Aus-Rotten
Encyclopedia
Aus-Rotten was an American crust punk
band, from 1991 to 2001 formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. Part of the DIY underground
, its members practiced and promoted a philosophy of anarchism
and far-left sociopolitics.
The band included lead vocalist Dave Trenga, vocalist/guitarist Eric Good, bassist Corey Lyons, and drummer Matt Garabedian. Spitboy
singer Adrienne Droogas would often join the band in their later material.
, Conflict
, Crass
, and Subhumans. The band has covered songs by Chumbawamba
, Flux of Pink Indians
, The Pist
, Conflict
, Crucifix
and Upright Citizens.
Aus-Rotten went through roughly two stylistic periods during its existence; they originated as a bass-heavy sound hardcore punk band with low-fidelity production, before taking a hiatus and returning with a thicker sound.
, LGBT rights, the Christian right
, direct action
, radical feminism
, AIDS, immigration
, and animal rights
.
The band is perhaps most famous for its radical, rather unlettered lyrics (e.g. "People are not expendable, government is", "As long as flags fly above us, no one's really free"), as well as for their strong anti-fascist stance which, according to the interview on the ABC No Rio
documentary, got them threatened at least once.
and Corey and Eric formed Doomsday Parade. Aus-Rotten broke up for good in early 2001 and members have gone on to form Caustic Christ
and Behind Enemy Lines
.
Pittsburgh City Paper
has described Aus-Rotten as "arguably the most important band of the '90s anarcho-punk
renaissance." The band's 1994 Fuck Nazi Sympathy 7" sold 25,000 copies, making it Havoc Records
' best-selling release. Fuck Nazi Sympathy topped a list of bestselling D.I.Y. Punk record label releases compiled in 2008, outselling anything released on Ebullition, Three One G
, Profane Existence
, Gravity Records
, Lengua Armada, and various other labels. They toured Japan briefly in 1998.
Crust punk
Crust punk is a form of music influenced by anarcho-punk, hardcore punk and extreme metal. The style, which evolved in the mid-1980s in England, often has songs with dark and pessimistic lyrics that linger on political and social ills...
band, from 1991 to 2001 formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. Part of the DIY underground
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
, its members practiced and promoted a philosophy of anarchism
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
and far-left sociopolitics.
The band included lead vocalist Dave Trenga, vocalist/guitarist Eric Good, bassist Corey Lyons, and drummer Matt Garabedian. Spitboy
Spitboy
Spitboy was an American anarcho-punk band founded in San Francisco, California in the early 1990s by four women. Within their music they aggressively criticized patriarchy and gender roles.-History:...
singer Adrienne Droogas would often join the band in their later material.
Musical style
According to their Myspace site, Aus-Rotten is influenced by Black FlagBlack Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
, Conflict
Conflict (band)
Conflict is an English anarcho-punk band originally based around Eltham in South London. Formed in 1981, the band's original line up consisted of: Colin Jerwood , Francisco 'Paco' Carreno , Big John , Steve , Pauline , Paul aka 'Nihilistic Nobody' . Their first release was the EP "The House That...
, Crass
Crass
Crass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
, and Subhumans. The band has covered songs by Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba is a British musical group who have, over a career spanning nearly three decades, played punk rock, pop-influenced music, world music, and folk music...
, Flux of Pink Indians
Flux Of Pink Indians
Flux of Pink Indians were an English anarcho-punk/post punk band, that originated from Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England.-Biography:...
, The Pist
The Pist
The Pist was an American hardcore punk band that was formed in Connecticut in the winter of 1992 by Al Ouimet on vocals & bass, Bill Chamberlain on guitar, and Greg Bennick on drums. They were a popular band in the DIY punk scene of the 1990s. After a few lineup changes, the band eventually...
, Conflict
Conflict (band)
Conflict is an English anarcho-punk band originally based around Eltham in South London. Formed in 1981, the band's original line up consisted of: Colin Jerwood , Francisco 'Paco' Carreno , Big John , Steve , Pauline , Paul aka 'Nihilistic Nobody' . Their first release was the EP "The House That...
, Crucifix
Crucifix (band)
Crucifix was an American hardcore punk band from Berkeley, California, active from 1980 to 1984. They were among the most popular acts of the San Francisco hardcore scene of the early 1980s...
and Upright Citizens.
Aus-Rotten went through roughly two stylistic periods during its existence; they originated as a bass-heavy sound hardcore punk band with low-fidelity production, before taking a hiatus and returning with a thicker sound.
Lyrical themes
Dave Trenga penned most of the band's lyrics. Most of their songs espoused an anarchist worldview, touching upon consumerismConsumerism
Consumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen...
, LGBT rights, the Christian right
Christian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
, direct action
Direct action
Direct action is activity undertaken by individuals, groups, or governments to achieve political, economic, or social goals outside of normal social/political channels. This can include nonviolent and violent activities which target persons, groups, or property deemed offensive to the direct action...
, radical feminism
Radical feminism
Radical feminism is a current theoretical perspective within feminism that focuses on the theory of patriarchy as a system of power that organizes society into a complex of relationships based on an assumption that "male supremacy" oppresses women...
, AIDS, immigration
Immigration to the United States
Immigration to the United States has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the history of the United States. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants,...
, and animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
.
The band is perhaps most famous for its radical, rather unlettered lyrics (e.g. "People are not expendable, government is", "As long as flags fly above us, no one's really free"), as well as for their strong anti-fascist stance which, according to the interview on the ABC No Rio
ABC No Rio
ABC No Rio is a social center located at 156 Rivington Street on New York City's Lower East Side that was founded in 1980. It features a gallery space, a zine library, a darkroom, a silkscreening studio, and public computer lab...
documentary, got them threatened at least once.
