Revolting Cocks

Revolting Cocks
Company type	Supergroup
Industry	Music
Founded	1984
Founder	Richard 23, Luc van Acker, Al Jourgensen
Headquarters	United States, Belgium
Products	Industrial rock music

Revolting Cocks, also recognized as RevCo, is an industrial rock ensemble with American and Belgian roots, functioning intermittently as a supergroup. It was established as a side endeavor by Richard 23 from Front 242, Luc van Acker, and Al Jourgensen of Ministry.

1984: Formation

The inception of Revolting Cocks dates back to late 1984 when the Belgian industrial dance act Front 242 toured the United States supporting Ministry, both bands being signed to Wax Trax! Records. During this tour, Al Jourgensen of Ministry invited Richard 23 from Front 242 to partake in a dub remix collaboration. Subsequently, Richard 23 joined forces with Luc van Acker, formerly a guitarist for Shriekback, after discussions with Jourgensen led to his involvement.

The group's name is said to have originated from a misunderstanding involving a French insult at a Chicago bar. Their first release was the single "No Devotion" in 1985 on Wax Trax! Records, followed by their debut album Big Sexy Land in 1986. This record blended elements of industrial, hard rock, and electronic body music (EBM), incorporating extensive sampling and synthesized rhythms.

1985–1994: Early period

In 1986, Richard 23 departed due to conflicts with Jourgensen concerning his and Adrian Sherwood's remix of "You Often Forget". The band then included Chris Connelly (formerly of Finitribe and later Ministry), along with Paul Barker and Bill Rieflin (both ex-members of Blackouts and Ministry), among other collaborators.

Their live album Live! You Goddamned Son of a Bitch (1988), recorded during a 1987 performance in Chicago, showcased more intense renditions of tracks from Big Sexy Land alongside new songs. This style persisted on Beers, Steers, and Queers (1990), which emphasized layered samples and increased distortion. Due to copyright complications over their cover of Olivia Newton-John's "(Let's Get) Physical," the production budget escalated to $30,000, creating tension between Jourgensen and Wax Trax! Records. These releases marked Revolting Cocks' final works on Wax Trax before Sire Records took over the rights to Jourgensen's side projects.

Released in 1993 by Sire Records, Linger Ficken' Good featured a return to simpler arrangements and included a rendition of Rod Stewart's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?", which was also issued as a single. A planned tour was ultimately canceled, resulting in the band entering a period of inactivity.

2004–2010: Initial comeback

The group was reactivated in 2004 by Jourgensen alongside former member Phildo Owens, debuting the track "Prune Tang". Originally titled Purple Head, the album experienced delays before its release in 2006 under the new title Cocked and Loaded. Their cover of Bauhaus’s "Dark Entries", featuring Gibby Haynes, appeared on the soundtrack for the film Saw II in 2005.

For the MasterBaTour opening for Ministry in 2006, Jourgensen assembled a touring lineup including vocalist Josh Bradford (Stayte), keyboardist Clayton Worbeck (Stayte), and guitarist Sin Quirin (Society 1). This ensemble recorded Sex-O Olympic-O, which was released in March 2009 following postponements. After touring, they followed up with ¿Got Cock? in April 2010. The project disbanded once more after Bradford and Worbeck left; however, Quirin continued working with Jourgensen during Ministry’s revival in 2011.

2010s: Second comeback

In 2011, Wax Trax! Records commemorated its 33⅓-year milestone with a concert series held at Metro Chicago. The event showcased performances by artists including Chris Connelly, Paul Barker, Luc van Acker, among others. Richard 23 made a special appearance at the finale, delivering a rendition of "No Devotion."

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Big Sexy Land in 2016, Richard 23, van Acker, Barker, and Connelly toured under the name The Cocks, with support from Dan Brill and Jason Novak. The subsequent year saw the group revert to the Revolting Cocks title for a European tour featuring appearances at Wave-Gotik-Treffen and Infest festivals, followed by a North American tour alongside Front Line Assembly.

On April 8, 2018, Al Jourgensen revealed that work was underway on a new album.

Members

Current members

Richard 23 – vocals (1985–1986, guest in 2011, 2016–present), percussion (1985–1986)
Luc van Acker – vocals (1985–1991, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2016–present), guitars (1985–1988)
Paul Barker – bass (1987–1993, 2011, 2013, 2016–present), production (1987–1993)
Chris Connelly – vocals (1987–1993, 2011, 2013, 2016–present)

Former members

Al Jourgensen – production, guitar (1985–1993, 2004–2010)
Bill Rieflin – drums (1986–1993; deceased 2020)
Phildo Owen – vocals (1989–1991, 2004–2006)
Duane Buford – keyboards (1993, 2011, 2013)
Mike Scaccia – guitar (1993, 2004–2006; deceased 2012)
Josh Bradford – vocals (2006–2010)
Sin Quirin – guitars, bass, keyboards (2006–2010)
Clayton Worbeck – keyboards, bass (2006–2010)

Touring members

Nivek Ogre – vocals (1988)
Michael Balch – keyboards (1990–1991)
Mark Durante – guitar, backing vocals (1990–1991)
Trent Reznor – vocals (1990)
Jeff Ward – drums (1990; deceased 1993)
Anna K – bass (2006)
Seven Antonopoulos – drums (2006)
Murv Douglas – bass (2009)
Aaron Rossi – drums (2009; deceased 2025)
Jamie Duffy – guitar (2011; deceased 2012)
Dan Brill – drums (2011, 2013, 2016–present)
Jason Novak – samples, percussion, guitar (2016–present)

Timeline

Studio albums

Live albums

Live! You Goddamned Son of a Bitch (1988)

Remix albums

Cocktail Mixxx (2007)
Sex-O MiXXX-O (2009)
¿Got Mixxx? (2011)

Singles

"No Devotion" (1985)
"You Often Forget" (1986) (UK Indie No. 13)
"Stainless Steel Providers" (1989)
"(Let's Get) Physical" (1989)
"Beers, Steers, and Queers" (The Remixes) (1991)
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" (1993)
"Crackin' Up" (1994)

External links