The Blackouts

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]

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

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]

References
  1. 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. 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. 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. Thompson, Dave (2002). Alternative Rock. Miller Freeman. p. 497. ISBN 0-87930-607-6.
  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. 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.
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