Todd Youth
Encyclopedia
Biography
Youth grew up in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and started playing as young as 12 years old (hence the name Youth) in several New York City 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...
bands. He made his playing debut with Agnostic Front
Agnostic Front
Agnostic Front is an American hardcore band. The band began playing hardcore similar to their contemporaries, and were thrust to the forefront of the burgeoning New York hardcore scene in the mid-1980s with their widely regarded 1984 classic Victim in Pain before evolving to incorporate thrash...
in 1983 but did not play on any recordings. Youth also appeared for New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
act Warzone
Warzone (band)
Warzone was an American hardcore punk band formed on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 1982. The band helped develop the New York hardcore sound, the hardcore skinhead style and the youth crew subgenre...
until around 1986. He joined Murphy's Law
Murphy's Law (band)
Murphy's Law is an American hardcore band from New York City, New York, formed in 1982. While vocalist Jimmy Gestapo remains the only founding member of the band, the line-up has consisted of former members of bands such as Skinnerbox, Danzig, The Bouncing Souls, Mucky Pup, Dog Eat Dog, Hanoi...
(another New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
band) that year, recording on various works with them, including two full-length albums, Youth performed with them until 1995.
After leaving Murphy's Law, and he recorded a single with a band named The Homewreckers in 1996. Around this time Youth evolved his style from 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...
to implementing some of his 70s punk influences, such as New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
, Dead Boys and The Heartbreakers
The Heartbreakers
Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, also known as The Heartbreakers, were an American rock & roll band formed in New York in May 1975. The band was part of the first wave of punk rock.-History:...
, thus he joined famous New York City glam punk
Glam punk
Glam Punk is a music genre that mixes elements of glam rock with protopunk or punk rock ....
band D Generation
D Generation
D Generation are an American glam punk band formed in 1991 in New York City. The band broke up in 1999, but will reunite in 2011 for shows. During its history the band released three albums, to much critical acclaim...
, replacing Richard Bacchus on guitar. He was with D Generation from 1996 to 1998 and recorded on their final album "Through The Darkness
Through the Darkness
Through The Darkness is the third and final album released by New York City glam punk band D Generation. It was their second released via Columbia Records. This was also the only D Generation album without founding member and guitarist Richard Bacchus, who was replaced by Todd Youth. The album was...
", Youth co-wrote one of the tracks "Sunday Secret Saints" with Jesse Malin
Jesse Malin
Jesse Malin is a rock musician. He has played with Heart Attack and D Generation. He is currently a solo recording artist.-Biography:...
.
Chrome Locust
Chrome Locust
Chrome Locust were an American stoner rock band formed in New York city that was active between 1998 and 1999."In the Summer of 1998, while New York punk kings D Generation went on hiatus, drummer Michael Wildwood and guitarist Todd Youth began work on a side project that evolved out of a jam...
was formed by Youth along with former D Generation
D Generation
D Generation are an American glam punk band formed in 1991 in New York City. The band broke up in 1999, but will reunite in 2011 for shows. During its history the band released three albums, to much critical acclaim...
members Michael Wildwood and Vásquez member Jim Heneghan in 1998, the band proved to be short-lived lasting only a year before splitting up however, they managed to record and release a self-titled album on Tee Pee Records
Tee Pee Records
Tee Pee Records is an independent record label located in New York City in the United States, made popular by the signing of The Brian Jonestown Massacre.-Artists :*Ancestors*Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound*The Atomic Bitchwax...
.
Playing with Danzig and Samhain
During the summer of 1999, he successfully auditioned for DanzigDanzig (band)
Danzig is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1987 in Lodi, New Jersey. The band serves as a musical outlet for the singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig. Danzig can be seen as the third stage in Glenn Danzig's musical career, preceded by the horror punk bands The Misfits and Samhain...
