The Warlocks
Encyclopedia
The Warlocks are an American rock band based out of Los Angeles
. Their music has been defined as neo-psychedelia
, but much of it spans multiple genres.
Current line-up:
Also:
Former:
, Florida
where his grandfather owned a radio station where his mother also worked as a secretary.
At sixteen his family left the swamps and moved to Los Angeles
where Bobby frequented the 'Mad Hatter' club. After meeting Beck
he played bass on the former's 1994
album Stereopathetic Soulmanure
. Upon visiting Anton Newcombe
, of whose work he was a fan, he moonlighted in The Brian Jonestown Massacre
, for whom he played guitar and bass; also contributing 'fuzz guitar' on their 2001
album Bravery, Repetition and Noise
. He also attended parties with Timothy Leary
as a result of his time in Hollywood-based performance art/rock ensemble The Don Knotts Overdrive (DKO), which would later become the alternative rock
band Headset. Throughout the 1990s, he formed bands such as Charles Brown Superstar (with Bennett Rogers), Magic Pacer (with Bob Mustachio), and played keyboards with The Don Knotts Overdrive.
The band's debut album "Rise & Fall" was released on Bomp records in 2000. A worldwide deal with Mute
(in conjunction with City Rockers in the UK and with Birdman
in America) led to the release of "Phoenix" in 2003. The single's extra tracks featured two songs from the album recorded on their British tour, "Inside Outside" and "Hurricane Heart Attack". The latter includes a guest appearance from ex-Spaceman 3 front man Sonic Boom
.
First Bob Mustachio, then Jenny Fraser joined,
'Surgery' was released by Mute in 2005.
In Oct 2007 a new album "Heavy Deavy Skull Lover" was released on Tee Pee Records
and the band toured as a six-piece. The record is considered to be 'darker' and more influenced by Shoegaze music than the rest of the group's work.
"The Mirror Explodes" followed in 2009, also released on Tee Pee.
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...
. Their music has been defined as neo-psychedelia
Neo-psychedelia
Neo-psychedelia is music that emulates or is heavily influenced by the psychedelic music of the 1960s. It began to be revived among British post-punk bands of the later 1970s and early 1980s and was taken up by groups including bands of the Paisley Underground and Madchester scenes, as well as...
, but much of it spans multiple genres.
Music
After forming in America during 1999, the ever-changing personnel of The Warlocks meant that the band had already toured nineteen different members before it was slimmed to the seven-piece outfit that established their reputation. Consisting of Bobby Hecksher (Vocals/Guitar), J.C. Rees (guitar, feedback), Corey Lee Granet (guitar, tapes), Bobby Martinez(Bass), Laura Grigsby (Tambourine/Keys), Bob Mustachio (Drums) and Jason "Plucky" Anchondo (Drums).Members
The Warlocks consists of some core musicians, as well as a number of collaborators at any one time.Current line-up:
- Bobby Hecksher – leader, guitar, keyboards, vocals.
- John Christian Rees - guitars,feedback..
- Christopher DiPino - bass.
- George Serrano - drums.
- Earl Vincent Miller - guitars.
Also:
- Jason Anchondo - drums. Also of SpindriftSpindrift (band)Spindrift is a psychedelic rock band created by singer-songwriter-composer-producer-actor Kirpatrick Thomas, who was born in Delaware as one of 5 kids. Founded in 1992, the band originated in Newark, Delaware along with such other local bands of the period including Jake and the Stiffs, The Verge,...
; formerly of The Brian Jonestown MassacreThe Brian Jonestown MassacreThe Brian Jonestown Massacre is an American eclectic musical group led by Anton Newcombe, whose music spans multiple genres including psychedelia, electronica, folk music, blues, experimental music, and many others....
. - Jenny Fraser - bass.
- Laura Jean Grigsby - organ, keyboards.
- Corey Lee Granet - guitars, tapes.
- Theresa Saso - drums.
- Bob Mustachio - drums
- Ryan McBride - guitar
- Bobby Martinez - bass. Later became founding member and leader of The Pandas.
- Phillip Haut - drums.
- Mimi Star - bass.
