Spider Babies | << prev: Meet The Boonaraaas | next >> Mexican 60s special


OK, here is finally Spider Babies special.
I think they are one of the best punk bands ever and unfortunately pretty ignored by underground scene, probably because of their "politically incorrect" lyrics, although their lyrics don't have anything to do with politics. And of course their anti feminist & anti gay attitude brought them bad reputation in today's PC underground scene. It seems something went wrong in 90s and MTV has too much influence also in punk rock, so such band like Spider Babies is now for somebody equal to some extreme bands. OK they are extreme, but GG Allin was extreme too and he wasn't so rejected.

I also can't agree 100% with their lyrics, but I don't think they have to be understood so seriously - it's only punk rock and I like it.

The only thing I don't understand is why they hate gays so much. I think they should look at it from another point of view:
more gays = more girls for Spider Babies - ha ha ha.

Spider Babies Interview

Anyway here is short bio about them (I used info from their website):

Spider Babies started back in 92 from the remains of the Undertakers. Original line up was Kevin, Colin, James and Denice. After few 7"s Denice left the band and the other 3 recorded "All Fucked up" LP, and a handful of singles that got great reviews, made tons of top tens and basically put them on the map.  In about 94 Colin and James both left the band, and Jesse K and Phil soon joined right before their first European tour and the recording of "Web of Hate" LP. As that line up they recorded 5 more lps, 8 or 9 singles and went to Europe twice and Japan once.  After 13 singles and 6 LPs the band is still going strong. NOW the Spider Babies are in their third line-up change, which is RAW and totally WILD!

Kevin of course on guitar and vocals, but this time 2 younger kids he found trying to sneak into a titty bar one night... The bass player Adam is from "Koko Kobra and the Killers" and "Silverkings". The drummer Jeremy is from local Portland punk bands like, "Bedpans", and "Teenage Faces".  As the new line up they have already toured the east coast and Europe.

Here is also overview of all their releases:

- Hey Baby/Spider Baby 7" (1994) is the first Spider Babies release. It's hardcore garage trash punk. Denice Hammericksen a.k.a. Disease played organ here. Her organ sound gives a bit of 60s feeling in raw and wild Spider Babies trash punk.
- Arachnophonic Sounds Of... 7" EP (1994) is musically maybe the most influenced by 60s punk. Denice's organ got bigger role & she also did 2nd vocal on "Telling Me Lies". But Kevin's  trashy vocal brings more hate into music & the lyrics are not really 60s style either - ha ha ha.
- I'm Dead/Treat Me Right 7" (1994) is one more great early Spider Babies record. Not much different from 1st two 7"s. "Treat Me Right" is one of my favorite songs with great chorus.
- A Mouthfull 7" EP (1995) is pretty different from 1st three. This is Spider Babies I like - more raw, more wild and very fast with great catchy songs.
- All Fucked Up LP (1995) is their 1st LP. It's a real masterpiece with 14 great songs. Some of the songs appeared on their early 7"s ("Hey Baby", "Treat Me Right"), but here we have different versions and for me these are bit better.
- Dragging Me Down 7"EP (1996) I'm not sure if this is the right order of Spider Babies record releasing, but anyway this EP is one more great record. Very trashy and fast punk. 60s influences are gone. Spider Babies sound like best 90s punk band.
- Web Of Hate LP (1996) is good record, but not as good as their 1st LP. Maybe production could have been better. Everything sounds much nicer than we are used - the sound is a bit too clean and Kevin's voice could be more trashy, but don't get me wrong - I really like this record. Songs are great and I play it pretty often.
- Gonna Get Real Hurt 7"EP (1996) Spider Babies kick your ass again. It's their 1st Sack O' Shit release and it's one of their best records. Sound is great. This is production I like.
- Split with Perverts 7"EP (1996) "Teenage Gynecologist"/"Baby Sittin' Bastard" are lyrically maybe the most pervert songs by Spider Babies, but musically they are great - very raw & fast trash punk. Perverts side is also great. It's a bit different. "River De Maas" is trash surf instro, but "I Ain't Gonna Do It Your Way No More" is catchy fuzz 60s punk.
- Drivin Me Mad 7"EP (1997) sounds a bit 70s punk. Guitar sound is really great.
- Sex Slave 7"EP (1997) is definitely my favorite Spider Babies 7" & one of the best records in my collection. I heard it so many times. There are 3 songs on it & I really can't say which one is the best. Maybe "Creep Like Me" is my favorite, but the other 2 are also great.


