The sonic joyride of Scott 'Chopper' Franklin began at the age of 15 when he started hanging out at the infamous punk rock Church in Hermosa Beach, Ca., home to Black Flag, Red Cross and the Last, along with other bands and local punk rockers in 1979. Already living on his own, he moved into the Baptist church-turned-punk rock mecca (and offices for SST Records), and was soon roadying for Black Flag, learning guitar and bass and jamming with anybody that he could.
Meanwhile up in Hollywood, he crossed paths with the infamous Rick Wilder, and that led to him playing bass for the notorious punk rock n roll outfit the Mau Maus. After four years, many riotous shows and a six song recording (with Robbie Krieger of the Doors producing), he left to join the trash rock outlaws the Joneses.
The influencial album "Keeping Up With The Joneses" was recorded, a deal with Elektra Records came and went, then Chopper relocated in New York City, where he reconnected with Rick Wilder for some more recording. While in NYC he switched from bass to guitar and formed the aggro/industrial project Murder In Exile, fusing the electronic intensity of Ministry with the raw energy of Motorhead and the Misfits, resulting in a demo deal back in Los Angeles with Epic Records, as well as a publishing deal with Polygram. Three self-released Murder In Exile albums and a 7" single (on Hellnote Records) resulted.
Taking the new found technology of loops and samples, next up was Charley Horse, created in 1993 with vocalist Sean Wheeler (Throwrag) and producer Mickey Petralia (Beck, Rage Against the Machine). Charley Horse featured scorching rockabilly and country guitar, blues drum loops and dialog samples from film noir and hot rod movies. The record that would become "Unholy Roller" was recorded during this time, as well as a 7" single (Back Down/We All Fall Down released on Hellnote Records).
Performing at a Mr. Badwrench show (whose "Up Jumped the Devil" cd is available now on Chopper's Ratchet Blade Records), Chopper met Lux Interior and Poison Ivy Rorschach of the Cramps, eventually joining the band in 2002. After several tours and recording the album "Fiends of Dope Island" Charley Horse got back together 2004, this time with Corey Parks of Nashville Pussy on bass, Rick Ballard on guitar and Dino Guerrero on drums. The US and Europe were toured, an album was recorded and a video for "Bad Ass Dad" was shot. Charley Horse then entered into two recording studios (one with producer Cameron Webb of Motorhead and Social Distortion note) to slam away at their newly written material. In the end the band emerged with 10 more terrorizing titles that became "Professional Sinners" (Ratchet Blade Records #716), and booked another European tour.
The Doghouse Lords were formed in 2008, Chopper joining with John Bazz and Bill Bateman of the Blasters, along with Javier 'Jake' Matos (Blue Shadows) on vocals, harp and guitar and the rockin' blues cd "Diggin' at the Doghouse" was released on Ratchet Blade Records. A video was also shot for "Walk Across Your Floor" from that record.
Ratchet Blade then put out the Berlin Brats album "Believe It Or Rot: 1973-1976", a collection of lost studio tapes, bootlegs and vinyl recordings of the Mau Maus' Rick Wilder's first band, available both on cd and limited edition vinyl, as well as digitally. This was followed by the limited edition vinyl and digital release of Charley Horse's "Professional Sinners".
The future will bring the first full length Mau Maus album on Ratchet Blade, along with more Berlin Brats gigs, shows with Nick Curran and the Lowlifes, and more great rock and roll records and tours.