Crash Worship

Crash Worship
IXTASIS
Background information
Also known as	Crash Worship ADRV
Origin	San Diego, California, United States[1]
Genres	Experimental industrial
Years active	1986–2000s
Labels	Charnel, Cold Spring, ¡Alarma!, Rocco Fresco, ROIR
Website	crashworship.net
Members
Simon Cheffins Markus Wolff Jeff Mattson JXL "Fat" Jack Torino Dreiky Caprice Ryan Jencks
Past members
Zoli Zombori Steve Griffin Trudy Truelove John Goff Rick Farr Madam Saruh Nadia Hagan Trachio Pieter Schoolwerth AMJ R. L. Naefke C. Wssl Oliver Octavio Mr. Quintron Tim North

Crash Worship or ADRV (Adoración De Rotura Violenta) was a San Diego based experimental-aktionist-industrial-noise performance group formed in 1986.^[1] Most renowned for its live shows in which three stand-up percussionists hammered out concussive poly-rhythms to abstract mutated guitar, synthesizers, effects and dualling vocalists. Audience members were showered in various substances such as blood, wine and honey while band members ignited combustibles and fire within the performance area.^[2] Crash Worship also released several albums and singles of both live and studio-recorded music. Mostly self produced (unusually packaged and laboriously handcrafted) works in visually stunning screen printed metal splattered with paint, urine, blood and other esoteria.^[3] Although they toured playing their recorded material, the celebratory nature of these events left each show open to spontaneity & improvisation.^[4]

Biography

Initially starting as a studio project, Crash Worship soon learned the power of a live audience.^[5] During performances, the band's members (or often provocateurs) would manipulate the crowd, involving them more deeply into the show, ultimately eliminating any boundaries between spectator and performer.^[4] The musicians would also mobilize their instruments on and off the stage into the middle of the audience (or outside), lighting explosives and hosing down the crowd with various liquids creating an atmosphere of celebratory abandon and mirth. Epileptic strobing lights, nudity, mysterious liquids, sex and smoke filled rooms (at next to zero visibility) were all a part of the average show.^[6] The chaos of these events often invited unwanted attention from police who would later forcibly shut down a large percentage of the band's performances.^[5]

BLOOD & FIRE

After much successful touring of the United States, Crash Worship followed suit with two full European tours in the mid-90s. It was also around this time the band was deemed "unmanageable" by many labels, booking agencies and clubs which proved difficult to tour much afterward. Although at the height of notoriety, Crash Worship had been banned from countless cities across the United States making it almost impossible touring there or abroad.^[7]

In late 1999, the last Crash Worship performances were held in California, three being with the Master Musicians of Jajouka, at the Aztlan Theatre (abandoned Los Angeles County Jail), and also to a female only audience in San Francisco. The final Crash Worship performance was held in San Diego, California on October 24, 1999, with Physics and Tarantula Hawk as openers. Members are now scattered around the U.S. in New Orleans, Portland, New York City, San Diego and the Bay Area, active with their own solo and side projects.^[8]

Discography

Studio albums

• This (1987), Alarma
• The Science of Ecstasy (1989), Rocco Fresco
• ¡Espontáneo! (1991), Charnel
• Asesinos (1992), Cold Spring (re-released on ROIR)
• Triple Mania II (1994), Charnel

EPs

• What So Ever Thy Hand Findeth - Do It with All Thine Might (1989), Alarma
• Flow (1989), Rocco Fresco
• Pillar of Fire (1990), Alamut

Singles

• Pyru (1994), Charnel
• In the Labyrinth of the Master (1996), Vinyl Communications

Videos

• Inflammatorio (1991), Alarma
• Euro Promo (1994), Alarma
• Japan Promo (1997), Alarma

Members (in alphabetical order by last name)

• Dreiky Caprice – percussion
• Simon Cheffins – percussion, tapes, effects
• Steve Griffins - drums
• Ryan Jencks - guitar, bass, electronics, tapes, effects
• JXL – vocals, Moog synthesizer, tape manipulation
• Jeff Mattson – guitar, Megalyra, horns, effects
• "Fat" Jack Torino – vocals, Moog synthesizer, tape manipulation
• Trudy Truelove - vocals
• Markus Wolff – percussion
• Zoli Zombory - synthesizer

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Crash Worship history". Charnel Music. http://www.charnel.com/charnel/bands/crashworship/. Retrieved 2008-07-09. 
2. ^ Bush, John. "Crash Worship". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p144269. Retrieved 2008-07-08. 
3. ^ Markus Wolff (2010-12-02). Interview with Malahki Thorn. http://www.heathenharvest.com/article.php?story=20041202132419669. Retrieved 2010-05-11. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Crash Worship (1995-05-05). Interview with Chris Christian. Kalamazoo, Michigan. http://www.aracnet.com/~jester/interview/crash.worship.interview.html. Retrieved 2008-07-08. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Cheffins, Simon. Pukka Crusher. Interview with John Eden. Justin Mitchell. http://uncarved.org/music/adrv.int.html. Retrieved 2008-07-08. 
6. ^ . 2010/09/13. http://garote.bdmonkeys.net/stories/scrashzg.html. Retrieved 1995-16-1. 
7. ^ . 2010/09/13. http://unartignyc.com/2010/09/13/cw/. Retrieved 2010-10-25. 
8. ^ Band, Weirdest. "Crash Worship weirdest band in the world". weirdestband. http://weirdestbandintheworld.com/2010/10/16/crash-worship/. Retrieved 2010-10-16.