16

16
-(16)- circa 2020.
Background information
Also known as	-(16)-
Origin	Los Angeles, California
Genres	Sludge Metal, Alternative Metal, Hardcore
Years active	1992 - 2004, 2007 - Present
Labels	Pushead Fanclub, Pessimiser, Bacteria Sour, Relapse
Associated acts	Acid King, Black Cobra, 3D House of Beef, Fistula, Maximillion, Downer, Halo Epidemic, Nail Within, Arallu, Arctic Flame, Scumchrist, King Travolta, Son of Jor-El, Shadowcast, Æges, Fresh American Lamb, Trappist, Crom, Gehenna, Serpents of Dawn, Crippled Black Phoenix, Secret Order of Tusk
Website	16 Facebook

16 (Often stylized as -(16)-) are an American sludge metal band from Los Angeles, California. Since forming in 1991, -(16)- has been cited, along with fellow pioneering acts such as Eyehategod, Crowbar and Acid Bath, as one of the subgenre's seminal outfits. The band's original run lasted from 1991 - 2004, entirely based in DIY roots working with the likes of small labels such as Pessmiser and Bacteria Sour alongside legendary artist Pushead.

16 initially broke up in 2004, not long after all of the founding members had left the band. The band however would re-form in 2007 with founding members Chris Jerue, Bobby Ferry and Jason Corley alongside longtime bassist Tony Baumeister. The quartet would sign to Relapse to release the critically praised "Bridges To Burn" in 2009, followed by three more albums with the label and evolving into a quintet.

Since their formation and throughout both tenures 16 have released eight studio albums among numerous extended plays, singles and split releases. Despite their cult following and critical acclaim the band only toured on occasion but in both tenures have managed to tour North America, Europe and Japan.

History

Formation and Curves That Kick (1992 - 1994)

-(16)- was formed in Santa Ana, California by Bobby Ferry (guitar), Cris Jerue (vocals), and Jason Corley (drums) in 1992. According to Ferry, he and Jerue bonded as part of the Southern California skate scene. Ferry has stated band was originally called 15, but changed their name when they were made aware of a previously existing group called Fifteen, who had been signed to Lookout Records. Ferry also named some of the band's early influences, including 7 Seconds, Bad Brains, and Metallica, as well as the "wave of Amphetamine Reptile bands, Helmet, Jesus Lizard, Unsane and Tar."

The band recorded its first four songs that same year and released them as the Doorprize double 7" in 1992. Positive reviews and word of mouth led to the band being contacted by world renowned artist Pushead, about recording and releasing a 7" for his Fan Club. After hearing the next recording session, Pushead wanted to release a full length CD and 10" record. The Crystal 7" was released through the Fan Club in 1992, preceding the 1993 release of the band's first full length ("Curves That Kick") in the US and Japan. The band's first full-length album, Curves That Kick, was released in 1993 on Bacteria Sour, Pushead's label. With a long list of local shows, more recording and the addition of bass player Tony Baumeister, 16 became stronger, and went on to release the Japanese only CD Preoccupied, along with numerous 7" singles and splits. Soon after, they embarked on their first tour of Japan in 1994.

Drop Out and Blaze of Incompetence (1995 - 1998)

The band's next record, Drop Out, was released by Pessimiser/Theologian records in 1996 (after being shelved for nearly two years). In spite of Drop Out's critical acclaim, -(16)- did not tour heavily, opting instead to focus on performing locally. Jason Corley was ejected from the band at the end of 1994, and replaced by Andy Hassler. Phil Vera was also added as a 2nd guitarist, turning the band into a quintet. The band released Blaze of Incompetence in 1997 (again on Pessimiser/Theologian), and did a US tour with Grief in 1998. Andy Hassler was fired shortly after the tour. R.D. Davies replaced Andy, and then he was replaced by Mark Sanger 6 months later.

