Punk-alternative rock band originated in Norfolk, VA. and relocated to Baltimore in 1993. Though the group had many line-up changes, the main Baltimore line-up consisted of Julie McDermott (keyboards, vocals), Michael Bowen (guitar, bass, vocals), Jim Glass (guitar, vocals), Rob Oswald (drums), and Ron Spencer (guitar, vocals). In keeping with the group’s over-powering sense of humor, the members often assumed stage nicknames (Lee Harvey Keitel, Fingers Wey Up N. Sider, Cole Kutz, Milk Brown). They frequently toured, even making it over to England for a Peel Session.
In the late-90s, the band dissolved, with some of the members re-forming Spencer’s earlier outfit, The Lee Harvey Keitel Band. Bowen went on to front Dirty Sanchez and was co-founder of the Ottobar venue. Jim Glass went on to play in Roads to Space Travel, and Impossible Hair. Rob Oswald had previously been a member of I Find Gold, Cave Slags, and Jade, and went on to play in Stress Magnets, Mondo Generator, Dirty Sanchez, Karma to Burn, Queens of the Stone Age, and Nebula. Ron Spencer went on to play in People’s Army of Rome, LandSpeedRecord, and the Swingin’ Swamis.
Buttsteak discography:
1988(CS) Camp Zama There’s a Fowl Wind Blowing
1989(45) Camp Zama (Kim Fowley produced 7” EP)
1990(45) Camp Zama Scented Puppy Tug
1991(CD) Merkin Fatty’s Got More Blood
1992(CD) Merkin Shit… Cool It’s The Honeycomb Generation
1994(CD) GoKart Moroccan VD LP CD
1995(7”) Go-Kart Hank / He-Whore / The Man with Three Cocks
1996(CD) GoKart Men Who Pause
