Bitch Magnet
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States, Europe, Asia, North America |
| Products | Albums, EPs, singles |
Bitch Magnet was a post-hardcore group originating in the United States, formed in 1986 at Oberlin College in Ohio and later relocating to North Carolina.
History
The band's first album came out in 1988, with all their records distributed in the US through Communion Records. In Europe, they were affiliated with labels such as Shigaku/What Goes On and Glitterhouse. The group ceased activity in 1991.
On March 31, 2011, the founding members Fine, Morfin, and Park reunited for a performance at the UK’s All Tomorrow's Parties event titled "Nightmare Before Christmas." Their reunion tour also included concerts in London, Brussels, Cologne, and Groningen at the Vera venue. Later that year, in November 2011, they extended their reunion to Asia with shows in Seoul and Tokyo. The following spring, they performed additional gigs across Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Manila. The reunion concluded with a North American tour during autumn 2012, featuring stops in Seattle, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago.
On December 6, 2011, Temporary Residence Limited reissued Bitch Magnet’s complete album collection as a deluxe limited-edition triple LP and triple CD package. These editions contained previously unreleased materials and non-album tracks that were remixed by producer John Congleton in late 2010.
Musical style
According to Steve Huey of AllMusic, Bitch Magnet’s music represents an intense and cerebral form of post-hardcore punk. He likened their sound to bands like Big Black and Slint, while emphasizing that Bitch Magnet’s approach was "more aggressive and somewhat less intricate."
Final lineup
- Sooyoung Park – bass guitar and vocals (1986–1990, 2011–2012)
- Jon Fine – guitar (1986–1990, 2011–2012)
- Orestes Morfín (also known as Orestes Delatorre) – drums (1987–1990, 2011–2012)
Former members
- Jay Oelbaum – drums (1986)
- David Grubbs – guitar (1989)
- David Galt – guitar (1989)
- Pete Pollack – drums (1990)
Albums
- Umber (1989)
- Ben Hur (1990)
- Bitch Magnet (2011)
EPs and singles
- Star Booty (1988)
- "Valmead" b/w "Pea" – split release with Codeine (1990; Glitterhouse issued a 12" version including live renditions of "Big Pining" and "Navajo Ace")
- "Mesentery" & "Motor" b/w "Big Pining (alternate version)" (1990; Waterfront)
- "Sadie" b/w "Where Eagles Fly" (a cover of the Misfits), featured on a limited edition of the Ben Hur LP (1990)
- "Sadie" b/w "Ducks and Drakes (live)" (1991; Caff Records)
Compilations
- Endangered Species, a box set comprising six 7" singles released by Glitterhouse in 1991 includes Bitch Magnet’s track "White Piece of Bread"
- Bitch Magnet, a triple-CD compilation that combines Ben Hur, Umber, and Star Booty along with alternate takes and bonus content; also available as a triple-LP edition by Temporary Residence Limited released in 2011
Music videos
- "Mesentery" (1990)