Big Business is an American stoner/

sludge metal Sludge metal (also known as sludge doom or simply sludge) is an Extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that combines elements of doom metal and hardcore punk. The genre generally includes slow tempos, down-tuned guitars and nihilis ...

band founded in 2004 by bassist/vocalist

Jared Warren Jared Michael Warren is an American musician who is the bassist of Big Business (alongside drummer Coady Willis) and formerly the Melvins. He is also currently the bassist for Unwound. Career Warren was the founding bassist of the Tumwater ...

(

Karp Karp may refer to: Places * Karp, Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-east Poland * Karp, Lublin Voivodeship, in east Poland People * Karp (surname) * Karp Khachvankyan (1923–1998), Armenian actor and director Other uses * KARP-FM, a radio statio ...

) and drummer

Coady Willis Coady Willis is an American drummer and a member of the rock/metal bands Big Business, High on Fire, White Shit, and Melvins. He previously played in the bands Dead Low Tide, Broadcast Oblivion, and The Murder City Devils. Willis and Big B ...

(

The Murder City Devils The Murder City Devils is an American garage rock band formed in 1996. History The band's original lineup, consisting of Spencer Moody, Dann Gallucci, Derek Fudesco, Coady Willis, and Nate Manny, formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1996. Gabe Ke ...

). They formed in Seattle, Washington and have been based in Los Angeles, California since 2006. Their music is characterized by a bombastic and frantic style, and for most of their existence Big Business has been a bass-drums duo with occasional other musicians contributing.

History

The band released its first Tour EP and the vinyl version of their first album, '' Head for the Shallow'', on January 25, 2005, through Wäntage USA. The CD version of ''Head For the Shallow'' was released by

Hydra Head Records Hydra Head Records was an independent record label specializing in extreme metal music, founded in New Mexico by Aaron Turner (the frontman of Isis) in 1993. It had another imprint, Hydra Head Noise Industries, which specialized in experimental ...

, the first of a three album run. In late 2006, after relocating to Los Angeles, Jared and Coady both became members of the

Melvins Melvins (sometimes the Melvins) are an American rock band formed in 1983 in Montesano, Washington. Their early work was key to the development of both grunge and sludge metal. Primarily a trio, they have also performed as a quartet, with eith ...

, first appearing on ''

(A) Senile Animal ''(A) Senile Animal'' is the 15th album by American rock band Melvins, released on October 10, 2006 on Ipecac Recordings. After bassist Kevin Rutmanis' departure the two remaining members of the Melvins joined forces with Big Business, a duo cons ...

''. The tour, titled "the Double-Drumming Rock for Peace tour", featured Warren and Willis playing a set as Big Business before being joined by Crover and Osborne for a set as the Melvins. While on tour, Big Business played with frequent Melvins collaborator

David Scott Stone David Scott Stone (sometimes referred to as Sir DSS and Mr. David Ascott Stone) is an American musician who has recorded and toured with artists like The Melvins, Unwound, Fantômas, The Locust, Jello Biafra, Keiji Haino, Mike Patton, Adam Jones ...

who would later play guitar and

Minimoog Voyager The Minimoog Voyager or Voyager is a monophonic analog synthesizer, designed by Robert Moog and released in 2002 by Moog Music. The Voyager was modeled after the classic Minimoog synthesizer that was popular in the 1970s, and is meant to be a su ...

on all songs from their 2007 release '' Here Come the Waterworks''. After releasing '' Here Come the Waterworks'' to critical acclaim, Big Business was given an opening spot on the summer leg of the

Tool A tool is an Physical object, object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many Tool use by animals, animals use simple tools, only human bei ...

tour. Toshi Kasai played guitar for Big Business throughout this tour. After the fall US tour ended, Big Business started recording material for the new Melvins album, entitled ''

Nude with Boots ''Nude with Boots'' is the 16th album by American rock band Melvins, released on July 8, 2008. A vinyl release was issued on November 3, 2009. Track listing *"Dies Iraea" is an adaptation of the theme song from the 1980 Stanley Kubrick horror ...

'', which was released on July 8, 2008. On March 9, 2008, guitarist/keyboardist

Toshi Kasai Toshi Kasai is a Japanese record producer, engineer, mixer and musician. He is most well known for his strong vocal production work with hard rock and metal groups such as his long standing relationship with The Melvins and his work with Tool. In ...

was introduced onstage as the third member of Big Business. Both the band and Toshi verified this addition on their respective

Myspace Myspace (formerly stylized as MySpace, currently myspace; and sometimes my␣, with an elongated Whitespace character#Substitute images, open box symbol) is a social networking service based in the United States. Launched on August 1, 2003, it w ...

pages. Big Business released their third album ''Mind the Drift'' on May 12, 2009. The album was produced by

Phil Ek Phil Ek is an American record producer, engineer and mixer. Ek began his career in Seattle, Washington in the early 1990s recording live sound in clubs. He then moved into studio recording, recording small projects and demos for local bands. Aro ...

who has produced both of their previous albums. In October 2010, after a year of not playing any concerts, they posted on their Myspace that they had added another guitarist, Scott Martin ( 400 Blows, Crom), officially making them a "Power Quartet". They toured the summer of 2011 with Torche and

Thrones A throne is a seat of state for a potentate or dignitary. Throne, Thrones or The Throne may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * The Throne (group), collaboration pseudonym for rappers Jay Z and Kanye West (as on Drake's "Pop Style") * Thron ...

