Brutal Juice
| Brutal Juice | |
|---|---|
|
Brutal Juice Promotional Photograph. L-R: Sam McCall, Ted Wood, Craig Welch, Ben Burt and Gordon Gibson. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Denton, Texas |
| Genres | Acid punk |
| Years active | 1991–1997, 2012–present |
| Labels | Homus Boyus, Alternative Tentacles, Interscope |
| Associated acts | The Tomorrowpeople, International Sparkdome, The Fabulous Badasses, Hand of Onan, Burden Brothers |
| Website | http://www.brutaljuice.com |
| Members |
Craig Welch Gordon Gibson Sam McCall Ted Wood Ben Burt |
Brutal Juice is a self-proclaimed "acid punk" (LSD-influenced hardcore punk and progressive rock) band from Denton, Texas.
The band formed in 1990 and officially disbanded in February 1997, although they held several reunion concerts between 1999 and 2012, which usually took place at Fry Street Fair in Denton. They officially reformed in 2012 and released their latest album, titled "Welcome to the Panopticon," on October 28, 2016. Brutal Juice still performs a few times a year, typically playing shows in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, or in Austin.
Band members
- Craig Welch - lead vocals, guitar
- Gordon Gibson - lead vocals, guitar
- Sam McCall - bass, vocals
- Ted Wood - guitar, vocals
- Ben Burt - drums
Background
According to promotional material supplied with the release of mutilation makes identification difficult, "they had the stupid name [Brutal Juice] before the stupid O.J. stuff."
They released one album on Interscope Records and a few 7" singles on smaller record labels (including Alternative Tentacles). The band toured extensively throughout the 1990s, opening for bands such as Toadies and Gwar. Brutal Juice also toured with Neurosis, Baboon, Alice Donut and The Meatmen. Brutal Juice also played thousands and thousands of shows with Ed Hall (band).
Wesley Willis wrote a song about Brutal Juice after seeing them perform in New York City. It appears on his album Fabian Road Warrior.
Bassist Sam McCall recorded the band's early demos prior to joining the group. Vocalist Craig Welch was known for his on-stage antics, often standing on his head and putting out cigarettes on his tongue or forehead during the band's performances. This habit led to his next band taking the name "International Sparkdome."
All of Brutal Juice's songs are published by "Homus Boyus Productions."
Brutal Juice had a habit of writing songs that incorporated their album titles, on the band's next release. Even their earliest recordings employed this: "How Tasty Was My Little Timmy?" is a line from the song "Cannibal Holocaust," which appears on the next recording released by the band. Similarly, "I Love the Way They Scream When They Die" is a line from "Burpgun," which appears the release that followed it. Likewise, "mutilation makes identification difficult" is a lyric from "Bound For Glory" which first appeared on a single that was released a year after the album with that title.
Discography
Albums
- How Tasty Was My Little Timmy? (1991)
- I Love the Way They Scream When They Die (1994)
- mutilation makes identification difficult (1995)
- Welcome to the Panopticon (2016)
Singles / E.P.s / Demos
- Cannibal Holocaust (1992)
- Black Moment of Panic (1993)
- All American City (1996)
Compilations
| Year | Title | Song | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Get it Through Your Thick Skull | "Eastern Cat" | Idol Records |
| 1993 | Tales From the Edge Vol. 7 | "Cannibal Holocaust" | KDGE FM |
| 1993 | We're From Texas | "Pull the Plug" | Scratched Records |
| 1994 | Welcome to Hell's Lobby | "Cannibal Holocaust" | One Ton |
| 1994 | The Futility Of A Well Ordered Life | "Galaxy" | Alternative Tentacles |
| 1996 | Show and Tell: A Stormy Remembrance of TV Themes | "Paid Programming" ("I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing") "Bewitched" (theme song) |
Which? |
After initial dissolution
After the band dissolved, the members of Brutal Juice remained active in the music scene. Gordon Gibson and Ben Burt went on to form The Tomorrowpeople, along with ex-Toadies guitarist Darrel Herbert. Ben Burt also worked briefly with the Burden Brothers and Jack With One Eye. Craig Welch played with International Sparkdome, Fabulous Badasses, Neeks, 2MAI, Wounded Infidel, The Banes, Dead Cow Mountain, FISK, and Glitterature. Ted Wood played with Hand of Onan, The Banes, Clutch Cargo, Magnum Octopus, and Austin-based band Babydick (along with Sam McCall). Sam McCall also produces and records albums for other bands.