One Bad Pig

Punk Rock
Austin, Texas, USA

One Bad Pig is an American Christian punk and metal crossover band from Austin, Texas, which formed in 1985. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music describes them as “quite possibly the most popular hard-punk act ever to arise within the Christian music scene.” They were known for their mischief and irreverence on stage, as reflected even in their reunion at Cornerstone in 2000.

The group evolved out of a street ministry led by Carey Womack, who was studying to become a Baptist minister at the time. Several other members also had a background in ministry: Brian Wheeler was an Assembly of God evangelist, and Paul Q-Pek had sung with The Continental Singers and had his own band. The band originally formed for a one-time-only performance at a local Christian music festival held on Labor Day 1985.

The origin of the band's name was a picture of a pig in a local radio station's advertisement, which Carey commented was one “bad pig.” The full story as related in an interview on the Breakaway Show (broadcast from radio station KCFV) was that while driving from Austin to the Cornerstone Festival in 1985, Carey and Paul stopped at a Pizza Hut in St. Louis. Local radio station KSHE was running a promotion with Pizza Hut, selling sunglasses with the Pizza Hut logo on one lens and the new KSHE logo on the other. As they were leaving the restaurant, Carey looked at Paul and said “That's one bad pig.” Paul replied, “That would be a great name for a punk band! We should form one.” So, they did. The next year, One Bad Pig's first album was introduced at Cornerstone.

According to CCM Magazine a One Bad Pig show was “kind of like a carnival/revival run amok.” For instance, at Cornerstone 1990 they were reported to have leapt into water-filled plastic swimming pools and cut down a Christmas tree with a chainsaw. Often during the song “Smash the Guitar,” the band would literally smash their guitars onto the stage. Each performance included an altar call where Carey Womack's preaching was said to have a “hometown passion.” The band also placed a heavy emphasis on personal accountability.

Johnny Cash performed guest vocals on One Bad Pig's cover of his song “Man in Black,” included on their 1991 album, I Scream Sunday. Bob Hartman performed as a guest guitarist on One Bad Pig's cover of his song “Judas Kiss” from his band Petra's More Power to Ya album.

The band was subject to constant criticism from the anti-Christian Rock movement for its concert antics, lyrics, and even for their name. According to some, their name evoked stereotypes of punk music and rebellion in a way that was contrary to certain principles of Christianity. One critical group was Dial-the-Truth Ministries, which is affiliated with the King-James-Only Movement. Their widely distributed tract, “Christian Rock: Blessing or Blasphemy?” was critical of the above and their involvement with Johnny Cash, who was attacked separately.

Paul Q-Pek left the band in 1992 and moved to Nashville. He returned to the band for their reunion show at the 2000 Cornerstone festival.

Philip Owens and Paul Q-Pek were also in Lust Control, although their identities were anonymous for the band. This arrangement ended when One Bad Pig signed to Myrrh Records, as its members became contractually blocked from being in other bands.

In 2016, One Bad Pig reunited for to record a new album and multiple concerts.

1986 Porkys Demise (OBP/777)

Carey Womack - Lead Vocals
Paul Q-Pek - Guitar
Squealiin' Phelan - Bass
Jon Taylor - Drums

1. 6 (2:30)
2. Sleepin' With the World (1:58)
3. Make Me Burn (3:39)
4. Blow and Go (2:18)
5. Anarchy is Prison (3:04)
6. Life's a Bomb (2:19)

1989 Pure Metal Records (SPCN7900604014)
2020 / 2021 Girder Records (GR1063)

Carey “Kosher” Womack - Lead screamer
Paul Q-Pek - Guitar
Streak Wheeler - Bass
Philip Owens - Drums

Chad Brock - Gang chorus vocals
Dale Oliver - Gang chorus vocals
Dave Mullen - Gang chorus vocals
Ric “Tubes” Florian - Gang chorus vocals
Chris “Slick” McHugh - Percussion
Mike Connell - Percussion
Gordon “Sid Sequin” Kennedy - Guitar solo on “Godarchy” and “Kingdom Come”
Dale Oliver - Guitar solo on “Smash the Guitar”

1. Godarchy (3:09)
2. Isaiah 6 (2:38)
3. Let's Be Frank (3:38)
4. People Cry Out (3:57)
5. Frat Rats (2:26)
6. Smash the Guitar (3:44)
7. Kingdom Come (4:33)
8. Take a Flying Leap (2:15)
9. I'm Not Getting Any Older (4:28)
10. Looney Tune (1:24)
11. Don't Be Fooled (3:19)
12. Blow and Go (2:14)

1990 Myrrh Records (MYR CD 6901)

Carey Womack - Vocals
Paul Q-Pek - Guitar, vocals
Streak Wheeler - Bass, vocals
Philip Owens - Drums, vocals

Dann Huff - Guitar on “Altar Ego”
Dale Oliver - Guitar on “Big Stomach”
Bob Hartman - Guitar on “Judas' Kiss”
Jimmie Lee Sloas - Bass on “Desperation”
Phil Keaggy - Guitar on “Desperation”
MC Tommy Sims - Rap on “Desperation”

