The Locust
Bassist Justin Pearson in concert
Bassist Justin Pearson in concert
Background information
OriginSan Diego, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active1994–2022
Labels
Past members

The Locust was an American hardcore punk band from San Diego, California, known for their mix of grindcore aggression and new wave experimentation.[1]

The band has been noted for their use of insect costumes when performing live.

History

Prior to The Locust founding members Justin Pearson and Dylan Scharf were in the hardcore punk band Struggle together, formed in late 1990.[2] The band only lasted three years. Despite this they had opportunities to share musical space with other significant bands with similar ideological perspectives such as Born Against, Downcast, Bikini Kill, and Econochrist.[2] The band disbanded in 1994.

The Locust was formed in 1994 by Bobby Bray, Justin Pearson, Dylan Scharf, Dave Warshaw, and Dave Astor. After a number of personnel changes, they arrived at their ultimate four-piece lineup in 2001, consisting of Bray, Pearson, Joey Karam and Gabe Serbian. The Locust was initially a powerviolence project whose first release was a split with genre pioneers Man Is the Bastard. Later releases incorporated synthesizers and became increasingly theatrical.[3] The band regularly played shows in all-ages punk clubs in Los Angeles and San Diego,[4] usually donning insect costumes.[3]

In September 1998, The Locust released their first full-length album, The Locust, through Gold Standard Laboratories.

On June 24, 2003, The Locust released their second full-length album, Plague Soundscapes, through ANTI-.[5]

On March 20, 2007, The Locust released their third and ultimately final full-length album, New Erections, through ANTI-.[6] After lengthy touring following the release of New Erections, The Locust went on hiatus.[7]

On May 18, 2010, The Locust released an archive recording of their Peel Session recorded 9 years prior in 2001, simply named The Peel Sessions, released through Radio Surgery.[7] This 16-track recording was the first time Gabe Serbian had started playing drums for The Locust, finalizing the lineup of Bobby Bray, Joey Karam, Justin Pearson and Gabe Serbian that has remained ever since.[7]

On July 31, 2012, The Locust released a compilation album, The Gold Standard Labs, through ANTI-.[8] The album contains all the band's material released on the Gold Standard Laboratories label which is all their material from 1997 to 2002.[9]

In 2013, The Locust returned from hiatus and in 2019 they were added to the Desert Daze 2019 festival line up. Bassist Justin Pearson confirmed that the band would add more shows after this, with new material and new costumes.[10]

On May 1, 2022, the band announced the death of drummer Gabe Serbian that had occurred the day before.[11] The band have since announced on their Instagram account that they can no longer be active in the wake of Serbian's death, and that no further albums or live performances will occur under the Locust name.[12] The final piece recorded by the group is a remix of the Danny Elfman solo track "Cruel Compensation" which appears on the remix album Bigger. Messier.

Style and influences

The Locust were known for their unique mix of grindcore speed and aggression, complexity, and new wave weirdness.[1] The band's musical genre is typically described as grindcore,[1][13][14] hardcore punk,[15] powerviolence,[16] mathcore[17] and noise rock.[18]

About the band's aesthetic, vocalist/bassist Justin Pearson has said, "I wanted to change the way people perceive music, or maybe just destroy it in general."[19] The Locust's music is complex, dynamic and fast-paced, often featuring abrupt and inconsistent time-signature changes. These erratic elements are, according to vocalist/guitarist Bobby Bray, "a reflection of perhaps how our brains have to function in order to be able to do anything in the Western societies we live in."[20] Stylus described the band's sound as "Relentless blitzkriegs of high velocity noise, skinny tie keyboards and bloody screaming that often last less than a minute, Locust songs are tightly-wound, dynamic and bizarre expressions of frustration and hatred whose intensity and creativity are currently unparalleled in punk rock."[21] The New York Times stated "If noise-rock had superheroes, the Locust would surely be among them."[22] The band was praised by Dave Lombardo of Slayer, who said "There's a band called The Locust. Their drummer is named Gabe Serbian, and their music hits me now like D.R.I. hit me in the early '80s."[23]

The Locust have had a unique stage presence: costumed in skin-tight, full body nylon suits (which the band refer to as uniforms). The last 5 different suits were designed and made by Ben Warwas.[24] Unlike most bands, which normally have the drums set up behind the other members, the four members of The Locust usually all positioned in a line at the front of the stage. The group recommended that in order to get the full impact of the music, one should see them live.

The Locust boycotted Clear Channel Communications and refused to play in any Clear Channel-owned venues.[25] This boycott affected a 2005 tour with Fantômas, as well as another tour with Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They also had a policy of only playing all-ages shows.

Equipment

Karam plays an assortment of analog synthesizers, including various Moog models[26] and a patch-panel modular synth. Bray plays a Gibson SG, and Pearson plays a see-through body Dan Armstrong bass made by Ampeg.[27] Serbian played Ludwig drums with Paiste cymbals.

