Stuff You Might’ve Missed – Big Black
Posted on August 6, 2009 by admin
Associated Entries: Rapeman
Originally Published On: 09-16-2008
What started out as a tiny bedroom project for Steve Albini eventually turned into one of the most mesmerizing and violent rock bands of the 80s, if not the whole music history. If rock music was criticized by many parents for being tasteless and offensive, then Big Black certainly represented the worst nightmares of responsible mothers.
Lungs - 1982
In the early 80s Albini made a name for himself as a journalist, writing for Chicago zine “Matter” as well as “Forced Exposure”. At the same time, he recorded “Lungs” EP with the help of Roland TR-606, which was listed as an actual member of the band on all of Big Black records.
“Lungs” was recorded at Northwestern University and released by Ruthless Records in 1982. It included a variety of inserts, like condoms, dollar bills, bloody bandages and razor blades, among others. Later, Steve Albini described it as an artistic regret.
“Lungs” was described by All Music Guide as a “batch of sparse, minimal new wave recorded cheaply in two different apartment locations.” According to AMG the album combined not-so pleasant lyrical subjects of the likes of Swans and “jagged minimalism of bands like Devo, Wire and Suicide”.
Santiago Durango and Jeff Pezatti from Naked Raygun joined the band in 1983 and with this line-up they recorded two EPs. Afterwards, Pezatti was replaced with David Riley, a big-time funk fan, who was working in a studio frequented by the likes of George Clinton and Sly Stone. However, even before he joined the band, Big Black did a cover of James Brown’s “Big Payback”, which also demonstrated their own interest in funk.
Atomizer - 1987
1987 “Atomizer” became one of their crowning achievements, although it also created confusion among the audience, due to controversial lyrics. Much of lyrical inspiration/lyrics for that album came from teen years that Albini spent in Missoula, Montana.
AMG pointed out that “Atomizer is a wailing behemoth of assaultive Roland beats, Steve Albini and Santiago Durango’s clanging and whirring guitars, and new member Dave Riley’s lumberjack bass.” and they also noted that “The record remains as horrifying as the day it was recorded.”
Shortly before they broke up, they released one more album – “Songs About Fucking”, which brought even more recognition, but the band decided that it would be a good time to stop by then, due to Durango leaving the band to attend law school, as well as their lack of interest in success/career goals of any kind.
Songs About Fucking - 1987
AMG described the sound of the album as “yowl, ching, thump-thump-screech.” with each song on the album being “incisive enough to render a razor as effective as a butter knife.” and they also noted that “ugly characters line up in the songs like early arrivals at a monster truck rally.”
After Big Black’s dissolution, Albini went on to form Rapeman (and later, Shellac), while Santiago Durango recorded solo as Arsenal – under that moniker, he released 1988 “Manipulator” EP and 1990 “Factory Smoke Is A Sign Of Progress” full-length.
Final Line-Up:
Dave Riley (Miasma Of Funk, Savage Beliefs)
Santiago Durango (Naked Raygun, Arsenal)
Steve Albini (Rapeman, Shellac)
Former Members:
Jeff Pezzati (Naked Raygun)
Discography:
Lungs 12″ (Ruthless, 1982 / Touch & Go, 1992)
Bulldozer 12″ (Ruthless, 1983 / Touch & Go, 1992)
Racer X 12″ / CS (Homestead, 1985 / Touch & Go, 1992)
Rema-Rema 7″ (Forced Exposure, 1985)
Il Duce 7″ (Homstead, 1985 / Touch & Go, 1992)
Atomizer LP (Homstead, 1986 / Torso, 1986 / Blast First, 1986 / Touch & Go, 1992)
Hammer Party LP/CD (Boudisque, 1986 / Homestead, 1986 / Touch & Go, 1992 / Au Go Go, 1992)
Headache/Heartbeat 12″ + 7″ (Blast First, 1987 / Touch & Go, 1987)
Headache 12″ / CS (Blast First, 1987 / Touch & Go, 1987)
Heartbeat 7″ (Blast First, 1987 / Touch & Go, 1987)
He’s A Whore / The Model 7″ (Touch & Go, 1987 / Blast First, 1987)
The Rich Man’s Eight Track Tape CD (Homestead, 1987 / Blast First, 1987 / Touch & Go, 1992)
Songs About Fucking LP / CD (Touch & Go, 1987 / Blast First, 1987 / Au Go Go, 1987 / Di Di Music, 1987 / Torso, 1987 / Au Go Go, 1992)
Pig Pile LP / CD (Touch & Go, 1992 / Sento, 1992 / Au Go Go, 1992)
Boxes LP + 5″ + VHS (Touch & Go, 1992)
It’s Toasted CD (Touch & Go, 1992)
Compilation Tracks:
“Jump The Climb” on Bang Zoom #3 (Bang Zoom Zine, 1983)
“I Can Be Killed” on Bang Zoom #3 (Bang Zoom Zine, 1983)
“Rip” on Bang Zoom #3 (Bang Zoom Zine, 1983)
“Texas (Live)” on Code Blue (Last Rites, 1984)
“Big Payback” on Loud’N'Fast Radio Presents: The Middle Of America (H.I.D. Productions, 1984)
“Hunter’s Safety (Tommy Bartlett Dies In Pain)” on Loud’N'Fast Radio Presents: The Middle Of America (H.I.D. Productions, 1984)
“Every Man For Himself” on God’s Favorite Dog (Touch And Go, 1986)
“Crack Up” on God’s Favorite Dog (Touch And Go, 1986)
“Dead Billy (Live)” on Head Over Ears – A Debris Compilation (Play Hard Records, 1987)
“Il Duce” on Hog Butcher For The World (Mad Queen Records, 1987) / The Wailing Ultimate – The Homestead Records Compilation (Homestead, 1987)
“Burning Indian Wife” on Happiness Is Dry Pants (Chemical Imbalance Fanzine #2, 1988)
“Kerosene” on Nothing Short Of Total War (Blast First, 1989) / Devil’s Jukebox (Blast First, 1989)
“He’s A Whore” on Nothing Short Of Total War (Blast First, 1989) / Devil’s Jukebox (Blast First, 1989)
“Cables” on Touch And Go Fall 1992 Sampler (Touch And Go, 1992)
