Man Is the Bastard was an American hardcore punk band from Claremont, California. They existed from 1990 to 1997, releasing mostly split records, extended plays, and compilation albums on obscure labels from around the world. Along with contemporaneous bands such as Crossed Out, No Comment, and Capitalist Casualties, Man Is the Bastard are often recognized as one of the most prominent acts of the 1990s powerviolence movement, with some critics even citing them as originators of the genre. After their dissolution, members went on to form various other musical projects, most notably being the noise group Bastard Noise, which originally started out as a side project of the band under the name Man Is The Bastard Noise.
Since disbanding, Man Is the Bastard’s members have been involved in a number of different musical endeavors. Vocalist and bassist Eric Wood occasionally performs in the Los Angeles area as Bastard Noise, while bassist Aaron Kenyon and drummer Joel Connell continue to play in a variety of progressive rock acts such as Frank Booth Youth, Bastard Lounge, Controlling Hand, Lux Nova Umbra Est, and Umbra Vita. Vocalist Andrew Beattie has since continued doing vocals within the hardcore punk/powerviolence genre, performing in such bands as Controlling Hand, Low Threat Profile, Infest, as well as Dead Language, a supergroup featuring members from No Comment, Iron Lung, Brainoil, and Cave State. Beattie’s current band, Dead Mans Life, performs in the Los Angeles area, and his solo band, Institute of Infinite Sorrow, is still active today.
Musical style and artwork Musical style Man Is the Bastard (aka Charred Remains) has been described as powerviolence (a term that was created by Matt Domino, a member of Eric Wood's previous band Neanderthal), hardcore punk, noise rock, and sludge metal. The band's "set up" included two bass guitars, as well as dual vocals, performed by Wood and Kenyon. The band is also notable for their extensive use of noise, even going as far as creating the noise side-project Bastard Noise, which still actively make releases to this day. This heavy noise influence was brought into the band's sound in part by band member Henry Barnes, who brought his electronics into the band's sound. Barnes made his own electronic instruments from scratch. Man Is the Bastard's recordings are characterized by their thin, raw low fidelity production values.
Lyrical content The band's lyrics are often political and dark, with common themes being animal rights, violence, misanthropy, torture, police brutality, starvation, and depression. Man Is the Bastard's lyrical violence was balanced by their adamant advocacy of progressive ideals. This record of political activism resulted in their most widely available album, 1997's split LP with death row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Artwork Artistically most of their releases had a similar design, with their trademark skull on both sides of the words Man Is The Bastard with the release title underneath in quotations. The band's "skull logo" was originally taken from a medical book that Eric Wood was reading. Most of their recordings included simplistic liner notes that briefly explained each track's meanings. When artwork was used, it was typically stark, standing out against a basic layout. In 2012 the band Akron/Family used the skull logo for a t-shirt design. In response, Eric Wood accused of the band of plagiarism. Subsequently, the parties reconciled.
Influence The band is now seen as a critical part of the California powerviolence movement. Spazz bassist and operator of Slap-a-Ham Records Chris Dodge has called the group "the most unique band of their day". The folk punk band AJJ reference the group on the track "Do Re and Me" on their 2014 album Christmas Island.
Band members Final lineup Eric Wood - vocals, bass (1990-1997) Andrew Beattie - vocals (1993-1997) Aaron Kenyon - vocals, bass (1990-1997) Joel Connell - drums (1990-1997) Henry Barnes - guitars, electronics (1990-1997) Bill Nelson - electronics (1997) Isreal Lawrence - vocals, electronics (1997)
Past members Shawn Connell - guitar on Charred Remains / Pink Turds In Space EP (1991)
Discography Studio albums Year Album Details Notes1991Sum of the Men: "The Brutality Continues..." Released: 1991 Label: Vermiform Records Format: LPFirst issued as an LP in 1991, later reissued as a compact disc including extra tracks taken from various 7-inch releases1995Thoughtless... Released: 1995 Label: Gravity Records Format: LPFirst issued in 1995 as an LP. Two versions of the LP was released: one pressed on white vinyl, the other released as a picture disc. Gravity Records later issued the album on CD format in 1996. In 2012, Gravity reissued a remastered version of the album on LP pressed on three colors: orange, purple, and black.2016The Honesty Shop Released: June 24, 2016 Label: Robotic Empire Format: LPLimited to 400 copies, all on clear candy-colored pink vinyl, housed in a screenprinted, single-pocket jacket with a double-sided, screenprinted lyrics insert.
Extended plays Year Album Details Notes1992Abundance of Guns Released: 1992 Label: S.O.A. Records Format: 7"First issued through S.O.A. Records in 1992 in Italy on black and red vinyl. DP later released the 7" in the US in 1993 with different artwork on clear and black vinyl. Deep Six Records reissued the recording as a 10" in 2014, this time pressed on clear and green vinyl with the same artwork as the DP 7" edition. Both the DP and Deep Six editions include the extra track "Regression of Birth". The original S.O.A. 7" would later be released in its entirety as a single track on their 2003 compilation album Old Days Nostalgia.1992Backwards Species Released: 1992 Label: Eccocentric Records Format: 7"First issued through Eccocentric in Germany in 1992, later repressed by Deep Six Records in the US in 2014 on purple, tan, and orange vinyl.1993Our Earth's Blood Released: 1993 Label: Vermiform Records Format: 7"Released by Vermiform in 1993 in the US.1993Uncivilized Live Released: 1993 Label: Deep Six Records Format: 7"Collection of tracks recorded live, recorded throughout 1992 at various places: KSPC Radio, Claremount, Ché Café, San Diego, and the Munchies, Pomona. Pressed on green, clear, purple, and pink vinyl.2015The Lost MITB Sessions Released: October 16, 2015 Label: Deep Six Format: 12"Features previously unreleased material recorded in 1997. 500 copies were pressed on black vinyl, 400 were pressed on random solid colors, and 100 were pressed as a red/green/orange/yellow mix, or "sunburst".
