Man Is the Bastard
Encyclopedia
Man Is the Bastard were a pioneering hardcore punk
band who contributed the name, and perhaps also the ethos, to the punk
subgenre known as power violence. Based in Claremont, California
, the band existed from 1991 to 1997, releasing many vinyl records on obscure labels from around the world.
from its long reign as the primary instrument of punk aggression. In turn, they made room within their revolutionary spirit for progressive bass chords
and scales
, for industrial noise
(field recordings and power electronics), and for member Henry Barnes’ (Amps for Christ
) homemade guitar reconfigurations.
The bass-heavy configuration was found in earlier projects by founding members Joel Connell, Eric Wood, & Shawn Connell. Their thematic emphasis on the primitive and mythological would continue in Man Is the Bastard records such as “Sum of the Men” and the split album
with Bleeding Rectum. The fullest expression of these concerns appeared with the 7 inch EP
entitled “Backward Species,” which combined an almost anthropological/New Historicist
approach to humanity’s violent practices. Songs such as “Koro Treatment” and “Heretic’s Fork” are exemplary.
Artistically most of their releases had a similar design, with their trademark skull on both sides of the words Man Is The Bastard with the release title underneath in quotations. Frequently the liner notes would be just as simplistic. When they did have artwork it was often stark and brutal with a barebones layout.
, Charred Remains, Neanderthal, Infest, No Comment
, Loomis Slovak, Atavism of Twilight, Bastard Noise
, Born Against
, Djam Karet
, Amps for Christ
, Lux Nova Umbra Est, Our Scars are Gifts, and more.
In the years since, Man Is the Bastard has splintered off into several working factions. Wood occasionally performs in the Los Angeles
area as Bastard Noise
. Kenyon and Connel have soldiered on in progressive rock acts such as Controlling Hand and Lux Nova Umbra Est. Perhaps the biggest surprise is Barnes’ Amps for Christ, which has blossomed into a highly regarded folk/noise hybrid.
. They also frequently used ideas from obscure medical conditions in their songs and artwork.
The band often sublimated political concerns
into a harsh and unique aesthetic. For example, during the first Gulf War
, one of their releases featured cover art depicting Saddam Hussein
being sodomized by George H.W. Bush.
Unknown year of release
Unknown year of release
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band who contributed the name, and perhaps also the ethos, to the punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
subgenre known as power violence. Based in Claremont, California
Claremont, California
Claremont is a small affluent college town in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States, about east of downtown Los Angeles at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The population as of the 2010 census is 34,926. Claremont is known for its seven higher-education institutions, its...
, the band existed from 1991 to 1997, releasing many vinyl records on obscure labels from around the world.
Works
In stark contrast to other punk musicians, Man Is the Bastard made the move of displacing the electric guitarElectric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
from its long reign as the primary instrument of punk aggression. In turn, they made room within their revolutionary spirit for progressive bass chords
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
and scales
Musical scale
In music, a scale is a sequence of musical notes in ascending and descending order. Most commonly, especially in the context of the common practice period, the notes of a scale will belong to a single key, thus providing material for or being used to conveniently represent part or all of a musical...
, for industrial noise
Industrial noise
Industrial noise is usually considered mainly from the point of view of environmental health and safety, rather than nuisance, as sustained exposure can cause permanent hearing damage. Traditionally, occupational noise has been a hazard linked to heavy industries such as ship-building and...
(field recordings and power electronics), and for member Henry Barnes’ (Amps for Christ
Amps for Christ
Amps For Christ is the current music project of Man is the Bastard and Bastard Noise veteran and metal/noise pioneer Henry Barnes. The project is based out of Claremont, California.-Concept:...
) homemade guitar reconfigurations.
