Kraut was a New York City punk rock/

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 p ...

band formed in 1981. The original members were Davy Gunner (vocals), Doug Holland (guitar/vocals) Don Cowan (bass/vocals), and Johnny Feedback (drums/vocals).

History

Kraut's first performance was opening for

The Clash The Clash were an English rock band formed in London in 1976 who were key players in the original wave of British punk rock. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they also contributed to the and new wave movements that emerged in the w ...

Bonds International Casino Bond International Casino (sometimes called "Bond's") was a nightclub and music venue located on the east side of Broadway between 44th and 45th Streets near Times Square, New York City. The venue operated as the International Casino in the 1930 ...

in New York on June 11, 1981. Their debut single, "Kill for Cash", and second single, "Unemployed", were both released in 1981 on the band's own Cabbage Records label. While recording their debut album, ''An Adjustment to Society'' (produced by Ryk Oakley), they opened for the Professionals at

The Channel The English Channel, "The Sleeve"; nrf, la Maunche, "The Sleeve" (Cotentinais) or ( Jèrriais), (Guernésiais), "The Channel"; br, Mor Breizh, "Sea of Brittany"; cy, Môr Udd, "Lord's Sea"; kw, Mor Bretannek, "British Sea"; nl, Het Kana ...

in Boston. Former Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones became friends with Kraut and recorded extra guitar tracks for three tracks on the album: "Kill for Cash", "Sell Out" and "Onward". The album was again self-released, distributed by Faulty Products. A video clip for "All Twisted" appeared in rotation on MTV, making Kraut the first independent band to be played on the station. The band released a mini-album, ''Whetting the Scythe'', in 1984, and toured the U.S. By the mid-1980s, Kraut had added second guitarist Christopher Smith from Battalion of Saints, and developed a more hard rock/

metal A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...

sound. Guitarist Holland went on to play for

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 associated with that music. New York hardcore grew out of the hardcore scene established in Washington, D.C., by ban ...

band the

Cro-Mags Cro-Mags are an American hardcore punk band from New York City. The band, which has a strong cult following, has released six studio albums, with the first two considered the most influential. With a Hare Krishna background, they were among t ...

. A Kraut reunion show with all four original members took place in 2002 at

CBGB CBGB was a New York City music club opened in 1973 by Hilly Kristal in Manhattan's East Village. The club was previously a biker bar and before that was a dive bar. The letters ''CBGB'' were for '' Country'', '' BlueGrass'', and '' Blues'', Kr ...

during the ''

New York Thrash ''New York Thrash'' is a hardcore punk compilation album released by ROIR in 1982. Considered a definitive document of the early New York hardcore and late 1970s punk scene, ''New York Thrash'' features rare and otherwise unreleased recordings, ...

'' reunion, yielding the ''Live at CBGB's'' album.

Discography

Studio albums

* ''An Adjustment to Society'' (1982, Cabbage Records/ Faulty Products) * ''Whetting the Scythe'' (1984, Cabbage Records/

Enigma Records Enigma Records (also known as Enigma Entertainment Corporation) was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. History Enigma Records launched as a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/d ...

) * ''An Adjustment to Society'' (2023, (Cabbage /

Cleopatra Records Cleopatra Records is an American independent record label based in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1992 by Brian Perera. The record label has since grown into a family of labels, including Hypnotic Records, Purple Pyramid Records, D ...

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Singles

* "Kill for Cash" 7" (1981, Cabbage Records) * "Unemployed" 7" (1981, Cabbage Records) * "Kill For Cash" 7" (2023, Cabbage/Cleopatra Records)

Live albums

* ''Night of Rage'' (1989,

New Red Archives New Red Archives is an independent record label based in California's San Francisco Bay Area, mainly home to punk rock bands. Started in 1987, the label began by releasing punk and hardcore punk records on coloured vinyl. Starting in summer 1990 ...

) * ''Live at CBGB's'' (2004, New Red Archives)

Compilation albums

*''The Movie'' (1990, New Red Archives) *''Complete Studio Recordings 1981–1986'' (1995, New Red Archives)

Compilation appearances

* "Getaway" and "Last Chance" on ''

'' (1982,

ROIR ROIR (pronounced "roar"), or Reachout International Records, is a New York City-based independent record label founded in 1979 by Neil Cooper. Background ROIR was founded the same year that the Sony Walkman launched, and initially, the label ex ...

) * "Onwards" on ''Son of Oi!'' LP (1983, Syndicate Records) * "Pyramids" on ''Something to Believe In'' LP (1983, BYO Records) * "Don't Believe (Live)" on ''Bang Zoom No. 3'' tape (1983, Bang Zoom) * "Flossing With an E String" on ''Flipside Vinyl Fanzine'' LP (1984, Gasatanka Records) * "Juvenile Justice" on ''

Enigma Variations Edward Elgar composed his ''Variations on an Original Theme'', Op. 36, popularly known as the ''Enigma Variations'', between October 1898 and February 1899. It is an orchestral work comprising fourteen variations on an original theme. Elgar ...

'' (1985,

) {{DEFAULTSORT:Kraut Hardcore punk groups from New York (state) Heavy metal musical groups from New York (state) Enigma Records artists