October Faction (album)
Encyclopedia
October Faction is the eponymous album by October Faction
, the improvisational all-star punk rock
band featuring Black Flag
members Greg Ginn
and Chuck Dukowski
and Saccharine Trust
guitarist Joe Baiza
.
The album was recorded live in one take during a live performance at The Stone, a nightclub in San Francisco where Black Flag would regularly do their "Frisco weekend", the band's term for a monthly residency the band would do at the club when they were not touring. Black Flag's Live '84
was recorded on the same night as this album.
It is presumed that the performance took place on an evening when Black Flag were doing one of their "Frisco weekends", since then-Black Flag drummer Bill Stevenson is credited as the drummer on the album's back cover (even though Greg Cameron, who is depicted on the front cover of Joe Baiza's artwork, had played other shows with October Faction and would play on the band's second album); in the course of the performance, Tom Troccoli introduces Stevenson as substituting for "The Nazi Sex Doctor" (a band nickname for Cameron). Henry Rollins
, then Black Flag's lead singer, plays percussion (i.e. he would stand behind Stevenson's drum kit and bang on the floor toms and cymbals, as he is seen doing on Live '84' s "I Won't Stick Anyone...").
Three other members of Black Flag and SST Records' extended family are also credited as participants on the album. Sometime roadie/musician Tom Troccoli (who played with Black Flag roadie and SST Records partner Steve "Mugger" Corbin in The Nig-Heist
, and in his own band Tom Troccoli's Dog with Ginn on bass) contributed vocals and unintentionally off-key harmonica (he accidentally used a harmonica in a key that clashed with what the rest of the band was playing). Black Flag's soundman, Dave Claassen, who is credited as "Mixing Board Meister", also mixed down the album and contributed artwork of his own to the album's back cover. Mugger, himself, received a credit of "live engineer" under his given name.
As part of Tom Trocolli's Dog, Trocolli and Ginn would later record a more organized version of "Todo Para Mi" for that band's sole, eponymous LP.
October Faction
October Faction was one of the many off-shoots of punk band Black Flag. A supergroup of SST alumni that mixed jazz and hard rock mainly as an instrumental vehicle, the band included Chuck Dukowski on bass and vocals, Greg Ginn on guitar, Greg Cameron on drums, Joe Baiza on guitar, and Tom...
, the improvisational all-star 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 featuring Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
members Greg Ginn
Greg Ginn
Gregory Regis Ginn is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He is best known for being the leader of and primary songwriter for the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to 1986....
and Chuck Dukowski
Chuck Dukowski
Chuck Dukowski is an American punk rock musician, best known as a founding member and bass player for Black Flag. Dukowski wrote some of Black Flag's most popular songs, including "My War," "What I See," "I've Heard It Before" and "Spray Paint." He left the band before the release of My War, and...
and Saccharine Trust
Saccharine Trust
Saccharine Trust is a post-hardcore band from California that was started in 1980 by singer Jack Brewer and guitarist Joe Baiza.The band would frequently perform with SST labelmates Minutemen and Black Flag. Drummer Rob Holzman appeared on their 1981 debut Paganicons but left the band to play in...
guitarist Joe Baiza
Joe Baiza
Joe Baiza is a punk rock and jazz guitarist whom Eugene Chadbourne cites as one of the most noteworthy guitarists to emerge from the Southern California punk rock milieu. Baiza is a founding member of the bands Saccharine Trust, Universal Congress Of, and The Mecolodiacs...
.
The album was recorded live in one take during a live performance at The Stone, a nightclub in San Francisco where Black Flag would regularly do their "Frisco weekend", the band's term for a monthly residency the band would do at the club when they were not touring. Black Flag's Live '84
Live '84
Live '84 is an album released by Black Flag in 1984 on SST Records. It is a live recording of a show played in 1984 and features mostly tracks from My War and Slip It In. The album was recorded at the Stone nightclub in San Francisco, CA...
was recorded on the same night as this album.
It is presumed that the performance took place on an evening when Black Flag were doing one of their "Frisco weekends", since then-Black Flag drummer Bill Stevenson is credited as the drummer on the album's back cover (even though Greg Cameron, who is depicted on the front cover of Joe Baiza's artwork, had played other shows with October Faction and would play on the band's second album); in the course of the performance, Tom Troccoli introduces Stevenson as substituting for "The Nazi Sex Doctor" (a band nickname for Cameron). Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ....
, then Black Flag's lead singer, plays percussion (i.e. he would stand behind Stevenson's drum kit and bang on the floor toms and cymbals, as he is seen doing on Live '84
Three other members of Black Flag and SST Records' extended family are also credited as participants on the album. Sometime roadie/musician Tom Troccoli (who played with Black Flag roadie and SST Records partner Steve "Mugger" Corbin in The Nig-Heist
The Nig-Heist
The Nig-Heist was a punk band led by Black Flag's roadie and live sound man and SST Records employee Steve "Mugger" Corbin and featuring a revolving-door roster of members of the bands who were on tour with Black Flag at the moment. The band used to open for Black Flag on tour and recorded a 7", an...
, and in his own band Tom Troccoli's Dog with Ginn on bass) contributed vocals and unintentionally off-key harmonica (he accidentally used a harmonica in a key that clashed with what the rest of the band was playing). Black Flag's soundman, Dave Claassen, who is credited as "Mixing Board Meister", also mixed down the album and contributed artwork of his own to the album's back cover. Mugger, himself, received a credit of "live engineer" under his given name.
As part of Tom Trocolli's Dog, Trocolli and Ginn would later record a more organized version of "Todo Para Mi" for that band's sole, eponymous LP.
Track listing
- On the compact disc edition of the album, the performance is presented as one single extended track, even though individual index numbers for every song are erroneously given on the CD label.
- It Don't Mean Shit (October Faction/Tom Troccoli)
- Todo Para Mi (October Faction/Chuck Dukowski/Tom Troccoli)
- You, Me (October Faction/Chuck Dukowski)
- Trail of Tears (October Faction/Chuck Dukowski)
- Ten Hour Drive (October Faction/Tom Troccoli)
- Gimme A Quarter, Twenty-five Cents For The Bus (October Faction/Joe Baiza)
- Bad Acid (October Faction/Chuck Dukowski/Tom Troccoli)
- The songwriting credits are presumed to reflect that the entire band was credited with composing the music, while the individual names are those of whoever was improvising lyrics at the time.
Musical personnel
- Greg GinnGreg GinnGregory Regis Ginn is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He is best known for being the leader of and primary songwriter for the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to 1986....
- guitar - Joe BaizaJoe BaizaJoe Baiza is a punk rock and jazz guitarist whom Eugene Chadbourne cites as one of the most noteworthy guitarists to emerge from the Southern California punk rock milieu. Baiza is a founding member of the bands Saccharine Trust, Universal Congress Of, and The Mecolodiacs...
- guitar, vocals - Chuck DukowskiChuck DukowskiChuck Dukowski is an American punk rock musician, best known as a founding member and bass player for Black Flag. Dukowski wrote some of Black Flag's most popular songs, including "My War," "What I See," "I've Heard It Before" and "Spray Paint." He left the band before the release of My War, and...
- bass, vocals - Tom Troccoli - blues harp, vocals
- Bill Stevenson - drums
- Henry RollinsHenry RollinsHenry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ....
- percussion