Clockcleaner
Encyclopedia
Clockcleaner is a punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,USA, named after a particular "hot bag" of heroin that was distributed in Philadelphia in the 1980s. The band consists of John Sharkey III on vocals/guitar, Karen Horner on 6-string bass guitar, and Richie Charles Jr on drums. The trio has drawn comparisons to The Birthday Party
, Big Black
, Bauhaus
, Flipper
and even harsh noise band Whitehouse
. Their influences have been cited as including Crucifucks
, Modern English
, Cro-Mags
, GG Allin
, Neil Young
and the first Skrewdriver
LP.
Formed in summer 2003, Clockcleaner released an LP called The Hassler on the now defunct Philadelphia label Manic Ride Records. The album echoed early 1990s noise rock, with high pitch guitar sonics and a thumping bass sound. After touring for the EP, original bass guitarist Warren Slegel was fired from the band, and was replaced in the studio by John Sharkey. In early 2006, they released a 7" on Baltimore’s Noise/Avant label Hit-Dat Records ("Missing Dick" b/w Crucifucks' cover "By the Door"). Soon to follow was their second LP, released on another Baltimore label, Reptilian Records. The album was called Nevermind (a sarcastic ode to Nirvana's 1991 release). The record was allegedly recorded while Sharkey was under a state of bi-lateral amnesia from a car accident in the summer of 2005. John Sharkey has insisted that the title was a joke to annoy people (he has even gone so far as to call Nirvana "dogshit" in a Dusted magazine interview in 2007):
Nevermind was a departure from the band's punk sound, having more in common with many of the mid-to-late '90s Siltbreeze
bands such as Harry Pussy
and The Dead C
. After the album was recorded Karen Horner became the permanent bassist. Her first show with Clockcleaner was opening for The Melvins
. The album did well with many critics and in late 2006 the group signed to Load Records
.
In fall 2007, their third full length release Babylon Rules was issued on the Load label. The record was different from any other release to date in that it channeled a more gothic influence in its sound while still retaining its punk aesthetics. It was widely received by the independent music community as the band toured extensively during fall 2007 in support of Babylon Rules in the US, playing mainly with acts championed by the band, such as Mika Miko, The Lamps and The Homostupids. This record put the band at the forefront of the new wave of hateful noisy music without painting them in the corner of repetition. This was also one of the first major releases to bring skull music to the attention of popular audiences, a genre the band — as well as the Homostupids — has championed since its inception. Both acts have been asked about this 'genre' but have been largely evasive. Sharkey offered in jest that skull music was "the antithetical musical equivalent of coming out of the closet" in many articles published in 2008.
In late spring 2008, singer and vocalist Sharkey moved to Melbourne, Australia, leaving the band in the lurch but not before a legendary performance at Brooklyn's Southpaw Club, opening for hardcore stalwarts Negative Approach
. In flippant response to opening for a band trying to cash in on former successes, the band, directly before Negative Approach came on stage, performed a fifteen-minute slowed down, sludge version of the Negative Approach classic "Ready To Fight" that went on to incite crowd violence during and after the band's set. Vocal reactions were a mixed affair but a quote was offered from Negative Approach drummer Chris "Opie" Moore: "That was great, I've seen Flipper
in their heyday but I've never seen a band piss off a crowd like that before." This performance was captured and released as a one-sided 12" on the Fan Death Records
imprint from Baltimore, Maryland.
The Birthday Party (band)
The Birthday Party were an Australian rock band, active from 1973 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career...
, Big Black
Big Black
Big Black was an American punk rock band from Evanston, Illinois, active from 1981 to 1987. Founded by singer and guitarist Steve Albini, the band's initial lineup also included guitarist Santiago Durango and bassist Jeff Pezzati, both of Naked Raygun...
, Bauhaus
Bauhaus
', commonly known simply as Bauhaus, was a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts, and was famous for the approach to design that it publicized and taught. It operated from 1919 to 1933. At that time the German term stood for "School of Building".The Bauhaus school was founded by...
