Rapeman
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Defunct | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Key people | Steve Albini, David Wm. Sims, Rey Washam |
| Products | Noise rock music, post-hardcore music |
Rapeman was a noise rock group from the United States that operated between 1987 and 1989. The lineup included Steve Albini, previously of Big Black, handling guitar and vocals; David Wm. Sims, formerly of Scratch Acid, on bass; and Rey Washam, who had played with Scratch Acid and Big Boys, on drums. Their musical style is also identified within the post-hardcore genre.
The band was created as a side project alongside the Jesus Lizard, which continued well beyond Rapeman’s existence.
History
The inception of Rapeman occurred in 1987 when Rey Washam and David Wm. Sims relocated to Chicago following the breakup of Scratch Acid. Around the same time, Steve Albini had dissolved Big Black and was interested in forming a band featuring a live drummer rather than relying on a drum machine.
In 1988, Rapeman issued their Budd EP, predominantly recorded live, along with the "Hated Chinee" b/w "Marmoset" single, and their sole full-length album, Two Nuns and a Pack Mule. These recordings were made in Albini’s home studio, with production humorously attributed to "Fluss," the name of Albini’s cat.
Their music was released through Touch and Go Records in the US, Blast First in the UK, and Au Go Go in Australia. Following a disagreement between Albini and Blast First regarding a Big Black release, Rapeman departed from that label in 1990. Subsequently, Touch and Go began distributing their work in the UK starting in 1992, reissuing Rapeman’s back catalog.
The last release from the band was the instrumental 7" single "Inki's Butt Crack" in 1989, which came out via the Sub Pop Singles Club.
After Rapeman disbanded, Albini joined Pete Conway’s solo endeavor Flour as a bassist before founding Shellac and further establishing himself as a recording engineer. Sims reunited with former Scratch Acid vocalist David Yow to form the Jesus Lizard, with Albini producing their records. Washam continued his drumming career by playing for Helios Creed, previously of Chrome. Steve Albini passed away on May 7, 2024.
Name
The band's name was inspired by the Japanese manga series The Rapeman. Albini became aware of this manga through an acquaintance involved in importing and was struck by its unusual combination of rape fantasies intertwined with superhero elements, describing it as "simultaneously utterly repellent and fascinating." He viewed it as "the product of decades of repression and misogyny expressed through a different cultural tradition." The choice was intentional to provoke and repel listeners, aiming to do the opposite of bands that sought mainstream attention via platforms like MTV.
The name generated controversy and led to protests at several performances. In a 2020 discussion on the Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal podcast, Albini referred to it as a "flippant choice" that he now considers indefensible, comparing it to an unfortunate tattoo. By 2021, he admitted to having been unaware of women’s issues at the time and mistakenly assumed problems such as misogyny had been resolved. Sims has called the name his greatest regret within his musical career.
Studio albums
- Two Nuns and a Pack Mule (1988, released by Touch and Go Records/Blast First/Au Go Go) UK Indie No. 4
Singles and EPs
- Budd EP (1988, Touch and Go/Blast First/Au Go Go) UK Indie No. 2
- "Hated Chinee" 7" single (1988, Touch and Go/Blast First/Au Go Go)
- "Inki's Butt Crack" 7" single (1989, Sub Pop Singles Club)
Compilation appearances
- Nothing Less Than Total War (Part One) (Blast First) (1987) – featuring "Dutch Courage"
- The Devil's Jukebox (Blast First) (1989) – includes "Dutch Courage"
- Indie Top 20 Vol. VI – Pride Of Independents (Beechwood) (1989) – contains "Bud(d)"
- Au-Go-Go sampler #1 cassette (Au Go Go) (1989) – showcases "Hated Chinee"