Urge Overkill
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| Urge Overkill | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Genre(s) | Alternative rock |
| Years active | 1986–1997 2004–present |
| Website | http://www.urgeoverkillhq.com/ |
| Members | |
| Nathan "Nash Kato" Katruud Eddie "King" Roeser Mike Hodgkiss Brian Quast |
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| Former members | |
| Johnny "Blackie Onassis" Rowan (until 1997) Patrick Byrne (early) Kriss Bataille (early) Jack "The Jaguar" Watt (early) |
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Urge Overkill is an alternative rock band, formed in Chicago, United States, consisting of Nathan "Nash Kato" Kaatrud (vocals/guitar), and Eddie "King" Roeser (vocals/guitar/bass guitar). Their cover of Neil Diamond's song "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" appeared prominently in the movie Pulp Fiction, and became a hit in 1994.
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[edit] History
Kaatrud and Roeser met at Northwestern University in 1985. They formed Urge Overkill (getting the name from a phrase in the lyrics of the Parliament song "Funkentelechy") in Chicago, with drummer Pat Byrne, and released an EP, Strange, I..., on Ruthless records produced by Kaatrud's roommate, Steve Albini. A full length album, Jesus Urge Superstar, soon followed, again produced by Albini, and with Kriss Bataille taking over the drums. These two releases showcased a noise-rock sound common to other Chicago acts of the period.
Their next effort, Americruiser, saw a drastic change in style. Jack "Jaguar" Watt of Baron Lesh was the new drummer and their sound from then on has been described as a "Stonesy fusion of arena rock and punk". Produced by Butch Vig, Americruiser was widely praised, and scored a college radio hit with the lead-off track, "Ticket To LA." Drummer Blackie Onassis took over for Watt on the next album The Supersonic Storybook, released in 1991.Watt returned to Lesh releasing several indie albums and is currently in studio Lesh Studio (studio) Lesh Studio recording their fifth project The Colorful Album,to be released in early 2008.
After opening for Nirvana on the American Nevermind tour and Pearl Jam on the Vs. Tour, Urge Overkill returned to the studio to record another EP, Stull, in 1992 which featured the tracks, "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" and "Goodbye to Guyville." Having a strong following by this time, they jumped from their indie label, Touch & Go to major label, Geffen Records.
Despite much criticism for the label switch, Urge Overkill's Butcher Brothers produced major-label debut, Saturation, received strong reviews upon release in 1993. Pop success wasn't forthcoming however, with singles "Sister Havana" and "Positive Bleeding" receiving only limited airplay.
As the band recorded a follow-up album, cult filmmaker Quentin Tarantino used the group's cover version of the Neil Diamond's song, "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon," on his 1994 movie Pulp Fiction. When the movie became a hit, the song made it to the Top 50 on the Billboard Top 100; pop success at last for Urge Overkill.
Urge Overkill retained their sound for their next album, Exit the Dragon released in 1995. The uncommercial first single "The Break," flopped, and a tour followed, ending earlier than planned. Onassis was arrested on drug charges toward the end of the year. While the band was recuperating, Kaatrud and Roeser started feuding, resulting in Roeser leaving the band. Now a duo, Urge Overkill moved to 550 Music in early 1997. An attempt was made to fill Roeser's role in the band with guitarist Nils St. Cyr, but this led nowhere, and the band split after being dropped by the label.
Roeser went on to perform with Jim Kimball (formerly of The Jesus Lizard) as L.I.M.E. and with his brother John in the band Electric Airlines. Electric Airlines completing an unreleased, UO friendly album.
Kaatrud and Roeser reformed the band without Onassis, recruiting former Gaza Strippers guitarist Mike "Hadji" Hodgkiss to play bass, keyboardist Chris Frantisak and drummer Brian "Bon" Quast from the Cherry Valance. In 2004 the reformed Urge Overkill performed shows at The Troubador (Los Angeles), Double Door (Chicago), and Bowery Ballroom (NYC) and continued to tour through Europe, N. America, and Australia.
The band is currently in the studio preparing a new album.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label |
| 1988 | Jesus Urge Superstar | Touch and Go Records |
| 1990 | Americruiser | Touch and Go Records |
| 1991 | The Supersonic Storybook | Touch and Go Records |
| 1993 | Saturation | Geffen Records |
| 1995 | Exit The Dragon | Geffen Records |
[edit] Singles and EPs
| Year | Title | Label |
| 1986 | Strange, I... | Ruthless Records |
| 1987 | Lineman 7" | Touch and Go Records |
| 1990 | Ticket To L.A. 7" | Touch and Go Records |
| 1991 | (Now That's) The Barclords 7" | Sub Pop |
| 1992 | Stull EP | Touch and Go Records |
| 1993 | Sister Havana | Geffen Records |
| 1993 | Dropout | Geffen Records |
| 1993 | Bottle Of Fur | Geffen Records |
| 1993 | Positive Bleeding | Geffen Records |
| 1994 | Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon | MCA |
| 1995 | The Break | Geffen Records |
| 1995 | View Of The Rain | Geffen Records |
| 1995 | Somebody Else's Body | Geffen Records |
[edit] Singles Chart Positions"
- "Sister Havana" (1993; #6 US Modern Rock, #10 US Mainstream Rock)
- "Positive Bleeding" (1993; #23 US Modern Rock, #40 US Mainstream Rock)
- "Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon" (1994; #11 US Modern Rock, #50 US)
- "The Break" (1995, #34 US Modern Rock)
[edit] Compilations
| Year | Title | Label |
| 1993 | The Urge Overkill Story...Stay Tuned: 1988-1991 | Touch and Go Records |
| 1994 | Pulp Fiction (soundtrack album) | MCA Records |
| 1994 | No Alternative | Arista Records |
