Rapeman
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Rapeman was an American rock music group founded in 1987 and disbanded in 1990.
Personnel were:
- Steve Albini (formerly of Big Black) on guitar and vocals
- David Wm. Sims (formerly of Scratch Acid) on bass
- Rey Washam (formerly of Scratch Acid and Big Boys) on drums
In an interview, Albini reported that "Rapeman is the title character in a Japanese comic book that I had come across through a friend of mine. The comic book is just a total mind-bender. There's a whole genre of comics in Japan, rape stories where women are raped in really graphic detail for whatever reason, and it's an amazing thing that this is just an accepted part of their sort of normal popular culture."[1] (http://www.petdance.com/actionpark/bigblack/press/rocknames.php) Albini and Washburn became "sort of obsessed" with the comic, and named their new group after the titular antihero.
Rapeman's performances would often be the target of protestors, who felt that the band was mocking or even encouraging rape and violence against women. Albini has described such criticisms as idiotic, arguing that punk culture is generally very sympathetic to feminism.
The playing style at times was reminiscent of more traditional noise punk (as on "Up Beat"), at other times cranky art-rock (as on "Monobrow"), their sound gave centre stage to the virtuoso guitar capability of Albini.
The band broke up for personal reasons; not, as has been rumoured, over a dispute relating to their name. Albini went on to form Shellac, Sims founded The Jesus Lizard.
Discography
(all released on Touch and Go Records in the US, Blast First! in the UK and AuGoGo in Australia unless otherwise indicated)
- "Hated Chinee b/w Marmoset" 7"
- "Budd" EP
- "Two Nuns And A Pack Mule" LP
- "Inki's Butt Crack b/w Song Number One" (Sub Pop Singles Club 7")