The warlocks

Creation and contract with Bomp!

The band was founded in 1998 in Los Angeles by musician Bobby Heckscher and named "The Warlocks". This name was used by Velvet Underground and the Grateful Dead at the beginning of their careers ^{[3] [4]} . Heckscher moved to Los Angeles from Florida with his family at the age of 15 years. ^[5] His first musical instrument was a cello ^[5] .

Prior to the creation of the group, Huckscher took part in various musical groups in Los Angeles, including Charles Brown Superstar, Don Knotts Overdrive (later renamed Headset ), Magic Pacer, The Brian Jonestown Massacre , and recorded bass parts for Beck Hansen ’s Stereopathetic Soulmanure album ^{[6 ] [7] [8] [9]} .

The Warlocks performed their first concert on July 4, 1998. The new band was compared to Spacemen 3 and Velvet Underground from the White Light / White Heat era. In October 2000, a contract was signed with Bomp! Records and in the same year released their debut mini-album ^[7] . A year later, the band released their first full-length album, dubbed “Rise and Fall” ^[10] .

Contracts with Birdman and Mute

After the release of their debut album, the band left Bomp! and contracted with Birdman Records ^[10] . On the new label in 2002, first released the EP "Phoenix", and then a full-length album of the same name. The album received positive press reviews ^{[11] [12]} . Peter Kember from Spacemen 3 and Spectrum ^[13] took part in the recording of the album. After the release of the album, the group toured with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club , The Raveonettes and Interpol ^[5] .

Soon the band left the Birdman label and signed with Mute Records in 2005 released the album Surgery, produced by Tom Rothrock ^[5] . On this album, the group departs from the psychedelic sound that is characteristic of previous releases, towards pop music, while maintaining a tough “fatal” sound. The songs on this album are shorter and more structured than on previous discs ^[14] . The recording of the album was accompanied by pressure from the label, and the musicians were unsatisfied with the final product. The release sparked mixed reviews from critics. ^{[14] [15] [16]} The album did not have commercial success and Mute terminated the contract with the group ^[17] .

Subsequent Creativity

After the release of Surgery, the group toured extensively around the world, and the composition of the participants changed repeatedly. In 2007, Tee Pee Records released a new album, “Heavy Deavy Skull Lover” ^{[17] [18]} . According to Heckscher, the disc was recorded over the weekend, after which all the musicians left the band ^[18] . The album is darker and more experimental than the previous ones ^[19] .

In 2009, the band released their next album, entitled The Mirror Explodes. John Santiago of Pixies took part in the recording ^[20] .

November 23, 2013 the group released the album "Skull Worship".

Albums

• Rise and Fall (2001)
• Phoenix (2002)
• Surgery (2005)
• Heavy Deavy Skull Lover (2007)
• The Mirror Explodes (2009)
• Skull Worship (2013)
• Songs From The Pale Eclipse (2016)

Online Albums and Collections

• EXP (2010)
• Rise and Fall: EP and Rarities (2010)
• Enter At Your Own Skull: Unreleased Volume One (2011)

EP

• The Warlocks (2000)
• Phoenix (2001)

Singles

• Baby Blue (2003)
• Shake The Dope Out (2003)
• Hurricane Heart Attack (2003)
• It's Just Like Surgery (2005)
• Come Save Us "(2005)
• Isolation "/" Red Camera (2006)

• Bobby Heckscher - vocals, guitar, keys, bass
• John Christian Rees - Guitar
• Earl W. Miller - guitar, drone car
• Christopher DiPino - bass
• George Serrano - drums