Zoloft Smile and Hiatus (1999 - 2004)

-(16)-'s next album, Zoloft Smile, was recorded in 1999/2000, but wasn't released until 2002 by At A Loss Recordings. By the time the album was released, Bobby and Tony had both quit the band leaving the band without any of it's founding members. The lineup around the time of it's release would revert back to a quartet of Jerue (Vocals), Vera (Guitar), Sanger (Drums) and Nial McGaughey and Rafael Martinez handling bass duties.

After the release of "Blaze of Incompetence," The band continued to play shows, record and release more 7" and 10" singles leading up to the release of "Zoloft Smile" on At a Loss Recordings in 2002. More local shows and a UK tour followed. Two more US tours followed, as well as their 2nd stint in Japan. In 2003, after releasing 4 full-length records and 15 singles and splits, 16 was laid to rest.

Phil took over vocal duties in 2003, after Cris was forced to go to rehab for alcohol and drug dependency. Addiction issues had plagued the band throughout their career, with Jerue remarking in a 2012 interview with Invisible Oranges, "there have been 14 dudes in this band and not one has been stable mentally or chemically." By this point the band was without any of it's founding members and despite the instability, managed to tour the United Kingdom, North America and Japan before disbanding in 2004.

Reformation and Bridges To Burn (2007 - 2011)

In August of 2007, some random email and phone conversations led the classic 16 lineup of Bobby, Jason, Cris and Tony to reform. The band's earliest known return show took place on 7 September 2007. A few months later 16 were approached by Relapse Records and signed to the label. 2008 marked the 16 year anniversary for 16 and the band would observe this anniversary by recording a new album, their first ultimately in seven years.

Bridges To Burn would see release via Relapse Records on 20 January 2009 to critical acclaim. The band would tour the West Coast that January to support the album but would ways with Corley again, and recruited Mateo Pinkerton as their new drummer. The band would further support Bridges To Burn by touring Europe twice in 2010, their most extensive tours in nearly a decade. On 9 November 2010 Relapse Records released The First Trimester, a compilation of non-album material.

Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds and Lifespan of a Moth (2012 - 2018)

16 began work writing their next album in the middle of 2010 and spent nearly a year working on it, ultimately working with producer Jeff Forrest at Doubletime Studios (Who produced Bridges To Burn). On 24 April 2012 16 would release their sixth album Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds via Relapse Records. Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds would attain further critical praise from the likes of The Sludgelord, This is Not A Scene, Metal Temple and The Sleeping Shaman among others. An EP of unreleased songs from the Zoloft Smile sessions entitled Lost Tracts of Time saw release on 11 September 2012. 16 would tour North America in the Fall with Tombs Following a tour of Europe the next year, Baumeister and Pinkerton would leave with Barney Firks and Dion Thurman as their respective replacements.

In 2014 16 would perform a string of shows with BL'AST! and tour Europe surrounding appearances at Doom Over Leipzig and Roadburn Festival. Work would begin on a seventh album in 2015, recording at Doubletime Studios once again with Jeff Forrest. Following a premier of a new track in "The Absolute Center of a Pitch Black Heart" and a Decibel video premiere for "Peaches, Cream and The Placenta, Lifespan of a Moth would see release on 15 July 2016 to praise from numerous publications.

16 would obtain a second guitarist in Alex Shuster in time for a split 7" with Fistula (Covering "Complications" by Killing Joke) and touring Europe surrounding an appearance at Desertfest Belgium. A follow-up tour of Europe alongside Primitive Man would take place the following year.

Dream Squasher (2019 - Present)

16 would only perform sporadically through 2019 as work began on an eighth record. Following an appearance at Doom City Fest in Mexico, details on an eighth album would be announced with a release date set for June. Notably longtime singer Cris Jerue would leave the band with longtime vocalist Bobby Ferry taking the vocal lead. Dream Squasher would see release on 5 June 2020 to critical praise along the likes of Metal Injection (8/10), Blabbermouth (8/10) Everything Is Noise No Clean Singing, Echoes and Dust and Decibel Magazine among many others.

