Violent Apathy
Encyclopedia
Violent Apathy is a U.S.
hardcore
band that formed in March 1981 at Western Michigan University
in Kalamazoo, Michigan
and sparked the Kalamazoo hardcore scene. The original band was three high school friends from Jackson, Michigan
(Kenny Knott, Richard "Dick" Bowser, and Jim Forgey) along with Eliot Rachman, another WMU
student who hailed from East Lansing
. Rachman had worked on the 1980 United States Census
in Lansing, MI
with members of The Fix
and the original publishers (Tesco Vee and Dave Stimson) of Touch and Go
magazine. He introduced the other members of the band to the then very new music of the Fix
, the Necros
, and Negative Approach
, and all three bands provided a great deal of support and encouragement to VA.
Violent Apathy, through many lineup changes, played numerous shows throughout Michigan
, particularly in Detroit, Lansing
, Grand Rapids
, and Kalamazoo
. The band played outside of Michigan
only twice, both in 1983, once in Indianapolis
and once in Chicago
. The Chicago
appearance, however, was supposedly attended by a young Dave Grohl
of the Foo Fighters
and described as a formative experience for him in the book Come as You Are
by Michael Azerrad
. The band's sound also evolved considerably during its three and a half year life, moving from primitive thrash
to a slower, more rock-oriented sound.
between 1982 and 1986. Some of the bands that played at SPA shows included Black Flag
, Circle Jerks
, Saccharine Trust
, The Minutemen, Butthole Surfers
, Naked Raygun
, Discharge
, Misfits, Samhain
, Minor Threat
, and many others. Violent Apathy and many other southwest Michigan
bands typically provided opening support at SPA shows.
Kenny Knott was part of the band Just Say No, who recorded three albums on the Go Ahead Records label, in the late 1980s and went on to front The Monokulators in Lansing, MI.
Tommy Fuller played in Spite
from 1984 to 1985, and in Black Spring during the 1990s and currently runs a brewery in Lawton, MI
.
Rachman and Forgey were part of the original Meatmen. Rachman played with the Virelles, a group that eventually mutated into the God Bullies, another Kalamazoo
legend. Also, Bowser and Rachman were part of a band called Dick and the Balls. Rachman also played with the Memphis Pilgrims after moving to NYC
.
Knott and Bowser are currently two thirds of the space/noise rock outfit Dr Xeron and the Moogulators.
at the 2500 Club. This was followed by appearances in Kalamazoo
Eburgerman "25th Anniversary reunion concert at Kraftbrau in Kalamazoo, Michigan 6/23/2007". "youtube.com" (website), Chicago
, and Lansing
.
II: March 1982-December 1982
III: January 1983-August 1983
IV: August 1983-September 1984
V: June 2007–2010
VI: July 2010 reunion shows
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 that formed in March 1981 at Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
and sparked the Kalamazoo hardcore scene. The original band was three high school friends from Jackson, Michigan
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
(Kenny Knott, Richard "Dick" Bowser, and Jim Forgey) along with Eliot Rachman, another WMU
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
student who hailed from East Lansing
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
. Rachman had worked on the 1980 United States Census
United States Census
The United States Census is a decennial census mandated by the United States Constitution. The population is enumerated every 10 years and the results are used to allocate Congressional seats , electoral votes, and government program funding. The United States Census Bureau The United States Census...
in Lansing, MI
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
with members of The Fix
The Fix (band)
The Fix were a hardcore punk rock band from Lansing, Michigan in the early 1980s. They were one of Touch and Go Records first bands.-History:...
and the original publishers (Tesco Vee and Dave Stimson) of Touch and Go
Touch and Go Records
Touch and Go Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.After its genesis as a hand-made fanzine in 1979, it grew into one of the key record labels in the American 1980s alternative and underground rock scenes, Touch & Go carved out a reputation for releasing adventurous...
magazine. He introduced the other members of the band to the then very new music of the Fix
The Fix (band)
The Fix were a hardcore punk rock band from Lansing, Michigan in the early 1980s. They were one of Touch and Go Records first bands.-History:...
, the Necros
Necros
Necros were an early American hardcore punk band from Maumee, Ohio, although they are usually identified with the Detroit music scene. They are the first band to record for Touch and Go Records.-History:...
, and Negative Approach
Negative Approach
Negative Approach is an American hardcore punk band, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1981. The band is considered among of the pioneers of hardcore punk, particularly in the Midwest region. Like most hardcore bands, Negative Approach was little known in its day outside of its hometown...
, and all three bands provided a great deal of support and encouragement to VA.
Violent Apathy, through many lineup changes, played numerous shows throughout Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, particularly in Detroit, Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, and Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
. The band played outside of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
only twice, both in 1983, once in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
and once in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
appearance, however, was supposedly attended by a young Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
of the Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
and described as a formative experience for him in the book Come as You Are
Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana
Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana is a 1993 book by Michael Azerrad, covering the career of Nirvana from its inception. For the book, Azerrad met with the members of the band and conducted extensive interviews about the band and its members' histories.The book was completed in June 1993, and...
by Michael Azerrad
Michael Azerrad
Michael Azerrad is an American author, journalist and musician. He grew up in the New York City area and received his BA degree from Columbia College in 1983...
. The band's sound also evolved considerably during its three and a half year life, moving from primitive thrash
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
to a slower, more rock-oriented sound.
