Crowbar (U.S. band)
Encyclopedia
Crowbar is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 sludge metal
Sludge metal
Sludge metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that melds elements of doom metal and hardcore punk, and sometimes incorporates influences from southern rock, stoner rock and grunge. Sludge metal is typically abrasive; often featuring shouted vocals, heavily distorted instruments and sharply contrasting...

 band from New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...

, characterized by their extremely slow, low-keyed, heavy and brooding songs that also contain fast hardcore punk passages. Crowbar is considered to be one of the most influential metal bands to come out of the New Orleans metal scene.

Origins (1988-1991)

The band dates back to 1988, when Kirk Windstein
Kirk Windstein
Kirk Windstein is an English-American sludge metal singer and guitarist for the New Orleans bands Crowbar, Down, and Kingdom of Sorrow....

 joined the premiere hardcore punk
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...

 band Shell Shock in New Orleans. He there met Jimmy Bower
Jimmy Bower
Jimmy Bower is an American sludge/heavy metal guitarist and drummer who has played with six bands, most notably Eyehategod, Crowbar, Down, and Superjoint Ritual....

, who was their drummer, and both quickly became friends. The band collapsed when Mike Hatch, their guitarist, committed suicide in late 1988 (some Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...

 fans believe that this was the inspiration for the song "Hollow
Hollow (song)
"Hollow" is a song by the heavy metal group Pantera from the 1992 album Vulgar Display of Power. A live medley of "Hollow" and another Pantera song, "Domination", is featured on Official Live: 101 Proof as "Dom/Hollow".-Lyrics:...

" off of their 1992 album Vulgar Display of Power
Vulgar Display of Power
Vulgar Display of Power is the sixth studio album by heavy metal band Pantera. It was released through Atco Records, on February 25, 1992. It is the last album where Darrell Abbott is credited as "Diamond Darrell". One of the most influential groove metal albums of the 1990s, Vulgar Display of...

). The band, replacing Hatch with Kevin Noonan, carried on as Aftershock, where Windstein and Bower began to play low-tuned hardcore punk mixed with doom metal. Under that name they released a demo in mid-1989, and then renamed themselves WREQIUEM, with Mike Savoie, their bassist, leaving the band (He went on to direct music videos for Crowbar, Down
Down (band)
Down is an American heavy metal supergroup that formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Pat Bruders and drummer Jimmy Bower. Since their formation, Down has gone on hiatus twice...

, and Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...

), and Todd Strange
Todd Strange
Todd Strange is the bassist who played on the first Down album NOLA and with Crowbar. Forming Crowbar with Kirk Windstein , Matt Thomas and Craig Nunenmacher , they released the best-selling albums of the band's discography...

 joined them. Then in 1990 they renamed themselves The Slugs, and released a demo in mid-1990, but the band collapsed. Kirk considered becoming the guitarist for Exhorder
Exhorder
Exhorder is an American thrash/groove metal band from New Orleans, Louisiana. They are credited as the purveyors of the groove-oriented thrash sound later made famous by bands such as Pantera, White Zombie, and Machine Head. Initially active from 1985 to 1992, they have since reformed in...

. But Kirk and Todd reformed the band, with Craig Nunenmacher
Craig Nunenmacher
Craig "Louisiana Lightning" Nunenmacher is best known as the former drummer for Black Label Society and Crowbar. He joined Black Label Society in July 2000 while playing for Crowbar, who were touring with BLS at the time...

 as the drummer, who was later replaced by Tommy Buckley (Soilent Green), and Kevin Noonan again on guitar. The band renamed themselves Crowbar in mid-1991.

Career (1991-present)

Crowbar's debut studio album, Obedience Thru Suffering, was released in 1991, but failed to achieve notoriety. By 1993's self-titled (Crowbar) album, personal friend Phil Anselmo
Phil Anselmo
Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Pantera. He is currently the frontman for the Louisiana-based metal act Down. He is also the owner of Housecore Records....

 (Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...

, Down
Down (band)
Down is an American heavy metal supergroup that formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Pat Bruders and drummer Jimmy Bower. Since their formation, Down has gone on hiatus twice...

 and Superjoint Ritual
Superjoint Ritual
Superjoint Ritual was an American heavy metal band formed by Phil Anselmo, Joe Fazzio, and Jimmy Bower in the early 1990s, later to be joined by Hank Williams III, and Kevin Bond. Their style can be considered a mix of Pantera's style of groove metal and hardcore punk. A small trace of black metal...

) produced the record, which eventually led to national promotion on MTV's Headbanger's Ball. In addition, the videos for "All I Had (I Gave)" and "Existence is Punishment" were played on Beavis and Butthead. Following this success the band went on to record music videos, embark on major tours with Pantera, and record more albums.

