Claw Hammer
| Company type | Indie rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1986 in Long Beach, California, United States |
| Headquarters | Long Beach , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles, live performances |
Claw Hammer was an indie rock group originating from California, established in 1986 in Long Beach, California. The members hailed from nearby communities. Their band name was drawn from a track by Captain Beefheart. Following the release of a cassette along with several limited-run EPs and singles, they secured a deal with Sympathy for the Record Industry, which issued their first full-length album, Claw Hammer, in 1990. The following year, they produced an album featuring covers of Devo's 1978 record Are We Not Men? We Are Devo!.
In 1993, the band partnered with Epitaph Records to release Pablum. The next year, Claw Hammer acted as the backing ensemble for Wayne Kramer on his Epitaph album The Hard Stuff. Subsequently, they transitioned to the major label Interscope Records, where they released two additional albums, including 1997's Hold Your Tongue (and Say Apple). Claw Hammer continued performing live until the year 2000.
A singular reunion concert occurred on September 13, 2013, at The Echo located in Echo Park, Los Angeles.
Personnel
- Jon Wahl – guitar, vocals
- Chris Bagarozzi – guitar
- Rob Walther – bass (1987–2000)
- Dave Valdez – bass (1986–1987)
- Sean Edwards – drums (1986–1987)
- Rick Sortwell – drums (1987–1991)
- Bob Lee – drums (1991–2000)
Albums
- Get Yer Za Za Yout (cassette) (Trigon Records, 1990)
- Claw Hammer (Sympathy for the Record Industry, 1990)
- Double Pack Whack Attack EP (Sympathy for the Record Industry, 1990)
- Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Not Devo (Sympathy for the Record Industry, 1991)
- Ramwhale (Sympathy for the Record Industry, 1991)
- Pablum (Epitaph Records, 1993)
- Thank the Holder Uppers (Interscope Records, 1995)
- 'Scuse the Excursion (Sympathy for the Record Industry, 1996)
- Hold Your Tongue (and Say Apple) (Interscope Records, 1997)
- Deep in the Heart of Nowhere (live double vinyl LP) (Munster Records, 2009)
Others
- Bullet in my Head / Self Destruct (two tracks on 12-inch compilation "Gimme the Keys") (Trigon Records, 1988)
- Poor Robert (three-song 7-inch EP) (Grown Up Wrong Records, 1988)
- Sick Fish Belly Up (7-inch single) (Trigon Records, 1989)
- Brother Brick Says (7-inch single) (Trigon Records, 1990)
- Malthusian Blues (7-inch single) (Sympathy for the Record Industry, 1993)
Videography
- William Tell
- Hollow Legs
- Queen's Lead Helmet (1997)
- EPK (distributed by Interscope)