Bane (band)
Encyclopedia
Bane, a hardcore punk
band, began as a side project between Aaron Dalbec
(then of Converge
) and Damon Bellardo. Aaron approached Matt Firestone to sing and they played under the moniker of Gateway for a few shows, before Firestone departed ways to focus on other projects. Dalbec then approached Aaron Bedard
(who had previously sung for the Worcester, Massachusetts
hardcore band Backbone) about singing for Bane. They went into the studio in December 1995 with a few friends and released a 5 song demo. The next year saw the release of their first EP, and many shows throughout central Massachusetts
. The home crowd reactions at local venues The Space, The Espresso Bar and The Palladium were positive. Spring of 1997 saw the release of the Free To Think, Free To Be EP, where 1998 saw the release of the Holding This Moment
7" and CD collection, plus their first US Tour. Like many other hardcore bands Bane are known for their promotion of tolerance and unity within the scene.
, however it was never their main lyrical focus. The current original members are straight edge; Bob Mahoney and Stu are not. They still perform early songs with straight edge references, such as "Count Me Out" which includes the lyric "Just like this X on the back of my hand, I'm not going nowhere". However the lyrics to the song "Wasted On The Young", on Bane's latest album The Note
can be interpreted as criticism of people who ignorantly claim straight edge too early in their life.
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, began as a side project between Aaron Dalbec
Aaron Dalbec
Aaron Dalbec, of Marlborough, Massachusetts, is the guitarist for Bane and Only Crime.Dalbec, a vegan, is also a former member of Converge and Velocity Engine....
(then of Converge
Converge (band)
Converge is an American band from Salem, Massachusetts. Playing a blend of hardcore punk and metal since 1990, Converge has helped to define many of the elements of the metalcore genre.-Description:...
) and Damon Bellardo. Aaron approached Matt Firestone to sing and they played under the moniker of Gateway for a few shows, before Firestone departed ways to focus on other projects. Dalbec then approached Aaron Bedard
Aaron Bedard
Aaron Bedard is the lead singer for the American hardcore punk band Bane, and has recently began a career in DJing, specializing in Dubstep.Bedard is known for his powerful, and often shouted, vocals. He writes all of Bane's lyrics. Before joining Bane, he sang for the band Backbone with Chris...
(who had previously sung for the Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
hardcore band Backbone) about singing for Bane. They went into the studio in December 1995 with a few friends and released a 5 song demo. The next year saw the release of their first EP, and many shows throughout central Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. The home crowd reactions at local venues The Space, The Espresso Bar and The Palladium were positive. Spring of 1997 saw the release of the Free To Think, Free To Be EP, where 1998 saw the release of the Holding This Moment
Holding This Moment
Holding This Moment is a collection of Bane's early 7" releases with songs about straight edge and the hardcore scene.-Track listing:#"In Pieces" – 2:19#"Count Me Out" – 2:30#"Both Guns Blazing" – 5:36#"Superhero" – 3:08#"At Best" – 2:09...
7" and CD collection, plus their first US Tour. Like many other hardcore bands Bane are known for their promotion of tolerance and unity within the scene.
Straight edge
In earlier albums Bane claimed straight edgeStraight edge
Straight edge is a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs. It was a direct reaction to the sexual revolution, hedonism, and excess associated with punk rock. For some, this extends to not engaging in promiscuous sex, following a...
, however it was never their main lyrical focus. The current original members are straight edge; Bob Mahoney and Stu are not. They still perform early songs with straight edge references, such as "Count Me Out" which includes the lyric "Just like this X on the back of my hand, I'm not going nowhere". However the lyrics to the song "Wasted On The Young", on Bane's latest album The Note
The Note (album)
The Note is an album released in the Spring of 2005 by hardcore band Bane. The album consists of a deeper, more mature sound than that of previous albums.-Track listing:# "Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda" – 2:49# "Pot Committed" – 3:28...
can be interpreted as criticism of people who ignorantly claim straight edge too early in their life.
Current members
- Aaron BedardAaron BedardAaron Bedard is the lead singer for the American hardcore punk band Bane, and has recently began a career in DJing, specializing in Dubstep.Bedard is known for his powerful, and often shouted, vocals. He writes all of Bane's lyrics. Before joining Bane, he sang for the band Backbone with Chris...
