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COC
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Line Up:
Pepper Keenan: Vocals/Guitar
Woody Weatherman: Guitar
Reed Mullin: Drums
Mike Dean: Bass
If there truly is a band "of the people, for the people" somewhere in this age of one hit wonders and integrity free pop music, then it is unquestionably Raleigh, North Carolina's Corrosion Of Conformity. A 4 piece powerhouse, hard edged rock band who have gone from building the earliest bridges between the hardcore punk and metal scenes of the 80's, to fueling the post grunge airwaves of America in the 90's. A band who's unparalleled combination of riff heavy rock, lyrically charged "everyman" politics, and explosive live shows have taken them all the way from the tiniest of basement clubs to major arenas, and ultimately on to a trip to the Grammy Awards. All, it must be said, without losing their lifelong and diehard connection with their audience. With the people.
Guitarist WOODY WEATHERMAN, drummer REED MULLIN and bassist MIKE DEAN have been at the core of Corrosion Of Conformity (or COC as they are widely known) since 1982. The trio (along with a revolving door of vocalists, including DEAN at several stages) managed to independently record and release several of what are (still to this day) considered to be the most important albums in the evolution of hard underground music. COC was the band that would first introduce and fuse the raging, powerful hardcore thrash sound of Black Flag, with the massively heavy grooves of Black Sabbath. 1983's "EYE FOR AN EYE" (Caroline Recordings), 1985's "ANIMOSITY" (Metal Blade Records), 1987's "TECHNOCRACY" (Metal Blade Records) and "6 SONGS WITH MIKE SINGING" (Caroline Recordings) still manage to sound as urgent, innovative and powerful today as they did then.
Throughout the mid 80's, the band spent countless months on the roads of America playing with all of the underground greats of the time; SLAYER, D.R.I., ANTHRAX, and countless other hardcore pioneers. But by the summer of 1987, the band had burned itself out from a break neck recording and touring schedule (intensified by a lack of record label support and line-up changes within the band), and COC would ultimately stop everything and undergo a year long hiatus from all activity.
As the winter months of 1988 would finally roll around, both WEATHERMAN and MULLIN decided that the band should reform and pick up where they had left off. However with DEAN having moved away to Philadelphia, and with the duo's passion and desire to move into a more hard edged rock/metal direction, there would be some changes. The decision was made to bring in not only a new bassist to replace DEAN, but a new vocalist who could help to carry the band into 90's with a sense of ability beyond simple guttural screaming. Enter New Orleans' native; PEPPER KEENAN.
KEENAN, who had originally come into the band as the new vocalist, would quickly prove at this time to be more of an asset to the unit as a second guitarist. His classic rock and "heavy blues come hardcore" approach to the instrument when combined with WEATHERMAN's "Iommi-charged" playing was exactly what the band was looking for. Singer KARL AGELL and bassist PHIL SWISHER (both now of LEADFOOT) would be brought in to complete the line up.
Tours with DANZIG, SOUNDGARDEN, FAITH NO MORE and the BAD BRAINS would soon follow, and with a massive buzz on the band swelling, the public was now hungry for a new album. COC would then hit the studio in the spring of 1991 to record the incredible JOHN CUSTER produced album "BLIND" (Relativity Records).
At the time of BLIND's release, the musical climate proved to be right for both the band and it's lyrically "politically charged" new opus. But, with the first single "DANCE OF THE DEAD" only "warmly" received by audiences, it would later prove to be the one song on the album that KEENAN had sung lead vocals on; "VOTE WITH A BULLET" that would really take the masses by storm. Truly a sign of things to come…
It would be 2 years before the band would head into the studio to record the basic tracks for what would be their first major label album "DELIVERANCE". But, no sooner had the band made the move from the independent label Relativity to the major Sony, when things started to fall apart within the band. It was decided that AGELL's contributions to the album weren't up to par, and that he should be replaced. When confronted by the news of AGELL's dismissal by the other members, bassist SWISHER decided to leave the band and accompany AGELL onto a new project (now known as LEADFOOT).
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As the weeks of recording quickly became months, the search for a new singer intensified. However, with the songs for the new album already written and partially recorded, KEENAN (who had spent countless hours trying to teach these songs to other potential vocalists as they would audition) became increasingly confident with his own ability to handle both the vocal chores and guitar playing. At long last KEENAN had himself filled the center stage position, permanently.
