Napalm Beach
Encyclopedia
Napalm Beach is an American
punk rock
band from Portland, Oregon
. One of the longest-running punk bands in the U.S., they are credited by some as being early innovators of the grunge
sound. Napalm Beach shared the stage with bands such as X, Public Image Ltd.
, Joan Jett
, Johnny Thunders
, Gun Club, Bad Brains
, Soundgarden
, Screaming Trees
, Mudhoney, Dead Moon
, and Poison Idea
. They also toured Germany five times between 1989 and 1992. During their long musical career they have released more than 30 studio and live recordings in various formats on a number of small independent labels in the U.S. and Germany. Nonetheless, they were never signed to a major record label, although that may have partly been by their own choice.
At the core of the group is Chris Newman
on guitar, and Sam Henry on drums. Sam Henry was the original drummer for the Wipers
and Portland band The Rats (with Fred and Toody Cole) before joining Napalm Beach in 1981. The group went through thirteen bass players before Dave Dillinger came on board in 1989. The group's earliest recordings were done on the Trap label, owned by Greg Sage
of the Wipers.
Courtney Love
lived in the Napalm Beach band house in 1981. Napalm Beach's cover of Greg Sage's "Potential Suicide" appears in the soundtrack to the 1997 documentary Kurt & Courtney
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
punk rock
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...
band from Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. One of the longest-running punk bands in the U.S., they are credited by some as being early innovators of the grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
sound. Napalm Beach shared the stage with bands such as X, Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd are an English post-punk band formed by vocalist John Lydon , guitarist Keith Levene and bassist Jah Wobble, with frequent subsequent personnel changes. Lydon is the sole constant member of the band....
, Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Joan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular...
, Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
, Gun Club, Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
, Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
, Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees was an American rock band formed in Ellensburg, Washington in 1985 by vocalist Mark Lanegan, guitarist Gary Lee Conner, bass player Van Conner and drummer Mark Pickerel. Pickerel had been replaced by Barrett Martin by the time the band reached its most successful period...
, Mudhoney, Dead Moon
Dead Moon
Dead Moon was a United States punk rock band from 1987 to 2006, formed in Portland, Oregon. Fronted by singer/guitarist Fred Cole, the band also included bassist Toody Cole, Fred's wife, and drummer Andrew Loomis. Veterans of Portland's independent rock scene, Dead Moon combined dark and lovelorn...
, and Poison Idea
Poison Idea
Poison Idea was an American hardcore punk band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1980. The band originally dissolved in 1993, but has been playing intermittently since 1998.-Formation, 1980's and 90's:...
. They also toured Germany five times between 1989 and 1992. During their long musical career they have released more than 30 studio and live recordings in various formats on a number of small independent labels in the U.S. and Germany. Nonetheless, they were never signed to a major record label, although that may have partly been by their own choice.
At the core of the group is Chris Newman
Chris Newman (musician)
Christopher Lynn Newman is an American musician from Oregon.Born in Longview, Washington, he spent most of his musical career in Portland, Oregon, leading bands such as the Untouchables ; and Snow Bud and the Flower People...
on guitar, and Sam Henry on drums. Sam Henry was the original drummer for the Wipers
Wipers
The Wipers were a punk rock group formed in Portland, Oregon in 1977 by guitarist Greg Sage, drummer Sam Henry and bassist Dave Koupal. Wipers were one of the earliest American purveyors of the genre, and the group's tight song structure and use of heavy distortion has been hailed as extremely...
and Portland band The Rats (with Fred and Toody Cole) before joining Napalm Beach in 1981. The group went through thirteen bass players before Dave Dillinger came on board in 1989. The group's earliest recordings were done on the Trap label, owned by Greg Sage
Greg Sage
Greg Sage was the principal songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist for the influential Portland, Oregon-based punk rock band Wipers. Greg Sage's first recording was on the pro-wrestler Beauregarde's full length album, released in 1971 . He met Beauregarde, recorded and played with him when he was only...
of the Wipers.
Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
lived in the Napalm Beach band house in 1981. Napalm Beach's cover of Greg Sage's "Potential Suicide" appears in the soundtrack to the 1997 documentary Kurt & Courtney
Kurt & Courtney
Kurt & Courtney is a 1998 documentary film by Nick Broomfield investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Kurt Cobain, and allegations of Courtney Love's involvement in it...
.
Discography
| Year | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Trap Sampler LP with other artists (produced by Greg Sage). | Trap (U.S.) |
| 1983 | Live at the Met Cassette | Trap (U.S.) |
| 1983 | Rock & Roll Hell Cassette (produced by Greg Sage) | Trap (U.S.) |
| 1984 | Pugsley Cassette | Skullman (U.S.) |
| 1985 | "Why Do Parties Have to End?" on Doomtown PDX: Portland Punk '78-'85 Cassette | Mississippi Records (U.S.) |
| 1985 | Teen Dream Cassette | Here After/Imperial (U.S.) |
| 1986 | Napalm Beach (Teen Dream) LP | Here After/Imperial (U.S.) |
| 1986 | Moving to and Fro Cassette | Skullman (U.S.) |
| 1988 | Moving to and Fro LP | Loves Simple Dreams (Germany) |
| 1988 | Liquid Love Cassette, LP, CD | Flying Heart (U.S.) |
| 1990 | Fire Air and Water Cassette, LP, CD | Satyricon (Germany)/Flying Heart (U.S.) |
| 1990 | Satyricon...the Album LP (Compilation by a Portland nightclub called Satyricon, not the German label.) | Satyricon (U.S.) |
| 1990 | "Pugsley" 45rpm flexi-disc in Ptolemaic Terrascope magazine Vol.2, No.1, Sept. 1990. | (U.K.) |
| 1991 | Thunder Lizard LP, CD | Satyricon (Germany) |
| 1991 | Rumblin' Thunder: Raw and Alive Over Germany LP (Live box set with Dead Moon) | Heart is a Lonely Hunter aka Dream Hunter (Germany) |
| 1991 | "Chatterbox" on A Tribute to Johnny Thunders 45rpm box set with other artists. | Tim Kerr (U.S.) |
| 1991 | "Just One Day" 45rpm flexi-disc in Howl magazine No.11 | (Germany) |
| 1992 | Xmas With Satyricon CD (Live recording of five Napalm Beach songs plus two other artists). | Satyricon (Germany) |
| 1992 | "Potential Suicide" on Eight Songs for Greg Sage and the Wipers 45rpm vinyl box set with other artists including Nirvana. | Tim Kerr (U.S.) |
| 1992 | Summertime Again/Last Big Heartache 45rpm single. | Tim Kerr (U.S.) |
| 1992 | Curiosities CD | Satyricon (Germany) |
| 1993 | Curiosities CD | Tim Kerr (U.S.) |
| 1993 | "Potential Suicide" on Fourteen Songs for Greg Sage CD with other artists including Nirvana. | Tim Kerr (U.S.) |
| 1993 | "My Master Calls" 45rpm flexi-disc with Poison Idea in Flipside Magazine. | Tim Kerr (U.S.) |
| 1994 | Volunteer CD (Although credited as a Chris Newman solo CD, all 12 songs are studio re-recordings of earlier Napalm Beach songs from the 1981 Trap Sampler LP, as well as the 1983 Rock and Roll Hell, and 1984 Pugsley cassettes.) | Flying Heart (U.S.) |
| 1994 | In My Tree CD | CM/Shinola (U.S.) |
| 1995 | In My Tree CD | Dream Hunter (Germany) |
| 2000 | History of Portland Punk, Vol. I CD | Zeno (U.S.) |
| 2004 | Rock And Roll Hell CD (Combined digital re-release of the Live at the Met and Rock & Roll Hell cassettes) | Zeno (U.S.) |
| 2008 | Kill for My Bitch CD (Live recording of a reunion show) | (U.S.) |
| 2009 | Moving To And Fro CD (Vinyl transfer digital re-release of the original LP). | Skullman (U.S.) |
| 2011 | Teen Dream CD (Vinyl transfer digital re-release of the original LP). | Skullman (U.S.) |