The Bruisers were a punk band that pioneered the

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

streetpunk/

oi! Oi! is a subgenre of punk rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The music and its associated subculture had the goal of bringing together punks, skinheads, and other disaffected working-class youth. The movement was p ...

movement, formed in

Portsmouth, New Hampshire Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. At the 2020 census it had a population of 21,956. A historic seaport and popular summer tourist destination on the Piscataqua River bordering the state of Maine, Portsmou ...

in 1988. The original lineup included: Al Barr ( vocals, now the lead singer of the Boston punk band

Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys are an American Celtic punk band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. Singer and bassist Ken Casey has been the band's only constant member. Other current members include drummer Matt Kelly (1997– ), singer Al Barr (199 ...

), Scotty Davies (

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

), Jeff Morris ( guitar) and Rodger Shosa (

drum The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a she ...

s). Morris is now a guitarist and lead vocalist for Death & Taxes, and a former guitarist for

Mark Lind The Ducky Boys are a street punk band from Boston. Since forming in 1995 in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, the band has released six full-length albums and over 80 songs. The band's name is derived from the name of an Irish street gan ...

& the Unloved. Former guitarist Rick Wimert died 1995. The first band members were skinheads (although not white power skinheads). After a few years and lineup changes, the band and their style changed slightly. By 1996, Al Barr was the only remaining original member of The Bruisers. One notable release by the band was a 7" split with Barr's future band

in 1997. After 10 years, the band broke up in 1998. The Bruisers had a reunion concert on September 14, 2005 at The Roxy in Boston. The bill included local acts The Ducky Boys and Tommy & The Terrors, as well as The Casualties from New York City.Bruisers (Al Barr of Dropkick Murphys) reunion show details , Punknews.org
/ref> The Bruisers played a second reunion show on August 31, 2012 headlining the first night of the 2000 Tons of TNT Fest at the Webster Theater in Hartford, CT.

Former members

* Al Barr – vocals (1988–1998, 2005) * Jeff Morris – guitar (1988–1996, 2005) * Scotty Davies –

(1988–1990) * Rodger Shosa –

s (1988–1989) * Dan Connors – drums (1989–1997, 2005) * Crash – guitar (1989–1990) *Rick Wimert – guitar (1990–1995) * Todd Seely – bass (1990–1991), guitar (1996–1997) * Keith "Ritchie" Richards – bass (1991–1996, guitar (1997–1998, 2005) * Robert Garceau – guitar (1995–1996) * Scott Vierra – guitar (1996–1998, 2005) *

Johnny Rioux Johnny Rioux is a musician primarily known for playing in and working with many punk rock bands. He was initially based in Boston, MA but is now based in Texas. Rioux is most known for his tenure as bass guitarist with the Street Dogs with who ...

– bass (1996–1998) * John Dicicco – drums (1997–1998) * Mike Savitkas – bass (2005)

Discography

Albums

* '' Cruisin' for a Bruisin''' (1993) * '' Up in Flames'' (1996)

EPs/singles

* '' Intimidation'' (1989) * ''

Independence Day An independence day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or more rarely after the end of a military occupation. Man ...

'' (1990) * '' American Night'' (1991) * ''

Gates of Hell ''The Gates of Hell'' (french: La Porte de l'Enfer) is a monumental bronze sculptural group work by French artist Auguste Rodin that depicts a scene from the ''Inferno'', the first section of Dante Alighieri's ''Divine Comedy''. It stands at 6 ...

'' (1994) * '' Clobberin' Time'' (1995) * '' Mad Parade/Bruisers'' (1995) * ''

Still Standing Up The Bruisers were a punk band that pioneered the American streetpunk/oi! movement, formed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1988. The original lineup included: Al Barr (vocals, now the lead singer of the Boston punk band Dropkick Murphys), Scotty ...

'' (1997) * '' The Bruisers/Charge 69'' (1998) * '' Molotov'' (1997) * '' Bruisers/Randumbs'' (1998) * '' The Bruisers/Dropkick Murphys'' (1998)

Compilation albums

* '' Society's Fools'' (1996) * '' Anything You Want It's All Right Here...: The Authorized Bruisers 1988–1994'' (1998) * '' One Law For Them...Another One For Us'' (1999) * '' In The Pit - Live And Rare (2000) * '' Better Days'' (2000) * '' Singles Collection 1989–1997'' (2004)

References

Rock music groups from New Hampshire American punk rock groups Street punk groups {{US-punk-band-stub