Bullet LaVolta
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | January 1987 |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
| Products | Alternative rock music |
Bullet LaVolta was a Boston-based American alternative rock group established in January 1987 by college radio personalities: Clay Tarver on guitar, Bill Whelan handling bass, Corey "Loog" Brennan also on guitar, and Chris "Cruster" Guttmacher on drums. Vocalist Yukki Gipe (real name Kurt Davis) joined the lineup subsequently. Their sound fused elements of punk rock, heavy metal, and hardcore punk, drawing comparisons to bands such as Naked Raygun, Motörhead, and the early phase of Fugazi.
History
Bullet LaVolta's initial performance took place in a modest Boston bar before a limited audience; however, they rapidly emerged as a prominent live attraction, building their reputation through college gigs at institutions like MIT and Harvard. They shared stages with notable groups including The Lemonheads, Dag Nasty, and the Rollins Band.
Their inaugural EP, self-titled Bullet LaVolta, was released in 1988 under Taang! Records, coinciding with the addition of guitarist Kenny Chambers. The following year saw the release of their debut full album, The Gift, also on Taang!. During this period, actor Donal Logue took on duties as their road manager. In 1990, they issued the Gimme Danger EP via Metal Blade, which featured a rendition of "Detroit Rock City". Subsequently, the band signed with RCA Records, who re-released both Bullet LaVolta and The Gift combined into a single package. This release garnered favorable critical reception and achieved moderate commercial success, prompting RCA to extend their contract.
In 1991, Bullet LaVolta unveiled Swandive, produced by Dave Jerden, renowned for his collaborations with Jane's Addiction and Alice in Chains. This album launched around the same time as Nirvana's Nevermind, with Bullet LaVolta performing alongside Nirvana and opening for The Smashing Pumpkins. Later that year, they supported Swandive on tour with acts such as Corrosion of Conformity and Prong.
The band dissolved in 1992; that year, Matador Records released The Gun Didn't Know I Was Loaded, a compilation of earlier recordings. As of 2015, only Swandive and The Gift are available in digital format. Following the split, Yukki Gipe fronted The Konks and served as drummer for Kustomized. Drummer Todd Philips became part of Model/Actress, a project formed by former members of Brainiac and Chamberlain. Kenny Chambers continues his musical career performing with Stone Strangers and pursuing solo work.
Bill Whelan passed away by suicide on November 1, 2021.
Discography
Studio albums
- The Gift (1989) (Reissued by RCA Records featuring a revised tracklist plus additional songs from the Bullet LaVolta EP)
- The Gun Didn't Know I Was Loaded (1991)
- Swandive (1991)
EPs
- Bullet LaVolta (1988)
- Gimme Danger (1990)
Singles
- "Over the Shoulder / X Fire" (1989)
- "Every Hungry Rabbit" (1990)
- "Swandive" (1991)
- "My Protector" (1992)