Negative FX was a

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

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- most p ...

, formed in 1981. Though the band lasted only a short time, playing a total of five shows (six flyers exist), the band was well known for their involvement in the local

straight edge Straight edge (sometimes abbreviated sXe or signified by XXX or X) is a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs, in reaction to the excesses of punk subculture. For some, this ...

scene of the early 1980s. Along with members of the bands DYS and SS Decontrol (SSD), Negative FX was part of the "Boston Crew", a group of social friends who traveled around the country with SSD and other Boston hardcore bands. Negative FX played fast and unmelodic hardcore punk that often featured shouted gang vocals on the songs' choruses, which was influential in the development of

thrashcore Thrashcore (also known as fastcore) is a fast-tempo subgenre of hardcore punk that emerged in the early 1980s. Thrashcore is essentially sped-up hardcore, often using blast beats. Songs can be very brief, and thrashcore is in many ways a less ...

. The band members consisted of Patrick Raftery on guitar, Rich Collins on bass, Dave Bass on drums, and high-profile vocalist Jack Kelly, who frequently went by the name of "Choke". Kelly went on to form the bands Last Rights and

Slapshot A slapshot (also spelled as slap shot) in ice hockey is a powerful shot. Its advantage is as a high-speed shot that can be taken from long distance; the disadvantage is the time to set it up as well as its low accuracy. It has four stages whi ...

. Negative FX released only one self-titled album, which was recorded in April and November 1982 at Radiobeat Studios in

Kenmore Square Kenmore Square is a square in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, consisting of the intersection of several main avenues (including Beacon Street and Commonwealth Avenue) as well as several other cross streets, and Kenmore station, an MBTA ...

, but was not released until 1984 on Taang! Records. It was rereleased on blue, red, clear and amber vinyl (all limited to approximately 500) by Taang! in 1989. In 2002, Belgian label Reflex/Wolfpack Records reissued the album under the name ''Discography & Live'' with the addition of a live version of "Might Makes Right", on black (limited to 1400), pink (limited to 100) and yellow (limited to 100) vinyl. Distortions Records issued the ''Government War Plans EP'' in 2003, consisting of early demos. Successful punk rock band

NOFX NOFX () is an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983. Vocalist/bassist Fat Mike, guitarist Eric Melvin and drummer Erik Sandin are original founding and longest-serving members of the band, who have appeared on every ...

's name is a reference to this band.

Eric Melvin Eric Scott Melvin (born July 9, 1966) is an American musician and founding member of the punk rock band NOFX. Melvin sings backup vocals on most NOFX songs and wrote the guitar riffs for NOFX songs such as the intro for " Leave It Alone". His v ...

had listened to Negative FX's one studio album, and when trying to come up with a name for his new band with

Fat Mike Michael John Burkett (born January 16, 1967), known professionally as Fat Mike, is an American musician and producer. He is the bassist and lead vocalist for the punk rock band NOFX and the bassist for the punk rock supergroup cover band Me Fi ...

, he suggested the name "NO-FX". Fat Mike agreed on the name (later dropping the hyphen), noting that "it was the best one so far".

Discography

Studio albums

*'' Negative FX'' (1984,

Taang! Records Taang! Records is an independent record label with a roster of hardcore punk, punk rock, Oi!, power pop, ska, indie rock, psychedelic, and ambient artists and bands founded by Curtis Casella in Boston, Massachusetts in 1983. History Taang! ...

)

EPs

*''Government War Plans EP'' (2003, Distortions Records)

Compilation albums

*''Discography & Live'' (2002, Reflex/Wolfpack Records)

References

External links

Kill From The Heart
(page on Negative FX and Last Rights)
"Might Makes Right" (Live - 1983) on BlankTV

"The Official Slapshot website"

Reflex/Wolfpack Records page on Discogs
{{Authority control Musical groups from Boston Hardcore punk groups from Massachusetts Straight edge groups