Uncle Slam
Encyclopedia
Uncle Slam was an American
crossover thrash
band from Los Angeles
, California
, formed in 1984 under the name The Brood
. They were influenced by punk rock bands of the '80s
like Suicidal Tendencies
(which featured some of the members of Uncle Slam and The Brood), D.R.I.
, Corrosion of Conformity
, Black Flag
and the Circle Jerks
, as well as heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath
, Iron Maiden
, Slayer
and Motörhead. Many of their songs are about politics, rebel themes, death, pain and violence. Uncle Slam has released four studio albums (one was recorded under their original name
) and four demo tapes
(one was also recorded under their original name). The band broke up in 1995 but in 2010 they reissued their 1988 album Say Uncle
on CD for the first time.
by vocalists and guitarists Jon Nelson
, Todd Moyer, bassist John Flitcraft, and former Suicidal Tendencies
drummer Amery Smith
. After releasing their self-titled debut album
in 1986, the band changed their name to Uncle Slam in 1987.
Flitcraft quit the band before they changed their name and was replaced by Louiche Mayorga
, who previously played bass alongside Smith in Suicidal Tendencies, but also soon left. He was briefly replaced by Bob Heathcote
(who would later join Suicidal Tendencies) before Simon Oliver finally joined shortly after.
The first "Uncle Slam" album was Say Uncle
, released in 1988 through Caroline Records
. Before the band could work on a follow-up to that album, Oliver left Uncle Slam in 1989 and was replaced by Angelo Espino.
After Oliver returned in 1991, the band released their second album under the Uncle Sam name, Will Work for Food, in 1993 through Restless Records
. Smith departed the band the following year and was replaced by another former Suicidal Tendencies member, R. J. Herrera
. With the lineup of Moyer, Oliver, and Herrera, the band recorded and released their third and final album, When God Dies
, in 1995 through Medusa Records. The band broke up that same year.
After Smith's departure from Uncle Slam, he resurfaced in two bands, the Beastie Boys
and BS 2000
. He is now in AgainST
, formed by Excel
singer Dan Clements
and former Suicidal Tendencies
members Grant Estes
, Amery Smith
and Louiche Mayorga
.
Former members
† = Members who were present when Uncle Slam was known as The Brood.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
crossover thrash
Crossover thrash
__FORCETOC__Crossover thrash, often abbreviated to crossover, is a form of thrash metal that contains more hardcore punk elements than standard thrash. The genre lies on a continuum between heavy metal and punk rock...
band from Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, 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...
, formed in 1984 under the name The Brood
The Brood (band)
The Brood was a crossover thrash band from Venice, California featuring former members of Suicidal Tendencies and Neighborhood Watch.-Biography:...
. They were influenced by punk rock bands of the '80s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
like Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
(which featured some of the members of Uncle Slam and The Brood), D.R.I.
Dirty Rotten Imbeciles
Dirty Rotten Imbeciles is a thrash metal/crossover thrash band from the United States that formed in Houston, in 1982. The band currently comprises founding members, vocalist Kurt Brecht and guitarist Spike Cassidy, as well as drummer Rob Rampy and bassist Harald Oimoen.D.R.I...
, 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...
, Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
and the Circle Jerks
Circle Jerks
The Circle Jerks are an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Los Angeles, California. It was formed by Black Flag's original singer, Keith Morris, and future Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson. They were among the preeminent hardcore punk bands of the L.A. scene in the late 1970s.The band...
, as well as heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
and Motörhead. Many of their songs are about politics, rebel themes, death, pain and violence. Uncle Slam has released four studio albums (one was recorded under their original name
The Brood (band)
The Brood was a crossover thrash band from Venice, California featuring former members of Suicidal Tendencies and Neighborhood Watch.-Biography:...
) and four demo tapes
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
(one was also recorded under their original name). The band broke up in 1995 but in 2010 they reissued their 1988 album Say Uncle
Say Uncle (album)
Say Uncle is the debut album of the Los Angeles, California crossover thrash band Uncle Slam, released in 1988.-Track listing:#"Weirdo Man"#"The Ugly Dude"#"Judgment Day"#"Micro Logic"#"Contaminated"#"Up From Beneath"#"Executioner"#"The Prophecy"...
on CD for the first time.
History
Uncle Slam originally formed in 1984 under the name The BroodThe Brood (band)
The Brood was a crossover thrash band from Venice, California featuring former members of Suicidal Tendencies and Neighborhood Watch.-Biography:...
by vocalists and guitarists Jon Nelson
Jon Nelson (guitarist)
Jonathan D. "Jon" Nelson is best known for playing lead guitar in the controversial punk band Suicidal Tendencies.-Early life:...
