Bl'ast
Encyclopedia
Blast was a California hardcore punk
and rock
band from Santa Cruz
. The original lineup consisted of Clifford Dinsmore on vocals, Mike Neider and Steve Stevenson on guitars, Dave Cooper
on bass, and Bill Torgerson on drums.
, former guitarist of Atlanta, Georgia's Neon Christ
; from then on, Neider was the sole guitarist from that point on. The group caught the attention of SST Records
, who signed them up for their next release, It's In My Blood in 1987. That same year, a 7-inch was released, including a cover of Alice Cooper
's "School's Out
". The band's final release for SST
was Take The Manic Ride, which was released in 1989.
Cooper left in 1989 and was replaced by Ron Isa for the Manic Ride tour and then Ron Isa was replaced by John Schuler for some Blast! shows and post manic ride demos.
Cliff Dinsmore left the group sometime in 1990 and co-founded the band Spaceboy. The rest continued on without him, with Neider taking over vocal duties. Blast officially ceased to exist in December 1990 and changed their name to Blackout (releasing one awesome 7-inch under that name) and then again to Lab
(who also put out a 7-inch EP, as well as a hard-to-find four-song CD you could only get along with a Santa Cruz Skateboards order), continuing into the late 90s playing many shows w/ Fu Manchu.
Blast briefly reunited in 2001, playing a handful of shows on the West Coast
. They were also planning to record again, but the band fell apart before this materialized.
, featuring former Kyuss
/Queens Of The Stone Age
member Alfredo Hernandez
and former Unida
bassist Dave
.
In 2004, Dinsmore formed the Santa Cruz doom metal
band Gargantula with guitarist Bill Blair, drummer Andrew LeGrande and bassist Josh Barnett. They released one album, Infinitasm.
Dinsmore in the Santa Cruz doom rock outfit Dusted Angel in 2008, w/ Scott Stevens. They released their debut self titled 7" in October 2009. They followed that up with their full-length cd titled "Earth Sick Mind" on November 17, 2010.
plus an EP – "School's Out
", a cover of the Alice Cooper
classic, backed with "Your Eyes" and a cover of "The Slave" by The Germs
.
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...
and rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
. The original lineup consisted of Clifford Dinsmore on vocals, Mike Neider and Steve Stevenson on guitars, Dave Cooper
Dave Cooper (musician)
Dave Cooper - born in 1959, in Pershore, Worcestershire. Lead singer of eighties NWOBHM band Scorched Earth, Lead Singer original rock band 'Badland' and now a solo artist.- Early career :...
on bass, and Bill Torgerson on drums.
History
BLAST! began in 1982-83 and released its first album, The Power of Expression, in 1985. They recorded the album three times before releasing it. Stevenson left the group after the release of The Power of Expression and was briefly replaced by William DuVallWilliam DuVall
thumb|200px|right|William DuVall performing with [[Alice In Chains]] at Roskilde Festival 2010William DuVall is an American musician, best known as current lead singer for Alice In Chains, following the death of the band's original lead singer Layne Staley.DuVall is also co-founder, lead singer,...
, former guitarist of Atlanta, Georgia's Neon Christ
Neon Christ
Neon Christ was an American punk rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1983. Its core members were Randy DuTeau , William DuVall , Danny Lankford , and Jimmy Demer . One of their songs "Ashes to Ashes" was included as the third track on P.E.A.C.E./War, a 1984 compilation double album featuring...
; from then on, Neider was the sole guitarist from that point on. The group caught the attention of SST Records
SST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, who signed them up for their next release, It's In My Blood in 1987. That same year, a 7-inch was released, including a cover of Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
's "School's Out
School's Out (song)
Female pop duo Daphne & Celeste, released a cover of the song in 2000. The chorus is based on Alice Cooper's hit of the same name, and some other elements of that song have been retained, although much of the song is "original", in a pop-rap style...
". The band's final release for SST
SST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
was Take The Manic Ride, which was released in 1989.
Cooper left in 1989 and was replaced by Ron Isa for the Manic Ride tour and then Ron Isa was replaced by John Schuler for some Blast! shows and post manic ride demos.
Cliff Dinsmore left the group sometime in 1990 and co-founded the band Spaceboy. The rest continued on without him, with Neider taking over vocal duties. Blast officially ceased to exist in December 1990 and changed their name to Blackout (releasing one awesome 7-inch under that name) and then again to Lab
LAB (band)
'LAB is an alternative rock band from Helsinki, Finland. Their single "Beat the Boys" was featured in the PS2/Xbox/PC game "Flatout".-Formation:The band formed in 1997, and consists of five members ....
(who also put out a 7-inch EP, as well as a hard-to-find four-song CD you could only get along with a Santa Cruz Skateboards order), continuing into the late 90s playing many shows w/ Fu Manchu.
Blast briefly reunited in 2001, playing a handful of shows on the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
. They were also planning to record again, but the band fell apart before this materialized.
Post-Bl'ast projects
Neider has a new band in the works, GustoGusto
Gusto may mean:*Enthusiasm or energy*two fictional characters in the film CB4*a fictional character in Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears*Gusto!, an album by the punk rock group Guttermouth*Gusto Records, a record label...
, featuring former Kyuss
Kyuss
Kyuss is a rock band, originally from Palm Desert, California. After forming in the late 1980s and releasing an EP under the name Sons of Kyuss in 1990, the band shortened its name to Kyuss. Over the next five years the band released four full-length albums, and one last split EP in 1997 with...
/Queens Of The Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
member Alfredo Hernandez
Alfredo Hernandez
Alfredo Hernández is an American drummer best known as a member of desert rock bands Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Brant Bjork and the Bros and Yawning Man. He is jazz trained.- Career :...
and former Unida
Unida
Unida was an American stoner rock band that was formed after the dissolution of Kyuss and Slo Burn. The band originally consisted of John Garcia , Arthur Seay , Miguel Cancino and Dave Dinsmore . Dinsmore was later replaced by Scott Reeder, who was in turn replaced by Eddie Plascencia...
bassist Dave
Dave
Dave may refer to:* Dave * Dave * Dave * Dave * DAvE , a C-language software development tool* Thursby DAVE, file- and printer-sharing software-See also:* Dangerous Dave, a computer game...
.
In 2004, Dinsmore formed the Santa Cruz doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
band Gargantula with guitarist Bill Blair, drummer Andrew LeGrande and bassist Josh Barnett. They released one album, Infinitasm.
Dinsmore in the Santa Cruz doom rock outfit Dusted Angel in 2008, w/ Scott Stevens. They released their debut self titled 7" in October 2009. They followed that up with their full-length cd titled "Earth Sick Mind" on November 17, 2010.
Albums
- The Power Of Expression - (Green World Records/Wishingwell Records) 1986 (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
) 1987 (reissue) - It's In My Blood - (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
) 1987 - Take The Manic Ride - (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
) 1989
plus an EP – "School's Out
School's Out (song)
Female pop duo Daphne & Celeste, released a cover of the song in 2000. The chorus is based on Alice Cooper's hit of the same name, and some other elements of that song have been retained, although much of the song is "original", in a pop-rap style...
", a cover of the Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
classic, backed with "Your Eyes" and a cover of "The Slave" by The Germs
The Germs
The Germs are an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, originally active from 1977 to 1980. The band's early lineup consisted of singer Darby Crash, guitarist Pat Smear, bassist Lorna Doom, and their most consistent drummer Don Bolles. Germs have since reformed in 2005 with Shane...
.