, Flipper
Flipper (band)
Flipper is a punk band formed in San Francisco, California in 1979, continuing in often erratic fashion until the mid-1990s, then reuniting in 2005. The band influenced a number of grunge,, punk rock and noise rock bands...
and even harsh noise band Whitehouse
Whitehouse (band)
Whitehouse are a pioneering English power electronics band formed in 1980, largely credited for the founding of the power electronics subgenre.-History and personnel:...
. Their influences have been cited as including Crucifucks
Crucifucks
The Crucifucks were a Lansing, Michigan-based punk band formed in 1981. Throughout their career, the band had a revolving-door line-up, the only constant member being lyricist and frontman Doc Corbin Dart. They were noted for their anarchist political agitation...
, Modern English
Modern English (band)
Modern English are an English rock band best remembered for their songs "I Melt with You", "Hands Across the Sea", and "Ink and Paper". The group disbanded for a period in 1991, but later recorded in 1995 and 2002 with new members...
, Cro-Mags
Cro-Mags
Cro-Mags are a hardcore punk turned crossover thrash band from New York City. The band, which had a strong cult following, released many records, their first two considered the most influential...
, GG Allin
GG Allin
Kevin Michael "GG" Allin was an American punk rock singer-songwriter, who performed and recorded with many groups during his career. GG Allin is perhaps best remembered for his notorious live performances, which often featured transgressive acts, including coprophagia, self-mutilation, and...
, Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
and the first Skrewdriver
Skrewdriver
Skrewdriver was an English punk rock band formed by Ian Stuart Donaldson in Poulton-le-Fylde in 1976. They later evolved into one of the first neo-Nazi rock bands, playing a leading role in the Rock Against Communism movement and becoming known as the most prominent white power skinhead...
LP.
Formed in summer 2003, Clockcleaner released an LP called The Hassler on the now defunct Philadelphia label Manic Ride Records. The album echoed early 1990s noise rock, with high pitch guitar sonics and a thumping bass sound. After touring for the EP, original bass guitarist Warren Slegel was fired from the band, and was replaced in the studio by John Sharkey. In early 2006, they released a 7" on Baltimore’s Noise/Avant label Hit-Dat Records ("Missing Dick" b/w Crucifucks' cover "By the Door"). Soon to follow was their second LP, released on another Baltimore label, Reptilian Records. The album was called Nevermind (a sarcastic ode to Nirvana's 1991 release). The record was allegedly recorded while Sharkey was under a state of bi-lateral amnesia from a car accident in the summer of 2005. John Sharkey has insisted that the title was a joke to annoy people (he has even gone so far as to call Nirvana "dogshit" in a Dusted magazine interview in 2007):
"People think that record is like the Bible," says Sharkey via phone from his North Philadelphia home.
"Fuck that record. It's completely piss-poor. It did not stand the test of time. I can understand the mania that it caused, and I mean, it's good because hair metal sucked, but it almost caused another fuckin' trend that I have no concept of at all – alternative or modern rock. So, Nirvana were dogshit, and I thought it was funny to name our record Nevermind. I kind of wanted people to react like, 'What balls! Who the fuck are these assholes?'"
Nevermind was a departure from the band's punk sound, having more in common with many of the mid-to-late '90s Siltbreeze
Siltbreeze
Siltbreeze is an American independent record label based out of Philadelphia.-Roster:*1929*A Band*Above Ground*A Handful of Dust*Alan Licht*Alasehir*Alastair Galbraith*Angus Maclise*Ashtabula*Ashtray Navigations*Axemen*Bardo Pond*Blues Control...
bands such as Harry Pussy
Harry Pussy
Harry Pussy was a noise rock band from Miami, active from 1992 to 1997. The main members were Bill Orcutt on guitar and vocals and Adris Hoyos on drums and vocals. Other members included briefly Ian Steinberg on accordion, and later either Mark Feehan or Dan Hosker on second guitar...
and The Dead C
The Dead C
The Dead C are a New Zealand based noise rock trio made up of members Bruce Russell, Michael Morley and Robbie Yeats. Most often, Russell plays electric guitar, Morley sings and plays electric guitar or laptop, and Yeats plays drums....
