Crash Worship
| Crash Worship | |
|---|---|
IXTASIS
|
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Crash Worship ADRV |
| Origin | San Diego, California, United States[1] |
| Genres | Experimental, industrial |
| Years active | 1986–2000s |
| Labels | Charnel, Cold Spring, ¡Alarma!, Rocco Fresco, ROIR |
| Members | Simon Cheffins Markus Wolff Jeff Mattson JXL "Fat" Jack Torino Dreiky Caprice Ryan Jencks |
| Past members | Zoli Zombori Steve Griffin Trudy Truelove John Goff Rick Farr Madam Saruh Nadia Hagan Trachio Pieter Schoolwerth AMJ R. L. Naefke C. Wssl Oliver Octavio Mr. Quintron Tim North Sam Zimmerman |
Crash Worship or ADRV (Adoración De Rotura Violenta) was a San Diego based experimental aktionist industrial-noise, multicultural/multidisciplinary performance group formed in 1986,[1] most renowned for its live shows in which three stand-up percussionists hammered out concussive poly-rhythms to abstract mutated guitar, synthesizers, effects and dueling vocalists. Audience members were showered in various substances such as blood, wine and honey while band members ignited combustibles and fire within the performance area.[2] Crash Worship also released several albums and singles of both live and studio-recorded music. Mostly self-produced (unusually packaged and laboriously handcrafted) works in visually stunning screen printed metal splattered with paint, urine, blood and other esoterica.[3] Although they toured playing their recorded material, the celebratory nature of these events left each show open to spontaneity and improvisation.[4]
Contents
Biography[edit]
Initially starting as a studio project, Crash Worship soon learned the power of a live audience.[5] During performances, the band's members (or often provocateurs) would manipulate the crowd, involving them more deeply into the show, ultimately eliminating any boundaries between spectator and performer.[4] The musicians would also mobilize their instruments on and off the stage into the middle of the audience (or outside), lighting explosives and hosing down the crowd with various liquids creating an atmosphere of celebratory abandon and mirth. Strobe lights, nudity, mysterious liquids, sex and smoke filled rooms (at next to zero visibility) were all a part of the average show.[6] The chaos of these events often invited unwanted attention from police who would later forcibly shut down a large percentage of the band's performances.[5]
BLOOD & FIRE[edit]
After much successful touring of the United States, Crash Worship followed suit with two full European tours in the mid-90s. It was also around this time the band was deemed "unmanageable" by many labels, booking agencies and clubs which proved difficult to tour much afterward. Although at the height of notoriety, Crash Worship had been banned from countless cities across the United States making it almost impossible touring there or abroad.[7]
In late 1999, the last Crash Worship performances were held in California, four being with the Master Musicians of Jajouka (in the Bay Area), the Aztlan Theatre (abandoned Los Angeles County Jail), and to a female only audience in San Francisco. The final Crash Worship performance was held in San Diego, California on October 24, 1999, with Physics and Tarantula Hawk as openers. Members are now scattered around the U.S. in New Orleans, Portland, Tucson, New York City, San Diego and the Bay Area, active with their own solo and side projects.[8]
Discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]
- This - CS (1987), ¡Alarma!
- The Science of Ecstasy - CS (1989), Rocco Fresco
- ¡Espontáneo! - CS & CD (1991), Charnel
- Triple Mania II - CS & CD (1994), Charnel
EPs[edit]
- What So Ever Thy Hand Findeth - Do It with All Thine Might - LP (1989), Alarma
- Pillar of Fire - LP (1990), Alamut
Singles[edit]
- Flow - 12" (1989), Rocco Fresco
- ¡Pyru! - 7" (1994), Charnel
- In the Labyrinth of the Master - 7" (1996), Vinyl Communications
Compilations[edit]
- Asesinos - CD (1992), Cold Spring (re-released on ROIR 1995)
- Pyru Remixes - CD (1999), ¡Alarma!
Videos[edit]
- Inflammatorio - VHS (1991), ¡Alarma!
- Euro Promo - VHS (1994), ¡Alarma!
- Japan Promo - VHS (1997), ¡Alarma!
Members (in alphabetical order by last name)[edit]
- Simon Cheffins – percussion, tapes, effects
- John Goff - bagpipes, drums
- Steve Griffin - drums
- Nadia Hagen-guitar, vocals
- Ryan Jencks - guitar, bass, electronics, tapes, effects, blood and fire
- JXL – vocals, Moog synthesizer, tape manipulation, explosives
- Adriana "Dreiky" Magaña – percussion
- Jeff Mattson – guitar, Megalyra, horns, effects
- Adam Nodelman - bass
- J Poggi aka MC Trachiotomy - horns, vocals
- Pieter Schoolwerth - pyrotechnics
- "Fat" Jack Torino – vocals, Moog synthesizer, tape manipulation, explosives
- Trudy Truelove - vocals
- Markus Wolff – percussion
- Zoli Zombory - synthesizer
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Crash Worship history". Charnel Music. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
- ^ Bush, John. "Crash Worship". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
- ^ "Markus Wolff" (Interview). Interview with Malahki Thorn. 2010-12-02. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
- ^ a b "Crash Worship" (Interview). Interview with Chris Christian. Kalamazoo, Michigan. 1995-05-05. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
- ^ a b Cheffins, Simon. "Pukka Crusher" (Interview). Interview with John Eden; Justin Mitchell. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
- ^ "Zog saw Crash Worship LIVE!". Interview with Zog Archer. New York City, New York. 1995-01-16. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
- ^ "Aktionskunst And Primitivism" (Interview). Interview with Alexander Nym. New York City, New York. 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
- ^ Band, Weirdest. "Crash Worship weirdest band in the world". weirdestband. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
