The Wrangler Brutes were an American

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier p ...

band formed in 2003 in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

History

Wrangler Brutes were formed around vocalist Sam McPheeters (ex-

Born Against Born Against was an American hardcore punk band from New York active between 1989 and 1993. In addition to their radical leftist politics, the group espoused a DIY punk message and challenged what they perceived as being a problem within the p ...

, Men's Recovery Project), drummer Brooks Headley (ex-Born Against,

Universal Order of Armageddon Universal Order of Armageddon was an American hardcore band, active from 1992 to 1994 and reformed in 2010. History The band formed in September 1992. By early 1993, after quickly gaining a small but devoted following, they recorded and toured ...

, (Young) Pioneers), guitarist Andy Coronado (of Skull Kontrol, Monorchid, Nazti Skinz, Glass Candy) and bassist Cundo Bermudez (of Nazti Skinz and Fast Forward). The band sold over 1,000 copies of their self-released, self-titled cassette in nine months. This release was followed by a 7" record and a full-length LP, ''Zulu'', recorded in May 2004 with

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. The album featured Chris Thomson (of Monorchid and Circus Lupus fame), as well as Circle Jerks'

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on vocals. The band recorded their October 8, 2004, show at Monkey Mania in

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, with Permanent Record Studios. The concept was to release a "bootlegged" live version of their Zulu album, but due to the band's split the live CD was never released. However a limited-run cassette only version of the ZULU Live "Bootleg" recording was released on January 21, 2017 by 25 Diamonds Label. In December 2004, at the end of a lengthy Japanese tour, McPheeters bowed out and was replaced for the band's last US show by Dean Spunt of the bands

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and

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. The band was known for somewhat confrontational, hectic live performances which were heralded by their biggest fans as a return to the artsy yet entertaining briskness of early Los Angeles

. McPheeters' sense of humor dominated their presence as a live act; his patter, alternately caustic and cryptic, was a major aspect of these shows. On their first tour, their set ended with noted history buff McPheeters donning a wig and reciting a dramatic monologue taken from the closing scene of act 1 of

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

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. McPheeters also penned an over-the-top dismissal of ''Zulu'' for the OC Weekly under the name "Walter Burgerns," an anagram of the band's name.

Band members

* Sam McPheeters - vocals * Andy Coronado - guitar * Cundo Bermudez - bass * Brooks Headley - drums

Discography

*1 sided 7" (WBR, 2003) *16-song cassette (WBR, 2003) *''Zulu'' LP / CD (WBR /

Kill Rock Stars Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and Tinuviel Sampson, and based in both Olympia, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, but was originally know ...

, 2004) *''Zulu "Bootleg" CD - Live from Monkey Mania - Denver, CO'' (Unreleased, 2004) *''16 Song Cassette Revisited'' LP (X-Mist, 2005) *''16 Song Cassette Revisited, Again'' 8"x 2 (Clarence Thomas, 2005) *''Denver 10/08/04 Cassette'' (25 Diamonds Label, 2017) (cassette version of Zulu "Bootleg" CD - Live from Monkey Mania - Denver, CO)

References

External links

Wrangler Brutes' label site
featuring a "fake" photograph of the band
album review
of ''Zulu''
OC Weekly
"This band is a nightmare I can't wake up from."
interview with Sam McPheetersshow review
from Noise Pop Festival
album review of ''Zulu'' by Walter BurgernsDiscogs release data
{{Authority control Hardcore punk groups from California Musical groups from Los Angeles