All Systems Go!
Encyclopedia
All Systems Go! is a Canadian punk rock
group, and features members of Big Drill Car
, Doughboys
, the Asexuals
and The Carnations
. The band was formed after Frank Daly
and Mark Arnold
's previous band Big Drill Car
broke up in 1995 and John Kastner
's and Peter Arsenault's previous band The Doughboys
broke up in 1996.
All Systems Go!'s 1999 self-titled debut CD alternates between John Kastner (guitar) and Frank Daly (bass) on lead vocals. Blending hard rock, punk, vocal harmonies and guitar interplay from Mark Arnold, the album represents elements of both previous projects that formed its basis (i.e. Doughboys and Big Drill Car). Though a fairly short album, it was well-received by fans of the members' previous projects.
Frank Daly left the band the following year and was replaced by Thomas D'Arcy (from The Carnations
) on bass and vocals. The resulting album, "Mon Chi Chi", repeats the process of divvying up songwriting duties between Kastner and newcomer D'Arcy. The album represented a greater number of collaborations than did its predecessor.
Thomas D'Arcy left the band shortly thereafter and was temporarily replaced by Karl Alvarez (Descendents/All). This line-up toured briefly but did not produce a studio album.
After several intervening years, All Systems Go! resurfaced somewhat in 2007 with an exclusive iTunes download-only release, "A Late Night Snack". This collection of outtakes and unreleased songs from the band's original line-up gave fans another chance to hear the work of the original lineup.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
group, and features members of Big Drill Car
Big Drill Car
Big Drill Car was a pop punk/melodic hardcore group from Huntington Beach, California, who were active from the late 1980s to mid-1990s and briefly again in the mid-2000s...
, Doughboys
Doughboys (band)
Doughboys were a Canadian alternative rock band that were active in the late 1980s and early/mid 1990s. The band was renowned for its musical blend of punk and pop-style melodies.-Early Years:...
, the Asexuals
Asexuals (band)
The Asexuals is a hardcore punk band from Beaconsfield that was a mainstay of the Montreal punk scene in the '80s before evolving into an alternative band following the departure of singer John Kastner, who went to form the Doughboys and, later, All Systems Go!.-History:The Asexuals formed in 1983...
and The Carnations
The Carnations
The Carnations were a Canadian indie rock band started in 1995 by Thomas D'Arcy on lead vocals and bass, and Steve Krecklo on vocals and guitar. It expanded in 1996 to include Nathan Rekker on guitar and vocals, and later Patrick Conan on drums.-History:...
. The band was formed after Frank Daly
Frank Daly
Francis Joseph "Frank" Daly was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála for the Cork Borough constituency at the 1943 general election, and was re-elected at the 1944 general election. He did not contest the 1948 general election. He served as Lord Mayor...
and Mark Arnold
Mark Arnold
Mark Arnold is an American punk rock singer and guitarist, best known for two band projects Big Drill Car and All Systems Go! .-References:...
's previous band Big Drill Car
Big Drill Car
Big Drill Car was a pop punk/melodic hardcore group from Huntington Beach, California, who were active from the late 1980s to mid-1990s and briefly again in the mid-2000s...
broke up in 1995 and John Kastner
John Kastner
John Kastner is a Canadian musician and composer born in Beaconsfield, Quebec. He is well known as the singer for Montreal hardcore punk band the Asexuals as well as singer-guitarist for Montreal alternative band Doughboys and alternative band All Systems Go!....
's and Peter Arsenault's previous band The Doughboys
Doughboys (band)
Doughboys were a Canadian alternative rock band that were active in the late 1980s and early/mid 1990s. The band was renowned for its musical blend of punk and pop-style melodies.-Early Years:...
broke up in 1996.
All Systems Go!'s 1999 self-titled debut CD alternates between John Kastner (guitar) and Frank Daly (bass) on lead vocals. Blending hard rock, punk, vocal harmonies and guitar interplay from Mark Arnold, the album represents elements of both previous projects that formed its basis (i.e. Doughboys and Big Drill Car). Though a fairly short album, it was well-received by fans of the members' previous projects.
