Lard (band)
Encyclopedia
Lard is a hardcore punk
/industrial band founded in 1988 as a side project by Jello Biafra
(vocals
), Al Jourgensen
(guitar
), Paul Barker
(bass
), and Jeff Ward
(drums
). Biafra is perhaps best known as the former frontman of the punk rock
band Dead Kennedys
. Jourgensen is the founder and only continuous member of industrial metal
band Ministry
, of which Barker was an official member between 1986 and 2004, and Ward was also once a touring member. Over the years, several other members of Ministry played with Lard, namely Bill Rieflin, Mike Scaccia
, and Rey Washam
.
Like most of Biafra's work, Lard's songs are angrily political (the War on Drugs
is a particularly common theme) but often have a tinge of humour.
, Lard have not officially toured and have only performed live a handful of times, mostly around the San Francisco area (where Jello lives and operates his Alternative Tentacles
record label). The band played during Ministry's 1988 tour and throughout their 1989-1990 dates (Jello was a touring member), once in Chicago after wrapping the recording of The Last Temptation Of Reid, once at the conclusion of a Ministry concert in Los Angeles (March 24, 2003), and at the San Francisco (September 26, 2004),Portland (September 28, 2004) and Seattle (September 29, 2004) dates of Ministry's Evil Doer tour. Because its key members are active with other projects, it is unlikely that the band will tour.
Barker left Ministry
in 2004 and has now started a new band called U.S.S.A
.
Al Jourgensen has stated that Ministry's new release "The Last Sucker
" will be the last album for the band, and that Lard will make one final album before calling it a day. Rumored guest appearance by Scott Ian
of Anthrax
on guitar on a few possible tracks.
According to a March 2009 interview with Jourgensen, he and Biafra are working on a new Lard
album, which is being recorded in Jourgensen's El Paso studio.
However, according to a January 2010 interview with Jello Biafra, he indicated that a new Lard
album was unlikely, saying "Me and Al have talked about it for years, but we’ve never been able to nail down a time to try and put it together.".
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...
/industrial band founded in 1988 as a side project by Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
(vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
), Al Jourgensen
Al Jourgensen
Alain David Jourgensen , is a Cuban-American musician best known as the founder and frontman of the industrial metal band Ministry. He is sometimes credited as Alain Jourgensen, Alien Jourgensen, Hypo Luxa , Dog, Alien Dog Star and Buck Satan...
(guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Paul Barker
Paul Barker
Paul Barker , also referred to as Hermes Pan, is the former bass guitarist, producer and engineer with the industrial metal band Ministry from 1986 to 2004...
(bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), and Jeff Ward
Jeff Ward (musician)
Jeff Ward was a drummer for various rock bands including Hammeron, Nine Inch Nails, Revolting Cocks, Ministry, Lard, and Low Pop Suicide....
(drums
Drum kit
A 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 ....
). Biafra is perhaps best known as the former frontman of the punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
. Jourgensen is the founder and only continuous member of industrial metal
Industrial metal
Industrial metal is a musical genre that draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal, using repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Founding industrial metal acts include Ministry, Godflesh, and KMFDM.Industrial metal's...
band Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
, of which Barker was an official member between 1986 and 2004, and Ward was also once a touring member. Over the years, several other members of Ministry played with Lard, namely Bill Rieflin, Mike Scaccia
Mike Scaccia
Michael "Mike" Scaccia is an American musician, best known as the lead guitarist for the metal bands Ministry, Rigor Mortis, and The Revolting Cocks.- Professional life :...
, and Rey Washam
Rey Washam
Rey Washam is a drummer who has been performing for more than 20 years. He has collaborated with many bands, the most notable of which include: Scratch Acid, Rapeman, Ministry, the Big Boys, Helios Creed, the Didjits, Lard, and Tad and Butthole Surfers offshoot Daddy Longhead...
.
Like most of Biafra's work, Lard's songs are angrily political (the War on Drugs
War on Drugs
The War on Drugs is a campaign of prohibition and foreign military aid and military intervention being undertaken by the United States government, with the assistance of participating countries, intended to both define and reduce the illegal drug trade...
is a particularly common theme) but often have a tinge of humour.
, Lard have not officially toured and have only performed live a handful of times, mostly around the San Francisco area (where Jello lives and operates his Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
record label). The band played during Ministry's 1988 tour and throughout their 1989-1990 dates (Jello was a touring member), once in Chicago after wrapping the recording of The Last Temptation Of Reid, once at the conclusion of a Ministry concert in Los Angeles (March 24, 2003), and at the San Francisco (September 26, 2004),Portland (September 28, 2004) and Seattle (September 29, 2004) dates of Ministry's Evil Doer tour. Because its key members are active with other projects, it is unlikely that the band will tour.
Barker left Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
in 2004 and has now started a new band called U.S.S.A
U.S.S.A.
U.S.S.A. are a rock music group formed by bassist/programmer/producer Paul Barker and guitarist/composer Duane Denison...
.
