Fu Manchu

Fu Manchu is a Southern Californian stoner rock band, who released their debut single "Kept Between Trees" in 1990. Rolling Stone describes their sound as:

"Super heavy and bass happy Detroit rock 'n' roll is totally deep-fried, fuzzed out, window breakin', pot sellin', sleepin-in-the-van, skater metal."

Fu Manchu lyrics tend to focus on pinball, muscle cars, UFOs/Bigfoot, and skateboarding. They have featured on compilations from Tony Hawk and ESPN's X Games, been invited to perform on the US television program, Monster Garage, and featured in a documentary about skateboarding's founding crews, Dogtown and Z-Boys.

Fu Manchu's latest album We Must Obey was released on the 20th of February, 2007 on Liquor and Poker Records and the band will spend most of 2007 touring to support the album. Sonically and lyrically, We Must Obey shifts somewhat from the previous, slower, 70s-based Fu Manchu sound to a more aggressive tempo. In someways it suggests a closing of the circle, as Fu Manchu originally formed in 1987 as a hardcore punk band called Virulence.

Originally influenced by Black Flag and Santa Cruz, CA band BL'AST, the first line up was vocalist Ken Pucci, guitarist Scott Hill, bassist Greg McCaughey and drummer Ruben Romano. In 1989 they released their debut LP "If This Isn't a Dream..." on Alchemy Records. In 1990, Pucci left the band and was replaced by vocalist Glen Chivens and they changed their name to Fu Manchu. Soon after they released the "Kept Between Trees" 7 inch single on Slap A Ham Records. On this record, Fu Manchu still exhibited much of the hardcore sound established by Virulence. However, the band soon began to drift away from hardcore and towards a more 1970s hard rock style.

McCaughey was not pleased with the direction, which he regarded as following a trend. The Sub Pop record label, which was at the peak of its underground success at the time, was releasing records from bands such as Green River who were clearly inspired by the same 70s rock sources. McCaughey left the band and was replaced by Mark Abshire. Around the same time, Chivens also left for unknown reasons. Rather than bring in a new vocalist, Scott Hill added lead vocalist to his guitar duties. To compensate, Scott Votaw was recruited as lead guitarist. In 1992, Fu Manchu released three 7 inch singles: "Senioritis," "Pick Up Summer," and "Don't Bother Knockin' (If This Vans Rockin')." In 1993, Votaw left the band and was replaced by former Olivelawn drummer Eddie Glass.

In the wake of Nirvana’s success in the early 1990s, Fu Manchu was approached by a major record label and given funds to record a demo so that the label could determine if a proper Fu Manchu album was worth pursuing. According to members of Fu Manchu, they recorded the demo with no intention of signing to the label. Instead, their plan was to go into the sessions with the mindset of recording a proper album rather than a demo, which they would release independently. Sure enough, this is precisely what happened; Fu Manchu did not sign with the major label, but the recording sessions resulted in Fu Manchu’s first album, No One Rides For Free (1994), which was released by Bong Load Records, an independent label.

Abshire left Fu Manchu before they recorded their second album, Daredevil, in 1995. He was replaced by Brad Davis. Romano and Glass left shortly after the release of Fu Manchu's third album, In Search Of... (1996) and were replaced by Brant Bjork and Bob Balch, respectively. Glass, Romano and Abshire soon formed Nebula, a power trio that took the jam-influenced side of Fu Manchu and expanded on it. Members of Nebula have commented that "we're all family" to fans wearing Fu Manchu shirts at their concerts.

Fu Manchu went on to release several successful albums and reinforce their reputation as a powerful live act. The band had gained this reputation over the years due to their performance when touring with bands such as Kyuss, Monster Magnet, Marilyn Manson, Clutch, Corrosion of Conformity, and White Zombie among others.

Brant Bjork left the band after their 2002 release California Crossing to pursue his solo career and was replaced by former Sunshine and Smile drummer Scott Reeder (often mistaken for the former Kyuss, Unida, and Goatsnake bassist Scott Reeder). In 2004, Fu Manchu released their 8th album, Start the Machine.

Official Fu Manchu Site
Fu Manchu on MySpace

Discography

* 1994 - No One Rides for Free (Bong Load Records)
* 1995 - Daredevil (Bong Load Records)
* 1996 - In Search Of... (Mammoth Records)
* 1996 - "Godzilla EP" (Man's Ruin Records)
* 1997 - The Action is Go (Mammoth Records)
* 1998 - Return to Earth 91-93 (Elastic Records)
* 1998 - "Jailbreak" single (Mammoth Records)
* 1999 - Eatin' Dust EP (Mans Ruin Records)
* 1999/2000 - King of the Road (Mammoth Records)
* 2002 - California Crossing (Mammoth Records)
* 2003 - "Something Beyond EP" (Elastic Records)
* 2003 - Go for it... Live! (live) (Steamhammer Us)
* 2004 - Start the Machine (DRT Entertainment)
* 2006 - "Hung Out To Dry EP" (Liquor and Poker Music)
* 2007 - We Must Obey (Liquor and Poker Music)