- Adventures In Sex And Violence LP (1997) is their 3rd LP. This is Spider Babies "golden period". It's one more masterpiece with all great songs.
- Crimes Against Humanity LP (1998) I guess Spider Babies were a bit lazy to make 7"s in 1998, but we have this great LP. Merinuk made nice sleeve. Musically they didn't change a lot, but who cares if the records are great.
- Thinkin 'bout You LP (1998) sound quality is pretty poor - production is pretty bad. It sounds like demo. I know it's punk, but Spider Babies can do much better. Songs are catchy and record is not bad, but comparing with other Spider Babies records - it's under their level. It's their most sex obsessed record and you can see that on the sleeve.
- Comin' Unglued 7"EP (1999) is also not one of my favorite Spider Babies records. I don't know why, but I just miss something.
- Not Anymore... (Tribute To Dead Boys) 7"EP (1999) Spider Babies did "Ain't Nothing To Do" cover. It's great version as well as 2 other bands (Jet Bumpers doing "Sonic Reducer" & Pleasure Fuckers with "What Love Is"). Spider Babies also have one song on "That's Mighty Childish" LP comp. It's a Milkshakes cover - "I Won't Be There" with Denice on keyboard. It's good cover, but this comp. is not really my favorite record.
- Split with Henry fiat's Open Sore 7"EP (1999) "Drink Beer" is great "Strychnine" cover with different lyrics. It's very fast and very short. "Get To Know You" is also very fast & wild. Henry Fiat's Open Sore side is very very speedy & mad. It's hardcore garage trash punk. My favorite is "Gimme The Loot", but the other 2 songs are also good.
- Undressed To Kill LP (2000) After 5 LPs & 13 7"s it is really unusual to expect that your favorite band will make their best record ever. AND YEAH SPIDER BABIES DID IT!!!!!! "Undressed To Kill" is real 100% hits killer!!!!! It's sing along with Spider babies. Sometimes I feel a bit strange walking down the street singing "Get The Fuck Away From Me". All 13 songs are so catchy, so great produced - I mean so trashy - anyway this record is just perfect - from provocative & politically incorrect sleeve till music and lyrics. It's punk rock the way it should be & the way it was long time ago - but don't think that Spider Babies became some retro band - they just brought their trash punk to perfection. It's hard to say which song is the best, but songs you really can't get out of your head are: "Get The Fuck Away From Me", "Gimme some Drugs" & "Can't Get Off Without You".
- Ten Inches Of Terror 10" (2001)Well, they did it again - after so many releases, Spider Babies are better than ever. I don't know how they do it and I don't care as long as they go on like this. First side is so great that you have to listen to it at least 10 times before you turn to the other side. I really can't say which songs on this side are my favorites. Spider Babies are driving wild, fast and dirty from "Kick Down The Door", through "Spider baby (Gonna Rape You)" - you better watch out, "Take Me Back" (fastest one on this side - screaming guitar and straight to the point - this is what I like), "I need Sex" (well, what else do Spider Babies need - ha ha ha) to "I like 'em Real Young" (maybe this is my favorite from this record - this song is just brilliant - it's catchy, it's fast, it's rockin' and I just love the backing screams). When you finally get to hear the B side - you have to listen to it more than once and you just don't get to hear any other records - ha ha ha. B side is a bit slower than A side, but it's great. "Keepin' You For Good" is my favorite on this side. It's kinda romantic - in Spider Babies way of course - hi hi hi - with great catchy chorus. They are really pissed off in "You're Gonna Pay" and "Fuck With My Head (And You Die)" - don't try to mess with these guys. "No Fat Chicks" is one more great fast drivin' Spider babies' hit. 10" ends with slow, but really nice "Your New Boyfriend". In some way it's different from other Spider babies songs, but I love it.

Spider Babies Interview
Spider Babies Live Pictures

Spider Babies discography with sleeve images and track listings:
albums
singles and EPs

Soon we can expect new Spider Babies 7":

7" "What's Wrong with Me" for Get Hip - produced by Steve Basie from Devil Dogs


Spider Babies | << prev: Meet The Boonaraaas | next >> Mexican 60s special

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