Blast (stylized as BL'AST!) is an American

punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...

band formed in 1983 in

Santa Cruz, California Santa Cruz (Spanish language, Spanish for "Holy Cross") is the largest city and the county seat of Santa Cruz County, California, Santa Cruz County, in Northern California. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city population ...

. After breaking up in 1991, they reunited in 2001 and again in 2013. To date, Blast has released three original studio albums (the latest being 1989's ''Take the Manic Ride''), and they have gone through several lineup changes, leaving vocalist Clifford Dinsmore and guitarist Mike Neider as the only constant members.

History

Blast released their first album, ''The Power of Expression'', in 1986. They recorded the album three times before releasing it. They first were signed by Green World Records. Blast caught the attention of

SST Records SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was first founded in 1966 by Ginn at age 12 as Solid State Transmitters, a small business through which he sold elec ...

, who signed them for their next release, 1987's ''It's in My Blood''. That same year, a 7-inch was released, including a cover of

Alice Cooper Vincent Damon Furnier (born February 4, 1948), known by his stage name Alice Cooper, is an American rock singer and songwriter whose career spans sixty years. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusion ...

's " School's Out". They also were releasing new music on Santa Cruz Skateboard videos. SST and Santa Cruz Skateboards began shared videos and merchandise bridged by Blast as Neider had worked for the skateboard company for many years. The band's third release for SST was ''Take the Manic Ride'', released in 1989. Blast broke up in 1991 while working on their next album. Neider and Torgerson began Blackout, releasing one 7-inch under that name, and then LAB, who put out a 7-inch EP and a four-song CD and continued into the late 1990s, playing many shows with

Fu Manchu Dr. Fu Manchu ( zh, t=傅滿洲/福滿洲, p=Fú Mǎnzhōu) is a supervillain who was introduced in a series of novels by the English author Sax Rohmer beginning shortly before World War I and continuing for another forty years. The character f ...

. Former

Kyuss Kyuss ( ) was an American stoner rock band formed in Palm Desert, California, in 1987, and considered one of the pioneers of the genre. After disbanding in 1995, a number of band members have gone on to form or play in several notable bands in ...

and Fu Manchu drummer

Brant Bjork Brant Bjork (born March 19, 1973) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the drummer and founder of the influential Californian stoner rock band Kyuss. Bjork has also been a member of Fu Manchu, Mo ...

moved to Santa Cruz to briefly join LAB before joining up with Fu Manchu. In 2001, Blast reunited for shows on the

West Coast of the United States The West Coast of the United States, also known as the Pacific Coast and the Western Seaboard, is the coastline along which the Western United States meets the North Pacific Ocean. The term typically refers to the Contiguous United States, contig ...

. In September 2013,

Southern Lord Southern Lord is an American heavy metal record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson. It initially specialized in experimental metal: particularly doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal. The label later expanded its line-up to i ...

and

Dave Grohl David Eric Grohl (; born January 14, 1969) is an American musician. He founded the rock band Foo Fighters, of which he is the lead singer, guitarist, principal songwriter, and only consistent member. From 1990 to 1994, he was the drummer of th ...

released a remixed and remastered version of ''It's in My Blood'', titled ''Blood!''. Following that release, original vocalist Clifford Dinsmore and guitarist Mike Neider recruited bassist

Chuck Dukowski Gary Arthur McDaniel (born February 1, 1954), better known by his stage name Chuck Dukowski, is an American punk rock musician. He is most well-known for being the bass player and an occasional songwriter for Black Flag. Career Early years ...

and drummer

to a new Blast EP ''For Those Who've Graced The Fire'', which was released on Rise Records. Mike Neider and Clifford Dinsmore have recruited bassist

Nick Oliveri Nick Steven Oliveri (born October 21, 1971) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter. He is best known as a former bassist of Kyuss and later Queens of the Stone Age from 1998 to 2004. Oliveri is also a solo artist and frequen ...

and drummer

Joey Castillo Joseph William Castillo (born March 30, 1966) is an American musician. He is best known for being the drummer of the hard rock band Queens of the Stone Age from 2002 to 2012. He is currently a member of Circle Jerks, The Bronx, DOOM Regulator, ...

to a new Blast lineup, with plans to tour and record new material.

Discography

Studio albums

* ''The Power of Expression'' (1986) * ''It's in My Blood'' (1987) * ''Take The Manic Ride'' (1989) * ''Blood!'' (2013) * ''The Expression of Power'' (2014)

EPs and singles

* ''For Those Who've Graced the Fire'' (2015) * ''BL'AST! / eyehategod split'' (2016)

Demos

* ''Bad Medication'' (1989) * ''Whirlwind'' (1991)

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1983 establishments in California Hardcore punk groups from California Musical groups disestablished in 1991 Musical groups disestablished in 2001 Musical groups established in 1983 Musical groups reestablished in 2001 Musical groups reestablished in 2013 SST Records artists