Students for Progressive Action
Another significant contribution of singer Kenny Knott and Eliot Rachman was the formation in 1982 of Students for Progressive Action (SPA). Originally started as a scheme for local musicians to get paying gigs from the University. SPA grew quickly and brought many shows to KalamazooKalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
between 1982 and 1986. Some of the bands that played at SPA shows included Black Flag
Black 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...
, Circle Jerks
Circle Jerks
The Circle Jerks are an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Los Angeles, California. It was formed by Black Flag's original singer, Keith Morris, and future Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson. They were among the preeminent hardcore punk bands of the L.A. scene in the late 1970s.The band...
, Saccharine Trust
Saccharine Trust
Saccharine Trust is a post-hardcore band from California that was started in 1980 by singer Jack Brewer and guitarist Joe Baiza.The band would frequently perform with SST labelmates Minutemen and Black Flag. Drummer Rob Holzman appeared on their 1981 debut Paganicons but left the band to play in...
, The Minutemen, Butthole Surfers
Butthole Surfers
Butthole Surfers is an American alternative rock band formed by Gibby Haynes and Paul Leary in San Antonio, Texas in 1981. The band has had numerous personnel changes, but its core lineup of Haynes, Leary, and drummer King Coffey has been consistent since 1983. Teresa Nervosa served as second...
, Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun is a Chicago-based punk rock group. Initially active from 1980 to about 1992, Naked Raygun had several short-lived reunions afterwards and a full-time reformation in 2006....
, Discharge
Discharge (band)
Discharge is a British hardcore punk band formed in 1977 by Terry "Tezz" Roberts and Roy "Rainy" Wainwright. They are often considered among one of the very first bands to play hardcore punk, and to mix punk with metal...
, Misfits, 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,...
, Minor Threat
Minor Threat
Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1980 and disbanded in 1983. The band was relatively short-lived, but had a strong influence on the hardcore punk music scene, both stylistically and in establishing a "do it yourself" ethic for music distribution and...
, and many others. Violent Apathy and many other southwest Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
bands typically provided opening support at SPA shows.
Legacy
Members of Violent Apathy have also been involved in a myriad of other musical endeavors.Kenny Knott was part of the band Just Say No, who recorded three albums on the Go Ahead Records label, in the late 1980s and went on to front The Monokulators in Lansing, MI.
Tommy Fuller played in Spite
Spite (punk band)
The Hardcore punk rock band, Spite, was an essential musical hub in the Michigan hardcore scene. It was made up of members from other notable bands, who branched out to play an essential role in the musical community, both inside and outside the region...
from 1984 to 1985, and in Black Spring during the 1990s and currently runs a brewery in Lawton, MI
Lawton, Michigan
Lawton is a village in Van Buren County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,859.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
.
Rachman and Forgey were part of the original Meatmen. Rachman played with the Virelles, a group that eventually mutated into the God Bullies, another Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
legend. Also, Bowser and Rachman were part of a band called Dick and the Balls. Rachman also played with the Memphis Pilgrims after moving to NYC
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...
.
Knott and Bowser are currently two thirds of the space/noise rock outfit Dr Xeron and the Moogulators.
Resurrection
As of June 2007, Violent Apathy has reunited for a twenty fifth Anniversary reunion tour. Their first public appearance in twenty five years was in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
at the 2500 Club. This was followed by appearances in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
Eburgerman "25th Anniversary reunion concert at Kraftbrau in Kalamazoo, Michigan 6/23/2007". "youtube.com" (website), Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
.
Personnel
I: March 1981-March 1982- Kenny Knott: vocals
- Richard (Dick) Bowser: guitar
- Jim Forgey: bass
- Eliot Rachman: drums
II: March 1982-December 1982
- Kenny Knott: vocals
- Richard (Dick) Bowser: guitar
- Todd Visser: bass
- Eliot Rachman: drums
III: January 1983-August 1983
- Kenny Knott: vocals
- Richard (Dick) Bowser: guitar
- Tommy Fuller: guitar
- Todd Visser: bass
- Andy Bennett: drums
IV: August 1983-September 1984
- Kenny Knott: vocals
- Richard (Dick) Bowser: guitar
- Tommy Fuller: guitar
- Eric Lorey: bass
- Andy Bennett: drums
V: June 2007–2010
- Kenny Knott : Vocals
- Richard (Dick) Bowser : guitar
- Tommy Fuller : guitar
- Eliot Rachman: drums
- Karl Knack : Bass
VI: July 2010 reunion shows
- Kenny Knott : Vocals
- Richard (Dick) Bowser : guitar
- Tommy Fuller : guitar
- Eliot Rachman: drums
- J.C. Graves : Bass
Compilations
- Process of Elimination EP (Touch & Go, 1981) "I Can't Take It"http://www.dementlieu.com/~obik/arc/fix/tgr04.html
- Charred Remains tape (Noise/Version Sound, 1981) "Real World", "Hunger Strike", "Hypocrite"http://homepages.nyu.edu/~cch223/comps/charredremains.html
- I Estimated Your Worth Today tape (has demo tracks)http://homepages.nyu.edu/~cch223/comps/estimatedyourworth.html
- The Master Tapes 2LP (Affirmation, 1983) "Society Rules", "Desperation Takes Hold", "Ignorance is Bliss"