The bass-heavy configuration was found in earlier projects by founding members Joel Connell, Eric Wood, & Shawn Connell. Their thematic emphasis on the primitive and mythological would continue in Man Is the Bastard records such as “Sum of the Men” and the split album
Split album
A split album is a music album which includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There have been singles and EPs released in the same nature, which can be referred to as split singles and split EPs respectively...
with Bleeding Rectum. The fullest expression of these concerns appeared with the 7 inch EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
entitled “Backward Species,” which combined an almost anthropological/New Historicist
New Historicism
New Historicism is a school of literary theory, grounded in critical theory, that developed in the 1980s, primarily through the work of the critic Stephen Greenblatt, and gained widespread influence in the 1990s....
approach to humanity’s violent practices. Songs such as “Koro Treatment” and “Heretic’s Fork” are exemplary.
Artistically most of their releases had a similar design, with their trademark skull on both sides of the words Man Is The Bastard with the release title underneath in quotations. Frequently the liner notes would be just as simplistic. When they did have artwork it was often stark and brutal with a barebones layout.
Man Is the Bastard family tree
In addition to the bands accomplishments, Man Is the Bastard exist as a nucleus around which many prominent bands can be traced within a recognizable lineage: Cyclops, Pillsbury Hardcore, Peace Corpse, Pissed Happy ChildrenPissed Happy Children
Pissed Happy Children was an influential hardcore punk band from Claremont, California whose members had previously been in Peace Corpse and Pillsbury Hardcore...
, Charred Remains, Neanderthal, Infest, No Comment
No Comment (band)
No Comment were an American powerviolence band from North Hollywood, California, active from 1987 to 1993.-History:Along with other powerviolence bands such as Crossed Out, Capitalist Casualties and Man Is The Bastard, No Comment were influential in what was known to become the "West Coast...
, Loomis Slovak, Atavism of Twilight, Bastard Noise
Bastard Noise
-History:The Bastard Noise was founded in 1991 by Henry Barnes, W. T. Nelson and Eric Wood, initially as a side project of powerviolence band Man Is The Bastard.-Project personnel and past contributors:...
, Born Against
Born Against
Born Against was an American hardcore punk band from New York active between 1989–1993. In addition to their radical leftist politics, the group espoused a DIY punk message and challenged what they perceived as problematic within the punk subculture of their time.-History:The group was founded in...
, Djam Karet
Djam Karet
Djam Karet is an instrumental progressive rock band based in Topanga, California. The band was founded in 1984 by guitarists Gayle Ellett and Mike Henderson, bassist Henry J. Osborne, and drummer Chuck Oken, Jr....
, Amps for Christ
Amps for Christ
Amps For Christ is the current music project of Man is the Bastard and Bastard Noise veteran and metal/noise pioneer Henry Barnes. The project is based out of Claremont, California.-Concept:...
, Lux Nova Umbra Est, Our Scars are Gifts, and more.
In the years since, Man Is the Bastard has splintered off into several working factions. Wood occasionally performs in the Los Angeles
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...
area as Bastard Noise
Bastard Noise
-History:The Bastard Noise was founded in 1991 by Henry Barnes, W. T. Nelson and Eric Wood, initially as a side project of powerviolence band Man Is The Bastard.-Project personnel and past contributors:...
. Kenyon and Connel have soldiered on in progressive rock acts such as Controlling Hand and Lux Nova Umbra Est. Perhaps the biggest surprise is Barnes’ Amps for Christ, which has blossomed into a highly regarded folk/noise hybrid.
Political message
Man Is the Bastard's lyrical violence was balanced by their adamant advocacy of progressive ideals. This record of political activism resulted in their most widely available album, 1997’s split LP with death row prisoner Mumia Abu-JamalMumia Abu-Jamal
Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of the 1981 murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner and sentenced to death. He has been described as "perhaps the world's best known death-row inmate", and his sentence is one of the most debated today...
. They also frequently used ideas from obscure medical conditions in their songs and artwork.
The band often sublimated political concerns
Political correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
into a harsh and unique aesthetic. For example, during the first Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, one of their releases featured cover art depicting Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
being sodomized by George H.W. Bush.
