Born Against was an American
hardcore punk
Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk ...
band from
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
active between 1989 and 1993.
In addition to their
radical leftist politics, the group espoused a
DIY punk message and challenged what they perceived as being a problem within the punk subculture of their time. Though Born Against received little media exposure while still together, they have since been described as "legendary" by the ''
Chicago Reader
The ''Chicago Reader'', or ''Reader'' (stylized as ЯEADER), is an American alternative weekly newspaper in Chicago, Illinois, noted for its literary style of journalism and coverage of the arts, particularly film and theater. It was founded by a ...
'' and the ''
LA Weekly
''LA Weekly'' is a free weekly alternative newspaper in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Jay Levin, who served as president and editor until 1991. Voice Media Group sold the paper in late 2017 to Semanal Media LLC, whose paren ...
''.
History
The group was founded in early 1989 by guitarist
Adam Nathanson and bassist
Neil Burke, vocalist
Sam McPheeters
Sam McPheeters (born 1969) is an American artist, journalist, novelist, and performer. Early life
Raised in Albany, New York, Albany, New York (state), New York, he became a published author at age 12, with ''Travelers' Tales'', a collection of r ...
, and drummer John Guzman, who was replaced in early rehearsals by a drummer named George. George's tenure was also brief, and he was replaced after a single show by Nigel Schreiber in July 1989.
This lineup recorded a demo cassette and a track for the ''Murders Among Us'' 7-inch compilation released on McPheeters'
Vermiform Records
Vermiform Records was an American independent record label that specialized in releasing punk rock music from 1990 until 2002. Vermiform released 58 albums and relocated many times,
being headquartered in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Rhode Isl ...
label before Burke and Schreiber left the group late in the year. Born Against would continue to be plagued by rhythm section fluctuation throughout its career.
In March 1990, the band reemerged with bassist Javier Villegas and drummer Darryl Kahan. The band issued its first two vinyl releases, the ''Eulogy'' single (whose anti-religious title track was dedicated to Steve Reddy of
Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records is an independent record label based in Albany, New York. It was founded in the early 1990s by Ray Cappo, singer for the punk bands Youth of Today, Shelter, and Better Than a Thousand.
The label originally existed solely to ...
) and a self-titled 7-inch EP, and several compilation tracks. Later this year, Kahan was replaced by drummer John Hiltz, birthing the longest lasting incarnation of the band. The group toured extensively, and released a debut LP, 1991's ''Nine Patriotic Hymns for Children'', on Vermiform. Villegas left the group in late 1991. He was replaced in Born Against by bassist Bret Blue.
With Hiltz and Blue, Born Against continued its extensive touring, including a trip to Europe. By this point, the band's aggressive political message and related critique of their contemporaries had attracted media attention, and they endured animosity in New York City and beyond. They began work on a new record, which was stalled in July 1992 when Hiltz left the group. The final sessions that produced the resultant 10-inch record, ''Battle Hymns of the Race War'', featured Melissa York on drums, although York never performed live with the group.
By early 1993, Nathanson and McPheeters had relocated to
Jersey City
Jersey City is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, after Newark.[New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...]
and begun a new version of the band with bassist
Tonie Joy (of
Moss Icon
Moss Icon is an American post-hardcore band formed in late 1986 in Annapolis, Maryland, United States. Its original lineup comprised vocalist Jonathan Vance, guitarist Tonie Joy, bassist Monica DiGialleonardo, and drummer Mark Laurence. Alex Bad ...
and
Universal Order of Armageddon
Universal Order of Armageddon was an American hardcore band, active from 1992 to 1994 and reformed in 2010.
History
The band formed in September 1992. By early 1993, after quickly gaining a small but devoted following, they recorded and toured ...
) and drummer
Brooks Headley (also from Universal Order of Armageddon). Although only extant for seven months, this was a prolific incarnation, as they continued to tour and released split 7-inches with
Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band consisting of Ben Weasel (vocals), Mike Kennerty (guitar), Mike Hunchback (guitar), Zach "Poutine" Brandner (bass) and Pierre Marche (drums). Screeching Weasel is originally from the Chicago subur ...
(in which both bands swapped lyrics) and Universal Order of Armageddon. Their radical leftist stance became increasingly drenched in cynicism, which slowly threatened to overtake their message – the results of this evolution are evidenced in the nonsense song "Lillian" and other non-sequitur pieces from this time. Their final release was a split 8" record with
Man is the Bastard
Man Is the Bastard was an American hardcore punk band based in Claremont, California. The band existed from 1990 to 1997, releasing mostly vinyl splits, extended plays, and albums on obscure labels from around the world. By 1997, the group ended ...
, and the group played its final show in July 1993.
Two posthumous CDs containing the entire Born Against catalog (aside from their demo tape) have since been released – ''Patriotic Battle Hymns'' (featuring ''Nine Patriotic Hymns for Children'' and ''Battle Hymns of the Race War'') and ''The Rebel Sound of Shit and Failure''
(featuring all other material).
Initially released on the now-defunct Vermiform, these records have since been taken on by the
Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and Tinuviel Sampson, and based in both Olympia, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, but was originally known ...
and
Prank Records
A practical joke, or prank, is a mischievous trick played on someone, generally causing the victim to experience embarrassment, perplexity, confusion, or discomfort.Marsh, Moira. 2015. ''Practically Joking''. Logan: Utah State University Press. ...
imprints.