Their stage antics, immortalized in the Pantera "Home Video 3" and Crowbar's "Like Broken" home video, became infamous. The band continued recording and touring. In 1994, the Pantera video for the song 'I'm Broken' showed Philip Anselmo wearing a Crowbar / Eyehategod t-shirt. Original drummer Craig Nunenmacher left the band in 1996 and was replaced by Jimmy Bower from Down and Eyehategod, and for their 1996 release Anselmo sang back up on a few tracks on "Broken Glass."

In 2000, after recording and releasing Equilibrium with Sid Montz on drums, original drummer Craig Nunenmacher rejoined the band, for the "Penchant For Violence Tour" with "the Brotherhood of Brewtality" Black Label Society and Sixty Watt Shaman. Half way through the tour, Nunenmacher replaced BLS's drummer Phil Ondich
Phil Ondich
Phil Ondich is an American musician from near Mansfield Ohio.In 1997, drummer Phil Ondich was playing in American hard rock band Raging Slab. Having met Zakk Wylde several times while he was touring for his 1996 solo record Book Of Shadows, the two agreed to work together on a project Wylde had...

 and pulled double duty for the rest of the tour, eventually joining BLS permanently.

The band continues to perform, borrowing members from New Orleans metal bands like Goatwhore
Goatwhore
Goatwhore is an American blackened death metal band, formed in 1997 in New Orleans, Louisiana.- Biography :Goatwhore was formed by singer/guitarist Sammy Duet following the breakup of his previous band, Acid Bath. Soilent Green singer L...

 and Acid Bath
Acid Bath
Acid Bath was a seminal American sludge metal band from Houma, Louisiana that was active from 1991 to 1997. Acid Bath combined doom metal roots with influences from black metal, death metal, gothic rock, blues, folk, and country...

. In their recent 2005 release, Lifesblood for the Downtrodden, Pantera bassist Rex Brown
Rex Brown
Rex Robert Brown is an American heavy metal bassist. A former member of Down, he is most famous as the longtime bassist for the Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling band Pantera.-Pantera:...

 lent his bass skills and keyboard playing. Down's producer, Warren Riker, assisted in production.

Also in 2005, "Existence" appeared on the Beavis and Butt-Head: The Mike Judge Collection
Beavis and Butt-Head: The Mike Judge Collection
Beavis and Butt-head: The Mike Judge Collection is a series of three-disc DVD sets from MTV and Paramount Home Entertainment, each containing 40 Beavis and Butt-head episodes handpicked by series creator Mike Judge plus supplements. The first entry in the series was released on November 8, 2005,...

 #3 DVD.

In March 2008 it was announced that their albums — "Crowbar" (1993), "Time Heals Nothing" (1995) and "Live+1" EP (1995) will be reissued in Europe on April 21, 2008 with bonus and multimedia tracks.

The band is also known for covering other band's material and putting a heavy spin on it. Crowbar covers Gary Wright's, "Dream Weaver", on their Equilibrium album and Iron Maiden's "Remember Tomorrow" on "Odd Fellows Rest", and Led Zeppelins "No Quarter" on "Crowbar".

On May 24, 2009 it was announced that Phil Anselmo's Housecore Records would be re-releasing Crowbar's back catalog.

As of September 2010, Crowbar is currently under contract with E1 Music and released their ninth studio album, Sever the Wicked Hand
Sever the Wicked Hand
Sever the Wicked Hand is the ninth studio album by American sludge metal band Crowbar, which was released on February 8, 2011 on E1 Music, February 14, 2011 on Century Media in the UK...

, on February 8, 2011. This date is the 6th anniversary of the release of their previous album, Lifesblood for the Downtrodden. The band embarked on a six date UK tour in January 2011.

Current members

  • Kirk Windstein
    Kirk Windstein
    Kirk Windstein is an English-American sludge metal singer and guitarist for the New Orleans bands Crowbar, Down, and Kingdom of Sorrow....

     – vocals and guitars (1989–present) (Down
    Down (band)
    Down is an American heavy metal supergroup that formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Pat Bruders and drummer Jimmy Bower. Since their formation, Down has gone on hiatus twice...

     and Kingdom of Sorrow
    Kingdom of Sorrow
    Kingdom of Sorrow is an American heavy metal band which features Kirk Windstein of Crowbar and Down, along with Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed.- History :...

    )
  • Matthew Brunson
    Matthew Brunson
    Matthew Brunson is the guitarist for sludge metal band Crowbar, replacing Steve Gibb, and bass player for Kingdom of Sorrow. He is from Metairie in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana and formerly played guitar in Shedding Old Skin. He attended East Jefferson High School in Metairie.-Links & references:***...

     – guitars (2009–present) (Kingdom of Sorrow
    Kingdom of Sorrow
    Kingdom of Sorrow is an American heavy metal band which features Kirk Windstein of Crowbar and Down, along with Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed.- History :...

