Описание
Официальный фан-сайт одобренный Лейтоном Коицуми, вокалистом The MORLOCKS и The GRAVEDIGGER V .
The GRAVEDIGGER V
Formed in the early 80's by Leighton Koizumi
(16, vocals), Chris Gast (15, bass), Ted Friedman
(16, guitar), John Hanrattie (17, guitar) and a drummer named Matt (last name lost), the group was originally called The Shamen.
Matt was soon replaced by Dave "The Animal" Anderson, but the group discovered that their chosen name was already taken by another group. After a night of brainstorming in a local bar, the replacement moniker they chose, the GRAVEDIGGER V, was a take-off on the old "Monster Mash" backing group The Cryptkicker V. The band asked a waitress what she thought of the new name, and when she replied that she thought it was "stupid," they were sold!
Things took off quickly from there, with the group's over-the-top antics drawing nearly as much attention as their music. Their primitive, riff-driven, snarling, snot-nosed take on Garage Punk became a favorite of area teenagers.
After just a few shows opening for other local heroes, in January of '84 the GRAVEDIGGER V signed with Greg Shaw's Voxx / Bomp imprint and released their first album "All Black and Hairy", later that year. All five of the garage rockers slept in their car in an alley next to the studio, while recording the album in LA.
When the GRAVEDIGGER V played the Whiskey A Go Go, they had to wait outside between sets, as they were too young to be in the club otherwise. Unfortunately, substance abuse problems soon caught up with the group; Gast was asked to leave the group he had helped found, and he was replaced by Tom Ward.
The group managed a further track on the Voxx compilation "Battle Of The Garages Vol. 3", and disbanded soon after that.
The MORLOCKS
The MORLOCKS were conceived in late August 1984 when bassist Jeff Lucas, guitarist Tom Clarke and drummer Mark Mullen succeeded in recruiting former GRAVEDIGGER V vocalist Leighton Koizumi and guitarist Ted Friedman to form a raving band influenced by 60's punk and psychedelia.
The group immediately embarked on an intense and ambitious rehearsal schedule; within weeks they were ready to rant ‘n rave live on stage. The MORLOCKS played their first club gig in September at The Rave-Up in Los Angeles. They received two recording offers the same night, and shortly thereafter signed a deal with Midnight Records of New York City. The MORLOCKS debut mini-LP "Emerge" was recorded in December of that year, and was released in the spring of 1985.
The MORLOCKS subsequently moved to San Francisco where they became one of the city’s top attractions, and recorded a fake live album called "Submerged Alive" before eventually calling it quits.
Due to an article printed in "Spin Magazine" people thought front man Leighton Koizumi was dead from a drug overdose (на самом деле, как он мне рассказал - он отбывал срок в тюрьме за попытку вооруженного ограбления!)....
However, not only he is alive but the MORLOCKS are now finally back on stage and have just released a new mini-LP "Easy Listening For The Underachiever" - only their second studio LP after legendary "EMERGE" that came out over 20 years ago!
