London May
Encyclopedia
London May is a rock musician best known for playing drums in Glenn Danzig
's post-Misfits/pre-Danzig
punk/goth band Samhain
, which he joined in the summer of 1985. May played on the group's best know release, "November-Coming-Fire
" as well as "Final Descent" and "Live: '85-'86"
Previously, May was the drummer for Dischord Records
band, Reptile House
, which later became Dischord Records band Lungfish
.
He remained with Samhain until February 1987, when he was replaced by Chuck Biscuits
.
Later, he performed briefly with Dain Bramage
(replacing a pre-Nirvana Dave Grohl
), Voice of Doom, Dag Nasty
(with Minor Threat's Brian Baker
and Doug Carrion of The Descendents)
, and remained for longer stints in Lunchbox (with T.S.O.L.'s Ron Emory), Dead, White, and Blue, Distorted Pony (recorded/produced by Steve Albini
), Sheppard Pratt (on drums and guitar, produced by The Cramps/Nick Cave's Kid Congo Powers
), The Amazing Chan Clan (on guitar), and Carbonation
(on guitar with producer Paul Stacy of Oasis
/Black Crows).
London re-joined Samhain
for their 1999 reunion tour, switching off on bass and drums with Steve Zing
. He later drummed for Tiger Army
and recorded their classic "Power Of Moonlight" CD along with Son of Sam's first album, "Songs From The Earth
", which featured vocalist Davey Havok
of AFI
and a guest appearance by Glenn Danzig
.
In 2003 London joined The Hunns (featuring skateboarding legend Duane Peters
) for a blitzkrieg 35 date tour of Europe. While on tour London met the German born FrankEEE and together they formed the rock "melancholia" band 'The Foul and the Fragrant' and have released two albums. The Foul and The Fragrant is an international project in which the members use internet file sharing to write and record material.
In 2008 May founded the Los Angeles-based hardcore punk rock tribute band Millions Of Dead Comps. with Chris Bratton (ex-Chain Of Strength
, Inside Out
, Drive Like Jehu
) and all proceeds from their performances are donated to charity. To date, the group has raised over $2000 for various charities in and around Los Angeles.
In 2009 Metallica
selected Samhain
to appear as a special guest artist on their Guitar Hero: Metallica
video game and May's original drum track from "Mother Of Mercy," a song from the 1986 album, "Samhain III November-Coming-Fire," is featured. The game has sold over 1.5 million copies and has been nominated for 2010 music video game of the year.
London and his former band Distorted Pony re-convened in 2010 for their 20th anniversary and have been rehearsing and recording new material in preparation for a new release and European tour. In May, the band played three consecutive nights in Los Angeles to celebrate there return to the stage after disbanding 17 years ago.
Also in 2010, Minor Threat
/Fugazi/Dischord Records
front man Ian Mackaye
and London have been working on the upcoming 25th anniversary re-release of Reptile House's first Dischord 7" from 1985 (which Mackaye also produced.)
May has also traveled the globe as a solo performer and fund raiser, recently performing in Cairo, Egypt and Beijing, China where he helped raise money for animal welfare by performing in a Misfits tribute band.
In March 2010 London (also a part-time ER nurse) spent a week in earthquake ravaged Haiti where he volunteered as part of an emergency medical team.
Branching out even further, London recently starred in the Ron Howard
produced TV pilot, The Great Escape, for TNT/FOX network.
Glenn Danzig
Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig (born Glenn Allen Anzalone; June 23, 1955 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, entrepreneur, and a progenitor of the horror punk subgenre of music. He is a founder of bands the Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig...
's post-Misfits/pre-Danzig
Danzig (band)
Danzig is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1987 in Lodi, New Jersey. The band serves as a musical outlet for the singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig. Danzig can be seen as the third stage in Glenn Danzig's musical career, preceded by the horror punk bands The Misfits and Samhain...
punk/goth band Samhain
Samhain (band)
Samhain was an American rock band formed by singer Glenn Danzig in 1983, immediately following his departure from the Misfits. Samhain played in more of a deathrock and heavy metal-infused style of horror punk than Danzig's previous band. By 1987 Samhain's membership evolved into a new band,...