    )
  • Pat Bruders
    Patrick Bruders
    Patrick Bruders is an American musician. He is best known for having been the bassist of the blackened death metal band Goatwhore from 1997 to 2004....

     – bass guitar (2005–present) (Goatwhore
    Goatwhore
    Goatwhore is an American blackened death metal band, formed in 1997 in New Orleans, Louisiana.- Biography :Goatwhore was formed by singer/guitarist Sammy Duet following the breakup of his previous band, Acid Bath. Soilent Green singer L...

    )
  • Tommy Buckley – drums (2005–present) (Soilent Green
    Soilent Green
    Soilent Green is a grindcore and sludge metal band that hails from Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans.-Overview:Soilent Green was founded in 1988. Their début album wasn't released until 1995, when Pussysoul came out on Dwell Records...

     and Christ Inversion)

Former members

  • Mike Savoie – bass guitar (1989)
  • Todd "Sexy T" Strange
    Todd Strange
    Todd Strange is the bassist who played on the first Down album NOLA and with Crowbar. Forming Crowbar with Kirk Windstein , Matt Thomas and Craig Nunenmacher , they released the best-selling albums of the band's discography...

     – bass guitar (1989–2000)
  • Wayne "Doobie" Fabra – drums (1991)
  • Mitchel Leonard – guitars (1991)
  • Craig Nunenmacher
    Craig Nunenmacher
    Craig "Louisiana Lightning" Nunenmacher is best known as the former drummer for Black Label Society and Crowbar. He joined Black Label Society in July 2000 while playing for Crowbar, who were touring with BLS at the time...

     – drums (1991–1995, 2000, 2004–2005) (Black Label Society
    Black Label Society
    Black Label Society is a heavy metal band formed by Zakk Wylde, with nine studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums released since formation of the band.-Formation and Sonic Brew :...

    )
  • Kevin Noonan – guitars (1989–1990, 1991–1993)
  • Matt Thomas – guitars (1993–1997)
  • Jay Abbene – guitars (filled in for some shows at the end of 1996) (Wrathchild America
    Wrathchild America
    Wrathchild America was an American thrash metal band formed in Martinsburg, West Virginia in 1978. They are regarded as the first thrash metal band. They released two studio albums through Atlantic Records, and gained charting success through the Billboard 200...

    )
  • Steve Gibb
    Steve Gibb
    Steve Gibb is an English-born singer, songwriter, and musician, and the first born son of Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees and Linda Gibb....

     (son of Barry Gibb
    Barry Gibb
    Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE , is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed The Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major...

    ) – guitars and backing vocals (2004–2009) (Kingdom of Sorrow
    Kingdom of Sorrow
    Kingdom of Sorrow is an American heavy metal band which features Kirk Windstein of Crowbar and Down, along with Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed.- History :...

     and Black Label Society
    Black Label Society
    Black Label Society is a heavy metal band formed by Zakk Wylde, with nine studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums released since formation of the band.-Formation and Sonic Brew :...

    )
  • Jimmy Bower
    Jimmy Bower
    Jimmy Bower is an American sludge/heavy metal guitarist and drummer who has played with six bands, most notably Eyehategod, Crowbar, Down, and Superjoint Ritual....

     – drums (1989–1990, 1996–1998) (Eyehategod
    Eyehategod
    Eyehategod is an American sludge metal band from New Orleans who formed in 1988. They have become one of the most well known bands to emerge from the NOLA metal scene...

    , Down
    Down (band)
    Down is an American heavy metal supergroup that formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Pat Bruders and drummer Jimmy Bower. Since their formation, Down has gone on hiatus twice...

    , Superjoint Ritual
    Superjoint Ritual
    Superjoint Ritual was an American heavy metal band formed by Phil Anselmo, Joe Fazzio, and Jimmy Bower in the early 1990s, later to be joined by Hank Williams III, and Kevin Bond. Their style can be considered a mix of Pantera's style of groove metal and hardcore punk. A small trace of black metal...

    , Corrosion of Conformity
    Corrosion of Conformity
    Corrosion of Conformity is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina formed in 1982. For almost the majority of its existence, the band has consisted of guitarist Woody Weatherman, bassist Mike Dean , drummer Reed Mullin and vocalist and rhythm...

     and Debris Inc)
  • Sammy Duet – guitars (1998–2002) (Acid Bath
    Acid Bath
    Acid Bath was a seminal American sludge metal band from Houma, Louisiana that was active from 1991 to 1997. Acid Bath combined doom metal roots with influences from black metal, death metal, gothic rock, blues, folk, and country...

    , Goatwhore
    Goatwhore
    Goatwhore is an American blackened death metal band, formed in 1997 in New Orleans, Louisiana.- Biography :Goatwhore was formed by singer/guitarist Sammy Duet following the breakup of his previous band, Acid Bath. Soilent Green singer L...