, Todd Moyer, bassist John Flitcraft, and former Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
drummer Amery Smith
Amery Smith
Amery "AWOL" Smith is a drummer from Los Angeles, California. He is best known for playing drums in the Venice punk band "Suicidal Tendencies."-Early Life:...
. After releasing their self-titled debut album
The Brood (album)
The Brood is the seventh studio album by Dutch rock and roll and blues group Herman Brood & His Wild Romance. The album reached #22 on the Dutch album chart on 16 June 1984, and stayed on the chart for 17 weeks.-Track listing:-Credits:...
in 1986, the band changed their name to Uncle Slam in 1987.
Flitcraft quit the band before they changed their name and was replaced by Louiche Mayorga
Louiche Mayorga
Louiche Mayorga is best known for his bass playing in the Venice punk band "Suicidal Tendencies."He co-wrote many of their earlier songs including the punk classic "Institutionalized" from their 1983 debut album on Frontier, as well as" "War Inside My Head," "Possessed To Skate." and the title...
, who previously played bass alongside Smith in Suicidal Tendencies, but also soon left. He was briefly replaced by Bob Heathcote
Bob Heathcote
Bob Heathcote is best known for his bass playing in the crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies.-Early Life:Robert ”Bob” Heathcote was born May 27th, 1964. He grew up in Westchester, California. His main bass guitar influences were Geddy Lee of Rush and Chris Squire of Yes. One of his first bands...
(who would later join Suicidal Tendencies) before Simon Oliver finally joined shortly after.
The first "Uncle Slam" album was Say Uncle
Say Uncle (album)
Say Uncle is the debut album of the Los Angeles, California crossover thrash band Uncle Slam, released in 1988.-Track listing:#"Weirdo Man"#"The Ugly Dude"#"Judgment Day"#"Micro Logic"#"Contaminated"#"Up From Beneath"#"Executioner"#"The Prophecy"...
, released in 1988 through Caroline Records
Caroline Records
Caroline Records started out as a subsidiary of Richard Branson's Virgin Records label during the early to mid 1970s. The label originally specialized in putting out budget price LPs by mainly progressive rock and jazz artists generally not considered to have a great deal of 'mainstream' or...
. Before the band could work on a follow-up to that album, Oliver left Uncle Slam in 1989 and was replaced by Angelo Espino.
After Oliver returned in 1991, the band released their second album under the Uncle Sam name, Will Work for Food, in 1993 through Restless Records
Restless Records
Restless Records was started in El Segundo, California in 1981 by Enigma Records and primarly released alternative, metal and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute Records...
. Smith departed the band the following year and was replaced by another former Suicidal Tendencies member, R. J. Herrera
R. J. Herrera
Ralph J. Herrera is a heavy metal drummer. He is best known for being the drummer of Suicidal Tendencies between the years of 1984 and 1991. After Suicidal Tendencies, he joined Uncle Slam, a crossover thrash band featuring ex-Suicidal members...
. With the lineup of Moyer, Oliver, and Herrera, the band recorded and released their third and final album, When God Dies
When God Dies
When God Dies is an album by Los Angeles, California crossover thrash band Uncle Slam, released in 1995.-Track listing:#"When God Dies"#"My Mother's Son"#"Procreation"#"Smoke 'em if You Got 'em"#"An Offering to a Deity"#"Age of Aggression"...
, in 1995 through Medusa Records. The band broke up that same year.
After Smith's departure from Uncle Slam, he resurfaced in two bands, the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
and BS 2000
BS 2000
BS 2000 is the name of a musical side project of Beastie Boys' Adam "Adrock" Horovitz and Amery "AWOL" Smith also with tracks featuring Janay North. In 1997, BS 2000 released their vinyl-only self-titled debut...
. He is now in AgainST
Against (American band)
Against is a Crossover thrash band formed in 2006 by singer-songwriter Dan Clements, original Suicidal Tendencies members Grant Estes, Louiche Mayorga and Amery Smith and former No Mercy vocalist Kevin Guercio.-History:...
, formed by Excel
Excel (band)
Excel was a punk/metal fusion band from Venice, California founded in 1983 by singer Dan Clements and guitarist Adam Siegel. They were influenced by famous 70's punk rock musicians like The Police and The Sex Pistols, and heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath, Trouble, Slayer, Corrosion of...
singer Dan Clements
Dan Clements
Daniel Clements is a singer-songwriter from Venice, California, best known as the lead vocalist of Crossover thrash band Excel and the only member that remained in the group since its formation until its dissolution...
and former Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
members Grant Estes
Grant Estes
Grant Estes is an American guitarist from Santa Monica, California. He was one of the guitarists for the highly influential band Suicidal Tendencies, during the band's hardcore punk era.-Suicidal Tendencies/Los Cycos:...
