Destroy All Monsters (sometimes rendered DAM) was an Ann Arbor, Michigan musical group formed by Mike Kelley, Jim Shaw, Niagara and Cary Loren. in 1973.
Their music touched on elements of punk rock, noise, psychedelic, heavy metal music and noise rock with a heavy dose of performance art. Their name has sometimes thought to have came from a Godzilla movie, but it could also have come from a comic book with the same title. They described their music as "anti-rock."
Destroy All Monsters never found mainstream success, but earned some notoriety due to members of notable rock groups The Stooges and MC5 who joined the later rock version of the group.
Although Destroy All Monsters never recorded a proper album, Sonic Youth singer/guitarist Thurston Moore released this three compact disc compilation of the group's music in 1994.
Early years
Formed in 1973, the first edition of Destroy All Monsters was formed by University of Michigan art students Mike Kelley, Jim Shaw, Niagara and filmmaker Cary Loren. They performed in the Ann Arbor area from 1973-1976, and their only release was a one hour cassette of their recordings available only through Lightworks magazine. Their early music was Influenced by Sun Ra, Velvet Underground, ESP records, monster movies, beat culture and futurism' their sound was experimental, psychedelic, darkly humorous and droning.
On New Years eve of 1973, the first Destroy All Monsters concert was held at a comic book convention in Ann Arbor, Michigan. At the time the instruments were a violin, a sax, a vacuum cleaner and a coffee can. They performed a demented version of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" and were asked to leave after ten minutes. The group performed "Guerilla Style" setting up for free at parties, playing for food along Ann Arbor's frat row. They used modified instruments, a drum box, tape loops, hot-wired toys, cheap keyboards and broken electronic devices. The only formal gig they had (beside the comic convention) was at the Halloween Ball at the University of Michigan art school in 1976.
Kelley and Shaw left the band during the summer of 1976 to attend graduate school at CAL Arts in Los Angeles, California. Both have gone on to lead successful solo careers in the art world.
Pulled this from wiki.
Download here,
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS
Originally from the Austin scene that spawned such kindred spirits as the Butthole Surfers and Scratch Acid. This group began in 1986 with 2 drummers, guitar and bass. Most probably influenced by english groups like Section 25, Joy Division and Josef K but making it very american. This band was in the head space as contemporaries Sonic Youth, Swans, and Scratch Acid.
