Claw Hammer
Encyclopedia
Claw Hammer was an American indie rock
band from California
. Claw Hammer formed in 1986 in Long Beach, California
; its members were from several neighboring municipalities. Their name was taken from a Captain Beefheart
song. The group released a cassette and some small-issue EPs and singles before signing to Sympathy for the Record Industry
, who released their debut LP, an eponymous effort, in 1990. In 1991 they did an album entirely covering Devo
's 1978 Are We Not Men? We Are Devo!. The group signed to Epitaph Records
for their 1993 release, Pablum. In 1994, Claw Hammer performed as the backing band on Wayne Kramer
's Epitaph release, The Hard Stuff. Jumping to major label Interscope
, they released two more LPs, the last being 1997's Hold Your Tongue (and Say Apple). The group played live until 2000.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Claw Hammer formed in 1986 in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
; its members were from several neighboring municipalities. Their name was taken from a Captain Beefheart
Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet January 15, 1941 December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12...
song. The group released a cassette and some small-issue EPs and singles before signing to Sympathy for the Record Industry
Sympathy for the Record Industry
Sympathy for the Record Industry is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by record industry anti-mogul Long Gone John...
, who released their debut LP, an eponymous effort, in 1990. In 1991 they did an album entirely covering Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
's 1978 Are We Not Men? We Are Devo!. The group signed to Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
for their 1993 release, Pablum. In 1994, Claw Hammer performed as the backing band on Wayne Kramer
Wayne Kramer (guitarist)
Wayne Kramer is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and film and television scorer....
's Epitaph release, The Hard Stuff. Jumping to major label Interscope
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
, they released two more LPs, the last being 1997's Hold Your Tongue (and Say Apple). The group played live until 2000.
Members
- Jon Wahl - guitar, vocals (Pontiac Brothers, Red AuntsRed AuntsThe Red Aunts were an all-female punk band that formed in 1991 in Long Beach, California when Terri Wahl recruited friends Kerry Davis and Debi Martini . Wahl would become the guitarist, sharing vocal duties with Davis who also played rhythm guitar and Martini as bassist...
) - Chris Bagarozzi - guitar (Down by LawDown by Law (band)Down by Law is a punk rock band formed in 1989 by former All frontman Dave Smalley, who is the their only permanent member. The band has recorded 7 studio albums. They stayed on Epitaph Records until 1998 and have since switched to labels. Down by Law has never achieved substantial commercial...
, Midget Handjob) - Rick Sortwell - drums (1986–1991)
- Bob Lee - drums (1991–2000)
- Rob Walther - bass
Discography
- Get Yer Heh Heh's Out (cassette) (Trigon Records, 1989)
- Poor Robert EP (Grown Up Wrong, 1989)
- Claw Hammer (Sympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record Industry is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by record industry anti-mogul Long Gone John...
, 1990) - Double Pack Whack Attack EP (Sympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record Industry is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by record industry anti-mogul Long Gone John...
, 1990 - Q:Are We Not Men? A:We Are Not Devo (Sympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record Industry is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by record industry anti-mogul Long Gone John...
, 1991) - Ramwhale (Sympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record Industry is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by record industry anti-mogul Long Gone John...
, 1992) - Pablum (Epitaph RecordsEpitaph RecordsEpitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
, 1993) - Thank the Holder Uppers (Interscope RecordsInterscope RecordsInterscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
, 1995) - Hold Your Tongue (and Say Apple) (Interscope RecordsInterscope RecordsInterscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
, 1997)