Controversies

Pearson appeared as a "rock-star slut" in an episode of The Jerry Springer Show. It culminated in a French kiss with Scott Beiben, owner of the record label Bloodlink.[28] Pearson wore a T-shirt for The Locust during the appearance.[29] Pearson later stated "I was beat up during a commercial break by one of the 'security guards' pretty bad for blowing snot on the carpet."[29]

The Locust have been accused of encouraging the use of drugs because the band sold vanity mirrors as merchandise: fans and others mistook the mirrors as being intended for use as a surface from which one could snort cocaine.[30] In an interview with Scene Point Blank Justin Pearson was asked "You guys make Locust compacts, modeled after cocaine mirrors. Do you feel it's irresponsible to sell these to your younger fans?"[30] Pearson responded "I'm not sure what you are talking about. I have never done cocaine and we never modeled any sort of merchandising product or idea after cocaine mirrors. However we did have vanity mirrors. In case you were not aware, they could be used for a variety of things such as make-up application, picking food out of your teeth, popping zits, fixing your bangs, etc. About the second part of your question, we are not responsible for anyone besides ourselves. We are a band and in no way are we a babysitting service."[30]

The Locust organized a number of "gender-baiting incidents", including Pearson and Serbian staging a fake same-sex marriage while on tour in Hawaii.[28]

In media

  • "Nice Tranquil Thumbs in Mouth" and "An Extra Piece of Dead Meat" are featured in the film Cecil B. Demented.[31]
  • In the 2011 cult film Margaret, a poster featuring the cover of Safety Second, Body Last can be seen in various scenes set in the protagonist's bedroom.
  • The Hold Steady song “Girls Like Status” includes the lyric “She said that she was coming but she mostly made hard, fast noises It kinda sounded like The Locust”

Members

Final lineup
  • Bobby Bray – guitar, vocals (1994–2022)
  • Justin Pearson – bass, vocals (1994–2022)
  • Joey Karam – keyboards, vocals (1997–2022)
  • Gabe Serbian – guitar (1998–2001), drums (2001–2022; his death)
Previous members
  • Dylan Scharf – vocals, guitar (1994–1996)
  • Dave Warshaw – keyboards, vocals (1994–1996)
  • Dave Astor – drums (1994–2001)
  • Jimmy LaValle – keyboards, vocals (1996–1998)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums
Compilation albums
  • Molecular Genetics from the Gold Standard Labs (2012, ANTI-)
Live albums
  • The Peel Sessions (2010, Radio Surgery)
EPs
Split releases
  • split with Man Is the Bastard (1995, King of the Monsters)
  • split with Jenny Piccolo (1996, Three One G)
  • split with Arab on Radar (2000, Gold Standard Laboratories)
  • split with Melt-Banana (2002, Gold Standard Laboratories)

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Locust – Artist Profile". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Three One G Records". threeoneg.com. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Bands and Performers: The Locust". San Diego Reader. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  4. ↑ "A Day With the Locust". LA Weekly. September 18, 2003. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  5. ↑ ANTI-. "The Locust – Plague Soundscapes | Anti Records". Anti Records. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  6. ↑ ANTI-. "The Locust – New Erections | Anti Records". Anti Records. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 "Three One G Records". threeoneg.com. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  8. ↑ ANTI-. "The Locust – Molecular Genetics From The Gold Standard Labs | Anti Records". Anti Records. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  9. ↑ ANTI-. "THE LOCUST MOLECULAR GENETICS FROM THE GOLD STANDARD LABS OUT JULY 31 VIA ANTI- RECORDS | News | Anti Records". Anti Records. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  10. ↑ "The Locust announce first show in four years, planning more dates & new music". brooklynvegan.com. August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Gabe Serbian, Drummer for San Diego Noise Punks the Locust, Dies at 44". pitchfork.com. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  12. ↑ "The Locust – Official Video Announcement". Instagram. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  13. ↑ Mudrian, Albert. Choosing Death: the Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore. Los Angeles, CA: Feral House. p. 265.
  14. ↑ "Meet Dead Cross, Dave Lombardo's New Hardcore Punk Band With Members of The Locust and Retox". Noisey. November 19, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  15. ↑ "The Locust | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  16. ↑ Marcus, Andrew (August 6, 2003). "Buzz Clip". SF Weekly. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  17. ↑ https://www.masterclass.com/articles/mathcore-music-guide
  18. ↑ "The Locust, Cattle Decapitation, Daughters, Pop and Rock Listings". The New York Times. April 13, 2007. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
  19. ↑ "Music: Top Ten: Bands That Dress-Up In Weird Costumes". Weird Retro. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  20. ↑ "The Locust : Corporation". corporation.org.uk. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  21. ↑ "The Locust – Artist Profile – Stylus Magazine". stylusmagazine.com. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Pop and Rock Listings". The New York Times. April 13, 2007. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Otto Von Schirach Vs Gabe Serbian (The Locust) Manchester Show Announced". DrownedInSound. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Bands and Performers: The Locust". San Diego Reader. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  25. ↑
  26. ↑ Potts, Ryan (October 2, 2003). "The Locust: Plague Soundscapes – PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Workspace and Environment: The Locust". Trashaudio.blogspot.com. April 30, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  28. 1 2 Bemis, Alec Hanley (September 18, 2003). "A Day With The Locust". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  29. 1 2 "Justin Pearson Interview | Skatepunk". skatepunk.com. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  30. 1 2 3 "Feature: Interviews – The Locust". Scene Point Blank. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  31. ↑ "Cecil B. Demented". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
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