| The Blackouts | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Seattle, Washington |
| Genres | Punk rock, post-punk |
| Years active | 1979–1985 |
| Labels | Situation Two, Wax Trax! |
| Associated acts | Ministry |
| Past members | |
| Erich Werner Bill Rieflin Mike Davidson Roland Barker Paul "Ion" Barker |
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The Blackouts were a punk rock band formed in Seattle in 1979 by singer/guitarist Erich Werner, bassist Mike Davidson, and drummer William Rieflin, who were all former members of a local punk band, The Telepaths.[1] They were joined by Roland Barker, first on synthesizer and later on saxophone.[1][2]
Following a single and EP on small local labels, Davidson was replaced by Roland's brother Paul Barker in 1981.[3] This line-up recorded the "Exchange of Goods" single for English label Situation Two, and relocated to Boston in 1982.[4] There they met Al Jourgensen of Ministry, who produced their last recording, the Lost Soul's Club EP for Wax Trax! Records.[5]
The band relocated a second time, to San Francisco in 1984, and toured the East Coast with Ministry that year before breaking up.[5] 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.[4] This started a long collaboration between Paul Barker and Jourgensen in Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Lard, and other projects. Rieflin released a solo album in 1999 - Birth of a Giant,[3] worked with KMFDM, Pigface, Ruby, Peter Murphy, and Nine Inch Nails,[3] and was the touring drummer for R.E.M..[6] Erich Werner went on to join the Toiling Midgets.[7]
In 2004, Seattle's K Records released History in Reverse, compiling the band's studio recordings.[7]
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