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
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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.
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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
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