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Body Count (band)

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This article is about the band. For other uses, see Body count (disambiguation).
Body Count
Body Count performs at a concert in Prague, 2006
Body Count performs at a concert in Prague, 2006
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresThrash metal, crossover thrash, speed metal, hardcore punk
Years active1990–2006, 2009–present
LabelsSumerian, Escapi, Virgin, Sire
MembersIce-T
Ernie C
Ill WIll (Will Dorsey Jr)
Vincent Price
Juan of the Dead
Past membersMooseman
Beatmaster V
D-Roc the Executioner
Griz
O.T.
Bendrix
Websitewww.icet.com

Body Count is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1990. The group is fronted by Ice-T, who co-founded the group with lead guitarist Ernie C. out of their interest in heavy metal music. Ice T. took on the role of vocalist and writing the lyrics for most of the group's songs. Lead guitarist Ernie C has been responsible for writing the group's music. Their controversial self-titled debut album was released on Sire Records in 1992.

The song "Cop Killer" was the subject of much controversy. Although Sire Records' parent company, Warner Bros. Records, defended the single, Ice-T chose to remove the track from the album because he felt that the controversy had eclipsed the music itself. The group left Sire the following year. Since then, they have released three further albums on different labels, none of which have been received as commercially or critically well as their debut album.

Three out of the band's original five members are deceased: D-Roc died from lymphoma, Beatmaster V from leukemia and Mooseman in a drive-by shooting.

History

Pre-formation

Ice-T's interest in heavy metal stemmed from sharing a room with his cousin Earl, who was a fan of rock music and only listened to the local rock stations. Ice-T particularly enjoyed heavy metal, citing Edgar Winter, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath as his favorite bands.[1] Ice-T attended Crenshaw High School, where a few classmates shared his interest in the genre, including musicians Ernie C, Mooseman, Beatmaster V and D-Roc the Executioner. Ice-T began a solo career as a rapper, and later decided to form Body Count with these friends.[1][2]

Ice-T cowrote the band's music and lyrics with lead guitarist Ernie C, and took on the duties of lead vocalist, even though he felt that he did not have a great singing voice.[3] The original line-up consisted of Mooseman on bass, Beatmaster V on drums and D-Roc on rhythm guitar.

Touring and debut album (1991–1992)

Ice-T introduced the band at Lollapalooza in 1991, devoting half of his set to his hip hop songs, and half to Body Count songs, increasing his appeal with both alternative music fans and middle-class teenagers.[4] Some considered the Body Count performances to be the highlight of the tour.[5] The group made its first album appearance on Ice-T's 1991 solo album O.G. Original Gangster. The song, "Body Count", was preceded by a spoken introduction in which Ice-T responds to allegations that he had "sold out" by incorporating rock elements into his rap albums by pointing out that rock music originated with African-American artists such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Little Richard, in addition to stating that "as far as I'm concerned, music is music. I don't look at it as rock, R&B, or all that kind of stuff. I just look at it as music. [...] I do what I like and I happen to like rock 'n' roll, and I feel sorry for anybody who only listens to one form of music."[6]

Body Count's self-titled debut album was released on Sire/Warner Bros. Records on March 31, 1992. On the strength of the album, Body Count toured internationally, developing a strong following.[1] When the group performed in Milan, Italy, some of the punks in the crowd began spitting at Ernie C.[1] Ice-T attempted to calm the situation by telling the crowd not to spit, but the spitting continued.[1] As the band prepared to play "Cop Killer", Ice-T identified an audience member who spit in his direction; Ice-T responded by rushing into the crowd and punching the spitter.[1] As the band began to play, some of the audience began fighting with Ice-T. Body Count escaped the crowd mid-song, and the promoter immediately shut the concert down.[1]

