by Greg Prato
When the Minutemen were forced to split up in December of 1985 due to the untimely death of singer/guitarist D. Boon, the remaining members (bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley) were so devastated that they considered giving up music all together. Shortly afterwards though, a college student and major Minutemen fan, Ed Crawford, convinced the remaining members to soldier on. And soldier on they did, taking Crawford (known as &Ed fROMOHIO,& due to his signature on a letter) as their new singer/guitarist, and dubbing the new outfit fIREHOSE, after the famous Bob Dylan song &Subterranean Homesick Blues.& Their first album was issued less than a year after Boon's death, 1986's Ragin', Full On for SST, and surprisingly, the new band sounded completely different than it's predecessor (for example, Crawford had more of a real singing voice than Boon, the music was less unpredictable and more focused, etc.). Ex-Black Flag bassist Kira (and eventual wife of Watt) helped co-write several tracks: the hyper instrumental &Under the Influence of Meat Puppets,& plus &It Matters,& &Locked In,& &Perfect Pairs,& &Relatin' Dudes to Jazz,& and &Things Could Turn Around.& Other highlights included &Brave Captain,& &Candle and the Flame,& &Choose Any Memory,& and &Caroms.& While fIREHOSE would perfect their highly original sound on future albums (Flyin' the Flannel, Mr. Machinery Operator, etc.), Ragin', Full On still proved to be a worthwhile, interesting debut.