- Vocals - Aaron DalbecAaron DalbecAaron Dalbec, of Marlborough, Massachusetts, is the guitarist for Bane and Only Crime.Dalbec, a vegan, is also a former member of Converge and Velocity Engine....
- Guitar - Zach Jordan - Guitar
- Brendan "Stu" Maguire - Bass
- Bob Mahoney - Drums
- Kristin Rondeau - Back Up Vocals
Former members
- Pete Chilton - Bass (First EP to The Note)
- Nick Branigan - Drums (It All Comes Down To This LP, Bane/Adamantium Split 7", Give Blood LP)
- Ben Chused - Drums (Holding This Moment 7")
- Damon Bellardo - Drums (Demo, XXX 7", Free To Think 7")
- Kurt Ballou - Guitar (first few shows, Converge)
- Matthew Firestone - Vocals (Gateway)
- Christopher Cardone - Bass (Gateway)
- Joe "Lumpy" Lawrence -Vocals (Gateway)
Discography
- Holding This MomentHolding This MomentHolding This Moment is a collection of Bane's early 7" releases with songs about straight edge and the hardcore scene.-Track listing:#"In Pieces" – 2:19#"Count Me Out" – 2:30#"Both Guns Blazing" – 5:36#"Superhero" – 3:08#"At Best" – 2:09...
(1998) - Equal Vision RecordsEqual Vision RecordsEqual Vision Records is a record label based in Albany, New York, which has a focus in metal or punk-based rock genres. Equal Vision Records was founded in the early 1990s by Ray Cappo .... - It All Comes Down to ThisIt All Comes Down to ThisIt All Comes Down to This is the first full-length album from the hardcore band Bane and deals with loss and unity within the hardcore scene....
(1999) - Equal Vision Records - All Systems Go! Comp (2000) - Underestimated Records
- Bane/Adamantium Split 7" (2001) - Indecision RecordsIndecision RecordsIndecision Records is an independent American hardcore punk record label which was started by Dave Mandel in 1995. It is based in Garden Grove, California. Until around 2001, it was based in nearby Huntington Beach. Both cities are within Orange County...
- Give BloodGive Blood (Bane album)Give Blood is Bane's third album with songs focusing on the hardcore scene, dreams and loss. It was acclaimed for its focus, energy, and Hardcore sound.-Track listing:#"Speechless" – 1:24#"Some Came Running" – 2:37#"Snakes Among Us" – 3:58...
(2001) - Equal Vision Records - The NoteThe Note (album)The Note is an album released in the Spring of 2005 by hardcore band Bane. The album consists of a deeper, more mature sound than that of previous albums.-Track listing:# "Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda" – 2:49# "Pot Committed" – 3:28...
(2005) - Equal Vision Records - Ten Years Plus E.P. (2006) - Equal Vision Records
- Dublin 11:58pmBoston 6:58pmBoston 6:58pm is the first of two 7"'s in Bane's set of "world series" releases. It was released in America on Triple-B Records as Boston 6:58pm, in Europe on Hurry Up! Records as Dublin 11:58pm, and in conjunction with the 2nd 7" as a CD in Australia on Resist Records as Perth 7:58am, in Japan on...
7" (2009) - Hurry Up! Records - Boston 6:58pmBoston 6:58pmBoston 6:58pm is the first of two 7"'s in Bane's set of "world series" releases. It was released in America on Triple-B Records as Boston 6:58pm, in Europe on Hurry Up! Records as Dublin 11:58pm, and in conjunction with the 2nd 7" as a CD in Australia on Resist Records as Perth 7:58am, in Japan on...
7" (2009) - Triple-B Records - Rome 12:58amLos Angeles 3:58pmLos Angeles 3:58pm is the second of two 7"'s in Bane's set of "world series" releases. It was released in America on 6131 Records as Los Angeles 3:58pm, in Europe on Hurry Up! Records as Rome 12:58am, and in conjunction with the 1st 7" as a CD in Australia on Resist Records as Perth 7:58am, in...