Outside the venue, angry audience members trashed the band's tour bus. The band hailed a taxicab, but its driver abandoned the cab when the mob surrounded the taxi, leading Body Count to steal the taxi in order to escape, abandoning it and their tour coats a mile away from the venue.[1] They hailed another cab, and the driver attempted to take them back to the venue until the band screamed at the driver to take them to the hotel.[1] The incident was the subject of much controversy and coverage on Italian television. The band appeared on a Milan radio station, where the disc jockey told his audience, "Some clowns tried to ruin his concert. We should be angry at them. Ice-T is a guest in our country, we invited him to do all these sold-out shows, and we love him!"[1] Several Italian fans apologized for the behavior of the Milan audience.[1]

Controversy over the song Cop Killer (1992)

Main articles: Body Count (album) and Cop Killer (song)

The song "Cop Killer", intended to criticize corrupt police officers, encountered controversy, as it was seen as an attack against the entire police force.[3][7] According to Ice-T, "I thought I was safe. I thought within the world of rock'n'roll, you could be free to write what you want. Hell, I was listening to Talking Heads singin' 'Psycho Killer.' Fuck it, I'll make 'Cop Killer'! But, that was the cross of metal with something that was real. Now we’re not just killing your family, we’re killing somebody so real that everybody just went, 'oh shit.'"[8]

"Cop Killer" (sample)
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The Dallas Police Association and the Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas launched a campaign to force Warner Bros. Records to withdraw the album.[9] Within a week, they were joined by police organizations across the United States.[9] Some critics argued that the song could cause crime and violence.[9] Many defended the song on the basis of the group's right to freedom of speech. In The Ice Opinion: Who Gives a Fuck, Ice-T wrote that "The people who did have a platform were way off backing me on the First Amendment. That's not where all the anger should have been directed. The anger should have been generated back at the police. [...] Because people jumped on the wrong issue they were able to drive this thing totally through Warner Brothers."[3]

Over the next month, controversy against the band grew. Vice President Dan Quayle branded "Cop Killer" as being "obscene," and President George H.W. Bush publicly denounced any record company that would release such a product.[9] At a Time-Warner shareholders' meeting, actor Charlton Heston stood and read lyrics from the song "KKK Bitch" to an astonished audience and demanded that the company take action.[9] The criticism escalated to the point where death threats were sent to Time-Warner executives, and stockholders threatened to pull out of the company. Finally, Ice-T decided to remove "Cop Killer" from the album of his own volition.[3][7][10] In an interview, Ice-T stated that "I didn't want my band to get pigeon-holed as that's the only reason that record sold. It just got outta hand and I was just tired of hearing it. I said, 'fuck it,' I mean they're saying we did it for money, and we didn't. I'd gave the record away, ya know, let's move on, let's get back to real issues, not a record but the cops that are out there killing people."[10]

"Cop Killer" was replaced by a new version of "Freedom of Speech," a song from Ice-T's 1989 solo album The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech...Just Watch What You Say. The song was re-edited and remixed to give it a more rock-oriented sound. Ice-T left Warner Bros. Records the following year because of disputes over the Ice-T solo album Home Invasion,[3] taking Body Count with him. Despite the controversy, the album received some praise, including A- reviews from Entertainment Weekly and The Village Voice, who later ranked the album among their list of The 40 Best Albums of 1992.[11] Variety reported that the album had sold 480,000 copies by January 29, 1993.[12]

Continued albums: Born Dead, Violent Demise and Murder 4 Hire (1993–2008)

Ice-T performing with Body Count in 2006.

In 1993, Body Count recorded a cover of "Hey Joe" for the Jimi Hendrix tribute album Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix.[13] The band released their second album, Born Dead in 1994 on Virgin Records. Prior to the recording of Body Count's third album Violent Demise: The Last Days (1997), bassist Mooseman left the group and was replaced by Griz. Drummer Beatmaster V died of leukemia soon after the album was completed,[14] and a new drummer named O.T. filled in the position. Bassist Griz left the band later on, and in the meanwhile, former bassist Mooseman was shot in a drive-by shooting in February 2001 after recording an album and preparing for another tour with Iggy Pop in his band the Trolls.[14] In late 2004, rhythm guitarist D-Roc died due to complications from lymphoma, leaving only Ice-T and Ernie C from the original line-up.[14]

