The Warlocks are an American hard-rock band based out of Los Angeles. Their music has been defined as neo-psychedelia, but much of it spans multiple genres.
Front man Bobby Hecksher grew up in Tampa Bay, Florida where his grandfather owned a radio station where his mother also worked as a secretary. As a result Bobby was soon eating and breathing rock'n'roll on a daily basis.
At sixteen his family left the swamps and moved to Los Angeles where Bobby soon found kindred spirits. He jammed with Beck playing bass on "Stereopathetic Soul Manure"; he hung out in the decadent atmosphere of the 'Mad Hatter' club and moonlighted in the Brian Jonestown Massacre whilst also attending parties with legendary acid guru Timothy Leary, a potent cultural and creative mix that led to the formation of The Warlocks.
The band's debut album "Rise & Fall" was released on Bomp records in 2000. A worldwide deal with Mute (in conjunction with City Rockers in the UK and with Birdman in America) led to the release of "Phoenix" in 2003. The album's varying moods and atmospheres range from the driving power of "Shake the Dope Out" to the 14-minute hallucinogenic opus "Oh Shadie". "Baby Blue", a retro-sounding 7" and CD single taken from the LP features sitars, feedback, and a 60s West Coast pop sound. The single's extra tracks featured two songs from the album recorded on their British tour, "Inside Outside" and "Hurricane Heart Attack". The latter includes a guest appearance from ex-Spaceman 3 front man Sonic Boom.
After Jenny Fraser rejoined, a second album 'Surgery' was released by Mute in 2005.
In Oct 2007 a new album "Heavy Deavy Skull Lover" was released on Tee Pee Records and the band toured as a six-piece. The record is considered to be 'darker' than the rest of the group's work.
| Release date | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| November 11 2000 | The Warlocks (EP) | Bomp! Records |
| October 16 2001 | Rise and Fall | Bomp! Records |
| 2002 | Phoenix (EP) | Birdman Records |
| November 5 2002 | Phoenix Album | Birdman Records Mute Records |
| August 23 2005 | Surgery | Mute Records |
| October 23 2007 | Heavy Deavy Skull Lover | Tee Pee Records |