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 pu ...

band from

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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 ''

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'' and the ''

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''.

History

The group was founded in early 1989 by guitarist Adam Nathanson and bassist Neil Burke, vocalist Sam McPheeters, 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 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 sole ...

) 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

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and begun a new version of the band with bassist Tonie Joy (of Moss Icon and Universal Order of Armageddon) 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 (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, 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 and Prank Records imprints.

Members

* Sam McPheeters – 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 – drums (1992) * Tonie Joy – bass, vocals (1993) * Brooks Headley – drums (1993)

Discography

Studio albums

*''Nine Patriotic Hymns for Children'' LP (1991, Vermiform Records, later reissued by Prank Records and Kill Rock Stars) *''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. T ...

) *''Born Against/Screeching Weasel'' split 7-inch/CD with Screeching Weasel (1993,

Lookout! Records Lookout Records (stylized as Lookout! Records) was an independent record label, initially based in Laytonville, California and later in Berkeley, California, Berkeley, focusing on punk rock. Established in 1987, the label is best known for having ...

) *''Born Against/Universal Order of Armageddon'' split 7-inch with Universal Order of Armageddon (1993, Gravity Records) *''Born Against/Man Is the Bastard'' split 8" with Man Is the Bastard (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 Kent McClard is a record label owner and zine publisher from Goleta, California. Early life McClard grew up in a "broken home" and describes himself as a troublesome child. As a teenager, he discovered hardcore punk and both its freedom and speci ...

'' (1991,

) *''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 and ...

)

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