Lock Up (US band)
Encyclopedia
Lock Up was a rock band that featured Tom Morello
on guitar before Rage Against the Machine
was formed.
The band was founded by the original guitar player Mike Livingston (formerly of The Mau-Mau's
) and Kevin Wood on bass. They had previously played together in the band Ella and the Blacks, which also included Brian Grillo and Brendan Mullen
(founder of The Masque
, the first L.A. punk rock
club). Grillo became Lock Up's lead singer.
The original drummer was Michael Lee
, (later drummer with Sylvia Junkosa and The Homebillies ), who quit and was replaced briefly by D. H. Peligro
, formerly of The Dead Kennedys and later in The Red Hot Chili Peppers. After Peligro left, he was replaced by Vince Ostertag .
After a falling-out during the signing process, Livingston was replaced by Morello. Chris Beebe on bass completed the lineup that released Lock Up's sole album on Geffen Records
, Something Bitchin' This Way Comes
, which came out in 1989
. The title of the album was based on Ray Bradbury
's 1962 novel Something Wicked This Way Comes
. Vince Ostertag was subsequently replaced by Jon Knox
who played drums until the group disbanded.
Following the Lock Up break up, Jon encouraged bassist Tim Commerford
and Zack de la Rocha
to jam with Tom Morello
and drummer Brad Wilk
who unsuccessfully auditioned for Lock Up. This line-up went on to form Rage Against the Machine
.
Most of Morello's guitar with Lock Up is unlike his work with Rage Against the Machine
and Audioslave
. His solos, in contrast to Livingston's rootsy blues oriented style mainly consist of arpeggios, tapping and overall fast fretwork. Evidence of his experimenting with the toggle switch can be heard in a few tracks ("Can't Stop the Bleeding", "Nothing New", "Punch Drunk").
The songs "Punch Drunk" and "Half Man Half Beast" were featured in the 1991 comedy film Ski School
.
Tom Morello
Thomas Baptiste "Tom" Morello is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist best known for his tenure with the bands Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, his acoustic solo act The Nightwatchman, and his newest group, Street Sweeper Social Club...
on guitar before Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
was formed.
The band was founded by the original guitar player Mike Livingston (formerly of The Mau-Mau's
The Mau-Mau's
were started in 1978 by Rick Wilder after returning from a trip to London in 1977.The original line-up from Hollywood,California was Greg Salva on guitar, Roderick Donahue on bass, and Rick Sherman on drums. They started out playing at The Masque in Hollywood. Greg was replaced by Mike R...
) and Kevin Wood on bass. They had previously played together in the band Ella and the Blacks, which also included Brian Grillo and Brendan Mullen
Brendan Mullen
Brendan Mullen was born in Paisley, Scotland and moved to Manchester, England when he was 8. He spent his early teen years writing for various British music magazines. In 1973, Mullen moved to the United States where he remained for the remainder of his life. Mullen had just started working toward...
(founder of The Masque
The Masque
The Masque was a small punk rock club in central Hollywood, California which existed intermittently from 1977 to 1979. It is remembered as a key part of the early L.A. punk scene.-History:...
, the first L.A. punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
club). Grillo became Lock Up's lead singer.
The original drummer was Michael Lee
Michael Lee
Michael Lee or Mike Lee may refer to:*Michael Lee , Australian Labor politician*Michael Lee , basketball player*Michael Lee , Canadian field hockey player...
, (later drummer with Sylvia Junkosa and The Homebillies ), who quit and was replaced briefly by D. H. Peligro
D. H. Peligro
D.H. Peligro was the third drummer for the hardcore punk band Dead Kennedys from February 1981 until their breakup in December 1986...
, formerly of The Dead Kennedys and later in The Red Hot Chili Peppers. After Peligro left, he was replaced by Vince Ostertag .
After a falling-out during the signing process, Livingston was replaced by Morello. Chris Beebe on bass completed the lineup that released Lock Up's sole album on Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
, Something Bitchin' This Way Comes
Something Bitchin' this Way Comes
Something Bitchin' This Way Comes is the sole album by Lock Up, released in July 1989. It is the first label-released album to feature Tom Morello....
, which came out in 1989
1989 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.-Events:*January 14 – Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР exclusively in the USSR...
