Location: Seattle, San Francisco, Boston
Active: 1979 – 1982
The Blackouts formed in Seattle in 1979 with Erich Werner, Mike Davidson, and Bill Rieflin, former members of The Telepaths. They were joined by Roland Barker, and after their first two releases, Davidson was replaced by Roland’s brother Paul Barker in 1981 for the “Exchange of Goods” single on Situation Two. In 1982 they moved to Boston where they played with bands like The Misfits, who toured often.
This is when they run into Al Jourgensen of Ministry, who produced the ‘Lost Soul’s Club’ EP for Wax Trax! Records. Not long after, Blackouts disbanded andJourgensen recruited Rieflin, Paul and Roland Barker to the line-up of Ministry, leading to further collaboration between Paul Barker and Jourgensen in Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Lard, etc.
Their track ‘Writhing’ was a staple at Ghoul School club in Los Angeles. Bill Rieflin aka William Frederick Rieflin passed away March 24, 2020.
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/147287-The-Blackouts
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blackouts
Related: The Telepaths, Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Lard, Misfits, Erich Werner, Mike Davidson, Bill Rieflin, Roland Barker, Paul Barker, Situation Two, Al Jourgensen, Wax Trax! Records, Seattle, 1979
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