VI (album)
Encyclopedia
VI is the fifth album by the hardcore
band Circle Jerks
(although a popular misconception is that this is their sixth record), which was released in 1987. It was the band's last album before their 5 year hiatus from 1989 to 1994.
The music on the record is a sort of missing link between hardcore and grunge - on this record the band has moved further into the slower / metal-ish territory of its predecessor, Wonderful
, with nods to classic rock (the band covers Creedence Clearwater Revival
's "Fortunate Son
"). The lyrics also continue in a similar vein as the previous album, leaning more toward positive messages than the band's early work, while still retaining a strong sarcastic bite and penchant for social commentary.
Originally released on the Combat Records
label, VI is currently out of print.
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 Circle Jerks
Circle Jerks
The Circle Jerks are an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Los Angeles, California. It was formed by Black Flag's original singer, Keith Morris, and future Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson. They were among the preeminent hardcore punk bands of the L.A. scene in the late 1970s.The band...
(although a popular misconception is that this is their sixth record), which was released in 1987. It was the band's last album before their 5 year hiatus from 1989 to 1994.
The music on the record is a sort of missing link between hardcore and grunge - on this record the band has moved further into the slower / metal-ish territory of its predecessor, Wonderful
Wonderful (Circle Jerks album)
Wonderful is the fourth studio album by the Circle Jerks, released in 1985.-Track listing:# "Wonderful"# "Firebaugh"# "Making the Bombs"# "Mrs...
, with nods to classic rock (the band covers Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a number of successful singles drawn from various albums....
's "Fortunate Son
Fortunate Son (song)
"Fortunate Son" is a song by Creedence Clearwater Revival on their album Willy and the Poor Boys in 1968. It was released as a single, together with "Down on the Corner", in September 1968. This song reached #14 on the United States charts. It won the RIAA Gold Disc award in December 1970...
"). The lyrics also continue in a similar vein as the previous album, leaning more toward positive messages than the band's early work, while still retaining a strong sarcastic bite and penchant for social commentary.
Originally released on the Combat Records
Combat Records
Combat Records was an independent record label from New York City. The label was home to predominantly metal and punk rock acts including Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, Death, Dead Brain Cells, Possessed, Crumbsuckers, Agnostic Front, Agent Steel, Dark Angel, Heathen, Zoetrope and...
label, VI is currently out of print.
Track listing
- "Beat Me Senseless" (Greg HetsonGreg HetsonGreg Hetson is an American guitarist. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and has lived in Los Angeles, California since he was 2 years old...
, Keith Clark, Keith MorrisKeith MorrisKeith Morris is an American singer and songwriter known for his role as frontman of the hardcore punk bands Black Flag, the Circle Jerks, and Off! Born and raised in Hermosa Beach, California, he formed Black Flag at the age of 21 with guitarist Greg Ginn and performed on the band's 1978 debut EP...
) – 1:57 - "Patty's Killing Mel" (Zander SchlossZander SchlossZander Schloss is a Los Angeles, California based musician, actor and composer. He is perhaps best known as bass player for The Circle Jerks and The Weirdos and for his contributions to a number of independent feature films. His first screen appearance was as "Kevin the Nerd" in Repo Man...
) – 2:05 - "Casualty Vampire" (Hetson, Clark, Morris, Schloss) – 2:36
- "Tell Me Why" (Hetson, Morris, Schloss) – 3:18
- "Protection" (Clark, Morris, Schloss) – 1:45
- "I'm Alive" (Clark, Morris, Schloss) – 2:37
- "Status Clinger" (Clark, Schloss) – 2:43
- "Living" (Darren Lipscomb, Clark, Schloss) – 2:29
- "American Way" (Clark, Schloss) – 1:44
- "Fortunate SonFortunate Son (song)"Fortunate Son" is a song by Creedence Clearwater Revival on their album Willy and the Poor Boys in 1968. It was released as a single, together with "Down on the Corner", in September 1968. This song reached #14 on the United States charts. It won the RIAA Gold Disc award in December 1970...
" (John FogertyJohn FogertyJohn Cameron Fogerty is an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his time with the swamp rock/roots rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival and as a #1 solo recording artist. Fogerty has a rare distinction of being named on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest...
) – 2:02 - "Love Kills" (Clark, Morris, Schloss) – 2:33
- "All Wound Up" (Hetson, Morris, Schloss) – 1:32
- "I Don't" (Hetson, Schloss) – 2:00
Personnel
- Keith MorrisKeith MorrisKeith Morris is an American singer and songwriter known for his role as frontman of the hardcore punk bands Black Flag, the Circle Jerks, and Off! Born and raised in Hermosa Beach, California, he formed Black Flag at the age of 21 with guitarist Greg Ginn and performed on the band's 1978 debut EP...
- vocals - Greg HetsonGreg HetsonGreg Hetson is an American guitarist. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and has lived in Los Angeles, California since he was 2 years old...
- guitarElectric guitarAn 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... - Zander SchlossZander SchlossZander Schloss is a Los Angeles, California based musician, actor and composer. He is perhaps best known as bass player for The Circle Jerks and The Weirdos and for his contributions to a number of independent feature films. His first screen appearance was as "Kevin the Nerd" in Repo Man...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Keith Clark - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Karat Faye - producer, engineer
- Eddy Schreyer - mastering
- Edward J. Repka - design
- Mark Weinberg - art direction
- Gary Leonard - photography
Miscellanea
- Track 9, "Fortunate Son", is a Creedence Clearwater RevivalCreedence Clearwater RevivalCreedence Clearwater Revival was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a number of successful singles drawn from various albums....
cover. - The lineup that recorded this album would reunite to record their next and last studio album to-date, Oddities, Abnormalities and CuriositiesOddities, Abnormalities and CuriositiesOddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities is the sixth studio album by the Circle Jerks, which was released in 1995.Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities was the band's only full-length studio recording since their 1989 disbandment and 1994 reformation, and also their only release on a major label...
, in 1995.