; he joined up as the guitarist. Ironically, former D Generation
D Generation
D Generation are an American glam punk band formed in 1991 in New York City. The band broke up in 1999, but will reunite in 2011 for shows. During its history the band released three albums, to much critical acclaim...
bandmate Howie Pyro
Howie Pyro
Howie Pyro on 28 June 1960 is a Queens, New York City based rock musician and bass player. He is a founding member of D Generation.-With D Generation:*No Way Out - Single - **Re-released in 1994 and 1996....
joined Danzig at the same time. The same year Glenn Danzig
Glenn Danzig
Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig (born Glenn Allen Anzalone; June 23, 1955 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, entrepreneur, and a progenitor of the horror punk subgenre of music. He is a founder of bands the Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig...
had reformed the band Samhain
Samhain (band)
Samhain was an American rock band formed by singer Glenn Danzig in 1983, immediately following his departure from the Misfits. Samhain played in more of a deathrock and heavy metal-infused style of horror punk than Danzig's previous band. By 1987 Samhain's membership evolved into a new band,...
, guitarist Damien decided not to join the band for their reunion tour, thus Todd was asked to replace him.
He only had 3 months to practice and learn the Samhain and Danzig sets. Although not an "original" member of Samhain, fans welcomed him to the lineup, some even mistaking him for Damien. The band AFI
AFI (band)
AFI is an American alternative rock band from Ukiah, California that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson, with bassist Hunter Burgan and guitarist Jade Puget, who both play keyboard and contribute...
had toured with Samhain during 1999, and their frontman Davey Havok
Davey Havok
David Paden Marchand , more commonly known by the stage name Davey Havok, is the lead vocalist of the American rock band AFI and the electronic music band Blaqk Audio....
was a longtime fan, so in 2000 Youth, along with Samhain members London May
London May
London May , is a rock musician best known for playing drums in Glenn Danzig's post-Misfits/pre-Danzig punk/goth band Samhain, which he joined in the summer of 1985...
and Steve Zing
Steve Zing
Steve Zing drummed for Implosion, Mourning Noise, and The Undead before joining Samhain and a Pale Horse Named Death....
masterminded Son of Sam
Son Of Sam (band)
Son of Sam is an American horror punk band that is a side project created by Todd Youth in 2000, during his tenure as the guitarist for Danzig. The band's initial line up featured members of Samhain, Danzig, and AFI. Much like its members' other work, Son of Sam plays in the horror punk style, and...
. This featured Davey Havok on vocals and on their album Songs from the Earth
Songs from the Earth
Songs From the Earth is the first album by horrorpunk/deathrock supergroup Son of Sam. The album was a tribute to Glenn Danzig's former band Samhain, though there are no cover songs on the album...
guest appearances from Glenn Danzig
Glenn Danzig
Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig (born Glenn Allen Anzalone; June 23, 1955 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, entrepreneur, and a progenitor of the horror punk subgenre of music. He is a founder of bands the Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig...
himself, the project was however only meant to be a one time thing.
Back with the band Danzig, Youth recorded two albums; a live one, and "I Luciferi
I Luciferi
Danzig 777: I Luciferi is the seventh album from Danzig. It was released in 2002 on Glenn Danzig's Evilive label and distributed by Spitfire Records. Danzig stated that this album was the last in a series of seven numbered albums, each with its own general concept.Over the months following the...
" which was released in 2002, it featured Glenn Danzig, Howie Pyro and future Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
drummer Joey Castillo
Joey Castillo
Joseph Willam "Joey" Castillo is an American drummer currently playing with Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal...
. Todd eventually left the group in 2003.
Todd Youth rejoined Danzig in 2007 for the Halloween Tour and also appeared on the release The Lost Tracks Of Danzig. He left Danzig to go play in Glenn Campbell's band.
Recent times
Youth also played with Motörhead in May 2003, filling in for three dates on Motörhead's tour of the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, as Phil Campbell
Phil Campbell (musician)
Philip Anthony Campbell has been the lead guitarist of the British heavy metal band Motörhead since 1984. He is also the former guitarist of Persian Risk.-Early life and career:...
's mother had died and he was unable to continue on tour.
