The World/Inferno Friendship Society (also referred to as World Inferno, or Inferno) was an American band from

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

, New York. Its style merged

punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun '' soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest atte ...

, klezmer and

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

, while its collective membership featured

horns Horns or The Horns may refer to: * Plural of Horn (instrument), a group of musical instruments all with a horn-shaped bells * The Horns (Colorado), a summit on Cheyenne Mountain * ''Horns'' (novel), a dark fantasy novel written in 2010 by Joe Hill ...

piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keybo ...

and guitar and had a membership of about 40 players, of whom only about seven to ten active members usually performed at a time. The group was led by singer

Jack Terricloth Peter Ventantonio (June 11, 1970 – May 12, 2021), known professionally as Jack Terricloth, was an American musician and guitarist, the lead singer of the cabaret-punk band The World/Inferno Friendship Society and guitarist and vocalist of Stick ...

, who was the only constant during the group's history. Terricloth was known for his pointed commentary during shows; his monologues touched on politics and his transformation from the "old school." Its lyrics often concerned historical or biographical subjects, such as Weimar-era

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

Peter Lorre Peter Lorre (; born László Löwenstein, ; June 26, 1904 – March 23, 1964) was a Hungarian and American actor, first in Europe and later in the United States. He began his stage career in Vienna, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, before movin ...

Jeffrey Lee Pierce Jeffrey Lee Pierce (June 27, 1958 – March 31, 1996) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and author. He was one of the founding members of the band The Gun Club, and released material as a solo artist. Biography Early life Pierce ...

The Gun Club The Gun Club were an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, United States, which existed from 1979 to 1996. It was formed and led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Jeffrey Lee Pierce. History Early days (1979–1980) The Gun Club w ...

Paul Robeson Paul Leroy Robeson ( ; April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was an American bass-baritone concert artist, stage and film actor, professional American football, football player, and activist who became famous both for his cultural accomplish ...

Leni Riefenstahl Helene Bertha Amalie "Leni" Riefenstahl (; 22 August 1902 – 8 September 2003) was a German film director, photographer and actress known for her role in producing Nazi propaganda. A talented swimmer and an artist, Riefenstahl also became in ...

Dante Alighieri Dante Alighieri (; – 14 September 1321), probably baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri and often referred to as Dante (, ), was an Italian poet, writer and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', originally called (modern Italian: '' ...

, Philip K. Dick, and Jonathan Fire*Eater. While over 40 Society members have come and gone, Terricloth maintained that the group was "always meant to be this way," and were more of a gang than an actual band. Many members continued to collaborate with the group, but do not join them on tour. Bandleader Jack Terricloth died in May 2021; no information on the future of the World/Inferno Friendship Society has been released following his death.

Hallowmas

The World/Inferno Friendship Society's annual Halloween show, Hallowmas, was its most-anticipated performance of the year. The event was known for its elaborate planning and surprises. Past Hallowmases have included a burning effigy of Mr. Terricloth constructed and set alight by a large, caustic cat; an ethereal string quartet performing throughout the evening in the rear of the hall; circus performances and

fire breathing Fire breathing, fire-breathing, firebreathing, fire breather, or firebreather may refer to: * Fire-breathing monster, a mythological or fantastical monster able to breathe fire * Fire breathing (circus act) Fire breathing is the ac ...

by the Odd Child Uprising troupe and a cadaverous marching band materializing on stage for the finale, "Pumpkin Time". The song (performed only at Hallowmas shows) includes street rallies, and references

The Great Pumpkin The Great Pumpkin is an unseen character in the comic strip ''Peanuts'' by Charles M. Schulz. According to Linus van Pelt, the Great Pumpkin is a legendary personality who rises from the pumpkin patch on Halloween carrying a large bag of toy ...

from the ''

Peanuts ''Peanuts'' is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz. The strip's original run extended from 1950 to 2000, continuing in reruns afterward. ''Peanuts'' is among the most popular and infl ...

'' comic strip.

Members

Discography

Albums

*''The True Story of the Bridgewater Astral League'' – 1997 *''Just the Best Party'' – 2002 *''Red-Eyed Soul'' – 2006 *'' Addicted to Bad Ideas: Peter Lorre's Twentieth Century'' – 2007 *''

The Anarchy and the Ecstasy ''The Anarchy and the Ecstasy'' is an album released by the World/Inferno Friendship Society on March 15, 2011. It is their fifth full-length album. Three members left the group between the previous release and ''Anarchy''. Before the album's re ...

