Gang Green
Encyclopedia
Gang Green is a band originally from Braintree, Massachusetts
. Chris Doherty (guitar), Bill Manley (bass) and Mike Dean (drums) started the band in 1980 and broke up in 1984. The band was influential in the formation of the East Coast hardcore scene.
, Mike Dean, and Bill Manley and contributed seven tracks to the This Is Boston, Not L.A.
compilation in 1982.
In 1984 the group disbanded and lead singer Chris Doherty joined the band Jerry's Kids
for their album Is This My World?. In 1985, Gang Green released the 7" "Sold Out" on Taang! Records
, the heavily influential Boston label's first release. All of the tracks recorded by the original line up of Gang Green were later released on the Preschool
CD, released by Taang! Records
.
LP on Taang! Records
in 1986. This record is considered to be the band's best recording and is regarded as one of the definitive hardcore punk records of its time. The 16 song cd version that came out in 1990 is watered down with demos and a different sequence and does not pack the same punch as the original 8 song LP released in 1986.
The song "Alcohol" (C. Stilphen/C. Doherty) from Another Wasted Night has been covered by a number of bands. Tankard
, a German thrash metal band, featured the song on their album Chemical Invasion
. It was also covered by Impaled Nazarene
, a black metal band from Finland. It appeared on their EP entitled Motörpenis which was released in 1996.
Boston punkrock band Dropkick Murphys
covered the song on their "Back to the Hub" 7 inch. It also appeared on their live compilation, Live on St. Patrick's Day from Boston, MA
. It was also covered by The Meatmen
on their album Pope on a Rope, and also by No Fun at All
on their releases No Straight Angles (US edition), EP's Going Steady, and Master Celebrations. Metallica also played the song live and it was rumoured to be a consideration for their Garage Days EP but did not appear on the release. The song Alcohol also appears on the soundtrack to the 2010 film Jackass 3D.
the band’s musical style had come to lean more toward heavy metal
and the personnel of the band had changed completely after the Stilphen brothers departed at the end of 1986 to form Mallet-Head and later Scratch and studio project band Nuns of Punk (with singer Erich Thaler of Stompbox). This incarnation of Gang Green consisted of Doherty, Fritz Erickson (guitar), Joe Gittleman
(bass) and former Jerry's Kids drummer Brian Betzger. In 1989 Gittleman was fired by Doherty and was replaced by Josh Pappe, formerly of Dirty Rotten Imbeciles
. Joe returned to The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
in 1990 Gang Green experienced a few more lineup shuffles before being dropped by Roadrunner and going on hiatus for several years in which Doherty founded the bands Klover
(Mercury Records) and Hamerd.
(EP) and Another Case Of Brewtality
. These records saw the band returning to their punk roots and even moving in a pop direction. Gang Green toured Europe and the U.S. extensively in 1997 and 1998. Chris Doherty moved from Boston to Cincinnati shortly afterwards and in the early 2000s Gang Green played only once or twice a year in Boston and NYC.
’ tour of the U.S. west coast tour.
In early 2007, the band toured through Florida and up the east coast of the US with bands like Lucky Scars before heading out for a European tour scheduled for spring 2007 that included UK and Irish dates. These Irish dates were filmed for a live DVD by punk filmmaker, Lewis Smithingham.
Braintree, Massachusetts
The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...
. Chris Doherty (guitar), Bill Manley (bass) and Mike Dean (drums) started the band in 1980 and broke up in 1984. The band was influential in the formation of the East Coast hardcore scene.
Formation and first hiatus (1980-1984)
The first incarnation of the band in 1980 consisted of 15 year olds Chris DohertyChris Doherty
Chris Doherty is a musician, singer-songwriter best known as the founder of hardcore punk band Gang Green. Doherty graduated from Braintree High School in 1983.-Gang Green:...
, Mike Dean, and Bill Manley and contributed seven tracks to the This Is Boston, Not L.A.
This Is Boston, Not L.A.
This Is Boston, Not L.A.is a hardcore punk compilation album released in 1982. It is considered the definitive album from the Boston hardcore scene, as several of the bands that were prominent in that scene appear on the album...
compilation in 1982.
In 1984 the group disbanded and lead singer Chris Doherty joined the band Jerry's Kids
Jerry's Kids
Jerry's Kids is one of the earliest Boston hardcore bands, formed in 1981, from Braintree, Mass.. Their first recorded output was on the Modern Method This Is Boston, Not L.A. compilation LP in 1982. They contributed six tracks along with other early Boston Hardcore band Gang Green.Frontman Bryan...
for their album Is This My World?. In 1985, Gang Green released the 7" "Sold Out" on Taang! Records
Taang! Records
Taang! Records is an American independent record label founded by Curtis Casella in Boston, Massachusetts which is currently based in San Diego...
, the heavily influential Boston label's first release. All of the tracks recorded by the original line up of Gang Green were later released on the Preschool
Preschool (album)
Preschool was a compilation album of early material from the Boston, Massachusetts hardcore punk band, Gang Green.It was recorded between 1981 – 1983 and was originally released on Taang Records before the band disbanded, reformed for the Alcohol 7" and Another Wasted Night LP, disbanded again, and...