Since 2004, Todd has led Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
rockers The Chelsea Smiles
The Chelsea Smiles
The Chelsea Smiles are a hard rock/sleaze rock band formed in 2004 featuring guitarist Todd Youth , Karl Rosqvist of Danzig, Steel Prophet, Skye Vaughan-Jayne of Bullets and Octane, Johnny Martin and RJ Ronquillo....
, this in some ways marks a return to the style of music Youth played with D Generation
D Generation
D Generation are an American glam punk band formed in 1991 in New York City. The band broke up in 1999, but will reunite in 2011 for shows. During its history the band released three albums, to much critical acclaim...
with the band implementing similar influences, such as; The Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
, New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
, MC5
MC5
The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...
and Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
. They released a debut EP; "Nowhere Ride" in 2005. The debut full-length Chelsea Smiles album, "Thirty Six Hours Later
Thirty Six Hours Later
Thirty Six Hours Later is the debut full length release by hard rock band The Chelsea Smiles. It was released on November 7, 2006 via Acetate Records in the United States and released by People Like You.....
" was released in November 2006, its European release date is early December of the same year.
The Chelsea Smiles were personally invited by Social D to open for them in 2006. The Chelsea Smiles later went on to tour Europe in 2007.
In 2008 Todd reformed the band Son Of Sam. This released reunited Todd Youth and Steve Zing, but did not have Davey Havok on vocals. As with the first Son Of Sam release, all music was written by Todd.
2008 and 2009 also saw Todd joining legendary singer, Glen Campbell's band. Todd recorded 3 songs on Glen's comeback record "Meet Glen Campbell". Todd has done various TV show appearances (Jimmy Kimmel, The Tonight Show) and toured the U.K. in support of the release.
2009 - The Chelsea Smiles will release a new, self-titled release. The band is doing a 2½ week U.K. tour with Wednesday 13 in support of the release. At the end of 2009 the Chelsea Smiles decided the end had come for the band as it came with too much baggage but changed the name to the Royal Highness.
Todd began writing with Wednesday 13
Wednesday 13
Joseph Poole, better known as Wednesday 13 , is a rock musician from Charlotte, North Carolina. He is most famous for his role as the frontman of the Murderdolls...
with plans to record an album under the band name Gunfire 76. The band had more of a rock sound than Wednesday 13. They planned to enter the studio on July 1, 2009 to begin recording with his new band, Gunfire 76.
In January 2010, Todd became the touring guitarist with legendary ex-Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley. At the end of 2010, Todd toured with Jessie Malin and the St. Mark's Social. In 2010, the first single "American Dream" was released on One Voice by Capricorn, a band formed by Todd, Phil Caivano (of Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet is an American stoner rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded by Dave Wyndorf , John McBain and Tim Cronin...
) and Karl Rosqvist
Karl Rosqvist
Karl Rosqvist , also p.k.a. Karl Rockfist is a Swedish/ Finnish drummer who has been mostly active in the American music scene. He played in the Swedish metal band Sorg in the early to mid 90s....
(of Danzig, The Chelsea Smiles and Michael Monroe
Michael Monroe
Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm , best known by his stage name, Michael Monroe, is a Finnish rock musician, and multi-instrumentalist who rose to fame as the vocalist for the glam punk band Hanoi Rocks, and has served as the frontman for all-star side projects, such as Demolition 23...
).
Discography
This discography documents the recordings Todd Youth has played on during his time with the various bands that he has been a part of, throughout his musical career.With Murphy's LawMurphy's Law (band)Murphy's Law is an American hardcore band from New York City, New York, formed in 1982. While vocalist Jimmy Gestapo remains the only founding member of the band, the line-up has consisted of former members of bands such as Skinnerbox, Danzig, The Bouncing Souls, Mucky Pup, Dog Eat Dog, Hanoi...
- Back With A BongBack With A BongBack With A Bong is the third album from New York hardcore punk band, Murphy's Law.It was released in 1989 on Profile Records and subsequently re-released on Another Planet Records in 1994 with the previous self-titled album on the same disc....
