Armed and Hammered
Encyclopedia
Armed and Hammered was a hardcore punk
band from Toronto
, Ontario
, spawned from the Kensington Market
, BFG (Bunchofuckingoofs) scene. They played their first show June 7, 1989 and their final show on April 19, 2003. Originally formed by singer Mopa Dean, the bassist
for Masochistic Religion
, arguably Canada’s foremost goth
band, and drummer Kyle, the earliest lineup also included Lamo, Philphee and BFG's Thor. By the time of Armed & Hammered's first release in 1991, the Fully Loaded cassette
the latter three had given way to Hardcore Dave (guitar
) and Kieran (bass
), beginning the long revolving door of membership.
Armed and Hammered briefly reunited to play a set in support of GBH for their tour visit to Toronto in July 2010.
In 1992, guitarist
s Big John and Dorian Wilde had replaced Hardcore Dave. This line-up was featured on the next several releases: the split 7-inch records with Suckerpunch
and Oppressed Logic
and tracks on the various artists compilations Dead on the Road and Living in Fear.
They were once banned from a repeat performance on Much Music. It was when they were playing Live at the Kumbaya festival in 1995. Kumbaya was a festival held at the Molson Amphiteatre to benefit people living with aids which was broadcast live across Canada on Much Music. They were removed from the rebroadcast the next day and their performance was replaced with an REM video.
Over the course of the mid-1990s, the band's line-up would change several times. Guitarist
Wilde left in 1994 and was replaced the following year by Kurf. Soon after, Kieran moved to the UK
where he toured with The Varukers
and formed The Restarts
. He was replaced by Rick Giroux, who was in turn replaced in 1997 by former Heatseekers and Suckerpunch bassist
, Cindy Beattie.
The debut full-length, "It's About Fucking Time", was recorded over much of 1996 and 1997 and features both Rick and Cindy. The CD also features re-recordings of many of the songs from earlier releases. It also spent some time in the independent charts in Canada.
In 1998, Kurf left the band and in 1999 was replaced by former Abalienation guitarist, Mark Dickinson. In 2000, following the release of The Negative Aspect of Positive Thinking CD
, Mark returned to the US, leaving Armed and Hammered once again with one guitarist. In 2000, Mopa left the group to be replaced by Jaww
singer, Doug McLarty. After Mopa's departure the group became mostly inactive, playing only a handful of gigs before their final shows in early 2003. Mopa formed The G-Men in 2002, who played at least one gig with Armed & Hammered, on November 15, 2002 at Sneaky Dee's in Toronto. These final shows featured the return of former members Kurf and Rick.
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, spawned from the Kensington Market
Kensington Market
Kensington Market is a distinctive multicultural neighbourhood in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Market is an older neighbourhood and one of the city's most well-known. In November 2006, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada. Robert Fulford wrote in 1999 that "Kensington...
, BFG (Bunchofuckingoofs) scene. They played their first show June 7, 1989 and their final show on April 19, 2003. Originally formed by singer Mopa Dean, the bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
for Masochistic Religion
Masochistic Religion
Masochistic Religion were one of the first goth bands from Toronto, Ontario. Masochistic Religion went through many line-up changes over the years with Mitch Krol as the only consistent member. The band formed in the late 80s and broke up in 1998. Their album Litanies of Satan is based on Charles...
, arguably Canada’s foremost goth
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
band, and drummer Kyle, the earliest lineup also included Lamo, Philphee and BFG's Thor. By the time of Armed & Hammered's first release in 1991, the Fully Loaded cassette
Compact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
the latter three had given way to Hardcore Dave (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) and Kieran (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), beginning the long revolving door of membership.
Armed and Hammered briefly reunited to play a set in support of GBH for their tour visit to Toronto in July 2010.
In 1992, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
s Big John and Dorian Wilde had replaced Hardcore Dave. This line-up was featured on the next several releases: the split 7-inch records with Suckerpunch
Suckerpunch
A sucker punch or suckerpunch is a blow made without warning. It may also refer to:- Music :* Suckerpunch , a Canadian band.* Sucker Punch , a 2001 album by Haji's Kitchen...
and Oppressed Logic
Oppressed Logic
Oppressed Logic are a punk band from Oakland, California who formed in 1994. The first album the band appeared on was a compilation called Pigs Suck, which was released in 1995 by Clean Plate Records. The band has gone through many line-up changes throughout the years with Mike "Cyco Loco" Avilez...
and tracks on the various artists compilations Dead on the Road and Living in Fear.
