The Band

Laurin Killian - vocals

Bob Bourne - guitar

Skev Littles - bass

Jim Villano - drums

When some totally awesome magazine like Rolling Stone decides to put us on their cover next month, we don't want them getting any details wrong, so here's the OFFICIAL band history of FLESH HAMMER.

Well, like all internationally renowned rock n' roll bands, the members of Flesh Hammer consisted of the most popular kids in high school. They pretty much banged prom-queens, thrashed high-school quarterbacks (when they weren't the quarterbacks), and competed for the Valedictorian spots. After being bored of getting laid by the hottest chicks in town every night and having their asses kissed on a daily basis, four young lads with loads of guaranteed potential decided to do something only a genius beyond his years and adolescence would think of: forming a band with his other winning, competitive friends. But like all totally amazing and unbelievable moments (ala miracles) self-will was not enough... an ingredient of the unexplained lurked in the corner waiting for something special to happen. Then, something SENSATIONAL happened: as if a mandate by God was expediently obeyed, FLESH HAMMER WAS FORMED. History would never be the same.

That was circa 1985 or so (they have gone light years farther since then and defeated ALL expectations). Back then, the four disciples and sons of Mount Olympus were Laurin Killian (the poetry), Kevin Littlefield (the bottom end to get your groove on), Steve Zen (unrepentant beatings), and Rob Datum (Jimmy Page's former guitar teacher). These fine young lads with incredible talent were to form God's gift to human life.

But before they all unexpectedly walked into a room fully outfitted with instruments, they had fulfilling lives/careers also.

Before penning famous 3 minute novels such as "She Likes Sex", Laurin first sang punk at the "bomb shelter" in New London at some after hours parties in the 80's and got hooked. The Jarts were pretty much whoever he could get to join him in making horrendous noise in his basement. Many participated - but few survived. From the smoldering crater they created, four battle weary men emerged: Rob, Kev, Steve and Laurin. This early version of the band was called Silly Puddy. Besides writing some of the early classics like: "I'm a Train", "Living in a Cave", and "Truck Surfing" - the band spent most of their time auditioning potential "Puddettes".

Rob Datum was one of the stalwarts who was with the Jarts from the beginning, and was a powerful contributor to the massive crater they left in their wake. Rob brought a wild unrestrained style of guitar playing to the band, highlighted on songs such as "Feeding Time at the Zoo" and "Funky Butt".

Steve - the international man of mystery - his former band, the legendary Live Nude Girls, was featured on the first two volumes of the local compilation Towers of New London, with songs such as "McDog" and "Now I Wanna Fuck Madonna". Some old lechers were enticed to enter clubs by the promise of "Live Nude Girls" on the bill, but ended up leaving disappointed when Steve would only show them a little leg. But the young girls swooned when they witnessed Steve's vocal and guitar playing debut on "Multi-Talented".

Kevin Littlefield, AKA Kevin James, AKA Skev Littles, also graced Towers of New London Vol. II with the powerful track "Downtown" from his early band The Disturbed. The Disturbed continued to play sporadically through much of the 90s, and Kev often performed twice in one night - both Disturbed and Hammered. He's been thumping away and smashing beer bottles for years, and was a member of Flamin' Anus before the Disturbed. He joined up with Silly Puddy, in Killian's basement in the late 80's. Since then, Kev has been one fabulous father, husband, and cult leader (he also punched out his neighbors front teeth).

But colleges were clamoring for these strapping young lads - being particularly impressed by the valedictorian speeches mentioned earlier. Laurin was part of a band called Mind Detergent in college (wash your mind out and start anew!), who were also briefly called God's Middle Finger. Laurin was also part of another band in the late eighties, Spot the Hippie, with two of the former Live Nude Girls, Eirik and Greg.

When Rob was about to leave to go to Chicago (obviously, he was on drugs that day to leave for browner pastures outside Flesh Hammer), the remaining trio changed the name to Flesh Hammer after a sexploitation t-shirt.

Later on, the metal-God Kevin O'Connor joined the band and we released a 3 song ep, featuring the band's first take on "She Likes Sex".

