Le Shok

Le Shok was an electropunk band from Long Beach, California, USA. The band was made up of members of various other punk bands from the area and existed from 1997 until early 2001, releasing numerous 7" records, one full-length, and touring the US twice.

Biography

Le Shok formed in 1997 (originally named The Shock) by Asshole Andrew from Treadwell (guitar), Joey Juvenile from The Locust (drums), and singer Hot Rod Todd.

After hearing a rehearsal tape, Darryl Licht from Action League joined the band on keyboards, and Over the Counter Rusty (also from Treadwell) joined as the bassist.

The band released four 7" records on various labels, and in 2000, Gold Standard Laboratories released the band's sole album, We Are Electrocution, and the band went on a nationwide tour of the United States.

Shitty Shaan, who had filled-in for Darryl at shows he couldn't make, was eventually brought on full-time as a second guitarist, until Darryl left the band for good and Shaan switched to keyboards. Material recorded while the band was still a six-piece found its way onto various vinyl releases.

When Andrew subsequently left the band, Shaan took over guitar duties and John Fones of Tunigs was brought in on keyboards. Following their second US tour, Fones departed and Darryl briefly rejoined the band before Shaan quit, signaling the demise of the band in early 2001.

Following the break-up, members of Le Shok played in bands including Nazti Skinz, Neon King Kong, The Distraction, T-Cells, FM Bats, Gods Iron Tooth, and Dirty Girls.

Discography

Albums

• Soda Pop Smash This is an online compilation of all other Le Shok material that wasn't on their full-length release. It's not an official release.
• We Are Electrocution (2000)

Singles & EPs

• So What 7" EP (1998)
• DNA 7" EP (1999)
• split w/Electric Frankenstein 7" (2000)
• split w/Ink & Dagger 7" (2000)
• split w/The Stitches 7" (2000)
• S&M 7" EP (2001)
• LA to NY 6" EP (2001)

Influences

• The Screamers
• The Yummy Fur
• Thee Headcoats
• Teengenerate
• The Fall
• The Germs
• The Dickies
• Delta 5
• The Chosen Few
• La Peste
• Wash

External links and references

• Le Shok at AllMusic
• Le Shok on MySpace
• Biography material adapted from Le Shok
• Le Shok Discography and Pressing Information
• "Le Shok Shocker", Chris Ziegler, OC Weekly, April 5, 2001.
• "Le Shok LA to NY", review, Chris Ziegler, OCWeekly, September 27, 2001.
• 31 Scariest People in OC, OCWeekly, October 26, 2000 (Le Shok singer Hot Rod Todd is number 29)
• Maximumrocknroll No. 208, September 2000 (cover article)
• reviews of various records in HeartattaCk 19; Maximumrocknroll 183, 197; Punk Planet 27