Pegboy is an American punk band from

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, Illinois with a relatively large

cult following A cult following refers to a group of fans who are highly dedicated to some person, idea, object, movement, or work, often an artist, in particular a performing artist, or an artwork in some medium. The lattermost is often called a cult classic. ...

. They were founded in 1990 by

John Haggerty John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

(ex-guitarist for

Naked Raygun Naked Raygun was one of the first, one of the longest running, and one of the most recognized Chicago punk bands. They are considered by many to be the most important band in the history of Chicago punk rock and credited with creating “the Chi ...

), along with his brother

Joe Haggerty Joe Haggerty is the drummer for Pegboy and is known for his dense, energetic, relentless and varied drumming style. In the mid-1980s he was the drummer for the Chicago punk band Bloodsport. In 1987, three of the members of Bloodsport, including H ...

(drums, formerly of

The Effigies The Effigies were an American punk band from Chicago, Illinois, United States. The band played its first show in 1980 and was active initially for approximately a decade, undergoing multiple personnel changes with frontman John Kezdy the only cons ...

), Larry Damore (vocals/guitar), and Steve Saylors (bass). Both Damore and Saylors had been members of Chicago-based hardcore band

Bhopal Stiffs Chicago hardcore band the Bhopal Stiffs was formed in 1985 by singers/guitarists Larry Damore and Vince Marine, bassist Steve Saylors, and drummer Dave Schleitwiler. The band name is a reference to an ecological disaster which took place in Bhopal ...

, whose 1987 demo had been produced by John Haggerty. Pegboy's 1990 debut EP, "Three-Chord Monte", was also the first release by Quarterstick Records, an offshoot of

Touch and Go Records Touch and Go Records is an American independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois. After its genesis as a handmade fanzine in 1979, it grew into one of the key record labels in the American 1980s underground and alternative rock scenes. Tou ...

. Steve Saylors dropped out in 1992 after job commitments prevented him from touring. Steve Albini, a longtime friend of the band, filled the bass slot on the "Fore" EP. Former Naked Raygun bassist Pierre Kezdy became the permanent bass player in 1994. After the reformation of Naked Raygun, Mike Thompson took over for Kezdy on bass. Pegboy supposedly played a "farewell" show on New Year's Eve in 1999 but then denied that it was really a "farewell" show a few years later when they returned to live action. Pegboy has been touring through the summer of 2009 with Face to Face and Polar Bear Club.

Rise Against Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, formed in 1999. The group's current line-up comprises vocalist/rhythm guitarist Tim McIlrath, lead guitarist Zach Blair, bassist Joe Principe and drummer Brandon Barnes. Rooted in hardcor ...

Tim McIlrath Timothy James McIlrath (born November 3, 1978) is an American rock musician. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the punk rock band Rise Against. He is vegan and straight edge. Early and personal life McIlrath ...

, Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba, as well as Hot Water Music's Chuck Ragan and Shai Hulud's Matt Fox are big Pegboy fans.

Current members

* Larry Damore — vocals, guitar (1990–present) *

— drums (1990–present) *

— guitar (1990–present) * "Skinny" Mike Thompson — bass (2007–present)

Former members

* Steve Saylors — bass (1990-1992) *

J. Robbins James Robbins (best known as J. Robbins) is an American rock musician. Career Robbins began his career as a bassist for Government Issue, and has also led five of his own bands: Jawbox, Rollkicker Laydown, Burning Airlines, Channels, and Off ...

— bass (1992, temporary replacement for the Social Distortion tour) * Steve Albini — bass (1993 — on ''Fore'') * Pierre Kezdy — bass (1994-2007 ) (died 2020)

Discography

Albums

* 1991 - ''

Strong Reaction ''Strong Reaction'' is the debut album of Pegboy. It was released in 1991 through Quarterstick Records. Critical reception ''Trouser Press'' wrote that "quibbles about the occasionally melodramatic lyrics, in which the passage into adulthood dis ...

'' (

Quarterstick A quarter stick is a large firecracker that falls within a certain range of dimensions. Typically, a quarter stick consists of a thick walled cardboard tube containing approximately of pyrotechnic flash powder, with a short length of Visco fuse ...

) * 1994 - '' Earwig'' (Quarterstick) * 1997 - ''

Cha Cha Damore ''Cha Cha Damore'' is the third album by Pegboy. It was released on October 14, 1997, through Quarterstick Records. Critical reception ''Ox-Fanzine'' wrote that "the Pegboy variant of melodic guitar punk deliberately aims to avoid catchy tralala ...

'' (Quarterstick)

Singles and EPs

* 1990 - ''

Three-Chord Monte ''Three-Chord Monte'' is an EP by Pegboy, released in 1990 through Quarterstick Records. Track listing Personnel ;Pegboy *Larry Damore – drums * Joe Haggerty – vocals *John Haggerty – guitar *Steve Saylors – bass ...

'' EP (Quarterstick) * 1991 - "Field of Darkness"/"Walk on By" 7" (Quarterstick) * 1993 - '' Fore'' EP (Quarterstick) * 1996 - ''Dangermare'' (Split with

Kepone Chlordecone, better known in the United States under the brand name Kepone, is an organochlorine compound and a colourless solid. It is an obsolete insecticide, now prohibited in the western world, but only after many thousands of tonnes had bee ...

) 7" (Quarterstick)

Compilation appearances

* 1995 - ''Vagabonds Of The Midwestern World: Fighting Songs By Thin Lizzy'' (Anti-Gravit) (1995) - "Emerald" * 1995 - ''Hear Ya! Winter 1994-1995-The Caroline Distribution CD Sampler'' (

Caroline Caroline may refer to: People * Caroline (given name), a feminine given name * J. C. Caroline (born 1933), American college and National Football League player * Jordan Caroline (born 1996), American (men's) basketball player Places Antarctica * ...

) - "Sinner Inside" * 1998 - ''Touch And Go & Quarterstick Records'' (Touch And Go/Quarterstick/Boa) - "Dog Dog" * 1999 - ''Of Things To Come'' (Better Youth Organization) - "Fade Away" * 2000 - ''Magnetic Curses: A Chicago Punk Rock Compilation'' (Thick) - "Chutes And Ladders"

Videography

* "Sinner Inside" * "Strong Reaction" * "Through My Fingers"

Reception

* "With roots in such seminal Chicago bands as Naked Raygun and Effigies, Pegboy sounds as if it would have been right at home during the punk upheaval of the late `70s." (Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune, 1991) * "A barrage of industrial-strength noise from the North blasted through Liberty Lunch on Saturday, when the Jesus Lizard and Pegboy combined with Kepone for a galvanizing concert that brought their autumn tour to a close. All three record for Chicago's fiercely independent Touch and Go combine, which specializes in abrasive guitars over relentless rhythms and a minimum of melody." (Don McLeese,

Austin American-Statesman The ''Austin American-Statesman'' is the major daily newspaper for Austin, the capital city of Texas. It is owned by Gannett. The paper prints Associated Press, ''New York Times'', ''The Washington Post'', and ''Los Angeles Times'' internation ...

, 1994) * "The band has a knack for writing anthemic choruses in the tradition of guitarist John Haggerty's former band, Naked Raygun."(Review of ''Strong Reaction'', Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune, 1991) * "This workmanlike band inherits the Chicago muscle 'n' melody tradition of Naked Raygun." (Review of ''Earwig'', Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune, 1995)

References

External links

Touch and Go/Quarterstick Records

Official Myspace page
{{Authority control Punk rock groups from Illinois Musical groups from Chicago Musical groups established in 1990 Quarterstick Records artists