Bastards
Despite being early label-mates of the Cows and Unsane, Minneapolis’ Bastards never achieved the recognition of their more celebrated noise rock brethren. Perhaps this is a function of their relatively short life span (1987-1990) and limited body of work, which consisted of 3 singles, an LP, and a couple of compilation tracks on Minneapolis’ Treehouse label. The Bastards sound is typical of the genre - thick guitars, evil sounding bass and growling vocals. Guitarist/vocalist Joachim Breuer would continue to mine this territory, going on to front Janitor Joe and later Gnomes of Zurich. German label Glitterhouse would compile the singles (minus one track - “Neighbors”) as You Didn’t Give A Damn About the Exploding Man Because You Killed Him EP. Some tunes:
From Exploding Man (1988)
Bastards - Shit For Brains.mp3
Bastards - Frank.mp3
From 1989’s Monticello LP
Bastards - Razor.mp3
Bastards - Monticello.mp3
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I found Monticello on CD a few weeks ago- on Treehouse. I’d include Sister Ray as another band that should be as well known as the Cows et. al. I guess it’s due to having most of their music released on Euro. labels. Isn’t there some connection between The Bastards and Casus Belli also??
The Sister Ray stuff actually wound up holding up over the years. Don’t think the body of the Bastards stuff fared as well, but the stuff you posted definitely cream of the crop. The formal connect between the Bastards and Casus Belli was Anthony Martin, the bass player. Anthony actually got the idea of doing the solo bass/vocal/drum machine format upon the late Kristen Pfaff who encouraged “Tony” to go for it after the Bastards disolved and I believe after he had expatriated himself to first Spain and then ultimately to Deutschland. In Germany he adpoted the European arm of AmRep from Glittherhouse records. Eventually launched his own label, Boomba and released Turbonegro’s benchmark release, “Apocalypse Dudes.” The b-side of the 2nd release (the 7″ pic disc slays and easily can go toe-to-toe with the best of the Melvins output. Sadly the other 3-sides betwee the sole 2 releases can’t boast the same.
I bought all the Bastards stuuf on vinyl in the early 90’s. fantastic band, but have never been able to find anything on CD by them. Any ideas where I can get the CD’s from???
I’ve never seen these on disc myself, I think G is in Japan so he may have picked it up over there…
As I said previoulsy I have Monticello and Exploding man on LP and 12″. Do you know where I can get the MP3’s from? Hint Hint!!!
I suppose the easy answer is to convert them myself, but my stereo is down stairs and my PC is upstairs!!! I suppose I could put them all on tape and then plug a tape played into the sound card of my PC, but it just sooo much of a pain in the arse…
Spent today putting Monticello and Exploding man on tape and then converted to MP3!!! Anybody interested???
Hi,
It’s me Anthony. I haven’t listened to our stuff in years. Other than this website, which is greatly appreciated, I have no access to the Bastards catalog as it is all packed up and stateside. I’d be interested in any MP3s you could send along. Thanks loads, AXM
Hi Anthony,
Send me your mail address and I can send the MP3’s over to you. Not great quality as it’s from Vinyl>Tape>MP3’s
anyone got any of the bastards mp3s i could have? i’ve got monticello but only on lp… and would really like to hear the exploding man stuff.
if anyone’s got em please email tbalson@gmail.com, cheers!
just to say yep, the bastards were totally intense. i can make out most of the lyrics but the vital bits get a bit drowned out, does anyone have a transcript of monticello ? or any on-line rescources and if you need mp3s try soulseek, i’m sure someone has converted their vinyl by now, if not i’ll do it myself….one day.
Longtime Bastards fan, still think Monticello is a rocking as ever (one of my fave albums in fact). Ended up ordering a copy of the CD from Europe a while back which was a wise choice.
What I would really like to see though is some video footage of these folks posted to youtube.
Anyone got Monticello they could email me psychasimon@aol.com
Wow–i just have to say that screwing off at work has been fun today bc i’ve reading about the olden days…and all my fav music/bands from the 80’s…i went to CSB–w Anthony…i’m pretty sure he’ll remember me as being one of the two ethnic chicks that went to CSB in 1986-90…yikes! we hung out at the 8-plexes…anyhoo…i only have bastards on cassette tape..i have Frank and some other stuff…somewhere either at mom’s in Chicago or in SF storage…yikes….good to catch up…