutemen and fIREHOSE.

<i>The Secondmans Middle Stand</i> 2004 studio album by Mike Watt

The Secondman's Middle Stand was Mike Watt's third solo album and the first full-length recording that he had made under his own name since the release of Contemplating The Engine Room in 1997.

dos is an American rock group composed of Mike Watt and Kira Roessler, who both sing and play bass guitar. Critic Greg Prato describes their unusual instrumentation as "a haunting yet intriguing and original sound."

The Real Oh My is an American side project band featuring Minutemen/Firehose bassist Mike Watt, Geraldine Fibbers/Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, and Circle Jerks drummer Kevin Fitzgerald. The trio, which plays occasional club gigs in the Los Angeles area, plays their own interpretations of Iggy & The Stooges and other classics.

The Crew Of The Flying Saucer was former The Minutemen/Firehose bassist Mike Watt's second touring band, formed to continue touring behind his first solo album, 1995's Ball-Hog or Tugboat?. The band consisted of, along with Watt on bass and vocals, guitarist Nels Cline and two drummers, Vince Meghrouni and Michael Preussner. Meghrouni also doubled on saxophone. All three had played on various cuts on Ball-Hog....

<i>The Way Things Work</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Unknown Instructors

The Way Things Work is the debut album by American improvisational band Unknown Instructors, featuring Mike Watt, George Hurley, Joe Baiza, Jack Brewer, and poet Dan McGuire.

<i>Contemplating the Engine Room</i> 1997 studio album by Mike Watt

Contemplating the Engine Room is a punk rock opera by Minutemen veteran Mike Watt. Released in 1997, the album is a punk rock song cycle that uses navy life as an extended metaphor for both Watt's family history and his first band, the Minutemen. The album was greeted with a positive response. The cover art features a picture of Watt's father in his Navy uniform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Cummins</span> American musician

Joel Nathan Cummins is an American musician, and founding member/keyboardist for progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee.

<i>The Masters Voice</i> 2007 studio album by Unknown Instructors

The Master's Voice is the second album by American improvisational band Unknown Instructors. The core quartet of Mike Watt, George Hurley, Joe Baiza, and poet/saxophonist Dan McGuire reconvene on the album, with guest vocals on three tracks by David Thomas and on another track by artist Raymond Pettibon. In addition, Watt also contributes a vocal of his own. The album was recorded at Total Access Studio in Redondo Beach, California, the same studio where Black Flag recorded many of their classic mid-80's album releases and where Watt and Hurley's The Minutemen had recorded Project: Mersh in 1985.

Joe Baiza is a punk rock and jazz guitarist whom Eugene Chadbourne cites as one of the most noteworthy guitarists to emerge from the Southern California punk rock milieu.

<i>Mr. Machinery Operator</i> 1993 studio album by Firehose

Mr. Machinery Operator is the fifth and final studio album by the American alternative rock band Firehose. It is also their second album to be released on the major label, Columbia Records.

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

Minutemen were an American punk rock band formed in San Pedro, California, in 1980. Composed of guitarist/vocalist D. Boon, bassist/vocalist Mike Watt, and drummer George Hurley, Minutemen recorded four albums and eight EPs before Boon's death in an automobile accident in 1985; the band broke up shortly thereafter. They were noted in the California punk community for a philosophy of "jamming econo"—a sense of thriftiness reflected in their touring and short, tight songs as well as their eclectic style drawing on hardcore punk, funk, jazz, and other sources.

Big Walnuts Yonder is an American indie rock supergroup formed in 2008. The band consists of bassist/vocalist Mike Watt from Minutemen, guitarist Nels Cline from Wilco, drummer Greg Saunier from Deerhoof, and guitarist/vocalist Nick Reinhart from Tera Melos. Big Walnuts Yonder's self-titled debut album was released on May 5, 2017 via Sargent House.

<i>Big Walnuts Yonder</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Big Walnuts Yonder

Big Walnuts Yonder is an indie rock album released in 2017 by the eponymous supergroup. Big Walnuts Yonder consists of bassist/vocalist Mike Watt from Minutemen, guitarist Nels Cline from Wilco, drummer Greg Saunier from Deerhoof, and guitarist/vocalist Nick Reinhart from Tera Melos.

mssv is an American band featuring Mike Baggetta, Mike Watt and Stephen Hodges.

References

  1. 1 2 Kot, Greg (October 17, 1997). "Mike Watt: Contemplating the Engine Room (Columbia)". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  2. ↑ Cohan, Brad (April 4, 2011). "Q&A: Mike Watt on Napping, Beards, the Neutral Milk Guy, and D Boon". The Village Voice . Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  3. ↑ Triplett, Gene (June 12, 2009). "Nels Cline, Wilco have been good fit". The Oklahoman . Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  4. ↑ Augusto, Troy J. (April 18, 1997). "Banyan". Variety . Retrieved March 23, 2019.
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.