Hunting Lodge was an industrial/experimental band formed in Port Huron, Michigan in 1981 by Lon C. Diehl – vocals, bass, drum programing, Richard Skott - guitar, & Karl Nordstrom - keyboards as a platform to experiment with harsh, dark electronic-based music. Diehl had played synth/bass with the industrial post-punk band HATE/GREY. Skott had been self-releasing guitar noise experimentations under the name Screw Machine. The two started S/M Operations for the purpose of publishing a music ‘zine. The name S/M Operations comes from the two creators former projects: Lon C Diehl was already putting out a small publication called Smarm ‘zine & Richard Skott was releasing his cassettes under the name of Screw Machine (thus the name is read Ess Emm Operations, not S & M). The two bonded over their interest in the music of Throbbing Gristle, Dome, & SPK, as well as the plethora of post-punk musical experimenters of the time. In May 82 they released a single issue of S/M Operations. By that time they were collaborating on making music together.
Their first live appearance took place in September 4, 1982 at the Harrington Ballroom inside the Harrington Hotel. The event was recorded on a portable cassette player. It would become their first cassette-only release, Harrington Ballroom. After this first live event, Karl Nordstrom left the band, although he played on several tracks on their next cassette-only release Exhumed (re-released July 2014 by Exoteque Music – check out their Facebook page for ordering info) as well as their 1983 debut LP Will.
On their next LP, 1984s Nomad Souls, the band's earlier experiments with pure noise were now being combined with strong rhythms, using synched digital delays/early samplers & tribal drums. Following a U.S. tour (October 23 – November 18) in 1984, Skott moved to San Francisco while Diehl finished up the recording of the 12" EP Tribal Warning Shot. The title track off the 12" single of the same name released by Normal Records in Germany became a minor club hit.
Their final album 8-Ball was released in 1986. It has them pushing further into traditional song structure. For the uninitiated, the compilation Necroplolis covers many of their more well known songs. For their rawer style, I recommend their early work (pre-Tribal Warning).
Side 01 –
Icepick Method
By the Blood of Others
Ecce Qui Tolis Peccatta Mundi
Sonderkommando
Four Hoursemen
Side 02 –
Astral Ball
Mrs. Hagar
Simulation/Stimulation
Gone the Way of All Flesh
Lon C. Diehl, Richard Skott, & Karl Nordstrom. Edition of 150 cassettes.
Side A –
Na Vilavilairevu
We are They
Hand of God
Shugendo Gyozha / You are of Me
Side B –
Icepick Method
Sounds like a Picture
S/M Operations
Will
Banishing Dirge
Lon C Diehl, Richard Skott with Karl Nordstrom – keyboards on “Icepick Method”. Edition of 500 LPs.
Side A –
Night from Night
Side B –
Untitled
Side A –
Nomad Souls
Beautiful Ugly
Born of Force
Side B –
The Wolf Hour
Rhythm Cage
God Loves the Rock Stars
Becoming a Commercial – Interrupting
Nomad Souls
Lon C Diehl, Richard Skott with Richard Kinnee & Steve Kish – percussion, Roselle Williams – vocals, & John Steinborn – drums. Edition of 1000 LPs.
Side A –
Astral Ball
Tribal Warning
Is That Right
Rhythm Café
Born on Fire
Night from Night
Side B –
Voodoo Eclipse
God Loves the Rock Stars
Learn to Will
E.Q.T.P.M.
Banishing Dirge
Lon C. Diehl, Richard Skott with Karl Nordstrom – keyboards B4, & Roselle Williams – vocals A6-B2. Live performances from 1984 tour – A1-A5, B5 950 Club, Chicago; A6,B1-B2 Composite Lodge, Detroit; B3 Johnny D’s, Boston; & B4 somewhere in Kansas City.
Side A –
Tribal Warning Shot
Soul-Vac
Side B –
Commerce
Tribal Warning Shot (live)
Lon C. Diehl, Richard Skott with Helmut Robison & John Steinborn – drums, Trish Damon – vocals, & Paul Steinborn – guitar.
Side A –
8-Ball
May This Meat Kill Me
Kick up Some Dust
Rip ‘N’ Tear
Dodge the Steamroller
Side B –
Dark Night of the Soul
This is Truth
Pressure Press
Broken Gardens
Hourglass
Lon C. Diehl, Richard Skott with Helmut Robison – drums.
Side A –
Carnivora (pts 1 & 2)
Side B –
Born of Fire
Feedback
Night from Night
Lon C. Diehl, Richard Skott, & Helmut Robison.
Tracklist –
Tribal Warning Shot (studio version)
Nomad Souls
Beautiful Ugly
Born of Fire
The Wolf Hour
Rhythm Cage
God Loves the Rock Stars
Become a Commercial-Interrupting
Nomad Souls (Never Ending version)
Tribal Warning Shot (live version)
There is also a cassette from 1983 that contains unreleased material.
Side A –
Untitled material
Side B –
Untitled material
Here’s something I found that might be of interest to completists. It was intended as an inside joke on Radio Station WLBS & DJ Mike Halloran. In the spring of 83, using the yet to be released track from
Nomad Souls "God Loves the Rock Stars", Lon put together this track. WLBS was the first 'new music/new wave/dance' station in the Detroit area. The track aired on the first edition of its Garage Tapes show that featured local Michigan acts. It features DJ Hank Williams (seriously) reading Lon's letter that accompanied the tape. It is totally hysterical & William’s delivery is well worth the listen.
Enjoy,
NØ