'' – 2011 *''This Packed Funeral'' – 2014 *''All Borders Are Porous to Cats'' – 2020

Live/Compilation albums

*'' East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today!'' (compilation) – 2000 *''Hallowmas: Live at Northsix'' – 2003

Singles

*"Tattoos Fade" b/w "Nothing You Begin" –1994, Blue Ghost Records ("Tattoos Fade" was re-released on the ''East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today!'' compilation) *"The Models and the Mannequins" b/w "Glamour Ghouls" – 1996,

Gern Blandsten Records Gern Blandsten Records is an independent record label based in Paramus, New Jersey. The label's acts have included The World/Inferno Friendship Society, Canyon, Chisel, the Van Pelt, Radio 4, The Flesh, Weston, Native Nod and Rye Coalition. ...

(both re-released on the ''East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today!'' compilation) *"Our Candidate" b/w "All Of California And Everyone Who Lives There Stinks" – 1996, Gern Blandsten (both re-released on the ''East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today!'' compilation) *"Pumpkin Time" b/w "Ich Errinere Mich An Weimar" – 1999, Gern Blandsten (both re-released on the ''East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today!'' compilation) *"I Wouldn't Want to Live in a World without Grudges" b/w "All the World is a Stage (Dive)" – 2000, X-Mist Records (both re-recorded for ''Just the Best Party'') *"Hallowmas 2010" – 2010, Chunksaah Records (7″ disc distributed at Hallowmas 2010, featuring "Canonize Philip K. Dick, OK") *"This Packed Funeral" – 2013 *"Freedom is a Wilderness Made for You and Me" – 2019 *"All I Can Do To Help You With Your Nightmares is Keep You Up Late" – 2019

EPs

*''International Smashism!'' – 2001 *''Speak of Brave Men'' – 2004 *''Me v. Angry Mob'' – 2005 *''Vox Inferne'' – 2010 *''Maps, Saints, & Just This Side of Way Too Much'' (live, 2 songs from "The Anarchy and The Ectasy") – 2012 *''Turnstile Comix #2'' (three song EP released with a comic book) – 2013

Unreleased demos

*''A Demonstrational Introduction To The Astral Plane'' – 1996–1997 *''Powder Waves Goodbye Sessions'' – 2000 *''A Lexicon of Friends & Enemies'' – 2004 *''The New Americana Demos'' – 2008 *''3 Ring Brain and a Circus Heart'' – 2010

Other appearances

*''CMJ New Music April 1997'': Compilation with ''

CMJ CMJ Holdings Corp. is a music events and online media company, originally founded in 1978, which ran a website, hosted an annual festival in New York City, and published two magazines, ''CMJ New Music Monthly'' and ''CMJ New Music Report''. Th ...

'' magazine, featuring "Our Candidate" *''Achtung Autobahn'' (2000): Benefit compilation featuring "Peter Lorre" *''Against Police Injustice'' (2003): Compilation featuring "Secret Service Freedom Fighting USA" *'' Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1'' (2004): Compilation featuring "The Expatriate Act" *''

Fuck World Trade ''Fuck World Trade'' is the second album by American punk band Leftöver Crack, released in 2004 on the Alternative Tentacles label. The album continues the band's self-defined status as anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-capitalist, and anarcho-c ...

'' (2004): Album by

Leftöver Crack Leftöver Crack is an American punk rock band formed in 1998, following the breakup of Choking Victim. The band is currently signed to Tankcrimes for CD releases, and Alternative Tentacles for vinyl releases. Leftöver Crack spans several ...

with "Soon We'll Be Dead" *''Go-Kart vs. The Corporate Giant 4'' (2006): Compilation featuring a live version of "Tattoos Fade" *''Hugs for Chelsea'' (2017): Compilation featuring "Freedom is a Wilderness"

References

External links

The World/Inferno Friendship Society's myspaceReview of "Red-Eyed Soul" on PunkNews.orgInterview with World/Inferno Friendship Society on Twilight Vision TVWorld Inferno In The Studio 2009The World/Inferno Friendship Society at BandToBand.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:World Inferno Friendship Society 1996 establishments in New York City Punk rock groups from New York (state) Dark cabaret musicians Indie rock musical groups from New York (state) Musical groups from Brooklyn Musical groups established in 1996