Man Is the Bastard was an American hardcore punk band based in Claremont, California. The band existed from 1990 to 1997, releasing mostly vinyl splits, extended plays, and albums on obscure labels from around the world. By 1997, the group ended and members all went on to do other projects, such as the noise group Bastard Noise, which originally started out as a Man Is the Bastard side project. They are typically seen as part of the 1990spowerviolence movement. Man Is the Bastard has dissolved but its members are involved with a number of other projects. Wood occasionally performs in the Los Angeles area as Bastard Noise. Kenyon and Connel continue to perform in progressive rock acts such as Frank Booth Youth, Bastard Lounge, ControllingHand, Lux Nova Umbra Est, and Umbra Vita. Andy Beattie continues doing vocals. Staying within his Hardcore/Powerviolence roots, he has performed/screamed in such bands as Controlling Hand, Low Threat Profile, Infest, Dead Language, featuring members from Iron Lung, and Cave State. His current band, Dead Mans Life performs the Los Angeles area. His "solo" band, Institute of Infinite Sorrow, is also active.
Style
Musical
Man Is the Bastard has been described as powerviolence, hardcore punk, noise rock, and sludge metal. The band's "set up" included two bass guitars, as well as dual vocals, performed by Wood and Kenyon. The band is also notable for their extensive use of noise, even going as far as creating the noise side-project Bastard Noise, which still actively make releases to this day. This heavy noise influence was brought into the band's sound in part by band member Henry Barnes, who brought his electronics into the band's sound. Barnes made his own electronic instrumentsfrom scratch. Man Is the Bastard's recordings are characterized by their thin, raw low fidelity production values.
Lyrical
The band's lyrics are often political and dark, with common themes being animal rights, violence, misanthropy, torture, police brutality, starvation, and depression. Man Is the Bastard's lyrical violence was balanced by their adamant advocacy of progressive ideals. This record of political activism resulted in their most widely available album, 1997’s split LP with death row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Artwork
Artistically most of their releases had a similar design, with their trademark skull on both sides of the words Man Is The Bastard with the release title underneath in quotations. The band's "skull logo" was originally taken from a medical book that Eric Wood was reading. Most of their recordings included simplistic liner notes that briefly explained each track's meanings. When artwork was used, it was typically stark, standing out against a basic layout. In 2012 the bandAkron/Family used the skull logo for a t-shirt design, to which Eric Wood accused of plagiarism. The band apologized, and both parties made up in agreement.
Influence
The band is now seen as a critical part of the California powerviolence movement. Spazz bassist and operator of Slap-a-Ham RecordsChris Dodge has called the group "the most unique band of their day". The indie folk band AJJ reference the group on the track "Do Re and Me" on their 2014 album Christmas Island.
Members
Original line-up
Eric Wood - vocals, bass
Joel Connell - drums
Henry Barnes - guitars, electronics
Aaron Kenyon - vocals, bass
Shawn Connell - guitar on Charred Remains / Pink Turds in Space Split EP.