Ice-T has stated that "For me, honestly, after something like that, you can either come to a dead stop or you can go on. [...] It was so emotional. We were in the middle of making a new record together and he goes and dies? It was like, 'damn!' Soon enough, though, everybody was like, 'c'mon c'mon you gotta do it.' It was make-or-break. The key essence of Body Count is it's a band made up of friends. It's not about going out and hiring the best drummer or the best guitarist. If we don't know you, you can’t be in the band."[8]

In July 2006, Body Count released their fourth album, Murder 4 Hire on the indie record label Escapi Music.[8] Its album cover, featuring Uncle Sam holding a cardboard sign reading "Will Kill for Money," compares the United States military to contract killers.[15] The then-line-up included drummer O.T., bassist Vincent Price and rhythm guitarist Bendrix. The band then took an extended hiatus for a couple of years; in regards to the future of Body Count, Ernie C stated, "We will carry on the band. I don't know if it will be Body Count, but in some form, Ice and I will always play together."[14]

Gears of War 3 and Manslaughter (2009–present)

On September 6, 2009, Body Count made an appearance at the Vans Warped Tour 15th-anniversary party at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles. The group played a 20-minute set, covered Slayer, and closed with their controversial classic "Cop Killer".[16] Also on the bill were NOFX, Katy Perry, Pennywise, Bad Religion and Rise Against. Mike Sullivan of ExploreMusic recently caught up with Ernie C at the 2010 edition of the Vans Warped Tour. While briefly chatting, Ernie C divulged that the band is recording its fifth studio album.[17] Body Count wrote an exclusive song, "The Gears of War", for the video game Gears of War 3, and performed it at a party promoting the game.[18]

On December 9, 2012, Ice-T announced on Twitter that Body Count would begin production on a fifth studio album in January 2013.[19] The following day, Ice-T revealed that Body Count has signed with Sumerian Records.[20] Ice-T suggested that the album was going to be titled Rise![20] or Manslaughter.[21][22]

On May 10, 2013, Ice-T announced that work on the fifth studio album had begun and that it would be entitled Manslaughter. According to Ice-T, the album will be released on June 10, 2014.[23] On May 13, 2014, Ice-T played the song "Talk Shit, Get Shot" as a teaser for the new album.[24]

Style

Lyrics

Ice-T's lyrics focus on reality-based themes, including gang life, because he felt it would be scarier than the fantasy-based horror themes of most heavy metal bands.[1] The band's third album, Violent Demise: The Last Days, featured album cover art depicting the hand signs of these gangs.[1] According to Ice-T, "We named the group Body Count because every Sunday night in L.A., I'd watch the news, and the newscasters would tally up the youths killed in gang homicides that week and then just segue to sports. 'Is that all I am,' I thought, 'a body count?'"[3]

When the band's debut album was released, Ice-T defined it as being "a rock album with a rap mentality."[25] Like Ice-T's hip hop albums, the group's material focused on various social and political issues, with songs focusing on topics ranging from police brutality to drug abuse. Ernie C has stated that "We were just a band that played the songs that we knew how to write. Everybody writes about whatever they learned growing up, and we were no exception. Like the Beach Boys sing about the beach, we sing about the way we grew up."[26]

Music

Body Count's musical style derives from the dark, ominous tone of heavy metal bands such as Black Sabbath, as well as faster thrash metal bands such as Slayer.[1] The band's music is described as speed metal[27][28] and thrash metal.[25][29] According to Ernie C, "We wanted to be a big punk band [...] Our first record is almost a punk record."[26] The presence of a rapper in a heavy metal band has been credited for paving the way for the rise of rap-metal and nu metal,[30][31] even though Ice-T does not rap in Body Count songs, and considers it to solely be a rock band.[1] According to Ernie C, "A lot of rappers want to be in a rock band, but it has to be done sincerely. You can’t just get anybody on guitar and expect it to work. [...] Ice and I, on the other hand, really loved the music we were doing, and it showed." Ice T has recently stated that he and Ernie C are the only remaining members of Body Count.[26]

