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The Blackouts

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The Blackouts
OriginSeattle, Washington
Genres
Years active1979–1985
LabelsSituation Two, Wax Trax!
Past membersErich Werner
Bill Rieflin
Mike Davidson
Roland Barker
Paul "Ion" Barker

The Blackouts were a punk rock band formed in Seattle in 1979 by singer/guitarist Erich Werner, bassist Mike Davidson, and drummer Bill Rieflin, who were all former members of a local punk band, The Telepaths.[3] They were joined by Roland Barker, first on synthesizer and later on saxophone.[3][4]

Following a single and EP on small local labels, Davidson was replaced by Roland's brother Paul Barker in 1981.[5] This line-up recorded the "Exchange of Goods" single for English label Situation Two, and relocated to Boston in 1982.[1] There they met Al Jourgensen of Ministry, who produced their last recording, the Lost Soul's Club EP for Wax Trax! Records.[6]

The band relocated a second time to San Francisco in 1984, and toured the East Coast with Ministry that year before breaking up.[6] Jourgensen recruited Paul and Roland Barker and Rieflin to the line-up of Ministry, playing a major part in the transformation of Ministry from a synth-driven dance band to one of the top exponents of industrial metal.[1] This started a long collaboration between Paul Barker and Jourgensen in Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Lard, and other projects. Rieflin released his first solo album in 1999, Birth of a Giant,[5] worked with KMFDM, Pigface, Ruby, Peter Murphy, Nine Inch Nails,[5] Swans, and King Crimson, and was the studio and touring drummer for R.E.M.[7] Erich Werner went on to join the Toiling Midgets.[8]

In 2004, Olympia's K Records released History in Reverse, compiling the band's studio recordings.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Sutton, Michael. "The Blackouts Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  2. ^ Jim Harper. "Bill Rieflin — Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Gimarc, George (2005). Punk Diary: the Ultimate Trainspotter's Guide to Underground Rock 1970-1982. Backbeat Books. pp. 416, 556. ISBN 0-87930-848-6.
  4. ^ Loftus, Johnny. "History in Reverse Review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Gail Worley (November 4, 1999). "Bill Rieflin - What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been: The Definitive Bill Rieflin Interview". Ink19. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  6. ^ a b Thompson, Dave (2002). Alternative Rock. San Francisco, CA: Miller Freeman. p. 497. ISBN 0-87930-607-6. LCCN 00-58249. OCLC 1193377576 – via the Internet Archive.
  7. ^ Nusca, Andrew J. (May 2008). "Bill Rieflin – Steering R.E.M. Into Harder Waters". DRUM. Enter Music Publishing, Inc. Archived from the original on March 14, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Lumsden, Lee (Spring 2004). "The Blackouts were the best Seattle band you never heard of". K Records. Archived from the original on June 5, 2009. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  9. ^ Prato, Greg (2014). Overlooked/Underappreaciated: 354 Recordings That Demand Your Attention. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. p. 21. ISBN 9781500328184. OCLC 1285755190 – via the Internet Archive.
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