CD, released by Taang! Records
Taang! Records
Taang! Records is an American independent record label founded by Curtis Casella in Boston, Massachusetts which is currently based in San Diego...
.
First reunion and Another Wasted Night (1985-1986)
In 1985,Chris Doherty reemerged with an all new Gang Green lineup consisting of former members of D.A.M.M. (Drunks Against Mad Mothers), The Freeze and Smegma And The Nuns. Chuck Stilphen (lead guitar), Glen Stilphen (bass, vocals) and Walter Gustafson (drums). This second lineup is the most famous nationally as it was both the first to tour and the one that recorded the songs "Alcohol" and "Skate to Hell". This edition of Gang Green released the Another Wasted NightAnother Wasted Night
Another Wasted Night was the first full-length album from Boston, Massachusetts hardcore punk/speed metal band, Gang Green. It is perhaps best remembered for their punk cover of the tune "Voices Carry", written by Aimee Mann for her band 'Til Tuesday...
LP on Taang! Records
Taang! Records
Taang! Records is an American independent record label founded by Curtis Casella in Boston, Massachusetts which is currently based in San Diego...
in 1986. This record is considered to be the band's best recording and is regarded as one of the definitive hardcore punk records of its time. The 16 song cd version that came out in 1990 is watered down with demos and a different sequence and does not pack the same punch as the original 8 song LP released in 1986.
The song "Alcohol" (C. Stilphen/C. Doherty) from Another Wasted Night has been covered by a number of bands. Tankard
Tankard (band)
Tankard is a thrash metal band from Frankfurt am Main, Germany, founded in 1982. After losing their guitarist because of their image as a bunch of drunks, they moved on to issue their first record in 1986. From that point on, the band has continuously made songs and records in the same style they...
, a German thrash metal band, featured the song on their album Chemical Invasion
Chemical Invasion
-Credits:* Andreas "Gerre" Geremia - vocals* Frank Thorwarth - bass* Axel Katzmann - guitar* Andy Bulgaropulos - guitar* Oliver "O.W." Werner - drums...
. It was also covered by Impaled Nazarene
Impaled Nazarene
Impaled Nazarene is a Finnish black metal band that incorporates elements of grindcore in their sound and punk rock in their aesthetics. The band is currently signed to Osmose Productions of France....
, a black metal band from Finland. It appeared on their EP entitled Motörpenis which was released in 1996.
Boston punkrock band Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
covered the song on their "Back to the Hub" 7 inch. It also appeared on their live compilation, Live on St. Patrick's Day from Boston, MA
Live on St. Patrick's Day From Boston, MA
Live on St. Patrick's Day from Boston, MA is a live album from Boston punk band Dropkick Murphys. It was recorded over three shows at the Avalon Ballroom in, as the name implies, Boston, MA, and was released on September 10, 2002.-Track listing:...
. It was also covered by The Meatmen
The Meatmen
The Meatmen are an American punk band headed by Tesco Vee originally from 1980 to 1997, and reformed in 2008. They are currently still touring and recording.The Meatmen made fun of the hardcore punk scene of the time...
on their album Pope on a Rope, and also by No Fun at All
No Fun At All
No Fun at All is a Swedish punk rock band. The band formed in the summer of 1991 in Skinnskatteberg. The group initially consisted of Mikael Danielsson , Henrik Sunvisson and Jimmy Olsson...
on their releases No Straight Angles (US edition), EP's Going Steady, and Master Celebrations. Metallica also played the song live and it was rumoured to be a consideration for their Garage Days EP but did not appear on the release. The song Alcohol also appears on the soundtrack to the 2010 film Jackass 3D.
Roadrunner years (1987-1989)
By 1987, when Gang Green were signed by Roadrunner RecordsRoadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
the band’s musical style had come to lean more toward heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
and the personnel of the band had changed completely after the Stilphen brothers departed at the end of 1986 to form Mallet-Head and later Scratch and studio project band Nuns of Punk (with singer Erich Thaler of Stompbox). This incarnation of Gang Green consisted of Doherty, Fritz Erickson (guitar), Joe Gittleman
Joe Gittleman
Joe Gittleman is an American musician, best known as the bass guitar player for The Mighty Mighty Bosstones...
(bass) and former Jerry's Kids drummer Brian Betzger. In 1989 Gittleman was fired by Doherty and was replaced by Josh Pappe, formerly of Dirty Rotten Imbeciles
Dirty Rotten Imbeciles
Dirty Rotten Imbeciles is a thrash metal/crossover thrash band from the United States that formed in Houston, in 1982. The band currently comprises founding members, vocalist Kurt Brecht and guitarist Spike Cassidy, as well as drummer Rob Rampy and bassist Harald Oimoen.D.R.I...
. Joe returned to The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are an American ska punk band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1983. Since the band's inception, lead vocalist Dicky Barrett, bassist Joe Gittleman, tenor saxophonist Tim "Johnny Vegas" Burton and dancer Ben Carr have remained constant members...
