Warrior Soul

Biography

Kory Clarke wanted to be the Iggy Pop of the '90s. Through his band, Warrior Soul, the Detroit native concocted his own Stooges- and MC5-style blend of political activism and art rock tendencies, gave it a '90s spin, and tried to impart it upon Generation X (the kids, not the band), but they never listened.

Originally a drummer for a number of bands, including Detroit punks L7 (not the all-female L.A. band) and Pennsylvania Southern rockers Raging Slab, Kory Clarke promoted himself to stage front when he founded Warrior Soul with guitarist Johnny Ricco, bassist Pete McLanahan, and drummer Paul Ferguson. Their first album, 1990's Last Decade Dead Century, was a critical sensation, especially in the U.K., where listeners readily embraced the band's political invective and insurrectionist rantings as the next big thing. But while Clarke certainly had the potential to become Generation X's leading mainstream-bashing poet, the metallic hard rock sound he chose as his vehicle ultimately lost out to Nirvana's nihilistic post-punk/alternative style.

Released in 1991, Drugs, God and the New Republic (featuring new drummer Mark Evans) took their anarchist leanings even further, but was significantly inferior on the songwriting front, and not even a nationwide support tour with Queensrÿche (with whom they shared management from the mighty Q Prime agency) helped further their cause. The following year's much improved Salutations from the Ghetto Nation fared no better, and Clarke's interviews became increasingly bitter, focusing on the band's record label, Geffen, whom he accused of ignoring the group's potential. Eventually, Clarke resorted to an all-out war, telling all who would listen that 1993's glaringly average Chill Pill had been botched on purpose in order to fulfill the band's contract. The ploy worked, and by early 1994 Warrior Soul were dropped by Geffen.