Split records Year Album Details Notes1991Pink Turds In Space/Charred Remains AKA Man Is the Bastard Released: 1991 Label: Slap-a-Ham Records Format: 7"First pressing consisted of 1500 green copies in black-and-white sleeves. Second pressing consists of 500 black copies in red-and-white sleeves. Split with Pink Turds In Space.1992Dis-Corporation/The Power of Hash Released: 1992 Label: DP Format: 7"The first pressing came in photocopied sleeves. The second pressing came in a green photocopied sleeve. The third pressing was a joint release between DP and Deep Six records, which was pressed on purple vinyl. These first three 7" pressings all came out in 1992. Later in 1996, Deep Six repressed the split on green, orange, and purple vinyl. In 2012, the split was reissued as a 10" through Deep Six, mostly on black vinyl, although 70 mail-order translucent pink copies were pressed as well. Split with Aunt Mary.1992"The Brutality Continues..." Released: 1992 Label: DP Format: 7"Pressed on black, clear, and translucent yellow vinyl. Split with UND.1992Crossed Out/Man Is the Bastard Released: 1992 Label: Slap-A-Ham Records Format: 7"First pressing consisted of 2000 black copies, 1000 packaged in blue sleeves, 1000 packaged in red sleeves. A second pressing was made, with alternative artwork that resembles closely to the band's "uniform" artwork style. The second press consists of pink, green, blue, and grey colored vinyl copies. Split with Crossed Out.1993Bleeding Rectum/Man Is the Bastard Released: 1993 Label: DP Format: LPFirst issued as a split LP in 1993 by DP. Deep Six would later repress the album in 2013 on black and blue marbled vinyl. Split with Bleeding Rectum.1993>>Under the Surface: Smashed Visions<< Released: 1993 Label: Farewell Records Format: 7"Released by Farewell Records in Germany in 1993 as an edition of 2000: 1700 black copies, 300 pink copies. Split with Pink Flamingos.1993Sanctity of Oil Released: 1993 Label: DP Format: 7"Released in 1993 by DP as a 7" pressed on black and orange vinyl. In 2013, Deep Six reissued the split as a 10" on brown, green, and orange vinyl. Split with Bizarre Uproar.1994Sources Of Power From Another World Released: 1994 Label: DP Format: LPReleased in 1994 by DP with a limited edition silver cover variant, both versions limited to an unknown number of copies. Split with Bizarre Uproar.1994Throne of Apprehension/Provoked Behavior Released: 1994 Label: Theologian RecordsPessimiser Fanzine Format: 7"1200 copies had black-and-white cover art, 300 copies had red-and-white art, and an unknown number of copies came in purple-and-white cover art. Split with Agathocles.1994Capitalist Casualties/Man Is the Bastard Released: 1994 Label: Six Weeks Format: LPFirst issued by Six Weeks in 1994. Later repressed in 2009 on black and grey vinyl. The grey edition was limited to 200 copies. Split with Capitalist Casualties.1994A Call For Consciousness Released: 1994 Label: Vermiform Records Format: 8"Split with Born Against. Test pressings were pressed on 10" vinyl. 1995Man Is the Bastard/Sinking Body Released: 1995 Label: Vermiform Records Format: 7"Split with Sinking Body.1995Our Earth's Blood Pt.2 Released: 1995 Label: King of the Monsters Format: 10"Pressed on black, translucent red, yellow/red mix, and yellow. Yellow copies were an edition of 150 and were packaged in alternative artwork. Split with The Locust.1997Mumia Abu-Jamal Spoken Word With Music By Man Is The Bastard Released: 1997 Label: Alternative Tentacles Format: LP, CDAs well as being a split with Mumia Abu-Jamal, the recording features contributions by Assata Shakur, Allen Ginsberg, Jello Biafra, and Bob Dole.1997Nazi Drunks Fuck Off/Native American Life Released: 1997 Label: Vibrator Records Format: LPSplit LP with Bastard Noise, a noise project featuring members of Man Is the Bastard. The split compiles various live recordings performed between the years 1994 to 1996. Released in edition of 500 through Vibrator Records in Japan.
Compilation albums Year Album Details Notes1995D.I.Y.C.D. Released: 1995 Label: Slap-A-Ham Records Format: CDCompilation album containing material released on early 7" releases. Later repressed in 2006 by Deep Six.2000Mancruel Released: 2000 Label: Deep Six Records Format: CDCompilation containing material previously released on the band's split with Bleeding Rectum and Capitalist Casualties, as well as previously unreleased Bastard Noise material.2013First Music/First Noise Released: 2013 Label: Deep Six Records Format: 7"Features tracks taken from the band's splits with Pink Turds In Space and UND. Pressed on black and blue vinyl.2015A Call For Consciousness/Our Earth's Blood Released: 2015 Label: Deep Six Records Format: 10"Contains material from the band's split with Born Against as well as the entire Our Earth's Blood 7". Pressed on black and green vinyl.2016Under the Surface/Smashed Visions/Anger And English/De-Programming The Bigot Released: December 1, 2016 Label: Deep Six Records Format: 10"Pressed on purple vinyl.
Compilation appearances Year Album Details Song(s)1992Son Of Bllleeeeaaauuurrrrgghhh! Released: 1992 Label: Slap-A-Ham Records Format: 7""Autopsy of Authority"1992In the Spirit of Total Resistance Released: 1992 Label: Profane Existence Format: 2x7""Homo Afflictus"1993Fear of Smell Released: 1993 Label: Vermiform Records