Distorted Pony are an American

noise rock Noise rock (sometimes called noise punk) is a noise music, noise-oriented style of experimental rock that spun off from punk rock in the 1980s. Drawing on movements such as minimal music, minimalism, industrial music, and New York hardcore, a ...

band formed in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

in 1986. The band originally consisted of bass player Dora Jahr and guitarist David Uskovich accompanied by a

drum machine A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument that creates percussion sounds, drum beats, and patterns. Drum machines may imitate drum kits or other percussion instruments, or produce unique sounds, such as synthesized electronic tones. A d ...

. Eventually, they were joined by London May and Theodore Jackson on drums and percussion and Robert Hammer on guitar. The group broke up in late 1993, but they reunited in early 2010 and started to perform reunion shows.

History

Distorted Pony formed in 1986 in Los Angeles, California with Dora Jahr on bass and David Uskovich on guitar. The band initially used a drum machine to handle percussion duties. In 1988, the duo recruited drummer Theodore Jackson and guitarist Robert Hammer. The group's first release was the "Concrete Bruises"

7" single In music, a single is a type of release of a song recording of fewer tracks than an album ( LP), typically one or two tracks. A single can be released for sale to the public in a variety of physical or digital formats. Singles may be standal ...

, which was released in 1990 through Piece of Mind. The single was limited to only 1000 copies. In 1991, the band recruited drummer London May. After the release of

extended play An extended play (EP) is a Sound recording and reproduction, musical recording that contains more tracks than a Single (music), single but fewer than an album. Contemporary EPs generally contain up to eight tracks and have a playing time of 1 ...

s and compilation appearances, the group released their debut album '' Punishment Room'' in 1992 through Bomp!. The album was recorded in January 1992 with the help of

Steve Albini Steven Frank Albini (; July 22, 1962 – May 7, 2024) was an American musician and audio engineer. He founded and fronted the influential post-hardcore and noise rock bands Big Black (1981–1987), Rapeman (1987–1989) and Shellac (band), ...

. The band recorded another album with Albini the following year before breaking up in August 1993. The album, titled '' Instant Winner'', was released

posthumously Posthumous may refer to: * Posthumous award, an award, prize or medal granted after the recipient's death * Posthumous publication, publishing of creative work after the author's death * Posthumous (album), ''Posthumous'' (album), by Warne Marsh, 1 ...

in 1994 through Trance Syndicate. The band reunited in 2010 and began to perform reunion shows with Eddie Rivas of Los Angeles noise rock band Leopold. In the summer of 2018 Distorted Pony completed a 14 date tour of Europe. In 2020 they played the No Coast Fest in Dallas, TX along with a club show in Austin in the following night. On June 14, 2024 the band released the single "Crisis," their first new release in over 30 years.

Band members

*David Uskovich – Guitar, Vocals (1986 –1993, 2010–present) *Dora Jahr – Bass, Vocals (1986–1993, 2010–present) *Eddie Rivas- Guitar, Vocals (2010–present) *London May – Drums (1991–1993, 2010–present) *Theodore Jackson – Drums (1988–1993, 2010–present) *Robert Hammer – Guitar (1988–1993)

Discography

;Studio albums *'' Punishment Room'' (1992, Bomp!) *'' Instant Winner'' (1994, Trance Syndicate) ;Live albums *'' Live in Hamburg'' (2021, Improved Sequence) ;EPs *'' Concrete Bruises'' (1990, Piece of Mind) *'' Work Makes Freedom'' (1991, Bomp!) *''Dept. of Existence/Go Kart'' (1993, Gasoline Boost) *'' Concrete Bruises (remaster/reissue for 2018 European tour)'' (2018, Total Annihilation Records/Beauty Fool Records) ;Compilation appearances *''Demolition Scare'' (1990, Demolition) – "Sinner's Prayer" *''The Big One'' (1991, Flipside) – "Jahr Null" *''HURT'' (1991, Braindrops) – "Scratch Out the Sky" *''Ow, Quit It! Vol. 1'' (1992, Volvolo) – "Smittin" *''I Give You the Head of Corporate Rock and Roll Vol. 1'' (1992, Pacifica Radio) – "Sinner's Prayer (Live)" *''The Smitten Love Song Compilation'' (1994, Karate) – "Insatiable Times" *''Destination: BOMP!'' (1994, Bomp!) – "HOD"

References

External links

* * * * {{Authority control 1986 establishments in California American noise rock music groups American industrial rock musical groups Musical groups established in 1986 Musical groups disestablished in 1993 Musical groups from Los Angeles Trance Syndicate artists