The Fartz
| The Fartz | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Genres | Hardcore punk |
| Years active | 1981–1983, 1999–2003 |
| Labels | Alternative Tentacles |
| Associated acts |
Guns N' Roses 10 Minute Warning The Accüsed Crisis Party |
| Past members |
Blaine Cook Tommy Hansen Paul Dana aka Paul Solger Steve Hoffman Loud Fart Duff McKagan Alex "Maggot Brain" Sibbald Karl "Detonator" Fowler |
The Fartz were originally formed in 1981 and were one of the first well-known hardcore bands from Seattle, Washington. They were signed to Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles Record label. They were notable not only for playing incredibly fast and heavy music, but also for their politically and socially conscious song lyrics that criticized government policies, religious hypocrisy, racism, sexism, and poverty. Throughout their musical career they championed a blue collar, working class perspective on life.
The Fartz original lineup in 1981 included vocalist Blaine Cook, guitarist Tommy Hansen, bassist Steve Hoffman, and drummer Loud Fart. Tommy Hansen and Loud had formerly played together in the Seattle band Kaos (not to be confused with the UK version with the same name). Blaine and Steve had first met in 1979 when they worked together at a local restaurant called Red Robin. Tommy Hansen taught Steve Hoffman how to play bass. Steve asked Loud to play drums when he saw him tinkering with Robo's drum kit at a Black Flag show in Seattle. In the punk tradition of the Ramones, each member of the band took on the family name Fart, so they became known as Blaine Fart, Tommy Fart, Steve Fart and Loud Fart.
On the strength of the nine song Because This Fuckin' World Stinks E.P. produced by Neil Hubbard and self-released by the band on their own Fartz Records in 1981 as a 7-inch vinyl 45, they were signed to Jello Biafra's San Francisco-based Alternative Tentacles Records, which released their full length LP entitled World Full of Hate in 1982 as Virus 17, and also re-released their first single as Virus 21 later that same year. This made the Fartz the first Seattle band since Heart to break out of the local music scene and get signed to an out of town record label.
They also had one song, "Campaign Speech," appear on the 1981 Seattle Syndrome Vol. I compilation released by Engram Records.
Paul Dana, who had earlier been in the proto-hardcore Seattle band Solger, replaced Tommy Hansen on guitar during the recording of the band's 1982 album, although Hansen still played on five of the 15 tracks on the LP. After the recording of the first LP was completed in June 1982, Loud was replaced on drums by Duff McKagan, who played on a five-song demo recording that was made in November 1982 but not released until 1990. Duff's role in the Fartz has sometimes been exaggerated. Blaine has been quoted as saying Duff was only "in the band for a few months," while Steve has said he only played one or two shows with Duff in the Fartz.
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Wikipedia