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Agnostic Front
American hardcore punk band From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Agnostic Front is an American hardcore punk band from New York City.[3] Founded in 1980, the band is considered an important influence on the New York hardcore scene, as well as a pioneer of the crossover thrash genre.[3]
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History
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First era (1980–1992)
Formed in 1980 with Vincent "Vinnie Stigma" Capuccio (formerly of the Eliminators) on lead guitar,[4] with Diego on bass, Rob Krekus (aka Robby Crypt Crash)[5] on drums and John Watson on vocals. Despite being billed at their first concert as the Zoo Crew, Stigma introduced them as Agnostic Front, saying that the poster had been made prior to deciding on the name.[6] They soon added Ray Barbieri, aka Raybeez, on drums and Adam Mucci on bass.[7] After Watson was arrested, the band hired James Kontra as their vocalist, who eventually quit before a performance at Great Gildersleeves after a disagreement with Capuccio about how to hand out stickers.[8] Although never having spoken to him before, Stigma told some of his friends to ask Roger Miret (former bass player of the Psychos) if he wanted to be the vocalist of Agnostic Front, because he liked his style of slam dancing.[4][6] In 1983, this lineup recorded their debut EP United Blood. The EP was officially released later that year, however by that point Mucci had departed from the band, and been replaced by Todd Youth.[9]
During its initial phase, the band consisted entirely of skinheads. Although this would change over time, Agnostic Front would continue to feature skinheads as part of their lineup. This led to a belief among some that the band espoused ultra-nationalist or fascist politics, an assertion denied by vocalist Roger Miret in a 1985 Flipside interview:
"...We're skinheads. And the skinheads in England have a very bad name like with the fascists and stuff like that. But this is America not England. Just because the skinheads are fascists over there doesn't mean we got to grow our hair out if we don't feel like it.... We love our country—but not necessarily how our government works."[10]
They were later accused of racism in the song "Public Assistance" by Phil Donahue in a 1986 show on New York hardcore punk.[11]
Their debut album, Victim in Pain (1984), is regarded as a seminal New York hardcore release. Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic dubbed it "the ultimate document of the New York hardcore scene."[12] Dave Jones replaced Raybeez on drums after a mutual agreement among the band members that Raybeez "needed time" to address a developing drug problem.[13] Dave Jones was "a kid from New Jersey" who had previously played with the band Mental Abuse.[14][a] Rob Kabula took over on bass. In 1984, Jimmy "The Kid" Colletti from Justified Violence joined on drums when the band went to tour with the Exploited later that year. The album pushed the band to the forefront of New York's fledgling hardcore scene, which was centered around CBGB, where they played with bands like the Cro-Mags and Murphy's Law.
1986's Cause for Alarm was a difficult album to record, due to constant lineup changes and personnel problems.[15] Released on Combat Records, it added thrash metal influences. With other bands such as Suicidal Tendencies and Stormtroopers of Death, this album would mark Agnostic Front's foray into the world of crossover thrash. It also featured some lyrics written by Peter Steele and drumming by Louie Beato (both of Carnivore). Miret left the band for four months between the recording and release of Cause for Alarm, and was replaced by Carl Demola.[16] The band then embarked on a tour in support of the album and took part in the Eliminator tour.[17]
With yet another new lineup, the band soon released Liberty and Justice For... in 1987.[15] The album featured stripped down punk with a lack of thrash influences, yet it contained many metal-style guitar solos. It did not sell nearly as well as previous releases. The band then went on a North American tour which spanned into 1988.[18] Sometime later, Miret was arrested on drug charges after releasing a live album, and spent his time in prison writing new songs while Stigma and the band toured Europe for the first time. The lyrics written by Miret while incarcerated formed most of 1992's One Voice,[15] which featured members of Madball and Sick of It All. Miret later stated in a 2011 interview "Those songs told the story of my life. That was pretty damn cool for that reason."[19]
Agnostic Front toured with Cannibal Corpse, Malevolent Creation and Obituary on the Complete Control Tour in 1992.[20]
The band's last show was at CBGB on December 20, 1992. The show was recorded for the live album Last Warning which was released by Roadrunner Records in 1993.[15]
Merit claimed the band never officially broke up stating:
"We never really broke up. We just took a break. I’m a father and I felt like I needed to spend more time with my daughter. During that time, I became better at what I do. I became a better technician. When I knew it was time, I got together with [guitarist] Vinnie [Stigma] and it sounded right."[19]
Start of the Second era (1996-2006)
Stigma and Miret reformed Agnostic Front in May 1996 and did a few reunion shows in December 1996, signing to Epitaph Records and recruiting Jimmy Colletti on drums and Rob Kabula on bass,[15] who was playing with Against the Grain at the time. Their latest venture was titled Something's Gotta Give.[15] In 1999, they followed up with Riot, Riot, Upstart.[15] Their comeback albums have sold well and been mostly acclaimed by music critics[who?] for their pure hardcore punk sound. That same year they also released a split with Dropkick Murphys EP titled Unity.[21] In 1999 the group played a few shows at that years Warped tour.[22]
In 2001, they released the album Dead Yuppies.[15] Songs from this album were rarely played live, as the band considered it more a product of Loved and Hated, Jimmy Colletti's side-project band. The track "Love to be Hated" appears on a volume of Epitaph Records' Punk-O-Rama compilation series, but the band left the label shortly after release and recorded a split live album with Discipline, Working Class Heroes, in 2003,[23] before signing to Nuclear Blast Records in 2004.
