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All Music Guide:
Indeed, it's been a long strange trip for Warlocks leader Bobby Hecksher since his band played their first gig on July 4th, 1998. Hecksher, who moved to California from Florida in the late '80s, formed his first group shortly after arriving. Charles Brown Superstar issued two singles and two full-length albums before calling it a day. Hecksher was later invited to play on Beck's Stereo Pathetic Soul Manure (Flipside), then -- along with James Ambrose -- formed Magic Pacer, who waxed two albums for Win Records before Hecksher splintered off to do his own thing. Over the course of several years and many personnel changes, Hecksher eventually formed his eight-piece band, calling them the Warlocks, a moniker that had been previously used by early incarnations of both the Velvet Underground and the Grateful Dead. While no one will mistake them for a Deadhead band, the Warlocks' earliest recordings do often sound like they're channeling a fever-soaked Velvet Underground (circa White Light, White Heat), while drawing further influence from space rock, prog, and Krautrock bands (including Neu! and Hawkwind). The Warlocks subsequently emerged as leading lights on the Los Angeles music scene in 1999-2000, and in October 2000 Hecksher signed a two-album production deal with America's oldest indie label, the Burbank-based Bomp!, who issued their self-titled debut EP in early 2001. Hecksher has also produced a 16mm short for "Cocaine Blues," which features cameo appearances by Hecksher and friends (including Rivers Cuomo of Weezer).
Wikipedia:
The Warlocks are an American rock band based out of Los Angeles. Their music has been defined as neo-psychedelia, but much of it spans multiple genres.
Music
After forming in America during 1999, the ever-changing personnel of The Warlocks meant that the band had already toured nineteen different members before it was slimmed to the seven-piece outfit that established their reputation. Consisting of Bobby Hecksher (Vocals/Guitar), J.C. Rees (guitar, feedback), Corey Lee Granet (guitar, tapes), Bobby Martinez(Bass), Laura Grigsby (Tambourine/Keys), Bob Mustachio (Drums) and Jason "Plucky" Anchondo (Drums).
Members
The Warlocks consists of some core musicians, as well as a number of collaborators at any one time.
Current line-up:
Bobby Hecksher – guitar, keyboards, vocals.John Christian Rees - guitars,feedback..Christopher DiPino - bass.George Serrano - drums.Earl Vincent Miller - guitars.Also:
Jason Anchondo - drums. Also of Spindrift; formerly of The Brian Jonestown Massacre.Jenny Fraser - bass.Laura Jean Grigsby - organ, keyboards.Corey Lee Granet - guitars, tapes.Theresa Saso - drums.Bob Mustachio - drumsBobby Tamkin - drums Also drummed in Hovercraft, now in Xu Xu FangRyan McBride - guitarBobby Martinez - bass. Later became founding member and leader of The Pandas.Phillip Haut - drums.Mimi Star - bass.Jana Suzanne Risher - bass.Former:
Jeff Levitz - guitar, sitar. Currently in Puppies and Kittens; formerly of The Brian Jonestown Massacre.History
Leader Bobby Hecksher grew up in Tampa Bay, Florida where his grandfather owned a radio station where his mother also worked as a secretary.
At sixteen his family left the swamps and moved to Los Angeles where Bobby frequented the 'Mad Hatter' club. After meeting Beck he played bass on the former's 1994 album Stereopathetic Soulmanure. Upon visiting Anton Newcombe, of whose work he was a fan, he moonlighted in The Brian Jonestown Massacre, for whom he played guitar and bass; also contributing 'fuzz guitar' on their 2001 album Bravery, Repetition and Noise. He also attended parties with Timothy Leary as a result of his time in Hollywood-based performance art/rock ensemble The Don Knotts Overdrive (DKO), which would later become the alternative rock band Headset. Throughout the 1990s, he formed bands such as Charles Brown Superstar (with Bennett Rogers), Magic Pacer (with Bob Mustachio), and played keyboards with The Don Knotts Overdrive.
The band's debut album "Rise & Fall" was released on Bomp records in 2000. A worldwide deal with Mute (in conjunction with City Rockers in the UK and with Birdman in America) led to the release of "Phoenix" in 2003. The single's extra tracks featured two songs from the album recorded on their British tour, "Inside Outside" and "Hurricane Heart Attack". The latter includes a guest appearance from ex-Spaceman 3 front man Sonic Boom.
First Bob Mustachio, then Jenny Fraser joined, 'Surgery' was released by Mute in 2005.
In Oct 2007 a new album "Heavy Deavy Skull Lover" was released on Tee Pee Records and the band toured as a six-piece. The record is considered to be 'darker' and more influenced by Shoegaze music than the rest of the group's work.
"The Mirror Explodes" followed in 2009, also released on Tee Pee.