. After the album was recorded Karen Horner became the permanent bassist. Her first show with Clockcleaner was opening for The Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
. The album did well with many critics and in late 2006 the group signed to Load Records
Load Records
Load Records is an American noise/experimental independent record label based out of Providence, Rhode Island. "Load Records might possibly be in possession of the world's most challenging record roster," writes Mark Hensch of Thrash Pit...
.
In fall 2007, their third full length release Babylon Rules was issued on the Load label. The record was different from any other release to date in that it channeled a more gothic influence in its sound while still retaining its punk aesthetics. It was widely received by the independent music community as the band toured extensively during fall 2007 in support of Babylon Rules in the US, playing mainly with acts championed by the band, such as Mika Miko, The Lamps and The Homostupids. This record put the band at the forefront of the new wave of hateful noisy music without painting them in the corner of repetition. This was also one of the first major releases to bring skull music to the attention of popular audiences, a genre the band — as well as the Homostupids — has championed since its inception. Both acts have been asked about this 'genre' but have been largely evasive. Sharkey offered in jest that skull music was "the antithetical musical equivalent of coming out of the closet" in many articles published in 2008.
In late spring 2008, singer and vocalist Sharkey moved to Melbourne, Australia, leaving the band in the lurch but not before a legendary performance at Brooklyn's Southpaw Club, opening for hardcore stalwarts Negative Approach
Negative Approach
Negative Approach is an American hardcore punk band, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1981. The band is considered among of the pioneers of hardcore punk, particularly in the Midwest region. Like most hardcore bands, Negative Approach was little known in its day outside of its hometown...
. In flippant response to opening for a band trying to cash in on former successes, the band, directly before Negative Approach came on stage, performed a fifteen-minute slowed down, sludge version of the Negative Approach classic "Ready To Fight" that went on to incite crowd violence during and after the band's set. Vocal reactions were a mixed affair but a quote was offered from Negative Approach drummer Chris "Opie" Moore: "That was great, I've seen Flipper
Flipper (band)
Flipper is a punk band formed in San Francisco, California in 1979, continuing in often erratic fashion until the mid-1990s, then reuniting in 2005. The band influenced a number of grunge,, punk rock and noise rock bands...
in their heyday but I've never seen a band piss off a crowd like that before." This performance was captured and released as a one-sided 12" on the Fan Death Records
Fan Death Records
Fan Death Records is an independent record label currently based out of Baltimore, Maryland, and Montreal, Quebec. The label is operated by Sean Gray, Chris Berry and Tracy Soo-Ming....
imprint from Baltimore, Maryland.
Discography
- The Hassler CD/LP (Manic Ride 2004)
- Missing Dick 7" (Hit Dat Records 2006)
- Nevermind CD (Reptilian Records 2006)
- Frogrammer 7" (Richie Records 2007)
- Hands Are For Holding 7" - Fan Club Only - (Hit Dat Records 2007)
- Babylon Rules CD/LP (Load RecordsLoad RecordsLoad Records is an American noise/experimental independent record label based out of Providence, Rhode Island. "Load Records might possibly be in possession of the world's most challenging record roster," writes Mark Hensch of Thrash Pit...
2007) - Skinheaded Lady 7" - Australia only - (Stained Circles 2008)
- Ready To Fight 12" (Fan Death RecordsFan Death RecordsFan Death Records is an independent record label currently based out of Baltimore, Maryland, and Montreal, Quebec. The label is operated by Sean Gray, Chris Berry and Tracy Soo-Ming....
2009) - GG Allin 7" (Siltbreeze Records 2009)
- Clockcleaner / Queerhunter Split 12" (Hoss Records 2009)
- Auf Wiedersehen CD/LP (spring 2009)