Second hiatus (1990-1995)
After touring the United States with Social DistortionSocial Distortion
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...
in 1990 Gang Green experienced a few more lineup shuffles before being dropped by Roadrunner and going on hiatus for several years in which Doherty founded the bands Klover
Klover
Klover was a short lived Boston punk band consisting of Mike Stone on vocals and guitar, Chris Doherty on lead guitar, Darren Hill on bass and Brian Betzger on drums.They released only one album, "Feel Lucky Punk?" and an EP, "Beginning To End" on Mercury Records in 1995 and...
(Mercury Records) and Hamerd.
Second reunion (1996-2004)
In 1996, Chris Doherty, Chuck Stilphen, Glen Stilphen And Walter Gustafson re-formed to play 5 east coast dates including shows at The Rat and CBGB's. Later in 1996 Gang Green surfaced yet again with Walter Gustafson returning on drums, along with newcomers Mike Earls (guitar, vocals) and Matt Sandonato (bass, vocals). They re-signed with Taang! Records and in 1997 released Back & GackedBack & Gacked
Back & Gacked was an EP released by Boston, Massachusetts hardcore punk band, Gang Green. It was released on May 6, 1997 on Taang Records....
(EP) and Another Case Of Brewtality
Another Case Of Brewtality
-Credits:* Chris Doherty – vocals, guitar* Mike Earls – guitar* Matt Sandonato – bass* Walter Gustafson – drums* Dave Minehan – additional guitar on tracks 9, 12, and 13* Dave Connolly – lead vocals on "6,000 Crucified Slaves"...
. These records saw the band returning to their punk roots and even moving in a pop direction. Gang Green toured Europe and the U.S. extensively in 1997 and 1998. Chris Doherty moved from Boston to Cincinnati shortly afterwards and in the early 2000s Gang Green played only once or twice a year in Boston and NYC.
Recent activities (2005-present)
In 2005 Chris Doherty and a new Gang Green lineup supported the Dropkick MurphysDropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
’ tour of the U.S. west coast tour.
In early 2007, the band toured through Florida and up the east coast of the US with bands like Lucky Scars before heading out for a European tour scheduled for spring 2007 that included UK and Irish dates. These Irish dates were filmed for a live DVD by punk filmmaker, Lewis Smithingham.
Current members
- Chris Doherty – vocals, guitar (July 1980–present)
- Mike Earls – guitar (1996–1998, 2007–present)
- Walter Gustafson – drums (November 1984–September 1985, February–August 1991, 1996–1998, 2005–present)
- Matt Sandonato – bass (1996–present)
Previous members
- Ray Jeffrey – guitar
- Chuck Stilphen – guitar (November 1984–1986)
- Tony Nichols – guitar (November 1986–April 1987)
- Fritz Erickson – guitar (April 1987–May 1990)
- Mike Lucantonio – guitar (May 1990–1992)
- Bob Cenci – guitar (2005–2007)
- Bill Manley – bass (July 1981–March 1983)
- Glen Stilphen – bass (November 1984–1986)
- Joe GittlemanJoe GittlemanJoe Gittleman is an American musician, best known as the bass guitar player for The Mighty Mighty Bosstones...
– bass (November 1986–August 1989) - Josh Pappe – bass (August 1989–1991)
- Kevin Brooks – bass (1991–1992)
- Mike Dean – drums (July 1981–March 1983)
- Brian Betzger – drums (1986–February 1991, September 1991–1992)
- Molly Flanagan – guitar and vocals (1992–February 1992, June 1991)
- Nate Rubright – djembe and vocals (1992–February 1992, June 1991)
Discography
- Another Wasted NightAnother Wasted NightAnother Wasted Night was the first full-length album from Boston, Massachusetts hardcore punk/speed metal band, Gang Green. It is perhaps best remembered for their punk cover of the tune "Voices Carry", written by Aimee Mann for her band 'Til Tuesday...
(1986) - You Got ItYou Got It (album)You Got It was the second full-length album from Boston, Massachusetts hardcore punk/speed metal band, Gang Green.It was released in 1987, a year after their previous release, Another Wasted Night, in 1986...
(1987) - Older... BudweiserOlder... BudweiserOlder... Budweiser was the third full-length album released by Boston, Massachusetts hardcore punk/speed metal band, Gang Green.It was released in 1989, a year after the EP, I81B4U...
(1989) - Another Case of BrewtalityAnother Case Of Brewtality-Credits:* Chris Doherty – vocals, guitar* Mike Earls – guitar* Matt Sandonato – bass* Walter Gustafson – drums* Dave Minehan – additional guitar on tracks 9, 12, and 13* Dave Connolly – lead vocals on "6,000 Crucified Slaves"...
(1997)
External links
- Official Gang Green website
- Official Gang Green MySpace page
- http://www.taang.com/bands_ganggreen_body.html
- http://homepages.nyu.edu/~cch223/usa/ganggreen_main.html
- http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/scratch22
- http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mallethead
- http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/NUNSOFPUNK
- http://www.ganggreen.us