Hogan's Heroes was an American

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...

band formed in

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

in 1984.Rotsaert, Rick. ''Rickter Scale''. Thrasher Magazine, May 1992, p. 70. During their time they recorded three full lengths for California label

New Red Archives New Red Archives is an American 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 sum ...

. The band broke up in 1993.

History

Early years (1984–1986)

Hogan's Heroes was formed in the shore area of South Central, New Jersey in 1984 by George Barberio (lead guitar), Matt Gunvordahl (drums), and Scott Cassidy (vocals). After a short stint as Impossible Task, the band added bassist John Cuccinello who wanted to call the band Hogan's Heroes. In 1985 the band released their first demo ''Hogan's Heroes'', which was co produced with local N.J. producer Merlin. In August 1985 Cuccinello (bass) left the group and moved to California. Hogan's Heroes continued to play gigs and recorded a new demo with bass player Gerry Daseking in December 1985, ''Bomb Guy Demo'', which was again co produced with local N.J. producer Merlin. The underground

tape trading Tape trading is an unofficial method of distribution of musical or video content through the postal system, which was prominent in the 1980s and 1990s. Although most commonly used to distribute and publicize limited-release musical demo tapes in ...

wave of the early 1980s led to extensive distribution of the demos, bringing the band some attention. In July 1986, Cuccinello had rejoined and Gunvodahl and Cassidy had left the group. In November 1986 Barberio and Cuccinello made a new 13 song recording with new members Tony Scandiffio (drums) and Skip Hoefling (vocals). This was recorded at Merlin Studios and Produced by Hogan's Heroes and Merlin.

''Built To Last'' (1987–1988)

In 1987, the band produced and recorded songs for ''

Built To Last ''Built to Last'' is the thirteenth and final studio album by the Grateful Dead (their twentieth album overall). It was recorded between February 1 and October 20, 1989, and originally released on October 31, 1989. The album was released on ...

'' at Waterfront Studios with Rae Dileo engineering. The album mixes hardcore with elements of hard rock, thrash, and metal. After a deal with another label did not materialize, Straight-On records released Hogan's Heroes' debut album, ''

'', in 1988. The album sold well and secured the band distribution through

Caroline Records Caroline Records is a record label that was founded in 1973. Founded in the United Kingdom to showcase British progressive rock groups, the label ceased releasing titles in 1976 and then re-emerged in the United States in 1986. The label rel ...

''Hogan's Heroes'' (1989 –1990)

In early 1989 the band switched record labels. The success of ''

'' on Straight-On led to a record deal with

(

UK Subs U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. One of the first hardcore pu ...

Kraut ''Kraut'' is a German language, German word recorded in English from 1918 onwards as an List of terms used for Germans, ethnic slur for a German, particularly a German soldier during World War I and World War II. Its earlier meaning in English wa ...

Reagan Youth Reagan Youth was an American anarcho-punk band formed by singer Dave Rubinstein (Dave Insurgent) and guitarist Paul Bakija (Paul Cripple) in Queens, New York City in early 1980. History Initial career (1980–1990) David Rubinstein and Pa ...

), who immediately reissued the band's debut album, ''Built To Last'', on multiple formats in 1989. After

Records acquired the band from Straight-On in 1989, they signed Hogan's Heroes to a two-record deal and released the eponymously titled second studio album, ''

Hogan's Heroes ''Hogan's Heroes'' is an American television sitcom created by Bernard Fein and Albert S. Ruddy which is set in a Prisoner-of-war camp, prisoner-of-war (POW) camp in Nazi Germany during World War II, and centers around a group of Allied prisoner ...

'', on multiple formats in 1990. Hogan's Heroes (Barberio, Scandiffio, Hoefling) produced the Import/ Caroline/ Rough Trade distributed release with Ryk Oakley (

), where it was recorded in 1989. The album showcased the band's use of mixing hardcore with elements of punk, thrash, reggae, metal, and utilizing full-band backing vocals, which gave the album a varied feel.

''3 Fists and a Mouthful'' (1991–1992)

In 1991, the band signed a new contract with New Red Archives Records and in mid-1991 recorded songs for '' 3 Fists and a Mouthful''. Produced by George Barberio, and recorded at Ocean Gate Studios the album showcased the band's hardcore and hard rock style, with elements of punk, thrash and metal.

Style and legacy

They have been classed under the genre of

skate punk Skate punk (also known as skatecore and skate rock) is a skateboarding, skater subculture and punk rock Music genre, subgenre that developed in the 1980s. Originally a form of hardcore punk that had been closely associated with skate culture, sk ...

, which is a fusion of

with skateboard culture. Their music is described by ''

Razorcake Razorcake is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that publishes the ''Razorcake'' fanzine, a DIY punk rock fanzine published bi-monthly out of Los Angeles, California. It was co-founded by Todd Taylor (former '' Flipside'' managing editor) and S ...

'' in April 2006 as "fast 'n' furious, pissed off, ...holds up consistently well, managing to get the blood pumping just as well as it did a decade and a half ago".

Members

* George Barberio – guitar * John Cuccinello – bass guitar * Tony Scandiffio – drums * Skip Hoefling – vocals

Discography

;Studio albums * ''

Built to Last ''Built to Last'' is the thirteenth and final studio album by the Grateful Dead (their twentieth album overall). It was recorded between February 1 and October 20, 1989, and originally released on October 31, 1989. The album was released on ...

'' (1988) * ''

'' (1990) * '' 3 Fists and a Mouthful'' (1992) * '' 101/3 Fists and a Mouthful'' (1995) ; Compilation album appearances * '' Hardcore Breakout USA'' (1990) * ''

'' (1990) * '' Snowboard Addiction - Fun Ride'' (1994 Japan) * '' Skaters Gear - 6'' (1995 Japan) * '' Hardcore Breakout USA Volume 2'' (1995) * '' The Punk, The Bad & The Ugly'' (1997) * '' At War With Society'' (1998) * ''Punk Breakout USA'' (1998 Japan) * '' At War With Society - II'' (1999) * '' A Triple Dose Of Punk'' (1999) 3-CD Set * '' Mighty Attack'' (1999 Japan) * '' Hardcore Breakout USA 1,2,3,...'' (2004) 3-CD Set * '' Hardcore Breakout - Essential Punk'' (2012)Rhapsody

References

{{Authority control Musical quartets from New Jersey Musical groups established in 1984 Musical groups disestablished in 1993 Skate punk groups Hardcore punk groups from New Jersey Punk rock groups from New Jersey Jersey Shore musical groups