Nuclear Rabbit

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Nuclear Rabbit is a California band, started in Novato. Considered metal music, (progressive Avant-garde post punk thrash metal) though many say it is hard to classify. Known for its strange sound and lyrics, a 9-string bass, and the general feel of the music, Nuclear Rabbit has a large fan base.

1 Band History
2 Members
3 Discography
4 External links

[edit] Band History

Nuclear Rabbit was started in 1989 by bassist Jean Baudin. Jean was influenced by a variety of music styles and envisioned having a band that played unorthodox music with no regard for conventional music limitations. Jean has also cited Fishbone and Bad Brains as early influences. Originally he was the only one in the band, but he soon was joined by guitarist Pat Garner and then drummer Steve Sigaty. Originally Jean did the vocals, but eventually they asked Greg Parrish to step in as vocalist. Greg has always been very diverse in his vocal delivery, as is the band's music as a whole. Greg approached the songs by adding a particular character(s) to the songs rather than simply singing a vocal part, and has always performed a wide variety of vocal styles. Jean uses a variety of bass techniques, including a lot of tapping, in addition to slapping, popping, thumping, etc. Nuclear Rabbit incorporates a variety of genres in their music, including metal, funk, ska, hardcore, punk, jazz, East Indian, Egyptian, etc. Their music is often characterized by sudden tempo changes.

The band released their first demo tape, Poo Factory, in 1990. The band members were in their teens at the time (15-18 years old). Two more demo tapes followed, Bowling for Midgets in 1991 and Utensil Extravaganza in 1992, all the while the band playing shows locally in Northern California and accumulating a strong local fan base. Early releases of Bowling for Midgets included a Secret Song which was a reggae-flavored version of Metallica's One, but the band took the song off when fans started requesting it over their original songs.

In 1993 the band recorded some new songs, as well as some old ones, which were to be released as another demo tape, Spork 2000. However, the band ended up disbanding and going on hiatus for three years.

In between Nuclear Rabbit incarnations, Jean formed a short lived Japanese Pop band called Kamikaze Kitten with long time friends Michael Hawk on drums, Thomas Burger on guitar, and newcomer Kerry Sano on lead vocals. With all their lyrics sung entirely in Japanese, the group rehersed extensively at Marin County's legendary Hun Sound but never managed to record any music. A version of their song "Odoru Neko" can be heard on the set list of Michael's latest group, The Berkeley Square.

Rabbit got back together in 1996. However, guitarist Pat ended up being kicked out of the band and was replaced by Thomas Burger. With Thomas in the band, Nuclear Rabbit played their first show in three years at the Bottom Of The Hill in San Francisco. Together they began working on new material for the Intestinal Fortitude CD. New songs such as My Girls Got Guts, Agent Embryo, 5th Grade Alchemy, Dumb-Dumb, Dimples, I. Iguana, The Pimp, The Bitch, and the Magic Beans, and It's My Birthday slowly became part of the "new" Nuclear Rabbit set. The band was very active during this period playing roughly 40 shows through out California in 9 months. Ultimately however Thomas ended up leaving the band before the Intestinal Fortitude CD was recorded.

The CD Vicuna was released in 1997, and was a compilation of the songs recorded in 1993 (that were originally going to be released as the Spork 2000 demo) as well as various songs from their three demos.

In 1997 Jason Branyan joined the band as guitarist. Jason was an accomplished guitarist, having formal music training and skilled in classical and jazz. Jason improved upon the existing material and soon additional new songs such as Crane to the Head, Cotton Anatomy and Coloring Book Man were finished. With these new songs ( those written with Thomas as well as Jason ) the band recorded Intestinal Fortitude on July 4, 1998. Intestinal Fortitude was darker and heavier than Vicuna, but the band's craziness was still there and they had become very tight and together rythmically.

The band continued playing shows and writing new songs. However, by the summer of 1999 Greg and Jean's musical differences had resulted in Greg's decision to leave the band as vocalist. He left in July 1999. Greg suggested to his friend Jon Scullion, vocalist for the band Natt, that he be the new vocalist. He ended up joining the band and they recorded a 5 song EP in 1999, which was eventually titled More Human. By this time Jean had moved from a six-string bass to a 9-string bass, being the second bass player ever to have a 9-string. The band started playing shows and writing new songs again, and eventually released More Human in January 2000. However, not much later Jon ended up leaving the band and Jason left soon after. Jon resumed his band Natt and Jason started the band Whorange (he would later form Tinklepotty, originally a solo project but later a duo with the addition of his girlfriend Yvonne Harada). This left Steve and Jean, who attempted to find a new guitarist and vocalist. Not able to find anyone that was right for Nuclear Rabbit, they ended up forming a new, more straight forward band known as Element of Surprise.

Eventually the original guitarist for Element of Surprise left, and Pat Garner, the original Nuclear Rabbit guitar player, joined the band. In January of 2003, they announced that Element of Surprise was done and they were going start Nuclear Rabbit again, having their original band back with the exception of original vocalist Greg Parrish. They announced their search for a vocalist, but eventually Greg ended up joining the band, and they were back with their original lineup. They recorded Mutopia, which included 10 new songs and 2 songs that they had come up with after Intestinal Fortitude while Jason was in the band (these being The Midgetaur and Look Who's Cross-Eyed Now!). The album was released at their first show on August 9, 2003 at The Phoenix Theater in Petaluma, an old favorite spot they often played at.

In the summer of 2004 Steve Sigaty left as drummer, and the band eventually got Tim Bailey to be their drummer. The band is currently playing fewer shows, and Jean Baudin is also focusing on his solo bass work. He has moved from a nine-string to an eleven-string bass.

Jean Baudin has recently acquired "Joust", an eleven-string bass, and "The Hideous Claw", which is also eleven strings. He has incorporated these into both his solo work, and work with Nuclear Rabbit. At the Phoenix Theater on November 18, 2005, Jean played solo work and with the band. He used "Joust" for his solo performance and "The Hideous Claw" for Nuclear Rabbit. This show was the beginning of their return, with one other show announced.

Nuclear Rabbit has been compared often to Mr. Bungle and Primus but these are very unfair and superficial comparisons, the band standing out as being original in their style and approach. Over the years they have shared the stage with many well-known and local bands, including Deftones, M.I.R.V., Melvins, Grip Inc., Skankin' Pickle, Green Day, The Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Throat Culture, Papa Roach, Puya, Dog Fashion Disco, Bad Brains, Finger Eleven, Hostility, Drop, Fingertight, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, MDC, Fungo Mungo, Tub Ring, Babyland and many others.

[edit] Members

Greg Parrish - vocals
Jean Baudin - bassist
Tim Bailey - drummer (since january 2005)
Macy Mullen - Guitar (since August 2006)

Ex band members:
Patrick Garner - guitar
Steve Sigaty was drummer until 2004
Thomas Burger was guitar player in 1996 to 1997
Jason Branyan was guitar player from 1997 until 2000
Jon Scullion was the singer for one record "More Human" released in 1999

[edit] Discography

Mutopia (2003) - note: original vocals returns
More Human (1999) - note: different vocals
Intestinal Fortitude (1998)
Vicuna (1990-1993) - note: This CD was released in 1997 but consisted of songs taken from their 4 earlier demos of the early 90's as well as songs recorded in 1993)
Spork 2000 (demo tape, 1993)
Utensil Extravaganza (demo tape, 1992)
Bowling for Midgets (demo tape, 1991)
Poo Factory (demo tape, 1990)