Steel Pole Bath Tub
Encyclopedia
Steel Pole Bath Tub was a hardcore punk
/noise rock
band, formed in 1986 in Bozeman, Montana
by Mike Morasky (guitar/vocals) and Dale Flattum (bass/vocals).
where Darren Mor-X (drums) joined the band, before they all moved to San Francisco, California
. The band became known for their chaotic, noisy style and frequent use of television and movie samples
, with several 7" singles and albums on Boner Records
, before being signed to Slash Records
and releasing their major label debut in 1995. Their signing to Slash was part of a mid-1990s free-for-all signing bonanza of alternative rock bands, particularly bands from the Northwestern United States
in the wake of the surprising commercial success Geffen Records
had with Nirvana
, many of which ended in creative and ownership conflicts. Steel Pole Bath Tub and Slash's relationship was no different. The only album they ever released on Slash contained very few samples, which had previously been a staple of the band, at the insistence of Slash's legal department. The band hoped their second album for Slash would be a cover of The Cars
' first album
in its entirety, but the label would not allow that idea and then deemed the demos the band submitted (which contained three Cars covers) unlistenable and refused to release them. The band wouldn't release any more significant material until the rights to the music they recorded for Slash would revert to them 2002. In 2002, the band released those recordings as the album "Unlistenable", the title a play on a Slash executives comments on the material and reformed to play the Beyond the Pale festival at the DNA Lounge
in San Francisco in November 2002, where they co-headlined with Neurosis
and Tarantula Hawk
. They reunited to play a show at the Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, Oregon
on September 4, 2008 as a part of MusicFestNW.
The group's song "Train to Miami," from the album The Miracle of Sound in Motion, was featured in a November 2008 television ad for the PC and Xbox 360 game, Left 4 Dead
. Mike Morasky is also responsible for writing and performing the songs by the fictional band Midnight Riders
in the game's sequel, Left 4 Dead 2
.
to form the group Tumor Circus
, releasing a self-titled album in 1991.
Milk Cult, with Morasky and Flattum (and sound man Eric Holland) using the names The Bumblebee and C.C. Nova, released 4 albums between 1992 and 2000. Their last album, Project M13, was the result of an invitation from the French Government
to be guests of the La Friche Art Collective in Marseille
.
Novex, a Dale Flattum and Darren Mor-X project, recorded with Vern and Justin at the Unwound farm, released as Kleptophonica (2002).
Pink Teeth, a project including Dale Flattum and Zak Sally
of Low
.
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...
/noise rock
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
band, formed in 1986 in Bozeman, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
by Mike Morasky (guitar/vocals) and Dale Flattum (bass/vocals).
Band history
Morasky and Flattum moved the band to Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
where Darren Mor-X (drums) joined the band, before they all moved to San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. The band became known for their chaotic, noisy style and frequent use of television and movie samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
, with several 7" singles and albums on Boner Records
Boner Records
Boner Records is a Berkeley, California based independent record label, run by Tom Flynn. They have released recordings by Fang , Verbal Abuse, MDC, Boneless Ones, Duh, Steel Pole Bath Tub, The Melvins, The Warlock Pinchers, Hell's Kitchen, and Superconductor, among others.-The Melvins:*Bullhead...
, before being signed to Slash Records
Slash Records
Slash Records is a record label in Los Angeles, originally specializing in local and punk rock bands.The label was formed in 1978 by Bob Biggs as an outgrowth of the Los Angeles-based fanzine, Slash. Biggs, a painter, initiated the label with a seven-inch single from The Germs in 1978. A full album...
and releasing their major label debut in 1995. Their signing to Slash was part of a mid-1990s free-for-all signing bonanza of alternative rock bands, particularly bands from the Northwestern United States
Northwestern United States
The Northwestern United States comprise the northwestern states up to the western Great Plains regions of the United States, and consistently include the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, to which part of southeast Alaska is also sometimes included...
in the wake of the surprising commercial success Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
had with Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, many of which ended in creative and ownership conflicts. Steel Pole Bath Tub and Slash's relationship was no different. The only album they ever released on Slash contained very few samples, which had previously been a staple of the band, at the insistence of Slash's legal department. The band hoped their second album for Slash would be a cover of The Cars
The Cars
The Cars are an American rock band that emerged from the early New Wave music scene in the late 1970s. The band consisted of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, lead singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson...