Post-disestablishment
Aus-Rotten went on a hiatus in the mid-'90s and during that time Dave formed Human Investment with Andy of Anti-FlagAnti-Flag
Anti-Flag is a punk rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States, formed in 1988. The band is well known for its outspoken political views. Much of the band's lyrics have focused on fervent anti-war activism, criticism of United States foreign policy, corporatism, U.S. wealth...
and Corey and Eric formed Doomsday Parade. Aus-Rotten broke up for good in early 2001 and members have gone on to form Caustic Christ
Caustic Christ
Caustic Christ were a hardcore punk band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They were on Havoc Records.- History :In late 2000, Bill Chamberlain quit his band React and moved from Connecticut to Pittsburgh to start a band with guitarist/vocalist Eric Good and bassist Corey Lyons of Aus-Rotten...
and Behind Enemy Lines
Behind Enemy Lines (band)
Behind Enemy Lines is an American crust punk band, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in a crossover style of anarchist crust punk and thrash metal. The band features vocalist Dave Trenga and drummer Matt Garabedian, both of Aus-Rotten, and formerly guitarist Bill Chamberlain of The Pist...
.
Pittsburgh City Paper
Pittsburgh City Paper
The Pittsburgh City Paper is Pittsburgh's leading alternative weekly newspaper which focuses on local news, opinion, and arts and entertainment...
has described Aus-Rotten as "arguably the most important band of the '90s anarcho-punk
Anarcho-punk
Anarcho-punk is punk rock that promotes anarchism. The term anarcho-punk is sometimes applied exclusively to bands that were part of the original anarcho-punk movement in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
renaissance." The band's 1994 Fuck Nazi Sympathy 7" sold 25,000 copies, making it Havoc Records
Havoc Records
Havoc Records is an underground crust punk record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Havoc Records was founded in 1992 by Felix Havoc. According to Felix, "I learned a lot about how to produce and distribute records in this period. Havoc Records began in 1992 as the vehicle to realize the "Burn...
' best-selling release. Fuck Nazi Sympathy topped a list of bestselling D.I.Y. Punk record label releases compiled in 2008, outselling anything released on Ebullition, Three One G
Three One G
31G Records, or Three One G, is a San Diego, California based record label, started by grindcore and hardcore musician Justin Pearson in 1994...
, Profane Existence
Profane Existence
The Profane Existence Collective is a Minneapolis-based anarcho-punk collective. Established in 1989, the collective publishes a nationally-known zine , as well as releasing and distributing anarcho-punk, crust, and grindcore music, and printing and publishing pamphlets and literature...
, Gravity Records
Gravity Records (US)
Gravity Records is an underground independent record label from San Diego. It was formed in 1991 by Matt Anderson, a member of the influential underground band Heroin. It has been central in developing and promoting the "San Diego sound" - an idiosyncratic form of post-hardcore with loose, chaotic...
, Lengua Armada, and various other labels. They toured Japan briefly in 1998.
Studio Albums
- The System Works For Them (1996)
- ...And Now Back To Our Programming (1999)
- The Rotten AgendaThe Rotten AgendaThe Rotten Agenda is the third and final studio album by the American hardcore punk band Aus-Rotten, released in 2001 on Rotten Propaganda Records...
(2001)
Appears on
- "Iron City Punk Compilation" (1993)
- "Pogo Attack Compilation" (1994)
- "Barricades and Broken Dreams: An International Tribute to ConflictConflict (band)Conflict is an English anarcho-punk band originally based around Eltham in South London. Formed in 1981, the band's original line up consisted of: Colin Jerwood , Francisco 'Paco' Carreno , Big John , Steve , Pauline , Paul aka 'Nihilistic Nobody' . Their first release was the EP "The House That...
" (1995) - "Start A Riot" Compilation (1996)
- "Solidarity Compilation - Benefit For ABC No RioABC No RioABC No Rio is a social center located at 156 Rivington Street on New York City's Lower East Side that was founded in 1980. It features a gallery space, a zine library, a darkroom, a silkscreening studio, and public computer lab...
" (1999) - "Return of The Read Menace - Benefit for AK PressAK PressAK Press is a worker-managed independent publisher and book distributor that specialises in radical left and anarchist literature. It is collectively owned and operated.-History:...
" (1999)
Final Lineup
- Patrick Tighe - Bass
- Dave Trenga - Vocals
- Eric Good - Guitar, Vocals
- Matt Garabedian - Drums
- Adrienne Droogas (ex-SpitboySpitboySpitboy was an American anarcho-punk band founded in San Francisco, California in the early 1990s by four women. Within their music they aggressively criticized patriarchy and gender roles.-History:...
) - Vocals
Former Members
- Ajax - Guitar
- Richie Carramadre - Drums
- Douglas Weaver - Drums
- Tim Williams - Drums
External links
- Aus-Rotten at Myspace.com
- Havoc Records Label site.
- Interview with Aus-Rotten in Profane ExistenceProfane ExistenceThe Profane Existence Collective is a Minneapolis-based anarcho-punk collective. Established in 1989, the collective publishes a nationally-known zine , as well as releasing and distributing anarcho-punk, crust, and grindcore music, and printing and publishing pamphlets and literature...
magazine - interview in Suburban VoiceSuburban VoiceSuburban Voice is a punk zine published by Al Quint. Originally started in 1982, it was titled Suburban Punk for the first 10 issues, and then the titled changed to Suburban Voice. Although the zine has other contributors, Al is the primary writer for most of the material...