On 13 March 2021, 16 would buy a smoke machine to celebrate the band's thirtieth anniversary.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Curves That Kick (1993, Bacteria Sour)
• Drop Out (1996, Pessimiser)
• Blaze of Incompetence (1997, Pessimiser)
• Zoloft Smile (2002, At a Loss Records)
• Bridges to Burn (2009, Relapse)
• Deep Cuts from Dark Clouds (2012, Relapse)
• Lifespan of a Moth (2016, Relapse)
• Dream Squasher (2020, Relapse)

Extended Plays

• Doorprize (1992, Reverb Productions)
• Fortune and Flames(2000, MP3.com)
• Lost Tracts of Time (2012, Last Hurrah)

Splits

• 16/The American Psycho Band (1994, No Lie)
  with The American Psycho Band
• 16/Fresh American Lamb(1994, Theologian Records)
  with Fresh American Lamb
• Trigger Happy/Pessimiser (1994, Pessimiser Records)
  with Grief
• The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1998, Insolito)
  with various
• Bored/At Dawn They Sleep (1998, Pessimiser)
  with Grief
• Hate/Pain Well Dressed (2000, Badman Records)
  with Treadwell
• Zodiac Dreaming (2001, Trash Art!)
  with Today is the Day
• 16/Fistula (2017, PATAC)
  with Fistula

Singles

• Japanese Tour (1993, Pushead Fanclub)
• Wash Me (1993, Pushead Fanclub)
• Sail Rabbit (1993, Standard)
• Crystal (1993, Pushead Fanclub)
• Felicia (1994, Bacteria Sour)
• Tocohara (1995, Bacteria Sour)

Compilations

• Preoccupied (1994, Bacteria Sour)
• Scott Case (Out of Print Material) (1998, Pessimiser)
• The First Trimester (2010, Relapse)

Members

Current Lineup

• Bobby Ferry - Guitar, Vocals (1992 - 2000, 2007 - Present)
• Barney Firks - Bass (2013 - Present)
• Dion Thurman - Drums (2013 - Present)
• Alex Shuster - Guitar (2017 - Present)

Past Members

• Cris Jerue - Vocals (1992 - 2002, 2007 - 2019)
• Jason Corley - Drums (1992 - 1995, 2007 - 2009)
• Benji Clark - Bass (1992)
• Greg Burkhart - Bass (1992)
• Mike Morris - Bass (1992 - 1993)
• Tony Bauemeister - Bass (1993 - 2002, 2007 - 2013)
• Andy Hassler - Drums (1995 - 1998)
• Phil Vera - Guitar, Vocals (1995 - 2004)
• R.D. Davies - Drums (1998 - 1999)
• Mark Sanger - Drums (1999 - 2004)
• Nial McGaughey - Bass (2002 - 2003)
• Rafael Martinez - Bass (2003 - 2004)
• Mateo Pinkerton - Drums (2009 - 2013)

List of Known Tours

• Curves That Kick North American Tour (1993)
• Curves That Kick Japan Tour (1994)
• Blaze of Incompetence North American Tour (With Grief) (1998)
• Zoloft Smile UK Tour (2002)
• Zoloft Smile North American Tour (2002)
• 2003 North American Tour (2003)
• 2003 Japan Tour (2003)
• Bridges To Burn North American Tour (2009)
• Bridges To Burn Spring European Tour (With Orange Man Theory) (2010)
• Bridges To Burn Summer European Tour (With Orange Man Theory) (2010)
• Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds North American Tour (With Tombs) (2012)
• Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds European Tour (With Tombs) (2013)
• 2014 European Tour (2014)
• Lifespan of a Moth European Tour (With Grime) (2017)
• 2018 European Tour (With Primitive Man) (2018)

External Links

• 16 Twitter
• 16 Instagram
• 16 Myspace
• 16 Bandcamp
• 16 BigCartel