Another one of those "hidden gems" from the hardcore days.
The Sluglords were formed by guitarist Bruno DeSmartass, ex Bad Posture and after sluglords split up some members went on to form Morally Bankrupt. I can't tell you a whole lot about this album as my copy has been in storage for years and there is precious little information on the web about the personnel. Some of the songs featured on this album were also played by Bad Posture in their day.
What I can tell you is that this is a CLASSIC. It combines great musicianship with a very good mixture of melody, speed and driving tunes. They originated in San Francisco and played many shows, but seem to have fallen well under the radar for some inexplicable reason. Life without Justice has an immediately catchy chorus. I'd put this is the same bracket as HVY DRT and would urge you to download this if you don't have it. It's a taster, for more info look at the later entry.
Music
part of the whole Haight St. bike messenger crowd in San Francisco. Great release too. This is when we were having more long haired, or dread types in the audience. Seemed to play The Farm (legenday SF punk venue) in the mid to late 80's
ReplyDeleteDid you ever see these live Kenny?
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff!! Thanks. I still have the vinyl!
ReplyDeleteRobert
Yeah Neil, 5-6 times or so. Good band that was usually stuck down towards the bottom of every bill that I saw.
ReplyDeleteYour welcome Robert. I still have the vynal as well...I couldn't part with it when I hit e-bay a few years back.
ReplyDeleteOMG Kenny I am sooooo jealous.
I am sure you and I would love to change places and see each others countries bands.
ReplyDeleteIn a heartbeat Kenny. I'd trade you Discharge and Vice Squad for Sluglords and Code of Honor anyday!
ReplyDeleteThey hit Denver in the early/mid eighties. Opend for some band, can't remember who, but the blew 'em off the stage. They had an asian guy on drums and the fucker absolutely dominated his kit. The place they played was called "Taste of Denver" and when the club wasn't hosting it's usual black/gay clientele they booked punk to scrape up a few bucks.
ReplyDeleteSomewhere I've got the photos....
Thanks for the post! I saw them a couple of times in 1984 when I lived in San Francisco. I remember there being a connection to Flipper...or maybe Steve DePace was just sitting in with them. They were on a couple of bills with Flipper &/or Frightwig and also played this cool after-hours warehouse party. My vinyl is long gone with all my moving, so thanks again.
ReplyDeleteSteve,Willy(the Asian bassist) and John(drummer)were part of the vibrant Sound of Music,Mabuhay,On Broadway scene. They practiced in John's basement Vat in the famous Vat's (the old Falstaff brewery building). Steve hung out with and was a roommate with Ted from Flipper over in SOM on Folsom I think. They were out of place on almost every bill they played with their well rehearsed heavy speedmetal far ahead of it's time. Mia was Steve's girl at the time she fronted Frightwig a 3 piece girl band with the hit "Cow for You".
ReplyDeleteBruno from the band just reissued this on his own label, along w/ live & demo tracks.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to have a digital backup for my beloved 12"!
-J
Hello all. Bruno DeSmartass, Lord of the Slugs here. I was guitar player,singer of the Sluglords (as well as Bad Posture, Polkacide, Goofball,etc.) and bass and vox (with Flipper and Red Asphalt). I started the Sluglords back in '83 with drummer John lieb ( who then went on to play with MDC, Morally Bankrupt on drums, Polkacide and the Extra Action Marching Band on trumpet) and Willy Lipat on bass and vox. He mostly just plays piano, and moved to Vegas.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting mix of influences and great musicians. We would re-arrange songs at whim every rehearsal or gig just to amuse ourselves.
The Slugs were always my favorite of all my projects and I miss the mayhem and the music.
Just recently I released a CD; a re-issue of our EP, as well as a bunch of live tracks and some odd studio stuff. Available at cdbaby; http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/sluglords
I never lived with Ted Falconi, (shudder...:) though we are good friends. I went on tour with Flipper back in '84 and '85 when Will and/or Bruce were to sick to tour. I've played with them over the years on and off, culminating in 2006-7 where we did a lot of touring and playing at the Fillmore with the DKs and at CBGBs in NYC the last week before it closed. I'm a glorified Flipper bench-warmer.
John Lieb, our drummer, went on tour with MDC back in '84 and DH Peligro from the Dead Kennedys sat in with the Sluglords for a show at the Mab. We did some recording with him, also on the CD. John added some trumpet 26 years later! I speak to Steve DePace every week. He is in SF, Flipper taking some time off.
I flogged apower trio for a few years, Goofball. Lately I have been recording with and old band from 1980-82, Red Asphalt, we released 2 CDs of old stuff and 2 CDs of new stuff.
Enough with the recording!! I need to get back out playing!
Thanks all for the reminisces and thank you Neil for the site.
Sluglords fuckin ruled. My band the Offenders played with them around 83 at the Mab or On Broadway. Album is a classic. Are the Vats condos now?
ReplyDeleteThe Offenders were a great fucking band!!! I remember (in a foggy, hazy kind of way) playing with you all in Austin, maybe 1984. One of the best shows of the tour. Mikey O stayed around SF for years. Used to run into him all over. Super nice guy. Sad...
ReplyDeleteI was over where the Vats used to be and I could have been on another planet! All new buildings. Such is life, onward!
Offenders still making noise??
Thanks, Bruno
There's some photos of the vats on x-con rons MDC site, including a sluglords pic.
ReplyDeletehttp://web.mac.com/erposner1/x-con_ron_mdc_2/VATS.html
It looks like a HUGE version of a venue we had in Newcastle in the early 80's
oh BTW the offenders were awesome. I still have all the early vinyl and still listen to them.
ReplyDeletewow! you're the only other person I've ever come across who knew about this amazing record and you're from around the corner (i'm from sunderland). I no longer have my copy of this I think I sold it to Andy from Punk Shocker 'zine many years ago. great record.
ReplyDeleteSaw the slugs play in Seattle 1984 opened for Suicidal. IMO blew them away and I'm a big suicidal fan.
ReplyDeleteI would loved to have been at that gig.
ReplyDeletenothing works
ReplyDeleteTry now.
ReplyDeleteOne copy ended up in my hands all the way down under to Australia great record
ReplyDeleteSaw Sluglords open for DRI in Minneapolis in summer 83 or 84. Immediately bought the 12" and made a DIY shirt. Vinyl on turntable right now. Good memories...Signal 30.
ReplyDelete