, which he joined in the summer of 1985. May played on the group's best know release, "November-Coming-Fire
November-Coming-Fire
Samhain III: November-Coming-Fire was the band Samhain's third release. It was issued in 1986 on lead singer Glenn Danzig's independent record label, Plan 9. It is considered by many fans to be the band's best piece of work, as they were evolving their own style of music, which was often described...
" as well as "Final Descent" and "Live: '85-'86"
Previously, May was the drummer for Dischord Records
Dischord Records
Dischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in the independent punk music of the D.C.-area music scene. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release Minor Disturbance by The Teen Idles...
band, Reptile House
Reptile House
Reptile House was a 1980s hardcore punk band from Baltimore's music scene. The band included Daniel Higgs, later of Lungfish, guitarists Alex Layne, Asa Osborne and Joe Goldsborough, bass players David Rhodes and Leigh Panlilio, as well as drummers Gary Breezee and London May who went on to play...
, which later became Dischord Records band Lungfish
Lungfish (band)
Lungfish is a post-hardcore band formed in 1987 in Baltimore, Maryland. All of their music has been released by the Washington, D.C. punk label Dischord except for their first LP, Necklace of Heads which was released by Simple Machines .Their line-up as of 2005 consists of Daniel Higgs , Asa...
.
He remained with Samhain until February 1987, when he was replaced by Chuck Biscuits
Chuck Biscuits
Chuck Biscuits is a Canadian-born drummer, now a U.S. citizen, who is best known as an original member of the heavy metal/hard rock band Danzig. Most recently, he was a member of the punk rock band Social Distortion in the late 1990s...
.
Later, he performed briefly with Dain Bramage
Dain Bramage
Dain Bramage was a short-lived punk rock band from Washington, D.C. The group was one of former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl's pre-Nirvana bands - before he made himself known in the band Scream.-History:...
(replacing a pre-Nirvana Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
), Voice of Doom, Dag Nasty
Dag Nasty
Dag Nasty was a Washington D.C. punk band formed in 1985 by guitarist Brian Baker of Minor Threat, drummer Colin Sears and bassist Roger Marbury, both of Bloody Mannequin Orchestra, and vocalist Shawn Brown...
(with Minor Threat's Brian Baker
Brian Baker
Brian Baker may refer to:* Brian Baker , American guitarist for punk bands Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, and Bad Religion, among others* Brian Baker , American actor and former Sprint spokesman...
and Doug Carrion of The Descendents)
, and remained for longer stints in Lunchbox (with T.S.O.L.'s Ron Emory), Dead, White, and Blue, Distorted Pony (recorded/produced by Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
), Sheppard Pratt (on drums and guitar, produced by The Cramps/Nick Cave's Kid Congo Powers
Kid Congo Powers
Kid Congo Powers is the stage name of Brian Tristan , an American rock guitarist and singer, best known as a member of The Gun Club, The Cramps and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.-Biography:...
), The Amazing Chan Clan (on guitar), and Carbonation
Carbonation
Carbonation is the process of dissolving carbon dioxide in water. The process usually involves carbon dioxide under high pressure. When the pressure is reduced, the carbon dioxide is released from the solution as small bubbles, which cause the solution to "fizz." This effect is seen in carbonated...
(on guitar with producer Paul Stacy of Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
/Black Crows).
London re-joined Samhain
Samhain
Samhain is a Gaelic harvest festival held on October 31–November 1. It was linked to festivals held around the same time in other Celtic cultures, and was popularised as the "Celtic New Year" from the late 19th century, following Sir John Rhys and Sir James Frazer...
for their 1999 reunion tour, switching off on bass and drums with Steve Zing
Steve Zing
Steve Zing drummed for Implosion, Mourning Noise, and The Undead before joining Samhain and a Pale Horse Named Death....
. He later drummed for Tiger Army
Tiger Army
Tiger Army is an American psychobilly band that was formed in 1995 in Berkeley, California. Its constant member and lead song writer is Nick 13. The band have released a total of four studio albums.-History:...
and recorded their classic "Power Of Moonlight" CD along with Son of Sam's first album, "Songs From The Earth
Songs from the Earth
Songs From the Earth is the first album by horrorpunk/deathrock supergroup Son of Sam. The album was a tribute to Glenn Danzig's former band Samhain, though there are no cover songs on the album...
