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fIREHOSE

61 Shouts   -   628,243 Scrobbles

Biography

In 1985, after D Boon's tragic death at age 27 signalled the end of Minutemen, bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley threw in their lot with then-22-year-old former Ohio State University student, guitar player, and Minutemen fanatic Ed Crawford to form fIREHOSE. Taking their group name from a line in Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues," fIREHOSE continued in Minutemen tradition of breathtaking musicianship combined with caustic lyrical fusillades inspired by the writing of the Beat Generation and the erect-middle-finger indignation of the Blank Generation. However, with Randy Crawford's decidedly folkie bent insinuating itself into the mix, fIREHOSE's songs began to expand into more traditional verse-chorus-verse songwriting symmetry. And although fIREHOSE never equaled Minutemen's output in terms of sheer audacity and emotional depth, Randy Crawford, Watt, and Hurley recorded rock that was muscular, dense, and daring, along with being tremendously heartfelt. They never patronized audiences or comported themselves as "rock stars"; they were instead the quintessential post-punk "peoples' band." Although they achieved wider notoriety than did Minutemen (eventually recording for a major label), fIREHOSE called it quits in early 1994 after a desultory, dispirited final LP (Mr. Machinery Operator). Still, nearly all of their recorded work stands as some of the best late-'80s/early-'90s rock. ~ John Dougan, Rovi

Top Tracks

Total plays on Last.fm over the last 6 months
  1.  
    Lyrics
    captain, there are doubts
    regarding
    your ability
    to lead them
    the men
    Brave Captain - (3:15)  -  2,650 plays
  2.  
    Lyrics
    The future holds a mystery
    We talk but don't know
    We hope but can't tell
    We share but not all
    The mystery holds fast
    Under the Influence of Meat Puppets - (1:57)  -  1,368 plays
  3.  
    Lyrics
    I'm the paint on the road
    The weight of your load
    With the cracked glass ground
    Fuck it
    An itch in your brain
    Chemical Wire - (2:43)  -  1,363 plays
  4.  
    Lyrics
    How to say it
    When it don't come
    I'm not tryin' to be vague
    But silent anyway
    Confusion
    It Matters - (1:38)  -  1,125 plays
  5. Down With the Bass - (2:48)  -  1,091 plays
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