Harvey Milk (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Athens, Georgia , United States |
| Products | Experimental rock, noise rock music |
Harvey Milk is a United States-based band specializing in experimental rock and noise rock, originating from Athens, Georgia during the early 1990s. Their sound is characterized by slow, weighty riffs that evoke the style of the Melvins. The group also draws inspiration from artists such as ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Leonard Cohen, and Kiss. Their eclectic live sets have featured a tribute to Hank Williams and an April Fool's Day performance at the 40 Watt in Athens, where they performed the entire Reckoning album by R.E.M., with attendance by Michael Stipe.
History
Established in 1992 and named in honor of the trailblazing openly gay politician Harvey Milk, the original lineup consisted of Creston Spiers, Stephen Tanner, and Paul Trudeau. Their debut release was My Love Is Higher Than Your Assessment of What My Love Could Be, after which Trudeau left in 1996. The band ceased activity in 1998 but reunited in 2006.
On June 3, 2008, they launched Life... The Best Game in Town and embarked on extensive tours throughout the eastern and southern United States as well as Europe, including stops in Germany, England, Belgium, France, and Scotland. Although this album was named best album of 2008 by writers for Rock-A-Rolla magazine, guitarist and vocalist Creston Spiers regards it as their least accomplished effort.
Personnel
- Creston Spiers – vocals, guitar (1992–present)
- Stephen Tanner – bass guitar, guitar (1992–present)
- Kyle Spence – drums (1996–1998, 2007–present)
- Paul Trudeau – drums (1992–1996, 2006–2007)
- Joe Preston – guitar, bass (2008)
Discography
- Studio albums
- My Love Is Higher Than Your Assessment of What My Love Could Be (1994, CD on Yesha; reissued by Relapse in 2007)
- Courtesy and Good Will Toward Men (1997, LP via Reproductive; CD through Tumult Records; reissued by Relapse in 2007; LP reissue on Chunklet in 2008 featuring original sleeves and audiophile vinyl)
- The Pleaser (1997, CD on Reproductive; reissued by Relapse in 2007; LP issued by Chunklet in 2008)
- Special Wishes (2006, available on LP & CD through Megablade Records)
- Life... The Best Game in Town (2008 CD / 2009 LP released by Hydrahead)
- S/T – The Bob Weston Sessions (limited LP edition on Hydra Head in 2009 for summer tour with Torche; remastered CD issued in 2010)
- Live at Supersonic (2010, LP released on Capsule)
- A Small Turn of Human Kindness (2010, CD issued by Hydrahead)
- Compilation albums
- The Singles (CD released in 2003)
- The Kelly Sessions (CD released in 2004)
- Singles
- I Do Not Know How To Live My Life (7" single from 1995)
- I've Got A Love (7" single released in 2006)
- Hayride / Harvey Milk – F*#k You Guys (7" single from 2006)
- Harvey Milk / Wildildlife – In The Ground / Stormbringer (7" single issued in 2009)
DVDs
- Anthem (CD+DVD released in 2006; double DVD edition in 2009)