1. See Me Sweat (2:38)
2. Altar Ego (4:09)
3. Hey Punk (1:40)
4. Red River (5:04)
5. Bowl of Wrath (2:15)
6. Big Stomach (3:39)
7. Christmas Time (4:15)
8. Judas' Kiss (3:24)
9. Desperation (4:36)
10. Thrash Against Sin (1:31)
11. Swine Flew (3:33)
12. When Your Love Died (5:29)
13. We Want You (3:55)

1991 Myrrh Records (7016937380)

Carey “Kosher” Womack - Lead screamer vocals
Paul Q-Pek - Guitar, vocals
Daniel Tucek - Bass, vocals
Philip Owens - Drums, vocals

Johnny Cash - Lead Vocals on “Man in Black”

1. Take a Look at Yourself (4:22)
2. You're a Pagan (2:18)
3. I Scream Sunday (3:14)
4. Man in Black (3:00)
5. Not Love Money (4:18)
6. Cut Your Hair (5:11)
7. For a Good Man (4:05)
8. Ice Cream Sundae (2:03)
9. Bird Nest (3:06)
10. Up the Nose (0:55)
11. Spirit of Murder (4:58)
12. Sober Up (2:42)
13. Pad Thai (0:20)
14. Never Forget the Cross (4:22)
15. Wholly My Lord (3:50)

1992 Myrrh Records (7016943615)

Carey “Kosher” Womack - Lead screamer
Paul Q-Pek - Guitar, vocals
Daniel Tucek - Bass guitar, vocals
Phillip Owens - Drums, vocals

1. Prelude: Green Acres Theme (1:30)
2. Take a Look at Yourself (4:47)
3. Hey Punk (1:39)
4. Smash the Guitar (4:27)
5. I Scream Sunday (3:25)
6. Red River (5:10)
7. Judas Kiss (2:57)
8. Cut Your Hair (5:20)
9. Bowl of Wrath (2:53)
10. Isaiah 6 (4:25)
11. Let's Be Frank (1:47)
12. Altar Ego (2:22)
13. Swine Flew (3:12)
14. Godarchy (2:44)
15. Kosher (3:50)
16. Ice Cream Sundae (2:40)
17. Looney Tune (1:40)
18. Rock the Casbah (3:39)
19. Never Forget the Cross (5:21)

1994 Diadem (7901133325)

1. People Cry Out (4:01)
2. Lust (3:59)
3. I am the Chief (2:49)
4. Let's Be Frank (3:42)
5. I'm Not Getting Any Older (4:27)
6. Man in Black (4:13)
7. Life's a Bomb (2:23)
8. Sleepin' With the World (1:55)
9. Isaiah 6 (2:37)
10. Red River (5:42)

Tracks 7 and 8 are from A Christian Banned
Tracks 1, 4, 5, and 9 are from Smash
Tracks 6 and 10 are from I Scream Sunday
Tracks 2 and 3 are newly recorded for this compilation

2000 M8 Records (M8D-1073)

Carey “Kosher” Womack - Lead screamin' vocals
Paul Q-Pek - Guitar, vocals
Lee Haley - Guitar, vocals
Daniel Tucek - Bass guitar, vocals
Philip Owens - Drums, vocals

1. Intro (0:45)
2. Take a Look at Yourself (3:06)
3. See Me Sweat (4:23)
4. Life's a Bomb (2:40)
5. Thrash Against Sin (2:04)
6. Let's Be Frank (4:46)
7. A Suprise From Paul (2:00)
8. Judas' Kiss (3:16)
9. Phillip & Paul Confabulate (1:13)
10. People Cry Out (3:24)
11. Red River (6:01)
12. Isaiah 6 (4:46)
13. Kosher Exhortation (6:27)
14. Are You Ready for More? (0:35)
15. Ice Cream Sundae (3:56)
16. Who's in the Band? (1:57)
17. Looney Tune (1:42)
18. Smash the Guitar / Big Finish / Outro (7:26)

2016 Porkys Demise (BRT489-7CD)
2019 Retroactive Records (RRCD1478)

Les Carlsen - Vocals on “Get Your Hands Dirty”

1. Love You to Death (2:48)
2. What Does the Fool Say (4:17)
3. The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes & The Pride of Life (2:35)
4. Get Your Hands Dirty (3:20)
5. Footwashin' (2:42)
6. Sunday Skool Rawk (3:05)
7. Teenage Royalty (2:12)
8. Heads Will Roll (4:58)
9. It's Not Pig Latin (Itsay Otnay) (3:21)
10. Judgment Stick (0:17)
11. Straitjacket (2:58)
12. Ben Moors (3:10)
13. Red, White, or Blue (Colour Me) (3:10)
14. Tumbleweed (3:02)
15. OMG (3:22)

The Mother of All Tribute Albums (1998 HM Records)
13) Cosmic Cowboy (6:00)

Philip Owens - Lead vocals, drums
Jason Wintermeyer - Lead guitar, rhythm Guitar
Daniel Tucek - Rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Steve Allen - Bass guitar

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