", which featured vocalist Davey Havok
Davey Havok
David Paden Marchand , more commonly known by the stage name Davey Havok, is the lead vocalist of the American rock band AFI and the electronic music band Blaqk Audio....
of AFI
AFI (band)
AFI is an American alternative rock band from Ukiah, California that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson, with bassist Hunter Burgan and guitarist Jade Puget, who both play keyboard and contribute...
and a guest appearance by Glenn Danzig
Glenn Danzig
Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig (born Glenn Allen Anzalone; June 23, 1955 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, entrepreneur, and a progenitor of the horror punk subgenre of music. He is a founder of bands the Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig...
.
In 2003 London joined The Hunns (featuring skateboarding legend Duane Peters
Duane Peters
Duane Peters , nicknamed "The Master of Disaster", is a punk rock singer/songwriter and professional skateboarder. Active since 1977, he is probably best known as the singer in the California punk rock band U.S...
) for a blitzkrieg 35 date tour of Europe. While on tour London met the German born FrankEEE and together they formed the rock "melancholia" band 'The Foul and the Fragrant' and have released two albums. The Foul and The Fragrant is an international project in which the members use internet file sharing to write and record material.
In 2008 May founded the Los Angeles-based hardcore punk rock tribute band Millions Of Dead Comps. with Chris Bratton (ex-Chain Of Strength
Chain of Strength
Chain of Strength was a late '80s and early '90s straight edge hardcore punk band from Southern California.-Biography:The first Chain of Strength release was a 7" EP entitled True Till Death, released through Revelation Records. After parting ways with Revelation, they formed their own Foundation...
, Inside Out
Inside Out
Inside Out was a hardcore punk band from Orange County, California. It was fronted by Zack de la Rocha, later of Rage Against the Machine.-Biography:...
, Drive Like Jehu
Drive Like Jehu
Drive Like Jehu was an American post-hardcore and alternative rock band from San Diego active from 1990 to 1995. Formed by rhythm guitarist and vocalist Rick Froberg and lead guitarist John Reis following the breakup of their band Pitchfork, the band's lineup also included bassist Mike Kennedy and...
) and all proceeds from their performances are donated to charity. To date, the group has raised over $2000 for various charities in and around Los Angeles.
In 2009 Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
selected Samhain
Samhain
Samhain is a Gaelic harvest festival held on October 31–November 1. It was linked to festivals held around the same time in other Celtic cultures, and was popularised as the "Celtic New Year" from the late 19th century, following Sir John Rhys and Sir James Frazer...
to appear as a special guest artist on their Guitar Hero: Metallica
Guitar Hero: Metallica
Guitar Hero: Metallica is a music video game developed by Neversoft and distributed by Activision. The game was released in North America on the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 on March 29, 2009 and on PlayStation 2 on April 14, 2009, with a European release in May 2009...
video game and May's original drum track from "Mother Of Mercy," a song from the 1986 album, "Samhain III November-Coming-Fire," is featured. The game has sold over 1.5 million copies and has been nominated for 2010 music video game of the year.
London and his former band Distorted Pony re-convened in 2010 for their 20th anniversary and have been rehearsing and recording new material in preparation for a new release and European tour. In May, the band played three consecutive nights in Los Angeles to celebrate there return to the stage after disbanding 17 years ago.
Also in 2010, Minor Threat
Minor Threat
Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1980 and disbanded in 1983. The band was relatively short-lived, but had a strong influence on the hardcore punk music scene, both stylistically and in establishing a "do it yourself" ethic for music distribution and...
/Fugazi/Dischord Records
Dischord Records
Dischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in the independent punk music of the D.C.-area music scene. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release Minor Disturbance by The Teen Idles...
front man Ian Mackaye
Ian MacKaye
Ian Thomas Garner MacKaye is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, musician, label owner, and producer. Active since 1979, MacKaye is best known for being the frontman of the influential hardcore punk bands Minor Threat and The Teen Idles, the post-hardcore bands Embrace and Fugazi, as well...
and London have been working on the upcoming 25th anniversary re-release of Reptile House's first Dischord 7" from 1985 (which Mackaye also produced.)