In 2002, Miret worked on a side-project band, Roger Miret and the Disasters, looking for a sound akin to old-school punk and Oi!. Also that year, the band appeared in Matthew Barney's film Cremaster 3 along with Murphy's Law. The band continued touring and in late 2003 they joined Unseen and Hatebreed on US tour.[24]
In 2004 Agnostic Front released their fourth studio album Another Voice. The album was regarded mainly as a follow-up to One Voice. The album, however, did receive some criticism from fans and the press for apparently changing their music to fit the current wave of 'tough guy' bands. Musically, the album bears resemblance to bands that were heavily influenced by Agnostic Front, such as Hatebreed. Miret's vocals on the album particularly seemed to turn off many less hardcore punk-oriented fans. Later, the track "Peace" was contributed to the mash-up album Threat: Music That Inspired the Movie, where it was remixed by Schizoid and renamed "World at War".
In 2005 Agnostic Front took part in the Unity tour alongside bands such as Terror and Diecast.[25] In 2006 they released a live album titled Live at CBGB - 25 Years of Blood, Honor and Truth, which was limited to 500 copies.[26]
Warriors and My Way My Life (2007-2011)
On March 7, 2006, Agnostic Front released the DVD Live at CBGB. This follows the efforts of many bands that tried to save CBGB from shutting down. Miret claims that "We played more shows at CBGB than any band ever, and we played more benefit shows for CBGB than any band ever" when the club did close, most nostalgia focused on 1970s punk bands.
On November 6, 2007, Agnostic Front released the album Warriors with the hit "For My Family" which was largely a continuation of the band's crossover thrash sound.[27]
The band performed on the Persistence Tour in Europe in the winter of 2009. For the 25th anniversary of their debut LP Victim in Pain, Bridge Nine Records released remastered versions of said album along with their first EP, United Blood, on November 17, 2009. On February 26, 2010 Agnostic Front reunited their original lineup consisting of Roger Miret, Vinny Stigma, Rob Kabula, and Dave Jones who had not performed together since 1984. For a special show at the Bell House in Brooklyn, New York, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Victim in Pain.[28]
In 2011 Agnostic Front released their ninth studio album My Life My Way,[29] Metalunderground dubbed the album "one of the bands’ best releases to date. Adding My Life My Way "is by far Agnostic Front’s greatest achievement. Everything from the catchy riffs, infectious vocals, guitar solos, and gang chants work perfectly in unison and create an incredible New York Hardcore record. Its official, hardcore is back."[30]
The American Dream Died and Get Loud (2012-2020)
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In 2012 the group played at the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool, England, they played the festival again in 2014 and 2016. In 2012 the band held 3 commemorative 30th anniversary shows where they performed the 1989 live recording Live at CBGB in its entirety to paying homage to the New York hardcore subculture.[31] In 2013 they once again took part in the Persistence tour alongside co headlining alongside Hatebreed.[32]
In 2015, the band released the album The American Dream Died via Nuclear Blast Records which consisted mostly of the bands older style of music with a modern touch. Blabbermouth.net scored the album 8.5 out of 10, stating, "Miret and company have engineered another blistering, attention-seizing album with nearly as much venom as Black Flag's 'My War.'"[33] The band continued to tour extensively in Europe as well as the U.S. in support of the record.
In 2017, Stigma and Miret appeared in a documentary about Agnostic Front, The Godfathers of Hardcore, directed by Ian McFarland.[34] That same year the group also toured extensively in celebration of the group's 35th anniversary.[35] In early 2018 Agnostic Front teamed up with Dropkick Murphys for a North America co headling tour.[36]
In 2019 Agnostic Front released their 10th studio album Get Loud.[37] Blabbermouth.net gave the record a 8/10 stating Get Loud! is as potent and memorable an example of the genre as you will ever hear. As they approach their 40th birthday, AGNOSTIC FRONT are still very much not to be fucked with.[38] That same year they also announced a massive North American tour in celebration of the 35th anniversary of their debut LP Victim In Pain at support came from fellow NYC band, Prong.[39] The group also took part in a co headlining tour with Sick of It All.[40] In 2020 they took part in the Final Persistence Tour alongside Gorilla Biscuits and others.