, Amery Smith
Amery Smith
Amery "AWOL" Smith is a drummer from Los Angeles, California. He is best known for playing drums in the Venice punk band "Suicidal Tendencies."-Early Life:...
and Louiche Mayorga
Louiche Mayorga
Louiche Mayorga is best known for his bass playing in the Venice punk band "Suicidal Tendencies."He co-wrote many of their earlier songs including the punk classic "Institutionalized" from their 1983 debut album on Frontier, as well as" "War Inside My Head," "Possessed To Skate." and the title...
.
Members
Last line-up- Todd Moyer – lead guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and backing vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(1984–1995) - Simon OliverSimon OliverSimon Oliver is the writer of the Wildstorm comic book series Gen¹³ and the Vertigo comic book series The Exterminators and Hellblazer Presents: Chas - The Knowledge.-Biography:...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1987–1989, 1991–1995) - R. J. HerreraR. J. HerreraRalph J. Herrera is a heavy metal drummer. He is best known for being the drummer of Suicidal Tendencies between the years of 1984 and 1991. After Suicidal Tendencies, he joined Uncle Slam, a crossover thrash band featuring ex-Suicidal members...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1994–1995)
Former members
- Jon NelsonJon Nelson (guitarist)Jonathan D. "Jon" Nelson is best known for playing lead guitar in the controversial punk band Suicidal Tendencies.-Early life:...
- lead vocals and lead guitar (1984–1987) † - John Flitcraft - bass, backing vocals (1984–1986) †
- Louiche MayorgaLouiche MayorgaLouiche Mayorga is best known for his bass playing in the Venice punk band "Suicidal Tendencies."He co-wrote many of their earlier songs including the punk classic "Institutionalized" from their 1983 debut album on Frontier, as well as" "War Inside My Head," "Possessed To Skate." and the title...
- bass (1986–1987) - Bob HeathcoteBob HeathcoteBob Heathcote is best known for his bass playing in the crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies.-Early Life:Robert ”Bob” Heathcote was born May 27th, 1964. He grew up in Westchester, California. His main bass guitar influences were Geddy Lee of Rush and Chris Squire of Yes. One of his first bands...
- bass (1987) - Angelo Espino - bass (1989–1991)
- Amery SmithAmery SmithAmery "AWOL" Smith is a drummer from Los Angeles, California. He is best known for playing drums in the Venice punk band "Suicidal Tendencies."-Early Life:...
- drums and backing bocals (1984–1994)
† = Members who were present when Uncle Slam was known as The Brood.
Studio albums
| Year of Release | Title | Label |
| 1986 | The Brood The Brood (album) The Brood is the seventh studio album by Dutch rock and roll and blues group Herman Brood & His Wild Romance. The album reached #22 on the Dutch album chart on 16 June 1984, and stayed on the chart for 17 weeks.-Track listing:-Credits:... (released under the band's moniker The Brood) |
Profile Records Profile Records Profile Records was a record label that specialized in many types of urban-oriented music, such as hip hop, active until 1996..- History :In 1980, at 23 years old, after working briefly for MCA, Cory Robbins was looking to start a record label. He invited his songwriter friend Steve Plotnicki to be... |
| 1988 | Say Uncle Say Uncle (album) Say Uncle is the debut album of the Los Angeles, California crossover thrash band Uncle Slam, released in 1988.-Track listing:#"Weirdo Man"#"The Ugly Dude"#"Judgment Day"#"Micro Logic"#"Contaminated"#"Up From Beneath"#"Executioner"#"The Prophecy"... |
Caroline Records |
| 1993 | Will Work for Food | Restless Records Restless Records Restless Records was started in El Segundo, California in 1981 by Enigma Records and primarly released alternative, metal and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute Records... |
| 1995 | When God Dies When God Dies When God Dies is an album by Los Angeles, California crossover thrash band Uncle Slam, released in 1995.-Track listing:#"When God Dies"#"My Mother's Son"#"Procreation"#"Smoke 'em if You Got 'em"#"An Offering to a Deity"#"Age of Aggression"... |
Medusa Records |
Demos
| Year of Release | Title |
| 1985 | Demo (released under the band's moniker The Brood) |
| 1987 | Say Uncle preproduction demo |
| 1987 | Demo '87 |
| 1988 | Say Uncle |
External links
- Uncle Slam at BNR Metal Pages