BIG BLACK

The best punk band ever to come out of America. Really, that’s all you need to know.

OK, perhaps you want a little more info. Fine. Have it your way.

Steve Albini put together Big Black in Chicago back in the early eighties. The first EP, Lungs (1982), was essentially just Albini and Roland (Roland is listed on all Big Black releases as their drummer. “He” was in fact a drum machine).

After the release of Lungs, Jeff Pezzati (bass) and Santiago Durango (guitar) joined up. Santiago would remain with the band throughout their career, but Pezzati left after 2 more EPs, Bulldozer (1983) and Racer X (1984), were recorded. From 1984 until their break up in 1987, Dave Riley would complete the lineup.

Their sound has been referred to as industrial, or early industrial, or noise rock, or, as Albini himself has called them, simply punk. By whatever name, it’s loud and aggressive, with lyrical themes that often match the bombast of the guitars. Though, often the lyrics were meant as sarcasm.

Give these a listen (notes written by Albini, taken from the liners of the CDs)

Big Black - “Kerosene” from Atomizer
While the band was active, much ado was made about the “pork roast” nature of the subject of this song. The lyrics were an afterthought, actually, and were originally about either race car driving or frog gigging. I forget which.

Big Black - “Fish Fry” from Songs About Fucking (buy)
It went like this, as near as anybody can tell. He went to her family’s fish fry, took her to the drive-in, porked her, then beat her to death with his boot. It is speculated that he was upset about the ease with which he got into her pants, when she had resisted his brother’s attempts earlier. He threw the body into Frenchtown Pond, if memory serves, and went home. When the police found him the following afternoon, he was nonchalantly scrubbing out the cab of his truck with the aid of a garden hose.

Big Black - “Dead Billy” (live) from Pigpile (buy)
When we started playing this song, we had no idea the antics of the armed forces would become the crass pop-culture fodder to the extent they have. Forgive the ex-post-facto banality.

And for a rarity:
Big Black - “Hunter's Safety (Tommy Bartlett Dies in Pain)” from the various artists compilation The Middle of America (1984)

Since his days in Big Black, Steve Albini has made a living as a much sought-after producer (Nirvana, Pixies, P.J. Harvey), and has fronted the bands Shellac and Rapeman. Albini’s fantastic essay regarding the record business is HERE, and is well worth the read. Especially if you’re in a band trying to get their big break.

Santiago Durango is now a practicing lawyer. He has worked on cases for, among others, Cynthia Plaster Caster, and Touch and Go Records.

Dave Riley recorded an album, and published a book. In 1993, he suffered a stroke. He now writes about his recovery, and many other things HERE.

Jeff Pezzati now plays with the band The Bomb.

Big Black discography:
Lungs (EP) (1982)
Bulldozer (EP) (1983)
Racer X (EP) (1984)
The Hammer Party (CD compiling first 3 EPs) (buy)
Atomizer (1986)
Headache (EP) (1987)
Heartbeat (Single) (1987)
The Rich Man’s 8-Track Tape (CD compiling above 3 releases) (buy)
Songs About Fucking (1987) (buy)
Pigpile (live) (recorded in 87, released in 92) (buy)

For much more information on Big Black, look at their WIKI entry. They have more free MP3’s at the Touch and Go website. Info on all of Steve Albini’s bands can be found at the Action Park site. More info on what Dave Riley is up to can be found at worthlessgoddamncripple.com.