Crucifucks
Encyclopedia
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. Dead Kennedys
vocalist Jello Biafra
signed them to his independent Alternative Tentacles
label.
Other members of the original line up included Dart's cousin Joe on guitar, Scott Begerston on bass, and drummer
Steve Shelley
, who went on to play with Sonic Youth
.
-- recorded in 1984 by Doc, Steve, guitarist
Gus Varner, and Marc Hauser on bass—was released in 1985 on Jello Biafra
's Alternative Tentacles
label
. Wisconsin
followed in 1987, also on Alternative Tentacles. Between that album and 1996's L.D. Eye, Dart recorded two solo projects, Patricia, on Alternative Tentacles in 1990, and Black Tuesday, a self-released cassette, in 1991.
A Crucifucks compilation album
entitled Our Will Be Done
was issued in 1992, combining the band's first two LPs with a non-LP song, "Annual Report," also featured on Maximum Rock 'n' Roll's compilation Welcome To 1984. A picture of a Philadelphia police officer posing as shot—originally part of a public relations campaign to obtain wage concessions from the city -- was used on the album's back cover. Four years later, its discovery by the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police led to a lawsuit against the Crucifucks, which was eventually dismissed.
According to Dart: the Crucifucks never "officially" broke up, but rather drifted apart due to a variety of reasons. By the mid 1990s, Dart had formed a new group called The L.D. Eye. When the group had prepared a full-length record, Alternative Tentacles agreed to release it under the stipulation that it be credited to The Crucifucks. Thus, the group changed its name to The Crucifucks, "reuniting" the band (although no former members other than Dart were involved with The L.D. Eye) and used their former moniker as the record title. The L.D. Eye was released in 1996. The band played a in number of concerts during this period, including a 1998 performance at Alternative Tentacles' twentieth anniversary party at the Great American Music Hall
in San Francisco, California
, before sinking back into inactivity permanently.
The band was known for its anti-authoritarian lyrics, often rife with obscure and perverse humor. The band sought to go beyond the pale in terms of lyrical content, attempting to be as offensive as possible. Their lack of mainstream success likely saved them from substantial legal action and high-profile controversy, particularly in light of Ice T
's controversial "Cop Killer
" many years later. The Crucifucks' own song, "Cops for Fertilizer" does not mince words: "So kill the next policeman who gets in your way/ It'll set a good example for the children today". Many of their other songs are similarly blunt, attacking the American government, American culture in general, and religion, particularly Christianity, in an effort to drive home the point that blind faith in anything, be it patriotism or religion, is bad. Their song "Hinckley had a Vision" advocated assassination of then-President Ronald Reagan
, and arguably any other high-ranking government official.
As recently as 2006, Dart has begun identifying himself by the name 26 (dropping his entire given name of Doc Corbin Dart) and renounces swear words, such as his former group's moniker.
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
-based punk band formed in 1981. Throughout their career, the band had a revolving-door line-up, the only constant member being lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
and frontman Doc Corbin Dart
Doc Corbin Dart
Doc Corbin Dart is an alternative musician from the United States. He was lead singer, founder, and lyricist of the Lansing, Michigan 1980s punk rock band The Crucifucks...
. They were noted for their anarchist political agitation. Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
vocalist Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
signed them to his independent Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
label.
Other members of the original line up included Dart's cousin Joe on guitar, Scott Begerston on bass, and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Steve Shelley
Steve Shelley
Steven Jay Shelley is an American drummer, best known as the drummer of alternative rock band Sonic Youth.-Biography:...
, who went on to play with Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
.
History
The band's debut LP The CrucifucksThe Crucifucks (album)
The Crucifucks is a self-titled debut album, released in 1985 on Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles record label. Although it has had limited commercial success, it has procured a cult following, most likely due to Doc Corbin Dart's uniquely whiny vocals and violent political lyrics...
-- recorded in 1984 by Doc, Steve, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Gus Varner, and Marc Hauser on bass—was released in 1985 on Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
's Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. Wisconsin
Wisconsin (album)
Wisconsin is the second album by the hardcore punk band The Crucifucks.-Track listing:# "Intro"# "The Mountain Song"# "Washington"# "Resurrection"# "Earth by Invitation Only"# "Laws Against Laughing"# "Pig in a Blanket"# "When the Top Comes Off"...
followed in 1987, also on Alternative Tentacles. Between that album and 1996's L.D. Eye, Dart recorded two solo projects, Patricia, on Alternative Tentacles in 1990, and Black Tuesday, a self-released cassette, in 1991.