    )
  • Sid Montz – drums (2000)
  • Tony Costanza – drums (2001) (Machine Head
    Machine Head (band)
    Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by Robb Flynn and Adam Duce. There have been 4 member changes since their inception. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel ,...

    )
  • Rex Brown
    Rex Brown
    Rex Robert Brown is an American heavy metal bassist. A former member of Down, he is most famous as the longtime bassist for the Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling band Pantera.-Pantera:...

     – bass guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboard (2004–2005) (Pantera
    Pantera
    Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...

    , Down
    Down (band)
    Down is an American heavy metal supergroup that formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Pat Bruders and drummer Jimmy Bower. Since their formation, Down has gone on hiatus twice...

    )
  • Jeff "Okie" Okoneski – bass guitar (Near Life Experience, Alyze, Skarrd)

Studio albums

  • Obedience Thru Suffering (September 26, 1991, Pavement Music)
  • Crowbar
    Crowbar (album)
    Crowbar was recorded in New Orleans in 1992 by Crowbar. The album went on to sell 100,000 copies on the independent label Pavement Music . The singles "All I Had " and "Existence Is Punishment" propelled the band on MTV and achieved international attention...

    (October 12, 1993, Pavement Music)
  • Time Heals Nothing
    Time Heals Nothing
    Time Heals Nothing is the third album by Crowbar, which was released on May 23, 1995.-Track listing:#"The Only Factor" #"No More Can We Crawl" #"Time Heals Nothing" #"Leave It Behind" #"Through A Wall Of Tears"...

    (May 23, 1995, Pavement Music)
  • Broken Glass (October 29, 1996, Pavement Music)
  • Odd Fellows Rest
    Odd Fellows Rest
    Odd Fellows Rest is the fifth album released by Crowbar on July 7, 1998.-Track listing:*All Songs Written By Crowbar .#"Intro" - 1:24#"Planets Collide" - 4:38#".....

    (July 7, 1998, Mayhem Records)
  • Equilibrium (March 7, 2000, Spitfire Records
    Spitfire Records
    Spitfire Records was a subdivision of Eagle Rock Entertainment located in New York, United States.In September 1998, Paul Bibeau founded, launched and rapidly developed Spitfire Records Inc. from a two-man operation located in his home bedroom in suburban Long Island, New York, to one of the...

    )
  • Sonic Excess in its Purest Form
    Sonic Excess in its Purest Form
    Sonic Excess in its Purest Form is the seventh studio album by New Orleans-based sludge metal band Crowbar.-Track listing:#"The Lasting Dose" - 4:12#"To Build a Mountain" - 3:58#"Thru the Ashes " - 4:43#"Awakening" - 3:36...

    (August 8, 2001, Spitfire Records)
  • Lifesblood for the Downtrodden (February 8, 2005, Candlelight Records
    Candlelight Records
    Candlelight Records is an independent record label based in Europe founded by former Extreme Noise Terror bassist Lee Barrett, though it has had a division in the United States since January 2001. Candlelight Records specialises in black metal and death metal, having bands such as Emperor,...

    )
  • Sever the Wicked Hand
    Sever the Wicked Hand
    Sever the Wicked Hand is the ninth studio album by American sludge metal band Crowbar, which was released on February 8, 2011 on E1 Music, February 14, 2011 on Century Media in the UK...

    (February 8, 2011, E1 Music)

Demos

  • Aftershock (1989, Self-released)
  • The Slugs (1990, Self-released)

Music videos

  • "Subversion" (1991)
  • "All I Had (I Gave)" (1993)
  • "Existence Is Punishment" (1993)
  • "The Only Factor" (1995)
  • "Broken Glass" (1996)
  • "Like Broken" (Full Length Home Video) (1997)
  • "I Feel the Burning Sun" (2000)
  • "Dead Sun" (2005) (Filmed in Miami, Florida around August 2004 and directed by John-Martin Vogel and Robert Lisman)
  • "Lasting Dose" (live) (2005)
  • "Planets Collide" (live) (2005)
  • "Scattered Pieces Lay" (live) (2005)
  • "Slave No More" (2005) (Filmed in Miami, Florida on June 21, 2005 and directed by John-Martin Vogel and Robert Lisman)
  • "The Cemetery Angels" (2010)

DVDs

  • Live: With Full Force

Setlist:
  • (1) "Self-Inflicted"
  • (2) "I Am Forever"
  • (3) "The Lasting Dose"
  • (4) "Burn Your World"
  • (5) "New Dawn"
  • (6) "High Rate Extinction"
  • (7) "Planets Collide"
  • (8) "All I Had (I Gave)"
  • (9) "(Bonus Materials)"


Studio: Candlelight, DVD Release Date: February 6, 2007, Run Time: 90 minutes

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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