Tura Satana (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Tairrie B |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Fate | Disbanded; reunited for a live show in 2002 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Tura Satana was a rock ensemble from the United States, established by rapper and vocalist Tairrie B following her departure from the rap label Ruthless Records. Initially known as Manhole, the group started out blending rap and rock but transitioned into a nu metal sound after encountering a trademark dispute with another band from Texas.
Biography
During the production of her sophomore rap album, Tairrie B aimed to form a rap rock band and recorded a rap adaptation of Van Halen's "Runnin' with the Devil," titled "Rhyming with a Devil." Facing discouragement from Ruthless Records, she chose to leave and assemble a band dedicated to combining rap with heavy instrumentation while tackling social issues. Originally named Manhole, the band released two tracks in 1994 under Lethal Records and contributed to Noise Records' 1995 compilation The Fall and the Rise of Los Angeles, which secured them a deal with Noise.
After being introduced by Korn to producer Ross Robinson, Manhole recorded their debut album All Is Not Well, featuring themes such as rape, violence against women, abortion, and racism. Although the band appreciated working with Robinson, they felt that the hurried production process hindered the album’s full potential. Due to unresolved legal conflicts between Noise Records and the Texas band also called Manhole, they were compelled to change their name.
They adopted the moniker Tura Satana, inspired by the actress famous for portraying the strong character Varla in Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, and shifted their musical style from rap rock to a more emotionally driven sound. Under this new identity, they released Relief Through Release, which was later recognized by AllMusic as a commendable example of nu-metal. Distribution issues combined with internal difficulties eventually led to their disbandment in 1998.
On January 18, 2002, the final lineup of Tura Satana reunited for a live show at Hollywood's Troubadour. In 2020, Tairrie B made both All Is Not Well and Relief Through Release available for free on Bandcamp, alongside early demo recordings and a live performance from Paris in 1996.
Band members
Final lineup
- Tairrie B – Vocals (1994–1998, 2002)
- Brian Harrah – Guitar (1997–1998, 2002)
- Rico Villasenor – Bass (1996–1998, 2002)
- Marcelo Palomino – Drums (1994–1998, 2002)
Former members
- Scott Ueda – Guitar (1994–1997)
- Marty Ramirez – Guitar (1994)
- Stephen Klein – Bass (1994–1995)
- Louiche Mayorga – Bass (1996)
- Tommy Loya – Touring bassist (1997)
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | UK Ind. |
UK Rock | ||
| All Is Not Well |
|
— | — | 32 |
| Relief Through Release |
|
167 | 33 | 7 |
| "—" indicates releases that did not chart or were unavailable in that region. | ||||
Compilation releases
- The Early Years (2020)
Concert recordings
- Live in Paris (2020)
Singles
- "Victim" (1996)
- "Kiss or Kill" (1996)
- "Scavenger Hunt" / "Piece of My Heart" (1997)
- "Venus Diablo" (1998)