Drunk Tank was a

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 ...

group formed in

Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

and active between 1989 and 1992. Although the band was short lived, their few releases garnered them favorable reviews. The band's earliest incarnation featured drummer and percussionist Lou Ciccotelli, who would become recognized for his involvement in

God In monotheistic belief systems, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. In polytheistic belief systems, a god is "a spirit or being believed to have created, or for controlling some part of the un ...

, Laika and

Ice Ice is water that is frozen into a solid state, typically forming at or below temperatures of 0 ° C, 32 ° F, or 273.15 K. It occurs naturally on Earth, on other planets, in Oort cloud objects, and as interstellar ice. As a naturally oc ...

History

Drunk Tank was formed in 1989 by guitarist Alex Barker, drummer Lou Ciccotelli and vocalist/bassist Julian Mills. Released in September of that year, the band's debut single ''Leadfoot/Sclssors'' was produced and recorded by Big Black front-man

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), ...

and described by '' Maximumrocknroll'' as "throbbing, loud post-hardcore" as well as "good post-earthquake music." ''Hayride With Mary Worth'' was released in December with continued involvement from Albini. The band relocated to New York City and graphic artist Steven Cerio replaced Lou Ciccotelli, who moved to London and began performing with Kevin Martin. The band released their first full-length album in 1991, which earned them comparisons to

The Jesus Lizard The Jesus Lizard is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 1987 in Austin, Texas by vocalist David Yow, guitarist Duane Denison and bassist David Wm. Sims. They relocated to Chicago, Illinois, in 1989, where they found kindred spirits in ...

, Rapeman,

King Snake Roost King Snake Roost (also known as KSR) were an Australian noise rock band. King Snake Roost formed in 1985 in Adelaide and in 1987 the band moved to Sydney. The band broke up in 1990 after a two-month tour of the US. In Australia and the USA the ...

. They opened for Hole (band) at Maxwell's in Hoboken NJ in 1991 and opened for The Ex (band) at CBGB in NYC in 1992. Critical success seemed suggested major label interest was imminent and the band traveled London and headlined a sold-out show at the Borderline club. While in London, the band recorded four songs for

John Peel John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), better known as John Peel, was an English radio presenter and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original disc jockeys on BBC Radio 1, broadcasting regularly from ...

at The Peel Sessions on BBC Radio 1 on Aug 18, 1992. The '' Missing'' EP was recorded in November 1992 but released posthumously in 1995, after Drunk Tank had disbanded. Julian Mills went on to form Dirty Old Man River in 1996 and Steven Cerio became involved in Sonisk Blodbad.

Discography

;Albums *''

Drunk Tank A drunk tank is a jail cell or separate facility accommodating people who are intoxicated, especially with alcohol. Some such facilities are mobile, and may be spoken of as "booze buses". Traditionally, and in some jurisdictions currently, the ...

'' (Radial, 1991) ;EPs *'' Missing'' (Radial, 1995) ;Singles *''Leadfoot/Scissors'' (Radial, 1989) *''Hayride With Mary Worth'' (Radial, 1989) ;Compilation appearances *''

Mesomorph Enduros ''Mesomorph Enduros'' is a various artists compilation album released in December 1992 by Big Cat Records. It was assembled by musician and composer J. G. Thirlwell, who had been asked by Big Cat to compile songs by his favorite underground Ameri ...

'' (

Big Cat The term "big cat" is typically used to refer to any of the five living members of the genus ''Panthera'', namely the tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard, and snow leopard. All cats descend from the ''Felidae'' family, sharing similar musculature, c ...

, 1992)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Drunk Tank Musical groups established in 1989 Musical groups disestablished in 1992 American noise rock music groups American post-hardcore musical groups Alternative rock groups from Illinois