Würm (band)
Würm was a sludge metal band started in 1973 by bass player Chuck Dukowski, who would later join Black Flag. They released two LP's on Greg Ginn's SST Records and some tracks on compilations. They were active from 1973 to 1983. [1]
History
Würm was formed in the suburbs of Los Angeles in 1973 by high school friends Gary McDaniel, who would later be known as Chuck Dukowski, and guitar player Ed Danky. They came up with the name Würm in 1974 [1] and they were joined by drummer Lou Hinzo in 1976. The group's sound contained elements of hard rock and early punk. The band made its name playing parties and throwing bashes at their own living space/practice place, an abandoned beach bathouse they took over and dubbed "The Würmhole" in Hermosa Beach. [2] [1]
It was at The Würmhole that the band made friends with another group, Panic. Würm recorded an album around 1977 or 1978, but the record label failed to pay the studio bills and the tapes were recorded over. The failed album, combined with the drug use of some members and the band's general lifestyle took its toll. The group began to fall apart and Gary soon joined Panic. Panic soon changed their name to Black Flag and Gary began calling himself Chuck Dukowski. [2]
In 1982, while Black Flag was prevented from recording due to an injunction filed during their legal battle with Unicorn Records, Chuck reunited with Danky and Hinzo and recorded and released a 3-song 7", We're Off/I'm Dead/Time has come Today on SST Records. The group split up shortly afterwards but reformed again in 1983, this time adding Simon Smallwood (of Dead Hippie) as vocalist. This line up recorded an LP, Feast but split during the recording and the LP was shelved until 1985, when it was released on SST Records. Ed Danky died of a cocaine overdose in 1991.[1] [2]
Members
- Chuck Dukowski - Bass
- Ed Danky - Guitar
- Lou Hinzo - Drums
- Simon Smallwood - Vocals
==Discography==[2]
- Albums
- Feast LP (SST Records, 1985)
- Singles
- "We're Off" b/w "I'm Dead/Time has come Today" 7" (SST Records, 1982)
- Compilations
- The Blasting Concept LP (SST Records, 1983) - features the track I'm Dead
- The Sound of Hollywood 3-Copulation LP (Mystic Records, 1984) - features the track I'm taking over
- Program: Annihilator LP (SST Records, 1986) - features the tracks Feast and Bad Habit
- The 7 Inch Wonders of the World LP (SST Records, 1986) - features the tracks We're Off, I'm Dead and Time has come Today
- The Blasting Concept Volume II LP (SST Records, 1986) - features the track Death Ride
- Punk Anderson's Favourites 2XCD (Starving Missile, 1995) - features the track We're Off