Discography
- Sum of the Men LP (1991, Vermiform RecordsVermiform RecordsVermiform Records was an American independent record label that specialized in releasing punk rock music from 1990 until 2002. Over the course of those twelve years Vermiform released 57 albums and relocated many times, being headquartered in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Rhode Island and...
009)- reissued in 1996 on CDCompact DiscThe Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
by Vermiform Records
- reissued in 1996 on CD
- Abundance of Guns 7” (1992, MITB/S.O.A. Records (ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
))- Wood’s version has an extra song
- Aunt Mary/Man Is the Bastard split 7" with Aunt MaryAunt MaryNorwegian Prog Rock band from the seventies. Signed a contract with Polydor in Denmark to release 'Aunt Mary' in 1970. Gradually moved towards Progressive Rock with the records 'Loaded' in 1972 og 'Janus' in '73.- Musicians :Jan Groth - Vocals, keyboards, guitar...
(1992, MITB)- reissued in 1996 by Deep Six Records
- Uncivilized Live 7” (1992, Deep Six Records)
- Bizarre Uproar/Man Is the Bastard split 7" with Bizarre Uproar (1993, MITB)
- Bleeding Rectum/Man Is the Bastard split LP with Bleeding Rectum (1993, MITB)
- Crossed Out/Man Is the Bastard split 7" with Crossed OutCrossed OutCrossed Out was a power violence band from Encinitas, California, operative from early 1990 until late 1993.-History:Crossed Out played sixteen shows and released a demo, 7", split 7" with Man Is the Bastard, split 5" with Dropdead, and two songs for the Son of Blleeaauurrggh compilation...
(1993, Slap-A-Ham Records) - Man Is the Bastard/Pink Flamingos split 7" with Pink Flamingos (1993, Farewell Records)
- Main Is the Bastard/Unseen Noise Death split 7” with Unseen Noise Death (1993, MITB)
- Agathocles/Man Is the Bastard split 7" with AgathoclesAgathocles (band)Agathocles is a Belgian political grindcore band that began in 1985. They are mainly known for producing a large quantity of split seven-inch EPs...
(1994, Pessimiser Records/Theologian Records) - Born Against/Man Is the Bastard split 8" with Born AgainstBorn AgainstBorn Against was an American hardcore punk band from New York active between 1989–1993. In addition to their radical leftist politics, the group espoused a DIY punk message and challenged what they perceived as problematic within the punk subculture of their time.-History:The group was founded in...
(1994, Vermiform Records)- test pressing is 10” vinyl
- Capitalist Casualties/Man Is the Bastard split LP with Capitalist CasualtiesCapitalist Casualties-Discography:*Nuclear National Park demo *The Art of Ballistics EP *Disassembly Line LP *Raised Ignorant EP *split EP with The Dread *split EP with Discordance Axis *split EP with Millions of Dead Cops...
(1994, Six Weeks Records) - Man Is the Bastard/Sinking Body split 7” with Sinking Body (1994, Vermiform Records)
- D.I.Y.C.D.D.I.Y.C.D.D.I.Y.C.D is an anthology released by power violence pioneers Man Is The Bastard in 1995.-Tracklist:#"Eunuch" – 0:25#"No Concern for the Inhuman" – 1:01#"The Arena" – 3:33#"Refuse to Thrive" – 0:13#"Existence Decay" – 1:05#"Secret Surgery" - 0:08...
anthology CD + previously unreleased songs (1995, Slap-A-Ham RecordsSlap-a-Ham RecordsSlap A Ham Records was a hardcore punk, thrash metal and grindcore label from San Francisco, California owned and operated by Chris Dodge of Spazz, Despise You, Lack Of Interest and several other bands.-Discography:Published albums include:...
