Episode 119 – The Fu*king Champs 1994-2007: Hot-Ass Majesty

Operating outside of the metal infrastructure, but heralding its glory and complexity more so than most “true” metal bands, The Fucking Champs, in their 1994-2007 rampage, cobbled together elements of Trouble, Confessor, Don Caballero, and Kraftwerk and reshaped the geometric possibilities of math metal, all with the insouciance of its indie rock roots. Please join us as we attempt to solve this riddle wrapped in a conundrum. You’ve got a thirst, Portland! Note I:

We talk about the various name changes our San Franciscan heroes have endured…from The Champs to C4AM95 to The Fucking Champs. We failed to mention what might be our favorite name, one they never recorded under but adopted for a short spell: The Champs UK.

Note II:

Apologies for the confusion on the tracks we sample from V. You’ll hear the correction within the episode, and the correct song titles are noted below. Drag City, we are pissed! But…we’re already over it.

Note III:

The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast Note IV:

All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele and Fates Warning books…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org

Music cited in order of appearance:

Intro: “Lamplighter” (IV, 2000) “Guns in Our Schools” (Triumph of the Air Elementals demo, 1994)

“So Then I Was All Why’d You Say Fuck My Style” (Songs for Films About Rock demo, 1994)

“Merry Go Round” (Songs for Films About Rock demo, 1994)

“Flawless Victory” (III, 1997)

“Heart to Heart” (III, 1997)

“Tonight, We Ride” (III, 1997)

“These Glyphs Are Dusty” (IV, 2000)

“Esprit De Corpse” (IV, 2000)

“Thor is Like Immortal” (IV, 2000)

“Children Perceive the Hoax Cluster” (V, 2002)

“I Am the Album Cover” (V, 2002)

“Major Airbro’s Landing” (V, 2002)

“A Forgotten Chapter in the History of Ideas” (VI, 2007) “Dolores Park” (VI, 2007) “Earthen Sculptor” (VI, 2007)

ep. 120 preview: DBC, “Infinite Universe” (Universe, 1989)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.