But, there was still the question of a new bassist? Strangely enough, at this time DEAN had just walked away from his band of the past few years (SPORE, now known as NINEFINGER) when he received word that COC needed a bassist. After listening to what the band had just recorded, he returned to the position that is truly and rightfully his alone, and rejoined the band. He entered the studio along with the album's producer JOHN CUSTER, and re-recorded all of the bass tracks on the album, adding a whole new dimension to the rhythmic dimension of COC in the 90's.
"DELIVERANCE" was met with universal acceptance, and for the first time COC was able to fully move into the mainstream conscious. The album, which saw the band move away from the lyrical political arena and their previous underground sound, and into the modern rock mindset of Middle America. The first single (and first real non-political COC song) "ALBATROSS" with it's Lynyrd Skynyrd meets Black Sabbath rock grooves was only a sign of what was soon to follow. It would be the next single, "CLEAN MY WOUNDS" that would successfully land the band into rotation on MTV, and into the play lists of rock stations Nationwide. With the song's THIN LIZZY gone heavy verses, and its unforgettable sing a long chorus', COC had ironically finally found real acceptance with this song of misery.
Around this time, KEENAN's side project DOWN (featuring vocalist PHIL ANSELMO of PANTERA) released their debut album "NOLA" (East West Recordings). An intensely heavy album would only help to turn a whole new generation of PANTERA and hard music fans on to COC's bottom heavy sound.
Two years of intense touring and promotion for COC would follow before the band would write and record their next record, the 1996 JOHN CUSTER produced album "WISEBLOOD". (NOTE* For the very first time in the band's 14 year history, the same line up would appear on 2 consecutive albums!) And the songs came flowing out. From the all-out rocking of "KING OF THE ROTTEN", on to "THE DOOR" with it's massive swinging groove, and the semi acoustic tale "REDEMPTION CITY", the songs all showed the band in top form. "WISEBLOOD" would also be the first album by any band to feature a guest appearance from METALLICA's JAMES HETFIELD! His vocal contribution can be found adding a sense of venom to the song "MAN OR ASH".
But it would prove to be one song from this new album; the almost Zeppelin-esque "DROWNING IN A DAYDREAM" that would really capture the ears of the record buying public. And this time around, it would see the band get their very first GRAMMY nomination for "best metal performance"! (The band would ultimately and unfortunately lose to the art-damaged metal act TOOL.)
But then "they" came calling…
METALLICA called asking COC to join them as the opening act on their "controversial" LOAD tour. If ever there was a perfect pairing of bands, then this was it. The tour, which was originally scheduled for a short period of time, would ultimately extend into a yearlong trip around the world. Finally arenas around the globe would experience COC's all out ragged rock sound.
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But something on the business end at this time just wasn't right. Here the band had its first Grammy nomination and an opening slot on the largest hard rock tour in the world, but there was no promotion for their album. Nothing at all. There were going to be some serious questions asked when the touring stopped…
Since the album's release, there had been changes at Sony, and COC were no longer a priority to the remaining promotional staff. The band found themselves in a truly bad place. They quickly started work on new demos for the label, all of which were deemed "out of step" with where the label was now headed. And so, after years of struggling to work within the Sony system, in the summer of 1999, COC and Sony Music parted ways.
The next 10 months were filled with both demos and decisions. After an 18 year career that had seen the band change the face of underground music several times (while lending influence to both the most obscure and mainstream of hard rock artists), COC needed to find a recording label that would at long last give them both the respect and push that they have so long deserved.
Which brings us to where we are now. SANCTUARY RECORDS, whose staff and management have long been fans of the band, finally secured them for their roster of artists. At long last, a label that understands not only the historical importance of the band, but also the power and potential of every bottom heavy note that filters out of their amps today.
The band have now started the recording process of what will truly be their most important album ever. Titled "AMERICA'S VOLUME DEALER" and being produced by long time collaborator/producer JOHN CUSTER, COC are ready at long last to take to both the highways AND the airwaves of the world. With METALLICA already requesting the band resume their opening slot in arenas, and a long established fan base that shows no sign of losing loyalty to the band, this will truly be their year to shine.
In an age of pop rock acts with no substance or staying ability, one hit wonders with no lasting fan base or fan loyalty, COC are the real deal. CORROSION OF CONFORMITY is truly THE band "of the people, for the people".
- June 18, 2001
Blackwinged
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