Former:
- Jeff Levitz - guitar, sitar. Currently in Puppies and Kittens; formerly of The Brian Jonestown MassacreThe Brian Jonestown MassacreThe Brian Jonestown Massacre is an American eclectic musical group led by Anton Newcombe, whose music spans multiple genres including psychedelia, electronica, folk music, blues, experimental music, and many others....
.
History
Leader Bobby Hecksher grew up in Tampa BayTampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
where his grandfather owned a radio station where his mother also worked as a secretary.
At sixteen his family left the swamps and moved to 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...
where Bobby frequented the 'Mad Hatter' club. After meeting Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
he played bass on the former's 1994
1994 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994.-January–February:*January 25 – Alice in Chains release their Jar of Flies album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP to do so....
album Stereopathetic Soulmanure
Stereopathetic Soulmanure
Stereopathetic Soulmanure is the second studio album by American alternative rock musician Beck, released on Flipside in 1994, a week before the appearance of his Geffen debut Mellow Gold. The album comprises mostly home demos, live performances, and abstract noise experiments...
. Upon visiting Anton Newcombe
Anton Newcombe
Anton Alfred Newcombe is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and leader of the music group, The Brian Jonestown Massacre.-Music:...
, of whose work he was a fan, he moonlighted in The Brian Jonestown Massacre
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
The Brian Jonestown Massacre is an American eclectic musical group led by Anton Newcombe, whose music spans multiple genres including psychedelia, electronica, folk music, blues, experimental music, and many others....
, for whom he played guitar and bass; also contributing 'fuzz guitar' on their 2001
2001 in music
See also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
album Bravery, Repetition and Noise
Bravery, Repetition and Noise
Bravery Repetition and Noise is the ninth full length album by The Brian Jonestown Massacre, released in 2001. All the songs were written by Anton Newcombe. The front cover shows American independent film director Jim Jarmusch. Incidentally The Brian Jonestown Massacre's song "Not if You Were the...
. He also attended parties with Timothy Leary
Timothy Leary
Timothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and writer, known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. During a time when drugs like LSD and psilocybin were legal, Leary conducted experiments at Harvard University under the Harvard Psilocybin Project, resulting in the Concord Prison...
as a result of his time in Hollywood-based performance art/rock ensemble The Don Knotts Overdrive (DKO), which would later become the alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Headset. Throughout the 1990s, he formed bands such as Charles Brown Superstar (with Bennett Rogers), Magic Pacer (with Bob Mustachio), and played keyboards with The Don Knotts Overdrive.
The band's debut album "Rise & Fall" was released on Bomp records in 2000. A worldwide deal with Mute
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
(in conjunction with City Rockers in the UK and with Birdman
Birdman Records
Birdman Records is an independent record label based in South San Francisco, founded by former Warner Bros. Records A&R vice-president David Katznelson.-History:...
in America) led to the release of "Phoenix" in 2003. The single's extra tracks featured two songs from the album recorded on their British tour, "Inside Outside" and "Hurricane Heart Attack". The latter includes a guest appearance from ex-Spaceman 3 front man Sonic Boom
Peter Kember
Peter Kember is a British musician and producer, more usually known as Sonic Boom, and was a founding member of alternative rock band Spacemen 3....
.
First Bob Mustachio, then Jenny Fraser joined,
'Surgery' was released by Mute in 2005.
In Oct 2007 a new album "Heavy Deavy Skull Lover" was released on Tee Pee Records
Tee Pee Records
Tee Pee Records is an independent record label located in New York City in the United States, made popular by the signing of The Brian Jonestown Massacre.-Artists :*Ancestors*Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound*The Atomic Bitchwax...
and the band toured as a six-piece. The record is considered to be 'darker' and more influenced by Shoegaze music than the rest of the group's work.
"The Mirror Explodes" followed in 2009, also released on Tee Pee.