)- reissued in 2000 by Slap-A-Ham Records 022
- reissued in 2006 by Deep Six Records
- The Locust/Man Is the Bastard split 10" with The LocustThe LocustThe Locust is a musical group from San Diego, California, United States known for their unique mix of grindcore speed and aggression, mathcore complexity, and new wave weirdness.- Style :...
(1995, King of the Monsters Records 002) - Thoughtless... LP picture discPicture discPicture discs are gramophone records that show images on their playing surface, rather than being of plain black or coloured vinyl.-Development:...
(1995, Gravity RecordsGravity RecordsGravity Records is an underground independent record label from San Diego. It was formed in 1991 by Matt Anderson, a member of the influential underground band Heroin. It has been central in developing and promoting the "San Diego sound" - an idiosyncratic form of post-hardcore with loose, chaotic...
022)- reissued on CD in 1996 by Gravity Records
- Man Is the Bastard/Mumia Abu-Jamal split LP/CD with Mumia Abu-JamalMumia Abu-JamalMumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of the 1981 murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner and sentenced to death. He has been described as "perhaps the world's best known death-row inmate", and his sentence is one of the most debated today...
(1997, Alternative TentaclesAlternative TentaclesAlternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
) - Mancruel CD (2000, Deep Six Records)
- contains three previously unreleased Bastard Noise tracks and one new Man Is The Bastard track
Unknown year of release
- Bastard Noise/Man Is the Bastard split LP with Bastard NoiseBastard Noise-History:The Bastard Noise was founded in 1991 by Henry Barnes, W. T. Nelson and Eric Wood, initially as a side project of powerviolence band Man Is The Bastard.-Project personnel and past contributors:...
(Vibrator Records) - Backward Species 7” (Ecocentric Records)
- Our Earth’s Blood part I 7” (Vermiform Records)
- Upcoming issue of unreleased tracks on Deep Six Records
Compilation appearances
- In the Spirit of Total Resistance 2x7" (1992, Profane ExistenceProfane ExistenceThe Profane Existence Collective is a Minneapolis-based anarcho-punk collective. Established in 1989, the collective publishes a nationally-known zine , as well as releasing and distributing anarcho-punk, crust, and grindcore music, and printing and publishing pamphlets and literature...
) - Reality 7" (1992, Deep Six Records 005)
- Side B Track 02 - "Tomb Ride"
- Son of Bllleeeeaaauuurrrrgghhh! 7" (1992, Slap-A-Ham Records)
- Fear of Smell LP (1993, Vermiform Records)
- Revive Us Again 7" (1993, Machination Records)
- "Funeral For Cargo" and "Goodbye"
- Cataclastic Fracture (a noise collection) CD (1994, Deadline Recordings/Lazy Squid Records)
- Track 33 - "Human Plecostomus"
- Anger and English 2x7" (1995, Frame Work Records 002)
- Cry Now, Cry Later 3 2x7" (1995, Pessimiser Records/Theologian Records)
- Disc 01, Side A, Track 01 - "Faces of the Man"
- reissued on CD in 1998 by Pessimiser Records as Cry Now, Cry Later Volumes 3 & 4
- Golden Shower of 72 Hits 2xCD (1995, Lost and Found Records (GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
))- Disc 02 Track 35 - "... Telephone Call To Lost & Found"
- Revenge of the Disabled Vol. 2 VHSVHSThe Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
(1995, Will o' the WispWill o' the wispA will-o'-the-wisp or ignis fatuus , also called a "will-o'-wisp", "jack-o'-lantern" , "hinkypunk", "corpse candle", "ghost-light", "spook-light", "fairy light", "friar's lantern", "hobby lantern", "ghost orb", or simply "wisp", is a ghostly light or lights sometimes seen at night or twilight over...