Members
*
Sam McPheeters
Sam McPheeters (born 1969) is an American artist, journalist, novelist, and performer. Early life
Raised in Albany, New York, Albany, New York (state), New York, he became a published author at age 12, with ''Travelers' Tales'', a collection of r ...
– vocals
(1989–1993)
*
Adam Nathanson – guitar, vocals
(1989–1993)
*
Neil Burke – bass, vocals
(1989)
* John Guzman – drums
(1989)
* George – drums
(1989)
* Nigel Schreiber – drums
(1989)
* Javier Villegas – bass, vocals
(1990–1991)
* Daryl Kahan – drums
(1990)
* Jon Hiltz – drums
(1990–1992)
* Bret Blue – bass, vocals
(1991–1992)
*
Melissa York
Melissa York is a rock drummer noted for her work with iconic lesbian bands such as Team Dresch, The Butchies, and Amy Ray. She lives in Durham, North Carolina.
Biography
York first began drumming with the New York-based hardcore punk ban ...
– drums
(1992)
*
Tonie Joy – bass, vocals
(1993)
*
Brooks Headley – drums
(1993)
Discography
Studio albums
*''Nine Patriotic Hymns for Children'' LP (1991,
Vermiform Records
Vermiform Records was an American independent record label that specialized in releasing punk rock music from 1990 until 2002. Vermiform released 58 albums and relocated many times,
being headquartered in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Rhode Isl ...
, later reissued by
Prank Records
A practical joke, or prank, is a mischievous trick played on someone, generally causing the victim to experience embarrassment, perplexity, confusion, or discomfort.Marsh, Moira. 2015. ''Practically Joking''. Logan: Utah State University Press. ...
and
Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and Tinuviel Sampson, and based in both Olympia, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, but was originally known ...
)
*''Battle Hymns of the Race War'' 10-inch (1993, Vermiform Records, later reissued by Prank Records and Kill Rock Stars)
EPs and splits
*''Eulogy''/''Riding With Mary'' 7-inch (1990)
*''Born Against'' 7-inch (1990)
*''Born Against/Suckerpunch'' 8" flexi-disc split with Suckerpunch (1992,
Ebullition Records
Boiling is the rapid vaporization of a liquid, which occurs when a liquid is heated to its boiling point, the temperature at which the vapour pressure of the liquid is equal to the pressure exerted on the liquid by the surrounding atmosphere. Th ...
)
*''Born Against/Screeching Weasel'' split 7-inch/CD with
Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band consisting of Ben Weasel (vocals), Mike Kennerty (guitar), Mike Hunchback (guitar), Zach "Poutine" Brandner (bass) and Pierre Marche (drums). Screeching Weasel is originally from the Chicago subur ...
(1993,
Lookout! Records
Lookout Records (stylized as Lookout! Records) was an independent record label, initially based in Laytonville, California and later in Berkeley, focusing on punk rock. Established in 1987, the label is best known for having released Operation ...
)
*''Born Against/Universal Order of Armageddon'' split 7-inch with
Universal Order of Armageddon
Universal Order of Armageddon was an American hardcore band, active from 1992 to 1994 and reformed in 2010.
History
The band formed in September 1992. By early 1993, after quickly gaining a small but devoted following, they recorded and toured ...
(1993,
Gravity Records
Gravity is an underground independent record label from San Diego.Trevor Kelley, "California Screaming". ''Alternative Press'' 17 (2003), pp. 84-86. It was formed in 1991 by Matt Anderson, a member of the influential underground band Heroin. It ...
)
*''Born Against/Man Is the Bastard'' split 8" with
Man Is the Bastard
Man Is the Bastard was an American hardcore punk band based in Claremont, California. The band existed from 1990 to 1997, releasing mostly vinyl splits, extended plays, and albums on obscure labels from around the world. By 1997, the group ended ...
(1994)
Compilation albums
*''Patriotic Battle Hymns'' compilation CD/LP (1994, Vermiform Records, later reissued by Kill Rock Stars)
*''The Rebel Sound of Shit and Failure'' compilation CD/LP (1995, Vermiform Records, later reissued by Kill Rock Stars)
Compilation appearances
*''Murders Among Us'' (1990, Combined Effort Records/Vermiform Records)
*''Forever'' (
Irate)
*''Bllleeeeaaauuurrrrgghhh!'' (Slap-a-Ham)
*''Our Voice, Pro Choice (
Hands On)
*''
Give Me Back'' (1991,
Ebullition Records
Boiling is the rapid vaporization of a liquid, which occurs when a liquid is heated to its boiling point, the temperature at which the vapour pressure of the liquid is equal to the pressure exerted on the liquid by the surrounding atmosphere. Th ...
)
*''The Dignity of Human Being Is Vulnerable'' (1993, Anti War Action Records/
De Konkurrent Records)
*''God's Chosen People'' (
Old Glory
Old Glory is a nickname for the flag of the United States. The original "Old Glory" was a flag owned by the 19th-century American sea captain William Driver (March 17, 1803 – March 3, 1886), who flew the flag during his career at sea an ...
)
See also
*
List of hardcore punk bands
*
New York hardcore
New York hardcore (also known as NYHC) is both the hardcore punk music created in New York City and the subculture and lifestyle (sociology), lifestyle associated with that music. New York hardcore grew out of the hardcore scene established in Wa ...
References
External links
Born Against websiteBorn Against - BandToBand.com
{{Authority control
Hardcore punk groups from New York (state)
Musical groups established in 1989
Political music groups