Gifting and Re-Gifting

It was very important for indie label bands to score an exposure-heavy opening slot with a more well renowned, more popular band. Chemlab, early in their career, had some good luck doing this. In support of their debut full-length Burn Out at the Hydrogen Bar, Chemlab procured opening gigs with well-known bands who had a similar sound such as WHITE ZOMBIE, NINE INCH NAILS and KMFDM. Despite this success, Chemlab had still not yet broken through to the public's consciousness and was therefore still "underground" in search of still more exposure. Their good fortune in finding lucrative opening slots would need to continue in order for their second full-length, East Side Militia, to become an unqualified success. With the release of East Side Militia iminent though, we found that no solid tour offers were on the table. This go around was a lot more of a struggle in terms of opening slots. The best offer was from unofficial big-brother label Metal Blade Records. Metal Blade, Chemlab's distributor, was looking to send the gore loving, extreme metal head, performance-artists known as GWAR out on the road in support of their new release. An offer was on the table for Chemlab to join them. This offer was reluctantly accepted by Chemlab and I say reluctantly because just as East Side Militia was being finished in the studio, Jared, Chemlab head honcho said to me,
"... and when this record is done, do you know who I'd really like to tour with?"
"Who?", I asked.
"PJ Harvey", was Jared's confident response. "I've always loved her stuff. It's fucking brilliant."

And now GWAR. I remember talking to Jared on the phone after he agreed to the GWAR tour and his tone was somewhat resigned to the fact that staying put was unacceptable. Better for them to be out with GWAR then home "playing with their dicks" as he might say. I have to say I agreed with him here with the thinking being if they perform well they can get used to the new songs and line up the next tour when the GWAR thing was done.

Ah yes, the NEXT tour. What would THAT be? Here's where the story goes from first person to second person - but still reliable. Straight from the horse's mouth as they say, Holly Hutchinson, the band's manager. Holly, an ex-scout for Atlantic Records, had bravely hitched her wagon to the Chemlab engine when she was laid off from Atlantic, thinking that she could get Chemlab signed to a major label and realize a nice payday for herself. She was working hard but I could see her faith starting to crack slightly.

While out with GWAR, Jared and the band were keeping their ears open for the next tour. After a gig in Chicago, Chemlab went out to a bar to blow off some steam (or maybe just for some blow). Concidentally, most of the members of Marilyn Manson were there as well. This being 1996 or so Manson was at the height of their popularity. Their shock rock act was keeping them popular and they weren't banned from too many venues yet. The members of Chemlab separated from Jared and on their own found their way over to Manson himself (real name Brian Warner) and his bandmates. A conversation was struck. Common ground, I assume, was found. Tommie Serv-o, Dylan and maybe even Greg "Cool Hand" Lucas of Chemlab were doing their job. An idea was floated that maybe Chemlab, in support of their strong yet varied new album, would like to tour with Marilyn Manson on their next tour in a few months time. Perhaps eyebrows were raised, positive responses were given, maybe even mental hi-fives were exchanged from the Chemlab boys. Manson had even allegedly expressed admiration for Burn Out.. and East Side. Now all that needed to happen was for Chemlab's big fish to close the deal and give this idea a chance. Word was spread to Jared from the rest of the band that Manson wanted to talk to him about this. But Jared was not enthusiastic. He didn't see the point in kissing Manson's big white ass. That guy couldn't hold a candle to Jared and his body of work. Manson was nothing if not unoriginal and by this time maybe even a sworn enemy of Trent Reznor and NIN. If he wants me to come talk to him he can forget about it, Jared allegedly said, not deeming Manson worthy of the 'Lab and turning his back on this gift horse.

Delusions of grandeur? Frustration with his painful vocal chords as a result of all of the screaming he had to do to placate the GWAR fans leading him down the wrong path? Perhaps. But this ill-advised rash decision had serious repercussions for FCR and Chemlab. Holly relayed this story to me with much frustration and anger. Realizing that even I had a personal stake in East Side Militia and its success in terms of building my career, I felt Holly's frustration clearly. Manson, of course, moved on and found that L7, despite their own accomplishments didn't think THEY were too good for Manson. While Jared and his merry band, not needing anyone else's help apparently, struck out on their own and headlined a small tour with FCR labelmates, haloblack and Acumen.

Rejecting this chance at creating a beneficial professional relationship with Brian Warner doomed East Side.. from being a breakout album to an album that was more status quo. Maybe it was because Manson had so much success at this point and he was only in his mid-late 20's while Jared was 36 motivated Jared to turn away this potential opportunity in bitterness. Or perhaps it was just plain arrogance, a characteristic that Jared had plenty of. While Jared had a flourishing artistic side I always noticed that he had a side of him that was strictly business. For some reason when this business opportunity came calling the punk artist in him answered the door.