Flattbush
Encyclopedia
Flattbush is a heavy metal
band from Bellflower, California
, a small city within South Central Los Angeles county. The group was established in early 1993 by Enrico Maniago (vocals), Brian Legaspi (lead guitar), Eric Long (rhythm guitar), Arman Maniago (bass guitar), and Anthony Gonzales (drums). Brian Legaspi exited the group in 1994, the band then became a quartet. Flattbush performed numerous high school and college concerts before entering into the Southern California
and Orange County, California
bar and club circuit. In 1998, Flattbush made a name for themselves by opening for Melt Banana of Japan. In 1999, Drummer Anthony Gonzales resigned and was replaced by Ramon Banda. Founding member of Faith No More
, Billy Gould
, signed the band onto his label, Koolarrow Records
, in 2001. Flattbush opened a show for Napalm Death
of Birmingham
, England in 2002.
In 2002, guitarist Eric Long resigned and was then replaced by guitarist Bradley Walther. Flattbush recorded their Koolarrow Records debut, Smash The Octopus, produced by Bill Gould that same year and released in 2003. Following Flattbushs' first tour of the United States in 2003, Ramon Banda resigned and was replaced by drummer Joe Luevano before their second headlining tour of the United States in 2004 and again in 2005. Flattbush maintains a legacy for being one of the most underground and wildest acts in Grindcore
.
, Consolidated
, Spearhead
).
After releasing their first album Smash the Octopus in the Fall of 2003, Flattbush embarked on two U.S. tours including opening slots with Mike Patton
and Rahzel
, a west coast tour in 2004 with Fear Factory
. Over the next two years, the band played with Asesino
, Brujeria
, and completed two successful American tours.
, exploring politics and current events since 1996. In addition, Flattbush has openly espoused Marxism
and Leftist ideals, and glorifying the People's Movement in their website, lyrics, liner notes, and imagery since 2001.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band from Bellflower, California
Bellflower, California
Bellflower is a city in Los Angeles County, California, and is a suburb of Los Angeles. It was incorporated on September 3, 1957. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 76,616, up from 72,878 at the 2000 census....
, a small city within South Central Los Angeles county. The group was established in early 1993 by Enrico Maniago (vocals), Brian Legaspi (lead guitar), Eric Long (rhythm guitar), Arman Maniago (bass guitar), and Anthony Gonzales (drums). Brian Legaspi exited the group in 1994, the band then became a quartet. Flattbush performed numerous high school and college concerts before entering into the Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
and Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
bar and club circuit. In 1998, Flattbush made a name for themselves by opening for Melt Banana of Japan. In 1999, Drummer Anthony Gonzales resigned and was replaced by Ramon Banda. Founding member of Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
, Billy Gould
Billy Gould
Billy Gould is an American musician and producer. He is noted for playing bass in the band Faith No More.- Faith No More :...
, signed the band onto his label, Koolarrow Records
Koolarrow Records
Koolarrow Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, set up by Faith No More's Bass Guitarist Billy Gould.- Current artists :The Talking Book*Como Asesinar a Felipes*Alexander Hacke*Brujeria*Don Cikuta*Dureforsog*Flattbush...
, in 2001. Flattbush opened a show for Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England in 2002.
In 2002, guitarist Eric Long resigned and was then replaced by guitarist Bradley Walther. Flattbush recorded their Koolarrow Records debut, Smash The Octopus, produced by Bill Gould that same year and released in 2003. Following Flattbushs' first tour of the United States in 2003, Ramon Banda resigned and was replaced by drummer Joe Luevano before their second headlining tour of the United States in 2004 and again in 2005. Flattbush maintains a legacy for being one of the most underground and wildest acts in Grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
.
Smash the Octopus
Smash the Octopus was Flattbush's debut release for Koolarrow Records, consisting of 13 tracks recorded and mixed in April 2003 in San Francisco by Billy Gould (Faith No More) and engineered by Mark Pistel (Meat Beat ManifestoMeat Beat Manifesto
Meat Beat Manifesto, often shortened to Meat Beat or MBM, is an electronic music group originally consisting of Jack Dangers and Jonny Stephens formed in 1987 in Swindon, UK...
, Consolidated
Consolidated
Consolidated may refer to:*Consolidated *Consolidated Aircraft , an aircraft manufacturer*Consolidated city-county*Consolidation...
, Spearhead
Michael Franti
Michael Franti is an American poet, musician, and composer. He is the creator and lead vocalist of Michael Franti & Spearhead, a band that blends hip hop with a variety of other styles including funk, reggae, jazz, folk, and rock...
).
After releasing their first album Smash the Octopus in the Fall of 2003, Flattbush embarked on two U.S. tours including opening slots with Mike Patton
Mike Patton
Michael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the metal/experimental rock band Faith No More. He has also sung for Mr...
and Rahzel
Rahzel
Rahzel M. Brown, also known as simply Rahzel, is an American musician and virtuoso beatboxer, formerly a member of The Roots.Nicknamed the "Godfather of Noyze," Rahzel is known for an ability to sing or rap while simultaneously beatboxing, as evidenced in his performances of "Iron Man" and his...
, a west coast tour in 2004 with Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
. Over the next two years, the band played with Asesino
Asesino
Asesino is an American extreme metal band and the recurring project of ex-Brujeria guitarist Dino Cazares, which has featured members of Brujeria, Fear Factory, Sepultura, Sadistic Intent and Static-X....
, Brujeria
Brujeria (band)
Brujeria is an extreme metal band formed in Tijuana, Mexico in 1989. Their name comes from the Spanish word for "witchcraft". Their songs, which are sung in Spanish, are focused on Satanism, anti-Christianity, sex, immigration, narcotics smuggling, politics....
, and completed two successful American tours.
Seize the Time
Flattbush's second album Seize the Time was released on September 9, 2006, produced once again by Billy Gould. The band plans to tour the U.S. and abroad.Politics
Flattbush's lyrical content had mainly focused on Anti-imperialismAnti-imperialism
Anti-imperialism, strictly speaking, is a term that may be applied to a movement opposed to any form of colonialism or imperialism. Anti-imperialism includes opposition to wars of conquest, particularly of non-contiguous territory or people with a different language or culture; it also includes...
, exploring politics and current events since 1996. In addition, Flattbush has openly espoused Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
and Leftist ideals, and glorifying the People's Movement in their website, lyrics, liner notes, and imagery since 2001.
Discography
- Bowel's Why We're Here (1994)
- Bored Again/Born Again (1994)
- Disco Death (1995)
- Expose/Oppose (1997)
- Smash the Octopus (2000)
- Kontra 'TadoKontra 'TadoKontra 'Tado, released in 2001 , was an album by US rock band Flattbush.-Track listing:#"Foxhole" #"Napalm"...
(2001) - Smash the OctopusSmash The OctopusSmash The Octopus, released in 2003 , was the first studio album by US rock band Flattbush.-Track listing:#"Smash The Octopus" #"Better Off Dead"...
(2003) Koolarrow Records - Seize the TimeSeize the TimeSeize the Time, released in 2006 , was the second studio album by US rock band Flattbush.-Track listing:#"Serve the People" #"Multiple Deportation" #"Lupa" #"Seize the Time"...
(2006) Koolarrow Records - Otomatik Attak! (2010) Koolarrow Records