7" (2009) - Hurry Up! Records - Los Angeles 3:58pmLos Angeles 3:58pmLos Angeles 3:58pm is the second of two 7"'s in Bane's set of "world series" releases. It was released in America on 6131 Records as Los Angeles 3:58pm, in Europe on Hurry Up! Records as Rome 12:58am, and in conjunction with the 1st 7" as a CD in Australia on Resist Records as Perth 7:58am, in...
7" (2009) - 6131 Records - Perth 7:58am CD/EPBoston 6:58pmBoston 6:58pm is the first of two 7"'s in Bane's set of "world series" releases. It was released in America on Triple-B Records as Boston 6:58pm, in Europe on Hurry Up! Records as Dublin 11:58pm, and in conjunction with the 2nd 7" as a CD in Australia on Resist Records as Perth 7:58am, in Japan on...
(2009) - Resist Records - Tokyo 7:58am CD/EPBoston 6:58pmBoston 6:58pm is the first of two 7"'s in Bane's set of "world series" releases. It was released in America on Triple-B Records as Boston 6:58pm, in Europe on Hurry Up! Records as Dublin 11:58pm, and in conjunction with the 2nd 7" as a CD in Australia on Resist Records as Perth 7:58am, in Japan on...
(2009) - Alliance Trax - Curitiba 7:58pm CD/EPBoston 6:58pmBoston 6:58pm is the first of two 7"'s in Bane's set of "world series" releases. It was released in America on Triple-B Records as Boston 6:58pm, in Europe on Hurry Up! Records as Dublin 11:58pm, and in conjunction with the 2nd 7" as a CD in Australia on Resist Records as Perth 7:58am, in Japan on...
(2009) - Hurry Up! Records - At Both Ends Final Issue 7" Comp (2009)
- Holding This Moment LP (2010) - Hurry Up! Records
Covers
Bane has covered the following songs for various compilations- "Just How Much?" - Chain of StrengthChain of StrengthChain of Strength was a late '80s and early '90s straight edge hardcore punk band from Southern California.-Biography:The first Chain of Strength release was a 7" EP entitled True Till Death, released through Revelation Records. After parting ways with Revelation, they formed their own Foundation...
on All Systems Go! cover comp. LP (Underestimated 2000) - "The Truth About Lars" - LifetimeLifetime (band)Lifetime is an American melodic hardcore/emo band from New Jersey. Lifetime was formed in 1990 and disbanded in 1997. In late 2005, they announced their reunion.-History:...
- "Eye for an Eye" - Eye for an Eye on Indecision Records Split Series
- "We Stand Alone" - Sick Of It AllSick of It AllSick of It All is an American hardcore punk band from Queens, New York. Formed in 1986, the band consisted of brothers Lou Koller on vocals and Pete Koller on lead guitar, Rich Cipriano on bass, and Armand Majidi on drums. There have been only two member changes since their inception, with Max...
on Our Impact Will Be FeltOur Impact Will Be FeltOur Impact Will Be Felt is a tribute album by various artists dedicated to Sick of It All, released on May 8, 2007. The album's title is a reference to a line of the song "Built to Last", which appeared on the band's album of the same title.... - "Enjoy" - BjörkBjörkBjörk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
on Ten Years Plus E.P.
Allusions
- The song "Fuck What You Heard" begins with a sound clip from Apocalypse NowApocalypse NowApocalypse Now is a 1979 American war film set during the Vietnam War, produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The central character is US Army special operations officer Captain Benjamin L. Willard , of MACV-SOG, an assassin sent to kill the renegade and presumed insane Special Forces...
- The song "What Makes Us Strong" begins with a sound clip from AliensAliens (film)Aliens is a 1986 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, and Bill Paxton...
- The song "Both Guns Blazing" begins with a sound clip from The Good, the Bad and the UglyThe Good, the Bad and the UglyThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a 1966 Italian epic spaghetti western film directed by Sergio Leone, starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach in the title roles. The screenplay was written by Age & Scarpelli, Luciano Vincenzoni and Leone, based on a story by Vincenzoni and Leone...
- The song "End with an Ellipsis" makes reference to the death of a fan midway through a Bane set at a show in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.