Discography
| Release date | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| November 11, 2000 | The Warlocks The Warlocks (EP) The Warlocks is the debut EP released by Los Angeles based neo-psychedelic rock band, the Warlocks in 2000 by Bomp! Records.-Track listing:#"Cocaine Blues"#"Song for Nico"#"Jam of the Zombies"#"Caveman Rock"#"Angry Demons"#"Jam of the Warlocks"... (EP) |
Bomp! Records Bomp! Records Bomp! Records is an Los Angeles-based indie label formed in 1974 by fanzine publisher and music historian Greg Shaw.-History:The label has featured punk, pop, powerpop, garage rock, new wave, old school rock, neo-psychedelia among other genres, and its roster has included artists such as The Modern... |
| October 16, 2001 | Rise and Fall | Bomp! Records |
| 2002 | Phoenix Phoenix (EP) Phoenix is the second EP released by Los Angeles based neo-psychedelic rock band, the Warlocks in 2002 by Birdman Records.-Track listing:#"Baby Blue" – 3:52#"Oh Sandy" – 12:18#"Stone Hearts" – 7:08#"Minneapolis Mad Man" – 7:45#[Untitled track] – 34:37... (EP) |
Birdman Records Birdman Records Birdman Records is an independent record label based in South San Francisco, founded by former Warner Bros. Records A&R vice-president David Katznelson.-History:... |
| November 5, 2002 | Phoenix Phoenix (The Warlocks album) Phoenix is the second full length album by the Los Angeles based neo-psychedelic rock band, the Warlocks. It was released by Birdman Records in 2002; the band having been signed to this label following the success of their previous album, Rise and Fall... (album) |
Birdman Records Mute Records Mute Records Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:... |
| August 23, 2005 | Surgery Surgery (album) Surgery is the third album by the Los Angeles based neo-psychedelic rock band, the Warlocks. It was released by major label, Mute Records in 2005, and was produced by the high profile, Tom Rothrock. It has been remarked on by critics for having a more refined sound to 2002's Phoenix Album, a sound ... |
Mute Records |
| October 23, 2007 | Heavy Deavy Skull Lover Heavy Deavy Skull Lover Heavy Deavy Skull Lover is the fourth album by the Los Angeles based neo-psychedelic rock band, the Warlocks. It was released in 2007 by Tee Pee Records; a small psychedelia themed label also home to band cohorts, The Brian Jonestown Massacre. The album is produced by Rod Cervera, who had... |
Tee Pee Records Tee Pee Records Tee Pee Records is an independent record label located in New York City in the United States, made popular by the signing of The Brian Jonestown Massacre.-Artists :*Ancestors*Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound*The Atomic Bitchwax... |
| May 19, 2009 | The Mirror Explodes The Mirror Explodes The Mirror Explodes is the fifth album by the Los Angeles based neo-psychedelic rock band, the Warlocks. It was released on May 19, 2009 by Tee Pee Records... |
Tee Pee Records Tee Pee Records Tee Pee Records is an independent record label located in New York City in the United States, made popular by the signing of The Brian Jonestown Massacre.-Artists :*Ancestors*Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound*The Atomic Bitchwax... |
Interviews
- JC Rees interview Free Williamsburg, Dec 2002.
- Danny Hole interview Lazy-i, March 19, 2003
- Jenny Fraser interview Suicide Girls, May 9, 2006
- Jason Anchondo & Bobby Hecksher interview Prefixmag, Jan 4, 2008
- Jenny Fraser interview The Morning Call, Nov 3 2007.
Video
- PUNKCAST#48 live @ Village Underground NYC - May 2001 (RealPlayerRealPlayerRealPlayer is a cross-platform media player by RealNetworks that plays a number of multimedia formats including MP3, MPEG-4, QuickTime, Windows Media, and multiple versions of proprietary RealAudio and RealVideo formats.-History:...
) - PUNKCAST#165 live @ Mercury Lounge NYC - Jun 2002 (RealPlayerRealPlayerRealPlayer is a cross-platform media player by RealNetworks that plays a number of multimedia formats including MP3, MPEG-4, QuickTime, Windows Media, and multiple versions of proprietary RealAudio and RealVideo formats.-History:...
) - PUNKCAST#1213 live @ Glasslands Gallery, Brooklyn - Oct 2007 (RealPlayerRealPlayerRealPlayer is a cross-platform media player by RealNetworks that plays a number of multimedia formats including MP3, MPEG-4, QuickTime, Windows Media, and multiple versions of proprietary RealAudio and RealVideo formats.-History:...
, mp4)