Backbiter
Encyclopedia
Backbiter is a protopunk band from Los Angeles
, California that has received national recognition. They played their first show October 23, 1991, at the Shamrock Bar in Hollywood, CA on a bill with Dicktit, the Jack Brewer Band and The Drills (whose organist, Jeff Muendel
, later joined Backbiter for a few years and one album). Singer/guitarist Jonathan Hall had been playing in Texorcist
(the Los Angeles band with Linda "Texacala" Jones, formerly of Tex and the Horseheads, not the Texas band of the same name
) and the Angry Samoans
with and bassist Heath Seifert. They jammed with drummer Bob Lee
(one of the Devo
Bob drummers) and the power trio came together, playing local clubs such as the notable post-punk hangout, Raji's
.
The band released their first CD, Get Together in 1994. A second effort in 2001, a split-CD with Swedish band Elope on Man’s Ruin Records
(MR-2015) featured Muendel on Hammond B3 organ. Hall doesn’t sing about warlocks and unicorns, nor does the group sludge it up in an overtly Black Sabbath
fashion, but the association with Man’s Ruin has associated them with the Stoner rock
movement. That release is arguably their heaviest.
The band released a third album in 2006, once again as power trio sans the organ. The band continues to play live shows throughout California. They received LA Weekly
's Heavy Metal Band of the Year award, which was presented to them by musician Ronnie James Dio
.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California that has received national recognition. They played their first show October 23, 1991, at the Shamrock Bar in Hollywood, CA on a bill with Dicktit, the Jack Brewer Band and The Drills (whose organist, Jeff Muendel
Jeff Muendel
Jeff Muendel is both an author and Hammond organist/keyboardist who has published several novels and played with bands including Rattlebone, , , Masters of Reality and .-Early life and education:Muendel grew up in Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin....
, later joined Backbiter for a few years and one album). Singer/guitarist Jonathan Hall had been playing in Texorcist
Tex & the Horseheads
Tex & the Horseheads is an American punk rock band, which emerged in the Los Angeles punk subculture of the early-1980s. Their original run was from 1980 to 1986, and during this time they enjoyed a sizeable cult following...
(the Los Angeles band with Linda "Texacala" Jones, formerly of Tex and the Horseheads, not the Texas band of the same name
TexorcisT
TexorcisT is the nym for Tex Mignog and a punk rock band he led by the same name.- Tex Mignog :Technologist Tex Mignog , aka the TexoricsT , is the founder and 'Chief Subversion Officer' of the Collusion Syndicate hacker group.As the spokesperson for the Collusion Syndicate, the TexoricisT made...
) and the Angry Samoans
Angry Samoans
The Angry Samoans are an American punk rock band in the first wave of American punk. Formed in August 1978 in Los Angeles, California by early 1970s rock writer "Metal" Mike Saunders and his sibling lead guitarist bonze blayk, along with co-conspirator Gregg Turner and original recruits bassist...
with and bassist Heath Seifert. They jammed with drummer Bob Lee
Bob Lee
Bob Lee may refer to:*Bob Lee , see List of California district attorneys*Bob Lee , former professional baseball pitcher*Bob Lee , former professional American football player...
(one of the Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
Bob drummers) and the power trio came together, playing local clubs such as the notable post-punk hangout, Raji's
Raji's
Raji's was a rock and roll nightclub in central Hollywood, open in the 1980s and early 1990s. It was located in the Hastings Hotel building. The space had previously been a Greek restaurant called The King's Palace....
.
The band released their first CD, Get Together in 1994. A second effort in 2001, a split-CD with Swedish band Elope on Man’s Ruin Records
Man's Ruin Records
Man's Ruin Records was an independent record label, owned and founded by Bay Area artist Frank Kozik. After the 1994 release of Man's Ruin's first record, entitled Experimental Audio Research : Delta 6, Kozik worked with artists who he wanted to release; he also designed all of the sleeve art for...
(MR-2015) featured Muendel on Hammond B3 organ. Hall doesn’t sing about warlocks and unicorns, nor does the group sludge it up in an overtly Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
fashion, but the association with Man’s Ruin has associated them with the Stoner rock
Stoner rock
Stoner rock or stoner metal is a subgenre of heavy metal, combining elements of psychedelic rock, blues rock, traditional heavy metal and doom metal. Stoner rock is typically slow-to-mid tempo and features a bass-heavy sound, melodic vocals, and 'retro' production...
movement. That release is arguably their heaviest.
The band released a third album in 2006, once again as power trio sans the organ. The band continues to play live shows throughout California. They received LA Weekly
LA Weekly
LA Weekly is a free weekly tabloid-sized "alternative weekly" in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Editor/Publisher Jay Levin and a board of directors that included actor-producer Michael Douglas...
's Heavy Metal Band of the Year award, which was presented to them by musician Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
.
Current members
- Jonathan Hall - vocals, guitar
- Heath Seifert - bass
- Bob Lee - drums, vocals