Discography

Videography

  • Murder 4 Hire (2004)
  • Live in LA (2005)
  • Smoke Out Festival Presents: Body Count (2005)

Band members

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Marrow, Tracy; Century, Douglas (2011). "Freedom of Speech". Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption—from South Central to Hollywood. Random House. pp. 127–140. ISBN 978-0-345-52328-0.
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Body Count Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Ice T; Sigmund, Heidi (1994). The Ice Opinion: Who Gives a Fuck?. Pan Books. pp. 99–101, 166–180. ISBN 0-330-33629-0. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |chapterurl= (help)
  4. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Ice-T > Biography". Allmusic. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  5. ^ Apter, Jeff (2004). Fornication: The Red Hot Chili Peppers Story. Omnibus Press. p. 250. ISBN 1-84449-381-4. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |chapterurl= (help)
  6. ^ Ice-T (1991). "Body Count". O.G. Original Gangster. Sire/Warner Bros. Records. ISBN 7-5992-6492-2
  7. ^ a b "Ice T Melts". Time. August 10, 1992. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  8. ^ a b c "Body Count". Escapi Music Group. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  9. ^ a b c d e Osgerby, Bill (2004). Youth Media. Routledge. pp. 68–69. ISBN 0-415-23808-0. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |chapterurl= (help)
  10. ^ a b Heck, Mike. "Ice-T speaks out on censorship, Cop Killer, his leaving Warner Bros., and more". The Roc. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  11. ^ "The 40 Best Albums Of 1992". The Village Voice. March 2, 1993.
  12. ^ Augusto, Troy J.; Turman, Katherine (January 29, 1993). "WB board put Ice-T out in cold". Variety. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  13. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix overview". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  14. ^ a b c d Devenish, Colin (August 19, 2004). "Body Count Guitarist Dead". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  15. ^ Bennett, J. "Interview with Ice-T". Decibel Magazine. Archived from the original on 2006-10-20. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  16. ^ "Body Count Is Back!". Blabbermouth.net. 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
  17. ^ "Interview with Ernie C". ExploreMusic. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
  18. ^ "This Was Ice-T's Gears of War 3 Concert". Kotaku.com. 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  19. ^ "Twitter / FINALLEVEL: BodyCount Fans: BodyCount is". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  20. ^ a b "Twitter / FINALLEVEL: FYI: The BodyCount deal is". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  21. ^ "Twitter / FINALLEVEL: BodyCount starts recording". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  22. ^ "Twitter / FINALLEVEL: BodyCount at 'Warpped Tour'". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  23. ^ "Ice T Says New Body Count Album 'Manslaughter' Is 'Brutal'". Blabbermouth.net. 2014-05-05. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
  24. ^ http://gevaaalik.com/ice-t-en-body-count-terug
  25. ^ a b Dellamora, Richard (1995). Postmodern Apocalypse: Theory and Cultural Practice at the End. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 0-8122-1558-3.
  26. ^ a b c Yoxheimer, Aaron (April 6, 2007). "Despite a high body count of its own, band is a survivor". The Morning Call. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  27. ^ Rose, Tricia (1994). Black Noise: Rap Music and Black Culture in Contemporary America. Wesleyan University Press. p. 130. ISBN 0-8195-6275-0.
  28. ^ Austin, Joe; Willard, Michael Nevin (1998). Generations of Youth: Youth Cultures and History in Twentieth-century America. NYU Press. pp. 401–402. ISBN 0-8147-0646-0.
  29. ^ Christie, Ian (2003). Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal. HarperCollins. p. 300. ISBN 0-380-81127-8.
  30. ^ Freydkin, Donna (October 27, 1999). "No thaw for rapper Ice T". CNN. Archived from the original on 2005-02-12. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  31. ^ Taylor, Steve (2006). "Ice-T". A to X of Alternative Music. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 127. ISBN 978-0-8264-8217-4.

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