Frank Daly left the band the following year and was replaced by Thomas D'Arcy (from The Carnations
The Carnations
The Carnations were a Canadian indie rock band started in 1995 by Thomas D'Arcy on lead vocals and bass, and Steve Krecklo on vocals and guitar. It expanded in 1996 to include Nathan Rekker on guitar and vocals, and later Patrick Conan on drums.-History:...
) on bass and vocals. The resulting album, "Mon Chi Chi", repeats the process of divvying up songwriting duties between Kastner and newcomer D'Arcy. The album represented a greater number of collaborations than did its predecessor.
Thomas D'Arcy left the band shortly thereafter and was temporarily replaced by Karl Alvarez (Descendents/All). This line-up toured briefly but did not produce a studio album.
After several intervening years, All Systems Go! resurfaced somewhat in 2007 with an exclusive iTunes download-only release, "A Late Night Snack". This collection of outtakes and unreleased songs from the band's original line-up gave fans another chance to hear the work of the original lineup.
Members
- Mark ArnoldMark ArnoldMark Arnold is an American punk rock singer and guitarist, best known for two band projects Big Drill Car and All Systems Go! .-References:...
- Guitars (see also Big Drill CarBig Drill CarBig Drill Car was a pop punk/melodic hardcore group from Huntington Beach, California, who were active from the late 1980s to mid-1990s and briefly again in the mid-2000s...
) - John KastnerJohn KastnerJohn Kastner is a Canadian musician and composer born in Beaconsfield, Quebec. He is well known as the singer for Montreal hardcore punk band the Asexuals as well as singer-guitarist for Montreal alternative band Doughboys and alternative band All Systems Go!....
- Vocals, Guitars (see also AsexualsAsexuals (band)The Asexuals is a hardcore punk band from Beaconsfield that was a mainstay of the Montreal punk scene in the '80s before evolving into an alternative band following the departure of singer John Kastner, who went to form the Doughboys and, later, All Systems Go!.-History:The Asexuals formed in 1983...
and The Doughboys) - SuttonSutton (surname)Sutton is a surname, and may refer to:*Antony C. Sutton , historian and author*Andy Sutton , Canadian ice hockey player*Bertine Sutton , British air marshal*Chloe Sutton , American swimmer...
- Bass, Vocals - Dean Dallas Bentley - Drums
Former members
- Frank DalyFrank DalyFrancis Joseph "Frank" Daly was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála for the Cork Borough constituency at the 1943 general election, and was re-elected at the 1944 general election. He did not contest the 1948 general election. He served as Lord Mayor...
- Bass (see also Big Drill CarBig Drill CarBig Drill Car was a pop punk/melodic hardcore group from Huntington Beach, California, who were active from the late 1980s to mid-1990s and briefly again in the mid-2000s...
) - Peter Arsenault - Guitar
- Thomas D'ArcyThomas D'ArcyThomas D'Arcy, is a Canadian singer and songwriter born in Guernsey, Channel Islands. He has been part of such bands and indie rock acts as The Carnations, All Systems Go!, Small Sins , Another Blue Door, The I-Spies and The Suspenders, among others.-Career:D'Arcy's family immigrated to Toronto,...
- Bass (see also The CarnationsThe CarnationsThe Carnations were a Canadian indie rock band started in 1995 by Thomas D'Arcy on lead vocals and bass, and Steve Krecklo on vocals and guitar. It expanded in 1996 to include Nathan Rekker on guitar and vocals, and later Patrick Conan on drums.-History:...
) - Matt TaylorMatt Taylor (musician)Matt Taylor is an Australian blues musician. He is best known for his work with long-lasting blues band Chain and for the hit song "I Remember When I Was Young".-Biography:...
- Drums - Karl AlvarezKarl AlvarezKarl Matthew Alvarez is the bass guitar player for both the Descendents and All, the band that resulted after the Descendents disbanded again in 1987....
- Bass
Discography
- All Systems Go! (1999)
- I'll Be Your Radio (2001, EP)
- Mon Chi Chi (2002)
- Fascination Unknown (2003, EP)
- Tell Vicky (2003, EP)
- A Late Night Snack (2007)