A Crucifucks compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
entitled Our Will Be Done
Our Will Be Done
Our Will Be Done is an album, released in 1992 on Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles record label. The album is a compilation combining all songs from their two previous albums, The Crucifucks and Wisconsin...
was issued in 1992, combining the band's first two LPs with a non-LP song, "Annual Report," also featured on Maximum Rock 'n' Roll's compilation Welcome To 1984. A picture of a Philadelphia police officer posing as shot—originally part of a public relations campaign to obtain wage concessions from the city -- was used on the album's back cover. Four years later, its discovery by the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police led to a lawsuit against the Crucifucks, which was eventually dismissed.
According to Dart: the Crucifucks never "officially" broke up, but rather drifted apart due to a variety of reasons. By the mid 1990s, Dart had formed a new group called The L.D. Eye. When the group had prepared a full-length record, Alternative Tentacles agreed to release it under the stipulation that it be credited to The Crucifucks. Thus, the group changed its name to The Crucifucks, "reuniting" the band (although no former members other than Dart were involved with The L.D. Eye) and used their former moniker as the record title. The L.D. Eye was released in 1996. The band played a in number of concerts during this period, including a 1998 performance at Alternative Tentacles' twentieth anniversary party at the Great American Music Hall
Great American Music Hall
The Great American Music Hall is a concert hall in San Francisco, California. It is located on O'Farrell Street in the Tenderloin neighborhood on the same block as the Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theater...
in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, before sinking back into inactivity permanently.
The band was known for its anti-authoritarian lyrics, often rife with obscure and perverse humor. The band sought to go beyond the pale in terms of lyrical content, attempting to be as offensive as possible. Their lack of mainstream success likely saved them from substantial legal action and high-profile controversy, particularly in light of Ice T
Ice T
Tracy Marrow , better known by his stage name Ice-T, is an American musician and actor.He was born in Newark, New Jersey and moved to the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles when he was in the 7th grade. After graduating from high school he served in the United States Army for four years...
's controversial "Cop Killer
Cop Killer (song)
"Cop Killer" is a song by American band Body Count, from its 1992 self-titled debut album. The lyrics are sung from the point of view of an individual who is outraged by police brutality and decides to take the law into his own hands by killing police officers...
" many years later. The Crucifucks' own song, "Cops for Fertilizer" does not mince words: "So kill the next policeman who gets in your way/ It'll set a good example for the children today". Many of their other songs are similarly blunt, attacking the American government, American culture in general, and religion, particularly Christianity, in an effort to drive home the point that blind faith in anything, be it patriotism or religion, is bad. Their song "Hinckley had a Vision" advocated assassination of then-President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, and arguably any other high-ranking government official.
As recently as 2006, Dart has begun identifying himself by the name 26 (dropping his entire given name of Doc Corbin Dart) and renounces swear words, such as his former group's moniker.
Discography
- The CrucifucksThe Crucifucks (album)The Crucifucks is a self-titled debut album, released in 1985 on Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles record label. Although it has had limited commercial success, it has procured a cult following, most likely due to Doc Corbin Dart's uniquely whiny vocals and violent political lyrics...
- 1985 - WisconsinWisconsin (album)Wisconsin is the second album by the hardcore punk band The Crucifucks.-Track listing:# "Intro"# "The Mountain Song"# "Washington"# "Resurrection"# "Earth by Invitation Only"# "Laws Against Laughing"# "Pig in a Blanket"# "When the Top Comes Off"...
- 1987 - Our Will Be DoneOur Will Be DoneOur Will Be Done is an album, released in 1992 on Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles record label. The album is a compilation combining all songs from their two previous albums, The Crucifucks and Wisconsin...
- 1995 - L.D. Eye - 1996
External links
- Crucifucks Biography at the Alternative TentaclesAlternative TentaclesAlternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
website. - video Live in Akron, OH 1983