- (1989) - The Best of Times - (1991)
- Monster MashMonster Mash"Monster Mash" is a 1962 novelty song and the best-known song by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. The song was released as a single on Gary S. Paxton's Garpax Records label in August 1962 along with a full-length LP called The Original Monster Mash, which contained several other monster-themed tunes...
- SingleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
- (1991) - Good for Now - EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
- (1993) - My Woman from Tokyo - Single - (1995)
- Dedicated - (1996)
With D GenerationD GenerationD Generation are an American glam punk band formed in 1991 in New York City. The band broke up in 1999, but will reunite in 2011 for shows. During its history the band released three albums, to much critical acclaim...
- Prohibition - EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
- (1998) - Helpless - Single - (1998)
- Through The DarknessThrough the DarknessThrough The Darkness is the third and final album released by New York City glam punk band D Generation. It was their second released via Columbia Records. This was also the only D Generation album without founding member and guitarist Richard Bacchus, who was replaced by Todd Youth. The album was...
- (1999)
With Son of SamSon Of Sam (band)Son of Sam is an American horror punk band that is a side project created by Todd Youth in 2000, during his tenure as the guitarist for Danzig. The band's initial line up featured members of Samhain, Danzig, and AFI. Much like its members' other work, Son of Sam plays in the horror punk style, and...
- Songs from the EarthSongs from the EarthSongs From the Earth is the first album by horrorpunk/deathrock supergroup Son of Sam. The album was a tribute to Glenn Danzig's former band Samhain, though there are no cover songs on the album...
- (2000) - Into The Night - (2008)
With DanzigDanzig (band)Danzig is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1987 in Lodi, New Jersey. The band serves as a musical outlet for the singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig. Danzig can be seen as the third stage in Glenn Danzig's musical career, preceded by the horror punk bands The Misfits and Samhain...
- Live on the Black Hand SideLive on the Black Hand SideLive on the Black Hand Side is a double-disc live album from Danzig. It was recorded at various shows between 1992 and 2000, and released in 2001 on Glenn Danzig's Evilive Records label, distributed by Restless Records...
- (2001) - I LuciferiI LuciferiDanzig 777: I Luciferi is the seventh album from Danzig. It was released in 2002 on Glenn Danzig's Evilive label and distributed by Spitfire Records. Danzig stated that this album was the last in a series of seven numbered albums, each with its own general concept.Over the months following the...
- (2002) - The Lost Tracks Of DanzigThe Lost Tracks of DanzigThe Lost Tracks of Danzig is a compilation album by American heavy metal band Danzig. The set showcases a number of previously-unreleased Danzig songs, ranging from the band's first recording sessions in 1987-88 until the sessions for Danzig's 2004 studio album, Circle of Snakes.-Background:Glenn...
- (2007)
With The Chelsea SmilesThe Chelsea SmilesThe Chelsea Smiles are a hard rock/sleaze rock band formed in 2004 featuring guitarist Todd Youth , Karl Rosqvist of Danzig, Steel Prophet, Skye Vaughan-Jayne of Bullets and Octane, Johnny Martin and RJ Ronquillo....
- Nowhere Ride - EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
- (2005) - Thirty Six Hours LaterThirty Six Hours LaterThirty Six Hours Later is the debut full length release by hard rock band The Chelsea Smiles. It was released on November 7, 2006 via Acetate Records in the United States and released by People Like You.....
- (2006) - self-titled - (2009)
Filmography
- American HardcoreAmerican Hardcore (film)American Hardcore is a documentary directed by Paul Rachman and written by Steven Blush. It is based on the book American Hardcore: A Tribal History also written by Blush. It was released on September 22, 2006 on a limited basis...
- (2006) - Kiss Loves YouKiss Loves YouKISS Loves You is a 2004 documentary film directed by Jim Heneghan and co-produced by 8th Grade Films and Sveriges Television. The documentary chronicles the triumphs, tragedies and absurdities of a select group of KISS fans over a ten year period beginning in 1994, during which the band reunited...
- (2007)