Big Drill Car
Big Drill Car | |
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pop punk, melodic hardcore | |
Years active | 1987 | –1995 , 2008–2009, 2016–present
Labels | Varient, Cruz, Cargo/Headhunter |
Members | Frank Daly Mark Arnold Bob Thomson Danny Marcroft |
Past members | Darrin Morris Keith Fallis |
Website | bigdrillcar |
Big Drill Car is a punk rock group from Costa Mesa, California, formed in 1987. While the group never gained a mainstream audience, they provided an influence on their contemporaries – most notably ALL, Chemical People and Dag Nasty – alongside they are considered early pioneers of melodic hardcore.
Big Drill Car released an EP, Small Block, in 1988 before being signed to Cruz Records (owned by former Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn) and releasing two studio albums. The band eventually parted ways with that label and signed to Headhunter Records, who released No Worse for the Wear, the band's last album to date.
Big Drill Car broke up in 1995, but reunited for a one-off series of shows in 2008 and 2009, with the classic original lineup. The band reunited with this lineup again in 2016, and they have continued playing shows sporadically since then.
History
"Classic" original lineup-era (1987-1991)
Big Drill Car was formed in 1987 while Frank Daly and
While touring with
Final years (1992-1995)
After the release of their second album,
Post-breakup (1996-2007)
After breaking up, Frank Daly (vocalist) and
Arnold is currently working as a sound engineer, recently working for
.Daly worked as a guitar tech for Rocket from the Crypt for a while, then went on to tour manage Reel Big Fish before settling down, getting married and having a family.
Reunions (2008-2016)
On May 23, 2008, it was reported on Punknews.org that Big Drill Car (with the classic Small Block lineup) was reuniting for a series of reunion shows in August, taking place at
Asked in August 2008 what was next for Big Drill Car, bassist Bob Thomson stated, "I can 100% guarantee there will be no tour, we're all dads with jobs. It is not easy to co ordinate shows as Frank lives in Indiana, so the best we can hope for is a show here and there." This led many to believe that Big Drill Car could be ending their reunion.
Despite the statement Bob made, Big Drill Car reconvened in the summer of 2009 for shows with All. Also in 2009, they released a rarities album called A Never Ending Endeavor, which also featured some new material.[5]
2008 also marked the first time any of their music was available on iTunes.
In January 2016, Big Drill Car played a one-off reunion show in Costa Mesa. They are still active as of November 2017, and play shows mostly around Southern California.
Line-ups
(1987–1992) Classic lineup |
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(1992–1995) |
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(1995–2008) |
(Band inactive) |
(2008–2009) Reunion of "classic" original lineup |
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(2009–2016) |
(Band inactive) |
(2016–present) Reunion of "classic" original lineup |
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Discography
Studio Albums and EPs
- Small Block EP (1988), Varient Records! (re-issued on Cruz Records in 1990)
- CD Type Thing (1989, Cruz Records)
- Batch (1991, Cruz Records)
- Toured (A Live Album) (1993, Cargo/Headhunter Records)
- No Worse for the Wear (1994, Cargo/Headhunter Records)
- A Never Ending Endeavor (2009, Varient Records!)
7" Singles
- "Surrender/Getaway" (split w/ Chemical People) (1991, Cruz Records)
- "The Snapperhead E.P." split w/ Thud! (1992, Blackbox Records)
- "No Worse for the Wear/Black Country Rock" (1994, Stab You in the Back/Truk Records)
- "Nothin' At All/Trash the House" (1994, Goldenrod Records)
Compilation Appearances
- Cruz Sampler 7" (1991) - "Restless Habs"
- The Big One: City of L.A. Power (1991) - "A Take Away"
- Something's Gone Wrong Again: The Buzzcocks Covers Compilation (1992) - "I Don't Mind"
- 13 Back-Ordered Hits (1993) - "16 Lines"
- Blackbox Sampler (1993) - "Big Shot(live)"
- Case Closed? An International Compilation of Husker Du Cover Songs (1993) - "Celebrated Summer"
- By The Banks of the Mighty Santa Ana, Vol. II (1994) - "Song No. 40"
- Super Mixer(1996) - "Nothin' At All"
- Keep the Beat (1996) - "Celebrated Summer"
- O.C.'s 5400 Day Revolution (1999) - "Big Shot (studio version)"
Known Associates
- Darin Oosthuizen - road manager/roadie
- Greg Jacobs - Manager
- Stormy Shepherd - Booking Agent
- Doug Mann - road manager/ batch tour
References
- ^ "Big Drill Car announce reunion show". Punknews.org. May 23, 2008. Archived from the original on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
- ^ "Big Drill Car on Warped Tour 2008". warpedtour.com. June 23, 2008. Archived from the original on 12 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- ^ "Big Drill Car plan two Warped dates". Punknews.org. June 25, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
- ^ "Riot Fest with Bosstones, ALL, Leftover Crack, TSOL, Ergs, Reagan Youth, Paint It Black". Punknews.org. July 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ^ Paul, Aubin (September 29, 2009). "Big Drill Car: 'Eye a Door'". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 12, 2022.