. Big Business toured with Red Fang and American Sharks in the spring of 2014. In 2016, the release ''Command Your Weather'' (2016) was issued by

Joyful Noise Recordings Joyful Noise Recordings is an independent record label with headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. The label was founded in 2003 in Bloomington, Indiana by Karl Hofstetter, who also played drums on several of the label's first releases. Joyful N ...

/ Gold Metal Records. Around 2016, Warren and Willis were no longer part of Melvins. At this same time, Big Business began touring as a two piece once again without any specific announcement or press regarding changes from the earlier trio and quartet lineups. Their latest release, ''The Beast You Are'', was issued by

/ Gold Metal Records. In April 2019, drummer

appeared on the podcast ''Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal'' to discuss the making of ''The Beast You Are'' and a general career retrospective for Big Business and his other musical projects. He also appeared on an episode of ''The Vinyl Guide'' around the same time. In 2020, Jared Warren also participated in a long form career spanning interview on ''Protonic Reversal'', speaking about the ''Whip'' reissues, Big Business, his time with the Melvins and much more.

Members

Current members *

– bass guitar, lead vocals, synthesizer (2004–present) *

– drums, backing vocals (2004–present) Former members *

– guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2008–2012) *Scott Martin – guitar, backing vocals (2010–2014) Guest guitarists *John Devoy ("O.G" and "Easter Romantic" on ''Head for the Shallow'') *

Dave Hernandez Dave Hernandez (born September 20, 1970, Guadalajara, Mexico) is a Mexican guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is best known as a former member of the American indie rock band The Shins, with whom he recorded four studio albums. Hernandez is ...

("Eis Hexe" and "Off Off Broadway" on ''Head for the Shallow'') *

(on ''Here Come the Waterworks'') *

Dale Crover Dale Crover (born October 23, 1967) is an American rock musician. Crover is best known as the drummer for Melvins and has also been the drummer for Men of Porn, Shrinebuilder, Crystal Fairy and, for a brief time, Nirvana. He is also guitar ...

(live, 2007–2008) * Joe Preston (live, 2017)

Discography

Albums

*'' Head for the Shallow'' (2005;

Hydra Head Hydra Head Records was an independent record label specializing in extreme metal music, founded in New Mexico by Aaron Turner (the frontman of Isis) in 1993. It had another imprint, Hydra Head Noise Industries, which specialized in experimental ...

(CD), Wäntage USA (LP)) *'' Here Come the Waterworks'' (2007, Hydra Head) *'' Mind the Drift'' (2009, Hydra Head) *''

Battlefields Forever ''Battlefields Forever'' is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Big Business. It was recorded at Entourage Studios in North Hollywood, California. Track listing # "Chump Chance" – 2:20 # "No Vowels" – 3:48 # "Battlefields" ...

'' (2013, Gold Metal Records) *''Command Your Weather'' (2016, Joyful Noise / Gold Metal Records) *''The Beast You Are'' (2019, Joyful Noise / Gold Metal Records)

EPs and singles

*''Tour EP'' (2004, Wäntage USA) *''Tour EP II'' (2006, self-released) *''Tour EP III'' (2008, self-released) *''Biz Bot Remixes'' (2009, Hydra Head) *''Quadruple Single'' (2011, Gold Metal Records) *"Battlefields" / "Into the Light" (Tour 7" single) (2012, Gold Metal Records) *"Blacker Holes" (2014, Joyful Noise) *''True Gold Digital Single'' (2015, Gold Metal Records) *''Tour EP 4'' (2018, Gold Metal Records) *''Tour EP V'' (2021)

Compilations

*''Dope-Guns-'N-Fucking in the Streets Volume Thirteen'': "You Need Surgery" (2014,

Amphetamine Reptile Records Amphetamine Reptile Records (or AmRep Industries) is a record label founded in 1986 by Tom Hazelmyer in Washington state. The label specializes in noise rock and also released ''Strap It On ''Strap It On'' is the debut studio album by Amer ...

) *''Solid Gold Metal (2004–2009)'' (2018, Joyful Noise)

References

External links

* * *http://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/collections/big-business/ *Interview a
Miami New times
*Interview a
Swampfoot Records
{{DEFAULTSORT:Big Business American sludge metal musical groups American stoner rock musical groups Heavy metal duos Heavy metal musical groups from Washington (state) Joyful Noise Recordings artists Musical groups established in 2004 Musical groups from Seattle Rock music groups from California