May has also traveled the globe as a solo performer and fund raiser, recently performing in Cairo, Egypt and Beijing, China where he helped raise money for animal welfare by performing in a Misfits tribute band.
In March 2010 London (also a part-time ER nurse) spent a week in earthquake ravaged Haiti where he volunteered as part of an emergency medical team.
Branching out even further, London recently starred in the Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
produced TV pilot, The Great Escape, for TNT/FOX network.
Featured Releases
- REPTILE HOUSE
- Bouncing BabiesBouncing BabiesBouncing Babies is a 1929 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 92nd Our Gang short to be released.- Plot :...
Album comp. 1982 - I Stumble As The Crow Flies 7" 1985
- Bouncing Babies
- SAMHAIN
- November-Coming-FireNovember-Coming-FireSamhain III: November-Coming-Fire was the band Samhain's third release. It was issued in 1986 on lead singer Glenn Danzig's independent record label, Plan 9. It is considered by many fans to be the band's best piece of work, as they were evolving their own style of music, which was often described...
LP, CD 1986 - Final DescentFinal DescentFinal Descent is an album by Samhain, first released in 1990, more than three years after lead singer Glenn Danzig and bassist Eerie Von had recruited guitarist John Christ and drummer Chuck Biscuits to form Danzig.-Original release:...
CD 1990 - Box Set CD 2000
- Live: '85-'86 CD 2001
- November-Coming-Fire
- VOICE OF DOOM
- Faith Is Torn 7" 1987
- DEAD,WHITE,AND BLUE
- Play It Safe 7" 1991
- Ego 7" 1991
- Heads CD 1992
- DISTORTED PONY
- Punishment Room CD 1992
- Gasoline Boost 7" 1993
- Instant Winner CD 1994
- Ow! Quit It 7" comp. 1994
- Smitten CD comp. 1994
- Bring Me The Head of Corporate Rock and Roll CD comp. 1994
- The Best of Bomp! CD comp. 1994
- SHEPPARD PRATT
- Blossom, Bone, and Still Alone CD 1994
- SON OF SAM
- Songs from the EarthSongs from the EarthSongs From the Earth is the first album by horrorpunk/deathrock supergroup Son of Sam. The album was a tribute to Glenn Danzig's former band Samhain, though there are no cover songs on the album...
CD 2001 - Punkzilla Comp. CD comp. 2001
- Songs from the Earth
- TIGER ARMY
- Tiger Army II: Power of MoonliteTiger Army II: Power of MoonliteTiger Army II: Power of Moonlite is Tiger Army's second album, released on July 24, 2001. It featured London May on drums, Geoff Kresge on stand up bass and Nick 13 on vocals and guitar. London May left the band before their next album, Tiger Army III: Ghost Tigers Rise...
CD 2001 - Give 'Em the Boot IIIGive 'Em the Boot IIIGive 'Em the Boot III is the third compilation album in the Give 'Em the Boot series, released in 2002 .- Track listing :#"Sick of It All" - The Distillers#"The Legend of Finn MacCumhail" - Dropkick Murphys#"Die Alone" - U.S...
CD comp. 2002 - Punk-O-Rama Vol. 8Punk-O-Rama Vol. 8Punk-O-Rama Vol. 8 is the eighth compilation album in the Punk-O-Rama series. It was released in 2003.This is the only entry in the series to be a two-disc by containing two CDs. The entries following this had two discs, but they were one CD and one DVD.The song "Quick Death" is on here in two...
CD comp.(video only) 2002
- Tiger Army II: Power of Moonlite
- 30 DOLLAR MUSIC SCHOOL
- 99 Cent Drum Clinic - instructional video 2003
- TREEPHORT
- Enchanted ForestEnchanted ForestAn enchanted forest is a forest under or containing magical enchantments.Enchanted Forest may refer to:*Enchanted Forest , defunct theme park in Chesterton*Enchanted Forest , defunct theme park in Ellicott City...
CD (producer) 2004
- Enchanted Forest
- THE FOUL AND THE FRAGRANT
- Dead In The Center CD 2005
- All The Fetisch CD 2010