Claw Hammer

Claw Hammer

Claw Hammer is a US indie rock band from the United States, formed in Long Beach, California in 1986. The group’s line-up consists of Bob Lee, Chris Bagarozzi and Jon Wahl. Its members come from several neighbouring municipalities around Long Beach.

Style and name

The band takes its name from a reference in a Captain Beefheart song, and Beefheart’s irregular blues influence remains part of its sound. Claw Hammer is associated with punk, garage rock, experimental music and blues rock, alongside its indie rock classification.

Releases and labels

Claw Hammer first issues a cassette and a number of small-run EPs and singles in the late 1980s. It then signs to Sympathy for the Record Industry, which releases its self-titled debut album in 1990. Two more full-length records and another EP follow on the same label. The band later moves to Epitaph Records for Pablum in 1993, and then to Interscope, where it releases Thank the Holder Uppers in 1995 and Hold Your Tongue (and Say Apple) in 1997.

Live work and collaborations

Claw Hammer builds a reputation for live performances and continues playing concerts until 2000. In 1994, the group serves as the backing band for MC5 member Wayne Kramer on his Epitaph debut, The Hard Stuff.