' first album
The Cars (album)
The Cars is the self-titled debut album by the American rock band The Cars released in 1978. With the popular tracks "Just What I Needed" and "My Best Friend's Girl" getting heavy airplay on AOR radio stations, the album sold one million copies by the end of the year and steadily climbed the...
in its entirety, but the label would not allow that idea and then deemed the demos the band submitted (which contained three Cars covers) unlistenable and refused to release them. The band wouldn't release any more significant material until the rights to the music they recorded for Slash would revert to them 2002. In 2002, the band released those recordings as the album "Unlistenable", the title a play on a Slash executives comments on the material and reformed to play the Beyond the Pale festival at the DNA Lounge
DNA Lounge
DNA Lounge is a late-night, all ages nightclub in the SoMa district of San Francisco owned by Jamie Zawinski, a former Netscape programmer and open-source software hacker. The club features DJ dancing, live music, burlesque performances, and occasionally conferences, private parties, and film...
in San Francisco in November 2002, where they co-headlined with Neurosis
Neurosis (band)
Neurosis is a post-metal band, based in Oakland, California. They formed in 1985 as a hardcore punk band, and their sound progressed towards a doom metal style that also included influences from dark ambient and industrial music as well as incorporating elements of folk music...
and Tarantula Hawk
Tarantula Hawk (band)
Tarantula Hawk is a psychedelic progressive metal band from San Diego, California.- Members :* Braden Diotte – bass guitar, electronics* Dylan Scharf – keyboards, guitar* Dave Warshaw – drums, guitar, sampler* Rob Morrison – bass, sampler...
. They reunited to play a show at the Doug Fir Lounge in 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...
on September 4, 2008 as a part of MusicFestNW.
The group's song "Train to Miami," from the album The Miracle of Sound in Motion, was featured in a November 2008 television ad for the PC and Xbox 360 game, Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead is a cooperative first-person shooter video game. It was developed by Turtle Rock Studios, which was purchased by Valve Corporation during development. The game uses Valve's proprietary Source engine, and is available for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and Mac OS X...
. Mike Morasky is also responsible for writing and performing the songs by the fictional band Midnight Riders
Midnight Riders (band)
The Midnight Riders are a virtual band featured in the video game Left 4 Dead 2.-Fictional Biography:In 1983, four young men from Galveston, Texas became the most popular band in America...
in the game's sequel, Left 4 Dead 2
Left 4 Dead 2
Left 4 Dead 2 is a cooperative first-person shooter video game. It is the sequel to Valve Corporation's award-winning Left 4 Dead. The game launched on November 17, 2009, for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 in the United States and November 20 in Europe; in 2010, Left 4 Dead 2 was made available to...
.
Side projects
The band joined with Jello BiafraJello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
to form the group Tumor Circus
Tumor Circus
Tumor Circus was a collaboration between Jello Biafra and members of Steel Pole Bath Tub and Grong Grong. They released one self-titled album in 1991.-Track listing:#"Hazing For Success" – 9:03#"Human Cyst" - 3:26#"The Man With The Corkscrew Eyes" - 4:05...
, releasing a self-titled album in 1991.
Milk Cult, with Morasky and Flattum (and sound man Eric Holland) using the names The Bumblebee and C.C. Nova, released 4 albums between 1992 and 2000. Their last album, Project M13, was the result of an invitation from the French Government
Government of France
The government of the French Republic is a semi-presidential system determined by the French Constitution of the fifth Republic. The nation declares itself to be an "indivisible, secular, democratic, and social Republic"...
to be guests of the La Friche Art Collective in Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
.
