Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Fu Manchu (band)

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Also known as
  
Virulence

Years active
  
1985–present

Genre
  
Genres
  
Stoner metal

Website
  
Official Site


Origin
  
Associated acts
  
Nebula, Beefsore, Sun and Sail Club

Members
  
Brant Bjork, Bob Balch, Scott Hill, Eddie Glass

Record labels
  
Man's Ruin Records, Mammoth Records

Albums
  
Profiles

Fu Manchu is an American, Southern California-based stoner rock band that formed in 1985.

Contents

History

Fu Manchu (band) Interview Fu Manchu Plays One BoneCrushing Riff After Another

Fu Manchu originally formed in 1985 as a hardcore punk band called Virulence. The line up was vocalist Ken Pucci, guitarist Scott Hill, bassist Mark Abshire, and drummer Ruben Romano. In 1987 Abshire left the band and was replaced by Greg McCaughey. They recorded their debut LP If This Isn't a Dream... in 1988, which was released on Alchemy Records (1989). In 1990, Pucci left the band and was replaced by vocalist Glenn Chivens, and they changed their name to Fu Manchu. Soon after they released the "Kept Between Trees" 7 inch single on Slap A Ham Records. McCaughey was replaced by Mark Abshire. Chivens also left the band around this time for unknown reasons. Rather than search for a new vocalist, Scott Hill added lead vocalist to his guitar duties. To compensate, Scott Votaw was recruited as lead guitarist. In 1992, Fu Manchu released three 7 inch singles: "Senioritis," "Pick Up Summer," and "Don't Bother Knockin' (If This Vans Rockin')". In 1993, Votaw left the band and was replaced by lead guitarist Eddie Glass, who had previously played drums in the band Olivelawn.

Fu Manchu (band) Fu Manchu Switchopen

Fu Manchu’s first album, No One Rides for Free (1994), was released by Bong Load Custom Records, an independent label.

Fu Manchu (band) Fu Manchu Completes Recording New Album Blabbermouthnet

Abshire left Fu Manchu before they recorded their second album, Daredevil, in 1995. He was replaced by Brad Davis. The band promoted Daredevil with extensive touring throughout the USA and Canada, and reached a wider audience thanks to an opening slot with Monster Magnet, who at the time were the commercial darlings of the stoner rock genre.

Fu Manchu (band) REVIEW Fu Manchu Gigantoid

Romano and Glass left shortly after the release of Fu Manchu's third album, In Search Of... (1996), citing personal and musical differences with Hill. They were replaced by Brant Bjork and Bob Balch, respectively. Glass, Romano and Abshire soon regrouped to form Nebula, a power trio that took the jam-influenced side of Fu Manchu and expanded on it. Members of Nebula have commented that "we're all family" to fans wearing Fu Manchu shirts at their concerts.

Fu Manchu went on to release several successful albums and reinforce their reputation as a powerful live act. The band had gained this reputation over the years due to their performance when touring with notable bands such as Kyuss, Monster Magnet, Marilyn Manson, Clutch, Corrosion of Conformity, White Zombie, Sevendust, and P.O.D., among others.

Brant Bjork left the band after their 2001 release California Crossing to pursue a solo career and was replaced by former Sunshine and Smile drummer Scott Reeder (often confused with bassist Scott Reeder, of Kyuss, Unida, and Goatsnake fame). In 2004, Fu Manchu released their 8th album, Start The Machine.

Fu Manchu's ninth album is called We Must Obey which was released on the 19th February 2007. The band has spent most of 2007 and 2008 on tour, playing several shows in North America and Europe.

In February 2008, the track "Mongoose" (from the California Crossing album) was featured in a Super Bowl ad for the Toyota Sequoia.

Their tenth album Signs of Infinite Power was released on October 19, 2009 in Europe and October 20 in North America.

On March 10, 2010, it was announced that Scott Reeder would play drums for Social Distortion for the South American tour dates in April. In June 2012 the band stated they had begun writing for a new record. In 2014, the band released its eleventh album, Gigantoid.

Albums

  • No One Rides for Free LP/CD (1994 Bong Load)
  • Daredevil LP/CD (1995 Bong Load)
  • In Search Of... LP/CD (1996 Mammoth)
  • The Action Is Go LP/CD (1997 Mammoth)
  • Eatin' Dust CD (1999 Man's Ruin)
  • King of the Road LP/CD (2000 Mammoth)
  • California Crossing LP/CD (2001 Mammoth)
  • Start the Machine CD (2004 DRT Entertainment)
  • We Must Obey LP/CD (2007 Century Media/Liquor and Poker)
  • Signs of Infinite Power LP/CD (2009 Century Media)
  • Gigantoid LP/CD (2014 At The Dojo)
  • Singles and EPs

  • "Kept Between Trees" 7" (1990 Slap-a-Ham Records)
  • "Senioritis" 7" (1992 Zuma Records)
  • "Pick-Up Summer" 7" (1992 Elastic Records)
  • "Don't Bother Knockin' (If This Van's Rockin)" 7" (1992 Elastic Records)
  • "Missing Link" 7" (1996 Mammoth)
  • "Asphalt Risin'" 7" (1996 Mammoth)
  • Godzilla 10" (1997 Man's Ruin)
  • "Jailbreak" CD/split 7" with Fatso Jetson (1998 Sessions Records)
  • Eatin' Dust 10" (1999 Man's Ruin)
  • "Ride To Live (Live To Ride)" Twisted Forever Comp. (2001 Koch)
  • Something Beyond CD/7" (2003 Elastic Records)
  • Hung Out to Dry CD/7" (2006 Century Media)
  • "Knew It All Along" 7" (2007 At The Dojo)
  • "Bionic Astronautics" 7" (2009 At The Dojo)
  • Compilation and live albums

  • Return to Earth 91-93 LP/CD (1998 Elastic Records)
  • (Godzilla's) Eatin' Dust LP (1999 Man's Ruin)
  • Go for It... Live! LP/CD (2003 Steamhammer)
  • References

    Fu Manchu (band) Wikipedia