Vatican Commandos were 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 p ...
band formed in
Darien, Connecticut
Darien ( ) is a coastal town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. With a population of 21,499 and a land area of just under 13 square miles, it is the smallest town on Connecticut's Gold Coast. It has the youngest population of any ...
.
The band features members James Spadaccini, John Farnsworth, Lindsey Anderson, Chip Moody, Chuck "Wheat" Weaver, and
Richard Hall (who went on to success under the name Moby after the VC disbanded). The band was formed in 1982 and released its first 7-inch
EP entitled ''Hit Squad for God'' in 1983.
Richard Hall (Moby) is credited as "M.H." on the back cover of the release. Later members included Dave Hower, Mike Pollock, and Matt Craig. The band went on to release the ''Just a Frisbee'' 7-inch EP later in 1983 and ''Point Me to the End'' 12-inch EP in 1984. The lineup for ''Just a Frisbee'', "''Point me to the End''," and the tour in between those two EPs
was Chuck Wheat (vocals), Dave Hower (drums), Jim Spadaccini (bass), and Mike Pollock, who replaced M.H. as guitarist. The ''Just a Frisbee'' 7-inch cover artwork was drawn by
Rob Zombie, founder and lead singer of
White Zombie.
The Vatican Commandos disbanded in 1985.
After 25 years, the band has reformed and played a reunion show July 17, 2010, at the
Mercury Lounge
The Mercury Lounge is a live music venue in the Lower East Side of New York City. Like its brother venue The Bowery Ballroom, The Mercury Lounge is celebrated as an iconic indie venue due to its acoustics, its fostering and even launching of up ...
in New York City with Up Front, Our Gang, Ed Gein's Car, and Loud Youth.
The VCs played a West Coast reunion show on February 5, 2011, at The Dragonfly in Hollywood, California, with
D.I.
Discography
*''First Strike'' Compilation tape,
BCT(1983)
*''Hit Squad for God'' 7-inch EP (1983)
*''Just a Frisbee'' 7-inch EP (1983)
*''Point Me to the End'' 12-inch EP (1984)
*''Connecticut Fun'' Compilation LP (1985)
*''Make It Work'' Compilation 7-inch (1985)
*''Big City's One Big Crowd'' Compilation LP (1985)
*''Hit Squad for God'' 7-inch EP Reissue
Radiation Records(2022)
*''Just a Frisbee'' 7-inch EP Reissue
Radiation Records(2022)
*''Point Me to the End'' 12-inch EP Reissue
Radiation Records(2023)
*''Full Discography 1983-2015'' CD
Radiation Records(2023)
References
External Sources
80s Interview in "Desorden Social" zine; Tijuana, Mexico
Hardcore punk groups from Connecticut
Musical groups disestablished in 1985
Musical groups reestablished in 2010
Moby
Musical groups established in 1982
1982 establishments in Connecticut
{{US-punk-band-stub