Novex, a Dale Flattum and Darren Mor-X project, recorded with Vern and Justin at the Unwound farm, released as Kleptophonica (2002).
Pink Teeth, a project including Dale Flattum and Zak Sally
Zak Sally
Zak Sally is a bassist and a comic artist. He was formerly the bassist for the bands Low and Enemymine . He is native of Duluth, Minnesota, currently owns and operates his own press, La Mano, in Minneapolis. La Mano serves as a publisher for Sally's works as well as those of other comic artists...
of Low
Low (band)
Low is an American indie rock group from Duluth, Minnesota, formed in 1993. As of 2010, the group is composed of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker , both founding members, and Steve Garrington ....
.
Steel Pole Bath Tub
- 1987 - We Own Drrrills (EP, self-released)
- 1989 - Butterfly Love (Boner RecordsBoner RecordsBoner Records is a Berkeley, California based independent record label, run by Tom Flynn. They have released recordings by Fang , Verbal Abuse, MDC, Boneless Ones, Duh, Steel Pole Bath Tub, The Melvins, The Warlock Pinchers, Hell's Kitchen, and Superconductor, among others.-The Melvins:*Bullhead...
) - 1989 - Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More/I Dreamed, I DreamSweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More/I Dreamed, I Dream"Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More"/"I Dreamed, I Dream" is a split single by The Melvins and Steel Pole Bathtub. The songs are both cover songs, with the Melvins covering Mudhoney and Steel Pole Bathtub covering Sonic Youth...
(split singleSplit albumA 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 The MelvinsThe MelvinsThe Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
) - 1990 - Lurch (EP, Boner)
- 1991 - Tulip (Boner)
- 1991 - Live (EP, Your Choice RecordsYour Choice RecordsYour Choice Records was a German independent record label founded in 1988 by producer Tobby Holzinger. The label specialized in independent punk music, including live releases of German and other international acts...
) - 1993 - Best of Steel Pole Bathtub (Sento)
- 1993 - The Miracle of Sound in Motion (Boner/Tupelo)
- 1993 - Your Choice Live Series 019Your Choice Live Series 019Your Choice Live Series 019 is an album by Steel Pole Bath Tub. It was recorded live at Alte Turnhalle in Albig/ Germany by Rock City Studios on the 17 September 1992 and mixed in San Francisco by Steel Pole Bath Tub...
(Your Choice RecordsYour Choice RecordsYour Choice Records was a German independent record label founded in 1988 by producer Tobby Holzinger. The label specialized in independent punk music, including live releases of German and other international acts...
) - 1994 - Some Cocktail Suggestions ... From Steel Pole Bath Tub! (EP, Boner/Tupelo)
- 1995 - Scars From Falling Down (Slash RecordsSlash RecordsSlash Records is a record label in Los Angeles, originally specializing in local and punk rock bands.The label was formed in 1978 by Bob Biggs as an outgrowth of the Los Angeles-based fanzine, Slash. Biggs, a painter, initiated the label with a seven-inch single from The Germs in 1978. A full album...
/London) - 1995 - Tragedy Ecstasy Doom and So On (EP, Genius)
- 2001 - Unlistenable (Zero to One)
- 2010 - Unlistenable - VINYL (Permanent Records)
Milk Cult
- 1992 - Love God (Boner/Tupelo)
- 1994 - Burn or Bury (Basural/Priority, feat. Mike PattonMike PattonMichael 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...
) - 1996 - Bruce Lee Marvin Gaye (ZK)
- 2000 - Project M13 (Zero to One)
C.C. Nova
- 1994 - Milk Cult C.C. Nova Dispatch (Communion)
External links
- Steel Pole Bath Tub, official site
- Your Choice Records, official site
- Steel Pole Bath Tub at TrouserPress.comTrouser PressTrouser Press was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow Who fan Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" ...
- Interview w/Mike Morasky
- 0 to 1 records, 0 to 1 Records