) - The Virus That Would Not Die! sampler CD (1997, Alternative Tentacles)
- Track 22 - "Subterfuge"
- Bottlenekk Fall '98 Sampler CD (1998, Bottlenekk Records)
- includes the song "The Arena"
- Reproach (8 Modern Hardcore Bands Cover Negative Approach) 7" (1998, Ugly Pop Records 001 (CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
))- Side A Track 02 - "Dead Stop" (Negative ApproachNegative ApproachNegative Approach is an American hardcore punk band, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1981. The band is considered among of the pioneers of hardcore punk, particularly in the Midwest region. Like most hardcore bands, Negative Approach was little known in its day outside of its hometown...
)
- Side A Track 02 - "Dead Stop" (Negative Approach
- Under Your Influence CD (2000, Tralla Records)
- includes the song "Man Is the Bastard"
- Jordan Downing kills more than you 7'
- Side B, tracks 6, 7, an 8
Unknown year of release
- Old Days Nostalgia 3xCD (S.O.A. Records (Italy))
- reissue of Abundance of Guns 7"
- KXLU vol. 1 CD (KXLUKXLUKXLU is an FM radio station broadcasting out of Loyola Marymount University in southwest Los Angeles, California. It was first on the air in 1957, and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. It is a non-commercial college radio station that plays many styles of music broadly classified under...
) - Reality Part 2 LP/CD (Deep Six Records)
- Fiesta Comes Alive LP/CD (Slap-A-Ham Records)
- No Desire to Continue Living 10" (Re-education Records/Farewell Records)
- Ham Slappin' Hits (Slap-A-Ham C-90)
Related bands
- Bastard NoiseBastard Noise-History:The Bastard Noise was founded in 1991 by Henry Barnes, W. T. Nelson and Eric Wood, initially as a side project of powerviolence band Man Is The Bastard.-Project personnel and past contributors:...
- Eric Wood, Bill Nelson, Henry Barnes, Israel Lawrence - Amps for ChristAmps for ChristAmps For Christ is the current music project of Man is the Bastard and Bastard Noise veteran and metal/noise pioneer Henry Barnes. The project is based out of Claremont, California.-Concept:...
- Henry Barnes - Charred Remains - Eric Wood, Joel Connell, Shawn Connell
- Neanderthal - Eric Wood
- Pilsbury Hardcore - Eric Wood, Joel Connell, Shawn Connell
- Pissed Happy ChildrenPissed Happy ChildrenPissed Happy Children was an influential hardcore punk band from Claremont, California whose members had previously been in Peace Corpse and Pillsbury Hardcore...
- Eric Wood, Joel Connell, Shawn Connell - Atavism of Twilight- Aaron Kenyon
- CyclopsCyclopsA cyclops , in Greek mythology and later Roman mythology, was a member of a primordial race of giants, each with a single eye in the middle of his forehead...
- Eric Wood, Joel Connell - No CommentNo Comment (band)No Comment were an American powerviolence band from North Hollywood, California, active from 1987 to 1993.-History:Along with other powerviolence bands such as Crossed Out, Capitalist Casualties and Man Is The Bastard, No Comment were influential in what was known to become the "West Coast...
- Andrew Beattie - Loomis Slovak- Israel Lawrence
- Controlling Hand- Aaron Kenyon, Joel Connell, Andrew Beattie, Israel Lawrence
- Lux Nova Umbra Est- Aaron Kenyon, Joel Connell
- Ion ChannelIon channelIon channels are pore-forming proteins that help establish and control the small voltage gradient across the plasma membrane of cells by allowing the flow of ions down their electrochemical gradient. They are present in the membranes that surround all biological cells...
- Eric Wood - Amber AsylumAmber AsylumAmber Asylum is a highly-variable San Francisco-based music group that serves as a platform for composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Kris Force...
- Eric Wood - Our Scars are Gifts- Joel Connell
External links
- Man Is The Bastard - BandToBand.com
- Unofficial Man is the Bastard Discography – A semi-exhaustive unofficial discography, compiled by Toby Brown and Joshua Mann. (Last updated 4.20.09)