Echoes in Eternity (2021-present)
In 2022, it was revealed that Pokey Mo had parted ways with Agnostic Front in 2020 and that Danny Lamagna was the new drummer. That same year the band once again toured with Sick of It All in the New York United Tour.[41] The band continued extensive touring and In December 2024, they announced the New York Blood 2025 Tour alongside the bands Murphy's Law and Violent Way.
In January 2025, the band announced The Last Warning Tour with Bad Religion, with shows planned in Europe, the UK, Spain and Portugal beginning in May 2025. In April 2025, it was announced that the band would be playing at Riot Fest in Chicago in September 2025.
In September 2025, the band announced their new album Echoes in Eternity. The album is set to release on November 7, 2025.[42]
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Musical style
Agnostic Front is a hardcore band. Roger Miret has claimed the band has always stayed true to its hardcore roots: "All those bands that everybody raves about—they gave up on you. They quit; they grew up out of [hardcore]. We never gave up on nobody."[43]
In a 2015 interview, lead singer Roger Miret commented on the band's style and recording process, stating, "The music comes first… and then I come in and see what the music is telling me."[44] As for the evolution of their sound he added, "It evolves organically, there’s never a conscious thing, like 'we're gonna write this type of a song now.' … We just write songs... We revisit older sounds as part of what keeps it still clearly an Agnostic Front record."[44]
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Legacy
Agnostic Front are viewed as founding members of the New York hardcore scene. They, alongside Sick of it All, Cro-Mags, Madball and Warzone, have been credited as pioneers. They set the tone for aggressive, working-class urban punk with attitude, introducing crossover thrash elements.[45][46]
They are commonly referred to as New York’s first homegrown hardcore band. Their first album Victim in Pain was named in 2021 by Revolver magazine as one of ten essential New York hardcore albums.[47] Their second album Cause For Alarm was inducted into the Decibel magazine Hall of Fame in 2014.[48]
Agnostic Front has had a major influence on the New York Hardcore scene with bands such as Sick of It All,[49] Madball,[50] Hatebreed[51] and Biohazard,[52][53] have all cited Agnostic Front as an influence.
Band members
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Current members
- Vinnie Stigma – guitar, backing vocals (1982–1986, 1987–1993, 1996–present)
- Roger Miret – lead vocals (1983–1986, 1986, 1987–1993, 1996–present)
- Mike Gallo – bass, backing vocals (2000–present)
- Craig Silverman – guitar, backing vocals (2014–present)
- Danny Lamagna – drums (2022–present)
Former members
- John Watson – lead vocals (1982)
- Diego Casalins – bass (1982)
- Robby Crypt Crash – drums (1982)
- Ray "Raybeez" Barbieri – drums (1982–1983; died 1997)
- Adam "Moochie" Mucci – bass (1982–1983)
- Keith Burkhardt – lead vocals (1982)
- Jimmy "The Russian" Kontra – lead vocals (1982–1983)
- Todd Youth – bass, backing vocals (1983–1984; died 2018)
- Dave Jones – drums (1983–1984)
- Rob Kabula – bass, backing vocals (1984–1986, 1996–2000)
- Petey Hines – drums (1984–1985)
- Jimmy "The Kid" Colletti – drums, backing vocals (1985, 1996–2004)
- Alex Kinon – guitar (1985–1986)
- Louie Beato – drums (1985–1986)
- Carl Demola – lead vocals (1986)
- Joe "Fish" Montanaro – drums (1986)
- Gordon Ancis – guitar (1986)
- Johnny Sanchez – guitar (1986)
- Will Shepler – drums, backing vocals (1987–1993, 2002)
- Steve Martin – guitar (1987–1990)
- Alan Peters – bass (1987; died 2020)
- Craig "Skully" Setari – bass, backing vocals (1987–1993)
- Matt "Wildcard" Henderson – guitar, backing vocals (1990–1993, 2004)
- Steve Gallo – drums, backing vocals (2003, 2004–2009)
- Lenny Di Sclafani – guitar (2004–2006)
- Joseph James – guitar, backing vocals (2006–2014)
- Jimmy "Pokey" Mo – drums (2009–2020)
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Discography
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Studio albums
Live albums
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Music videos
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Footnotes
- In 2013–2014, there was a crowd-funding effort to raise funds for medical treatment for Dave Jones, who "[had] been battling challenging medical issues".
References
Further reading
External links
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