Spahn Ranch (band)
| Company type | Group or band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Matt Green, Rob Morton |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Electro-industrial music |
Spahn Ranch was a Los Angeles-based American group specializing in electro-industrial music, active between 1992 and 2000. Their sound blended elements of electronic dance, industrial, and gothic genres.
History
Spahn Ranch was established in 1992 by Matt Green alongside Rob Morton. The band’s name was inspired by a well-known filming site in Los Angeles. That same year, they signed with Cleopatra Records and issued a four-track EP titled Spahn Ranch, which included vocals from Scott "Chopper" Franklin.
In 1993, the group welcomed vocalist Athan Maroulis and released their first full-length album, Collateral Damage. Their sophomore record, The Coiled One (1995), marked the departure of Morton due to creative disagreements. Subsequently, the lineup grew to incorporate drummer David Glass, guitarist Kent Bancroft, and drummer Harry Lewis, contributing to a richer dark electro-industrial sound. By 1997, the primary members were Green, Maroulis, and Lewis.
Throughout the late 1990s, Spahn Ranch continued to produce albums. Their 1997 release Architecture featured performances by bassist Paul Raven (Killing Joke, Prong) and guitarist Danny B. Harvey (Rockats, Nancy Sinatra), integrating elements of drum and bass, dub, and live guitar. The following year’s album Beat Noir (1998) showcased further evolution in their style with contributions from bassist David J (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets). In 2000, they compiled early works and unreleased tracks in the collection Anthology 1992–1994.
The band embarked on extensive tours across North America alongside acts such as Front Line Assembly, Front 242, Switchblade Symphony, and Apoptygma Berzerk. They also toured Europe before disbanding in 2000.
Their final studio effort, Closure, was recorded in 2000 and released the following year.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Collateral Damage (1993, Cleopatra)
- The Coiled One (1995, Cleopatra)
- Architecture (1997, Cleopatra)
- Beat Noir (1998, Out of Line/Sub/Mission)
- Closure (2001, Cleopatra)
Extended plays
- Spahn Ranch (1992, Cleopatra)
- The Blackmail Starters Kit (1994, Cleopatra)
- Breath and Taxes (1994, Zoth Ommog)
- In Parts Assembled Solely (1996, Cleopatra)
- Retrofit EP (1998, Cleopatra)
Compilation albums
- Anthology 1992–1994 (2000, Cleopatra)
Music videos
- "Breath and Taxes" (1993)
- "Locusts" (1995), directed by Joseph Kahn
Compilation appearances (non-album tracks)
- The Whip – "Machine Politics (Original Version)" (1993) Cleopatra, US / Music Research, Germany / Jungle Records, UK
- Mysterious Encounters – "Antibody (Alternate Mix)" (1994) Cleopatra, US
- Industrial Revolution Second Edition – "Succumber (Blacklist)" (1994) Cleopatra, US
- Body Rapture Volume 4 – "Succumber (Blacklist)" (1994) Zoth Ommog, Germany
- A Saucerful of Pink – "One of These Days" (1995) Cleopatra, US / Cherry Red Records, UK
- The Digital Space Between Vol 2 – "Forceps (Fezmix)" (1995) Cleopatra, US / Hard Records, Denmark
- There Is No Time – "One of These Days (different mix)" (1995) Ras Dva, US
- Industrial Revolution Third Edition – "Vortex (Extended Mix)" (1996) Cleopatra, US
- Vertigo Compilation 3 1996 – "Locusts (Pygmy Children Mix)" (1996) Germany (promo-only CD with Vertigo magazine)
- Covered in Black – "Shot Down in Flames" (1997) Cleopatra, US / RCA Victor, Japan / Zebra-Cherry Red Records, UK
- Ultimate Drum 'N' Bass – "The Mark Inside" (1997) Hypnotic, US
- Electronic Lust v. 1 – "In the Aftermath (Astralasia Mix 2)" (1998) Orkus, Germany
- Hymns of the Warlock – "Dig It" (1998) Cleopatra, US
- The Black Bible – "An Exit (Alternate Mix)" (1999) Cleopatra, US
- Virgin Voices – "Swim" (1999) Cleopatra, US / RCA Victor, Japan
- We Will Follow – "I Will Follow" 1999, Cleopatra, US / Anagram Records, UK
- Awake the Machines Vol. 2 – "Remnants (CKultur Mutation mix)" (1999) Out of Line, Germany
- Darken My Fire – "Strange Days" (2000) Cleopatra, US / EMI, Japan / Anagram Records, UK