Culture (US band)
Encyclopedia
Culture was a Florida
-based vegan/straight edge
hardcore
band. They formed in 1992, and lasted until 1998, when Damien Moyal
merged the remaining members into the second incarnation of As Friends Rust
.
formed the band in 1992 with Stan Obal on bass, Josh Williams on drums, and Mark Mitchell
on vocals. Mark left in late 1993, and Rich assumed vocals. The trio recorded a four-song Demo and quickly got signed to release a self-titled 7" on Shadow Records
. Before the release, John Wylie joined on second guitar, and was credited in the line-up. Shortly after, Stan was replaced by Peter Carreno. Pete was then replaced by Gordon Tarpley, and Damien Moyal
joined to relieve Rich of vocals. The five piece went in studio to record multiple versions of songs that would be selected to be released on Born of You and on the Split with Roosevelt. Damien left in 1995, leaving the band to have short stints with vocalists Jeremy Haynes and Louie Long for touring purposes. After the return of supporting the releases, Mark Mitchell
returned to front the band, and creative tensions with John Wylie resulted in his starting his own band, Morning Again
(the band would mostly be constructed of musicians that had been in Culture, or that would in the future switch to become Culture members), letting Steve Looker take his position. The new line-up recorded Deforestation, and went back on tour.
In late 1996, original drummer Josh Williams left and was replaced by Jason Dooley, and Damien, who had been asked to leave Morning Again, returned to Culture. This line-up started writing new material right away. The first of which was a re-recording session of selected Born of You songs, as well as two new songs. The band was approached by Sean Bonner who ran Toybox Records
to tour with them, and possibly release records of their material. The band continued to write more material, that would be released on a split with Kindred and on Heteronome. The songs from the session of Born of You only made it to test press of Mike Warden Can Suck It. A year later, Rich, the only remaining founding member, left the band, moving Gordon to switch to guitar, Floyd Beckham to take over bass, and Timothy Kirkpatrick to join on drums. Very shortly after, Steve Looker and Joe Simmons traded positions in Morning Again and Culture, respectively. The band was to go to Europe for what would be their final tour, but Gordon could not make it, so Kenneth Brian temporarily joined as second guitarist.
Most of the final line-up, Damien, Joe, Gordon and Tim, followed Damien in his reincarnation of As Friends Rust
.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
-based vegan/straight edge
Straight 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...
hardcore
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. They formed in 1992, and lasted until 1998, when Damien Moyal
Damien Moyal
Damien Moyal is a musician, designer and artist originally from Florida, now relocated to Michigan, mostly known within the hardcore genre, for his distinctive vocals in the influential bands Culture, Morning Again, and As Friends Rust. He has contributed to over 15 bands, though only a few have...
merged the remaining members into the second incarnation of As Friends Rust
As Friends Rust
As Friends Rust is a punk band from Gainesville, Florida.-History:In early 1996 Jeronimo, Henry, and Matt were jamming under the name Wayside. Soon after Damien was recruited from Bird of Ill Omen to step in on vocals...
.
History
Rich ThurstonRichard Thurston
Richard Thurston , often only referred as "Rich Thurston" is a musician originally from Florida. He has however been in bands in Connecticut and California as well. In his time with bands he has gone from doing vocals, to guitar, and now to bass. Rich is also known for his straight-edge and vegan...
formed the band in 1992 with Stan Obal on bass, Josh Williams on drums, and Mark Mitchell
Mark Mitchell (musician)
Mark Mitchell is a musician who has recorded and toured in the metal and hardcore scenes as a guitarist, bassist and vocalist. At present, he is the bass player for the Southern California based band Throwdown...
on vocals. Mark left in late 1993, and Rich assumed vocals. The trio recorded a four-song Demo and quickly got signed to release a self-titled 7" on Shadow Records
Shadow Records
Shadow Records was launched in 1995 as an Instinct Records sub-label to focus on the more organic side of the underground electronic music scene...
. Before the release, John Wylie joined on second guitar, and was credited in the line-up. Shortly after, Stan was replaced by Peter Carreno. Pete was then replaced by Gordon Tarpley, and Damien Moyal
Damien Moyal
Damien Moyal is a musician, designer and artist originally from Florida, now relocated to Michigan, mostly known within the hardcore genre, for his distinctive vocals in the influential bands Culture, Morning Again, and As Friends Rust. He has contributed to over 15 bands, though only a few have...
joined to relieve Rich of vocals. The five piece went in studio to record multiple versions of songs that would be selected to be released on Born of You and on the Split with Roosevelt. Damien left in 1995, leaving the band to have short stints with vocalists Jeremy Haynes and Louie Long for touring purposes. After the return of supporting the releases, Mark Mitchell
Mark Mitchell (musician)
Mark Mitchell is a musician who has recorded and toured in the metal and hardcore scenes as a guitarist, bassist and vocalist. At present, he is the bass player for the Southern California based band Throwdown...
returned to front the band, and creative tensions with John Wylie resulted in his starting his own band, Morning Again
Morning Again
Morning Again was a hardcore band from Florida. They were known for their extreme metallic hardcore sound as well as for their straight edge, vegan and anti-government ideas. The band...
(the band would mostly be constructed of musicians that had been in Culture, or that would in the future switch to become Culture members), letting Steve Looker take his position. The new line-up recorded Deforestation, and went back on tour.
In late 1996, original drummer Josh Williams left and was replaced by Jason Dooley, and Damien, who had been asked to leave Morning Again, returned to Culture. This line-up started writing new material right away. The first of which was a re-recording session of selected Born of You songs, as well as two new songs. The band was approached by Sean Bonner who ran Toybox Records
Toybox Records
Toybox Records was a record label from Gainesville, Florida and Chicago, Illinois that existed from 1992 to 1997. It was started by Sean Bonner when he lived in Bradenton, Florida, shortly before moving to Gainesville...
to tour with them, and possibly release records of their material. The band continued to write more material, that would be released on a split with Kindred and on Heteronome. The songs from the session of Born of You only made it to test press of Mike Warden Can Suck It. A year later, Rich, the only remaining founding member, left the band, moving Gordon to switch to guitar, Floyd Beckham to take over bass, and Timothy Kirkpatrick to join on drums. Very shortly after, Steve Looker and Joe Simmons traded positions in Morning Again and Culture, respectively. The band was to go to Europe for what would be their final tour, but Gordon could not make it, so Kenneth Brian temporarily joined as second guitarist.
Most of the final line-up, Damien, Joe, Gordon and Tim, followed Damien in his reincarnation of As Friends Rust
As Friends Rust
As Friends Rust is a punk band from Gainesville, Florida.-History:In early 1996 Jeronimo, Henry, and Matt were jamming under the name Wayside. Soon after Damien was recruited from Bird of Ill Omen to step in on vocals...
.
Discography
- Demo (1993)
- Culture (1994)
- Born of You (1995)
- Split with Roosevelt (1995)
- Deforestation (1996)
- Split with Kindred (1997)
- Heteronome (1997)
- Mike Warden Can Suck It (Never Released)
- Born of You (1998)