They were once banned from a repeat performance on Much Music. It was when they were playing Live at the Kumbaya festival in 1995. Kumbaya was a festival held at the Molson Amphiteatre to benefit people living with aids which was broadcast live across Canada on Much Music. They were removed from the rebroadcast the next day and their performance was replaced with an REM video.
Over the course of the mid-1990s, the band's line-up would change several times. Guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Wilde left in 1994 and was replaced the following year by Kurf. Soon after, Kieran moved to the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where he toured with The Varukers
The Varukers
The Varukers are a UK D-beat band formed in 1979 by vocalist Anthony "Rat" Martin, which produced its most influential recordings in the early 1980s. The band are one of the first to play in the musical style of the hardcore punk band Discharge, known as D-beat...
and formed The Restarts
The Restarts
The Restarts are a street punk band from London, England.They formed in 1995 in London with Darragh on drums, Kieran from Armed and Hammered on bass, and Mik on the guitar. They played many shows in the UK with their three-piece until Mik left, at which point Alan joined the band...
. He was replaced by Rick Giroux, who was in turn replaced in 1997 by former Heatseekers and Suckerpunch bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, Cindy Beattie.
The debut full-length, "It's About Fucking Time", was recorded over much of 1996 and 1997 and features both Rick and Cindy. The CD also features re-recordings of many of the songs from earlier releases. It also spent some time in the independent charts in Canada.
In 1998, Kurf left the band and in 1999 was replaced by former Abalienation guitarist, Mark Dickinson. In 2000, following the release of The Negative Aspect of Positive Thinking CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, Mark returned to the US, leaving Armed and Hammered once again with one guitarist. In 2000, Mopa left the group to be replaced by Jaww
Jaww
Jaww is a village on the south eastern coast of Bahrain, and has traditionally been home to the Al Bu Romaih tribe. One of Bahrain's main prisons is located near the village....
singer, Doug McLarty. After Mopa's departure the group became mostly inactive, playing only a handful of gigs before their final shows in early 2003. Mopa formed The G-Men in 2002, who played at least one gig with Armed & Hammered, on November 15, 2002 at Sneaky Dee's in Toronto. These final shows featured the return of former members Kurf and Rick.
Members
- Kyle - drums
- Mopa Dean - vocals, also member of Masochistic Religion, The G-Men
- Big John - guitar
- Kieran Plunkett - bass, member of The VarukersThe VarukersThe Varukers are a UK D-beat band formed in 1979 by vocalist Anthony "Rat" Martin, which produced its most influential recordings in the early 1980s. The band are one of the first to play in the musical style of the hardcore punk band Discharge, known as D-beat...
, The RestartsThe RestartsThe Restarts are a street punk band from London, England.They formed in 1995 in London with Darragh on drums, Kieran from Armed and Hammered on bass, and Mik on the guitar. They played many shows in the UK with their three-piece until Mik left, at which point Alan joined the band... - Kurf - guitar
- Doug McLarty- vocals, former member of JawwJawwJaww is a village on the south eastern coast of Bahrain, and has traditionally been home to the Al Bu Romaih tribe. One of Bahrain's main prisons is located near the village....
- Rick Giroux - bass
- Cindy Beattie - bass, former member of SuckerpunchSuckerpunchA sucker punch or suckerpunch is a blow made without warning. It may also refer to:- Music :* Suckerpunch , a Canadian band.* Sucker Punch , a 2001 album by Haji's Kitchen...
, The Heatseekers - Dorian Wilde - guitar
- Mark Dickinson - guitar, member of Others, Bloodsucking Freaks, former member of Abalienation
- Hardcore Dave - guitar, Former member of Bunchofuckingoofs, Nunoyerfuckinbizznizz, no ID, land fill, other side projects
Discography
- Fully Loaded (Cassette, Independent) 1991
- Armed & Hammered / Suckerpunch Split 7-inch (7-inch record, Independent) 1993
- Armed & Hammered / Oppressed Logic Split 7-inch (7-inch record, Ransom Note Recordings, USA) 1995
- I'm More Punk Rock than You (7-inch record, Subvert & Deny Records, USA) 1996
- Don't Mess with Punk (Cassette, Independent) 1995
- It's About Fucking Time (CD, Obese Records, USA) 1997
- Negative Aspects of Positive Thinking (CD / Cassette, Independent) 2000
Various Artists Compilations
- Dead on the Road (CD, Raw Energy Records) 1994
- Living in Fear (CD, Ransom Note Recordings, USA) 1995
- Raw Energy Records (CD, Raw Energy Recs./Shock Records,Australia) 1999
- Disease Control: Vol. 1 (CD, MUCK Records) 1999