Al Jourgensen has stated that Ministry's new release "The Last Sucker
The Last Sucker
The Last Sucker is the eleventh studio album by industrial metal band Ministry, released in 2007 through 13th Planet Records. For three years until their reformation in 2011, it was band's last studio album featuring new material....
" will be the last album for the band, and that Lard will make one final album before calling it a day. Rumored guest appearance by Scott Ian
Scott Ian
Scott Ian Rosenfeld , better known by the stage name Scott Ian, is an American musician, best known as the rhythm & lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Anthrax. Ian is also the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death...
of Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
on guitar on a few possible tracks.
According to a March 2009 interview with Jourgensen, he and Biafra are working on a new Lard
Lard
Lard is pig fat in both its rendered and unrendered forms. Lard was commonly used in many cuisines as a cooking fat or shortening, or as a spread similar to butter. Its use in contemporary cuisine has diminished because of health concerns posed by its saturated-fat content and its often negative...
album, which is being recorded in Jourgensen's El Paso studio.
However, according to a January 2010 interview with Jello Biafra, he indicated that a new Lard
Lard
Lard is pig fat in both its rendered and unrendered forms. Lard was commonly used in many cuisines as a cooking fat or shortening, or as a spread similar to butter. Its use in contemporary cuisine has diminished because of health concerns posed by its saturated-fat content and its often negative...
album was unlikely, saying "Me and Al have talked about it for years, but we’ve never been able to nail down a time to try and put it together.".
Discography
- The Power of LardThe Power of LardThe Power of Lard is the 1989 EP released by Lard.-Lard:*Al Jourgensen - guitar, production*Paul Barker - bass guitar, production*Jeff Ward - drums*Jello Biafra - vocals, production, sleeve concept-Additional Personnel:*Keith Auerbach - engineer...
– (12"/CD/Cass EP) 1989 - Alternative TentaclesAlternative TentaclesAlternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
• (12" EP) 1989 - Fringe Product - I Am Your ClockI Am Your ClockI Am Your Clock is a 1990 EP released by Lard. The one sided 12" was released with a limited edition of the album The Last Temptation of Reid. The track was later included with the CD version of the album....
– (12" EP) 1990 - Alternative Tentacles - The Last Temptation of ReidThe Last Temptation of ReidThe Last Temptation of Reid is an album by Lard, released in 1990.The CD includes a cover of "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!", originally performed by Napoleon XIV, with the addition of a guitar part and an extra verse to the original song's setup...
– (LP/CD/Cass Album) 1990 - Alternative Tentacles - Pure Chewing SatisfactionPure Chewing SatisfactionPure Chewing Satisfaction is an album by Lard released in 1997.- Track listing :All songs written by Biafra/Jourgensen/Barker/Rieflin except as noted.#"War Pimp Renaissance" - 4:19#"I Wanna Be a Drug Sniffing Dog" - 3:17#"Moths" - 4:57...
– (LP/CD/Cass Album) 1997 - Alternative Tentacles - 70's Rock Must Die70's Rock Must Die70's Rock Must Die is an EP by Lard that was released in the year 2000.- Track listing :- Lard :*Al Jourgensen – guitars, keys, programming, production*Paul Barker – bass, keys, programming, backing vocals , production...
– (12"/CD EP) 2000 - Alternative Tentacles
Compilation appearances
- The Bat Is Back - An Alternative Tentacles Records Sampler – (CD Sampler/Promo) 1992, track #2 "Drug Raid at 4am" - Alternative Tentacles
- Natural Born Killers: A Soundtrack for an Oliver Stone Film – (CD) 1994, track #22 "Forkboy" - Nothing Records • (2xLP) 1994, side D, track #2 "Forkboy" - Nothing RecordsNothing RecordsNothing Records was an American record label, specializing in industrial rock and electronic music, founded by John Malm Jr. and Trent Reznor in 1992...
- Selections From Natural Born Killers: A Soundtrack for an Oliver Stone Film – (CD Sampler) 1994, track #2,"Forkboy" - Nothing Records/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:...
- The Futility of a Well Ordered Life – (CD) 1994, track #1 "Forkboy" - Alternative Tentacles
- Music from and Inspired by Natural Born Killers, an Oliver Stone Film – (CD) 1996, track #22 "Forkboy" - Nothing Records/Interscope Records
- Mind the Gap Volume 14 – (CD) 1997, track #3 "I Wanna Be a Drug Sniffing Dog" - Gonzo Circus
- Rock Sound Volume 9 – (CD Sampler) 1997, track #9 "Generation Execute" - Rock Sound
- The Virus That Would Not Die! – (CD Sampler) 1997, track #16 "I Wanna Be a Drug Sniffing Dog" - Alternative Tentacles
- The New, The Classic & The Unexplored – (CD Sampler) 1998, track #11 "The Power of Lard" - Visions Magazine
- Movie Madness – (CD-ROM/MP3 format) 2000, file #11 "Ballad of Marshall Ledbetter" - Riffage Records
- The Record Shop - 30 Years of Rough Trade Shops – (2xCD), disc #1, track #14 "The Power of Lard" - V2 Records, Inc.