. The title of the album was based on Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury
Ray Douglas Bradbury is an American fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer. Best known for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 and for the science fiction stories gathered together as The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man , Bradbury is one of the most celebrated among 20th...
's 1962 novel Something Wicked This Way Comes
Something Wicked This Way Comes (novel)
Something Wicked This Way Comes is a 1962 novel by Ray Bradbury. It is about two 13-year-old boys, Jim Nightshade and William Halloway, who have a harrowing experience with a nightmarish traveling carnival that comes to their Midwestern town one October. The carnival's leader is the mysterious "Mr...
. Vince Ostertag was subsequently replaced by Jon Knox
Jon Knox
Jon Knox is an American session musician drummer, producer and composer. He was the drummer of Christian rock band White Heart from 1991 to 1996. He was concurrently the drummer of the band Adam Again which disbanded after lead singer Gene Eugene died in his sleep on March 20, 2000 in his...
who played drums until the group disbanded.
Following the Lock Up break up, Jon encouraged bassist Tim Commerford
Tim Commerford
Timothy Robert Commerford , also known by his various monikers/stage names is the bassist/backing vocalist for American alternative metal band Rage Against The Machine and the now-defunct supergroup Audioslave.-Biography:Tim Commerford was born on February...
and Zack de la Rocha
Zack de la Rocha
Zacarías Manuel "Zack" de la Rocha is an American rapper, musician, poet, and activist best known as the vocalist and lyricist of Rage Against the Machine.-Early life and childhood:...
to jam with Tom Morello
Tom Morello
Thomas Baptiste "Tom" Morello is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist best known for his tenure with the bands Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, his acoustic solo act The Nightwatchman, and his newest group, Street Sweeper Social Club...
and drummer Brad Wilk
Brad Wilk
Brad Wilk is an American musician, best known as the drummer of the American rock bands Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave.-Family and early life:...
who unsuccessfully auditioned for Lock Up. This line-up went on to form Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
.
Most of Morello's guitar with Lock Up is unlike his work with Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
and Audioslave
Audioslave
Audioslave was an American rock supergroup that formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001. It consisted of former Soundgarden lead singer/rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell and the former instrumentalists of Rage Against the Machine: Tom Morello , Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk...
. His solos, in contrast to Livingston's rootsy blues oriented style mainly consist of arpeggios, tapping and overall fast fretwork. Evidence of his experimenting with the toggle switch can be heard in a few tracks ("Can't Stop the Bleeding", "Nothing New", "Punch Drunk").
The songs "Punch Drunk" and "Half Man Half Beast" were featured in the 1991 comedy film Ski School
Ski School (film)
Ski School is a 1991 comedy film about a fictional ski school starring Dean Cameron. A sequel, Ski School 2, followed in 1994, also starring Cameron.-Plot:...
.
Band members
- Brian Grillo - lead vocals (1989–1990)
- Tom MorelloTom MorelloThomas Baptiste "Tom" Morello is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist best known for his tenure with the bands Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, his acoustic solo act The Nightwatchman, and his newest group, Street Sweeper Social Club...
- guitar (1989–1990) - Mike Livingston - guitar (1989)
- Kevin Wood - bass (1989)
- Michael LeeMichael Lee (musician)Michael Lee was an English drummer who toured and recorded with former Led Zeppelin musicians Robert Plant and Jimmy Page....
- drums (1989) - D. H. PeligroD. H. PeligroD.H. Peligro was the third drummer for the hardcore punk band Dead Kennedys from February 1981 until their breakup in December 1986...
- drums (1989) - Vince Ostertag - drums (1989–1990)
- Chris Beebe - bass (1989–1990)
- Jon KnoxJon KnoxJon Knox is an American session musician drummer, producer and composer. He was the drummer of Christian rock band White Heart from 1991 to 1996. He was concurrently the drummer of the band Adam Again which disbanded after lead singer Gene Eugene died in his sleep on March 20, 2000 in his...
- drums (1990)
Discography
- Something Bitchin' This Way ComesSomething Bitchin' this Way ComesSomething Bitchin' This Way Comes is the sole album by Lock Up, released in July 1989. It is the first label-released album to feature Tom Morello....
(1989)