| God Bullies | |
| Origin: | Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States |
| Genre: | Noise rock |
| Years Active: | 1986 - 1995 |
| Label: | Amphetamine Reptile Records Alternative Tentacles |
| Associated Acts: | Thrall, Hand Over Head, Debauched, The Brain Saw, They Never Sleep, Teenage Larvae, Cows, The Mike Hard Show |
| Past Members: | Mike Hard David B. Livingstone Adam Berg Tommy Shannon Mike Corso Tony Oliveri Eric Polcyn Scott Kodrik Pat O’Harris Cliff Carinci |
God Bullies is an American noise rock band from Kalamazoo, Michigan.[1] The God Bullies originally lineup was Tommy Shannon guitar, Adam Berg drums, Mike Hard vocals, Mike Corso on bass. Additionally some members changed through time with the addition of David Livingstone also on guitar, Eric Polcyn took over bass for a short time and Adam Berg was briefly replaced with Tony Oliveri of Cows fame on drums. They were active from 1986–1995,[2] and were on hiatus for a time. Most recently in the summer of 2010 reunited to coincide with the Amphetamine Reptile Records' 25th Anniversary concert. This 2010 tour was known as the "War On Peace" tour and featured core members David B. Livingstone (lead guitar), Mike Hard (vocals), Mike Corso (bass) & Adam Berg (drums) with Johnnie Johnson on guitar.
The setlists sprawled across the band's entire catalog and averaged 25–30 songs a night. Yourfleshmag.com's review of God Bullies performance at the AmRep 25th Anniversary Bash said : "There were two or three bands that day who generated plenty of talk and God Bullies were easily one of the three. Well deserved praise for a band that hasn’t really been functioning full-time for a while."
Although God Bullies never found any mainstream success, creepy anthems like "Let's Go To Hell", "Ordinary Man" and "Cemetery", paired with frontman Mike Hard's theatrical delivery and over-the-top stage antics, earned the band a large cult following. God Bullies toured extensively throughout the US and Europe with artists including Hole, Melvins, Helmet, Tar, Surgery, Cows and Helios Creed. The band released material with Alternative Tentacles and Sympathy For The Record Industry, but the bulk of their releases were with Minneapolis based Amphetamine Reptile Records.
Soon after the 2010 AmRep 25th Reunion show the God Bullies called it quits. Mike Hard went on to perform in several bands, Thrall, Hand Over Head, BrainSaw. Most recently Mike Hard was working with David B. Livingston, Scott Kodrik, Cliff Carinci and on November 4, 2021 the band Pig Harvest was created. They did make it into the studio and cut some tracks but unfortunately guitarist David B. Livingstone died in February 2023.
God Bullies have reformed as the new God Bullies with original frontman Mike Hard and the members of the Detroit band Thrall. Hard has been performing with Thrall and releasing albums with Thrall the last thirty two years. God Bullies songs played often in theirs sets and members Kodrik and Johnson have also played several God Bullies shows side by side with David B Livingstone. The new line up is Mike Hard(vocals), Scott Kodrik(Guitars), Pat O’Harris(Bass) and Cliff Carinci(Drums). God Bullies are slotted to record a new album at Steve Albini's Electrical Audio this April set for a September 2024 release on Reptilian Records followed by touring In the US and Europe.
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | "All I Want Is My Mamma" | Mad Queen Records | 7" Single |
| 1988 | "Fear and Pain" | Amphetamine Reptile | 7" Single |
| 1989 | Plastic Eye Miracle | Amphetamine Reptile | Cassette [12" EP reissued in 1990] |
| 1989 | Mama Womb Womb | Amphetamine Reptile | 12" LP |
| 1990 | "Join Satan's Army" | Amphetamine Reptile | 2x7" Single |
| 1990 | Dog Show | Amphetamine Reptile | 12" LP - CD |
| 1991 | War on Everybody | Amphetamine Reptile | 12" LP - CD |
| 1992 | "How Low Can You Go?" | Sympathy for the Record Industry | 7" Single |
| 1992 | "Tell Me" | Anti-$ocial Propaganda | 7" Single |
| 1994 | Kill the King | Alternative Tentacles | 12" LP - CD |
| 1995 | "Millennium" | Radial Records | 7" Single |