Around this time, there was this skinny dude who wore black metal and rock 'n roll t-shirts everyday. Kev and Laurin spotted him, looked at each other, and simultaneously said "GENIUS". So, Pete Nowakowski was introduced into the band, and remained for the better part of ten years. He has played a large part in contributing to Flesh Hammer material, and helped pen such teen-girl squirm-ers as "Deal", "Happy", and "Black Out".

For a brief moment, Flesh Hammer was a duo-axe outfit (think Judas Priest), as O'Connor joined Pete for a massive guitar onslaught. But that didn't last. Kev O'Connor soon left, and currently teaches of the healing power of cheese, forensic science, and measures his friends and family members skulls by income somewhere in Connecticut.

With Pete, Flesh Hammer released the 7 song "Mallet" tape in 92. On the tape were such classics as "She Likes Sex", "Flesh Hammer" and "Mickey in Hell". The record never was as big as the boys knew it could be, partly because our lawyers were fearful of repercussions from the Disney empire for the centerfold featuring Mickey being beaten while suffering in eternal hell-fire.

This line-up stayed intact for many years, but like all bands, changes were inevitable. Around the fall of 2001, Pete decided that Flesh Hammer was not for him, and wanted to pursue different musical projects.

Bob Bourne (aka, Guns 'n Ammo), Hammer's 18th guitarist, joined the fold after a special "audition". A childhood prodigy since birth, he's quite horrible at the guitar, but really impressed Kevin and Laurin with his virtuoso skinflute playing abilities (not to mention his killer bar chord technique - he even went to Berkeley for that).

But before joining the band fully, Guns 'n Ammo had to settle prior commitments. But seeing how Flesh Hammer was once-in-a-solar-system-life-span opportunity, he made up his mind. Turning down scholarships from Oxford and Princeton University, Guns 'n Ammo is now a full fledged Hammer. Guns 'n Ammo also frequently regrets his decision....

After Guns 'n Ammo joined, Flesh Hammer slowly regrouped and came together work as a working band once again. In the winter of 2003, Flesh Hammer released the seminal "Meat Beater" record.

After the one-off one-time gig with Adam Allard, Guns 'n Ammo and Kev rethought the gig, and thought it sounded pretty damn good. As Guns had been whacking it off and on throughout the years with Adam in his basement, he decided that it felt good to beat it again on stage with Adam.

Adam, who at the time was on an upward and promising career with Jon Bon Jovi's cousin, the Jon "You Best Listen To Me" Valentino Band, decided fame and fortune, and a guaranteed gig at Dano's Pizzeria was not for him. As Guns was having doubts about playing with the Zenster on stage, he told Laurin and Kev, "Look, I like stroking it with Adam. Steve doesn't tickle my poo-doodle anymore". After Adam whored his way into the band with getting gigs to shows such as the Misfits, he was in and converted into a full-fledged Hammer.

But, the story does not end here.

Once a Hammer, always a Hammer

Like his Zen like nature, Steve's shadowy presence remains. He may not seem like a visible part/force of the band, but he and other other band members will remain active associates of the band. After 18 plus years and an original member of Hammer, Steve (who has great haircuts), along with Peter, Kevin O'Connor, Jim Villano and Rob Datum, are all proud alumni of Flesh Hammer. They will always be welcome to come on and rock out a few songs on stage.

Steve and Pete can be spotted at Flesh Hammer shows, and support the new members of the band, as "Once a Hammer, always a Hammer". And as this saying goes, the Hammer alumni Pete and Steve have been working together on new musical projects, and Hammer supports their efforts fully.

Rob has since formed a power trio called the Nerves in Chicago, and Flesh Hammer hopes to sometime once again share the stage with Rob and his new band.

The Origin of the name Flesh Hammer

We were looking for a new name for the band, since we were bringing in a new guitarist. Our old guitarist, Rob, was moving away to go to school. At the time, I had just gotten a Crypt Records catalog (one of my favorite record companies!), that featured a series of t-shirts called the "exploitation series". They all had images from sleazy dime novels, like the one on the left. We thought it was a cool name for a band - and we had t-shirts "pre-made"... 

Unfortunately, the shirts are long since out of print - but you can still see Laurin proudly wearing his shirt after a show occasionally.

The line "hell hole of sin" from our theme song also came from another one of these shirts. We even wrote another song called "gutter boy", after another shirt. Strange where inspiration comes from.