Massacre

The Profile

Massacre is an experimental rock trio formed by guitarist Fred Frith and bassist Bill Laswell with drummer Fred Maher in 1980; the group returned in 1998 with Charles Hayward on drums.

Debut album: Killing Time (1981; remastered 1993). Reformation album: Funny Valentine (1998). Subsequent releases include Meltdown and Lonely Heart. Core lineup: Fred Frith (guitar), Bill Laswell (bass); drums by Fred Maher (early) and Charles Hayward (later).

Two DeBaser reviews by macaco tackle Massacre’s debut Killing Time (1981, remastered 1993) and the long-gap follow-up Funny Valentine. Line-up: Fred Frith, Bill Laswell, with Fred Maher first and Charles Hayward later. The tone is witty and provocative, stressing experimental, improvised routes over rock orthodoxy. Genres flagged range from mat(h)rock to free-post-avant-experimental rock.