Firehose (band)
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| fIREHOSE | |
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 Picture of Firehose from Mr. Machinery Operator booklet. Left to right: Ed Crawford, Mike Watt, George Hurley.
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| Background information | |
| Origin | San Pedro, California, USA |
| Genre(s) | Punk rock, hardcore punk, alternative rock |
| Years active | 1986–1994 |
| Label(s) | SST, Columbia |
| Associated acts | Dos, Minutemen, Reactionaries, Unknown Instructors |
Firehose (typically rendered by the band as fIREHOSE) was an alternative rock band consisting of Mike Watt (bass, vocals), Ed Crawford (guitar, vocals), and George Hurley (drums).
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[edit] History
fIREHOSE was formed in 1986 after the death of D. Boon brought an end to Minutemen. Watt and Hurley teamed up with the then 22-year-old Crawford, a guitarist and Minutemen fanatic. Crawford was from Ohio, and started the band when he found Watt's phone number in the phone book and called him, saying he wanted to play with Mike and George in California.
In the spring of 1986, Crawford traveled to San Pedro and the band went on from there. The name of the band was taken from a line in a Bob Dylan song, "Subterranean Homesick Blues" : "...Better stay away from those that carry around a fire hose...".
fIREHOSE released five full-length albums and two EPs before disbanding in 1994. Inclusion of early material in several key skateboarding videos from the late 1980s led to a sizeable underground skateboarding audience. Notably, "Brave Captain" from Ragin', Full On, and "Sometimes", "Hear Me", and "Windmilling" from If'n were in the Santa Cruz Skateboards video "Streets on Fire."
[edit] After fIREHOSE
Mike Watt has since been involved in many musical projects, including Dos, solo work and the Unknown Instructors with George Hurley as well as his radio show (Watt From Pedro Show). Ed Crawford has also ventured on his own musical projects, as well as played with Grand National (not the UK band) and Whiskeytown. Mike Watt, raised in San Pedro, California since 1967, still resides there. George Hurley, originally from San Pedro as well, resides in North Carolina, along with Ed Crawford.
[edit] Discography
[edit] LPs
- Ragin', Full On (1986, SST)
- If'n (1987, SST)
- Fromohio (1989, SST)
- Flyin' the Flannel (1991, Columbia)
- Mr. Machinery Operator (1993, Columbia)
[edit] EPs and singles
- Sometimes (EP, 1988, SST)
- Live Totem Pole (EP, 1992, Columbia)
- "Big Bottom Pow Wow" (promo single, 1994, Columbia)
- "Red & Black" (live, single, 1995, Sony)
