Choking Victim - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Choking Victim was a United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

Punk rock

Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...

band formed in 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...

, which were together from 1992 to 1999. Playing a mix of hardcore punk

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...

and ska

Ska

Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...

with anarchist lyrics. Following the breakup of the band, which occurred the same day as the recording of their only studio album No Gods, No Managers
No Gods, No Managers
No Gods, No Managers is the only full-length studio album by American hardcore punk band Choking Victim. The album was released in 1999 through Hellcat/Epitaph Records and re-released on LP format by Epitaph in 2004. Being the sole full-length album of Choking Victim, it became hugely popular in...

, members went on to form Leftöver Crack

Leftöver Crack

Leftöver Crack is an American punk rock band formed in 1998, following the breakup of the ska punk band Choking Victim. Primarily playing an amalgam of ska and hardcore punk, they classify themselves as "crack-rocksteady". The band is currently signed to Fat Wreck Chords for CD releases, and...

Background

The band became well-known at the C-Squat

C-Squat

C Squat is a squat located at 155 Avenue C in the East Village of Manhattan, New York City, in an area called Loisaida.-History:Journalist and author Robert Neuwirth described the situation that gave birth to many of New York's squats, including C Squat, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, "In the...

in the Lower East Side of Manhattan

Manhattan

Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...

for their innovative music and politically charged lyrics. They also became infamous for their Satanic

Satanism

Satanism is a group of religions that is composed of a diverse number of ideological and philosophical beliefs and social phenomena. Their shared feature include symbolic association with, admiration for the character of, and even veneration of Satan or similar rebellious, promethean, and...

imagery and references to the vagrant lifestyle, including smoking both crack cocaine

Crack cocaine

Crack cocaine is the freebase form of cocaine that can be smoked. It may also be termed rock, hard, iron, cavvy, base, or just crack; it is the most addictive form of cocaine. Crack rocks offer a short but intense high to smokers...

and marijuana, shoplifting

Shoplifting

Shoplifting is theft of goods from a retail establishment. It is one of the most common property crimes dealt with by police and courts....

, and squatting

Squatting

Squatting consists of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use....

. The band prides itself on its atheism

Atheism

Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...

, making reference to Satan

Satan

Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...

for the purpose of being offensive, rather than any actual worship of the deity

Deity

A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....

. On the album No Gods, No Managers, they use excerpts from the lectures of political scientist Michael Parenti

Michael Parenti

Michael Parenti is an award-winning, internationally known American political scientist, historian, and culture critic who has been writing on a wide range of both scholarly and popular subjects for over forty years. He has taught at several universities and colleges and has been a frequent guest...

.

Choking Victim broke up after the first day of recording for their first full-length LP, No Gods, No Managers
No Gods, No Managers
No Gods, No Managers is the only full-length studio album by American hardcore punk band Choking Victim. The album was released in 1999 through Hellcat/Epitaph Records and re-released on LP format by Epitaph in 2004. Being the sole full-length album of Choking Victim, it became hugely popular in...

, but the recordings from that one day were enough to make a full album. After they broke up, (Stza

Stza

Scott Sturgeon, also known as Stza Crack , is a musician who has fronted several ska-punk bands in the New York City area, the best known being Choking Victim and Leftöver Crack...

and Ezra Crack) formed the band Leftöver Crack

Leftöver Crack

, and Skwert and Ezra formed INDK. Skwert is currently the front man for the NJ based ska punk band Public Serpents. Sascha has spent the last several years organically farming

Organic farming

Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm...

in upstate NY, and is a founding member of Icarus Project

Icarus Project

.The Icarus Project http://theicarusproject.net is a mental health movement characterized by the view that many phenomena commonly labeled as mental illness should actually be regarded as "dangerous gifts"...

, a radical mental health network. Choking Victim and Leftöver Crack

Leftöver Crack

are anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-homophobic and anti-fascist.

On November 11, 2000, Choking Victim reunited to play a show in Tompkins Square Park with the lineup from their album, substituting former bassist Alec for Shayne. Later, in late 2005, Choking Victim reunited a second time, performing four shows. On June 11, 2006, they played a show at the Lower East Side

Lower East Side

The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....

's Tompkins Square Park

Tompkins Square Park

Tompkins Square Park is a 10.5 acre public park in the Alphabet City section of the East Village neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is square in shape, and is bounded on the north by East 10th Street, on the east by Avenue B, on the south by East 7th Street, and on the...

, which featured various political speakers, including members of the Mislead Youth Project. At the end of July 2006, they toured the Dominican Republic, before Leftöver Crack

Leftöver Crack

embarked on their European Tour.

In addition to Leftöver Crack

Leftöver Crack

and INDK, Choking Victim also spawned Morning Glory and the Crack Rock Steady 7.

Members

(1992–1993)	Stza Stza Scott Sturgeon, also known as Stza Crack , is a musician who has fronted several ska-punk bands in the New York City area, the best known being Choking Victim and Leftöver Crack... – vocals, guitar Sascha Scatter Sascha Scatter Sascha Altman DuBrul, aka Sascha DuBrul or Sascha Scatter, is an American anarchist, bi-polar activist, writer, farmer and punk rock musician. He is best known for his writing and as a founding and current member of the ska-punk band Choking Victim. He is a co-founder of the Icarus Project... – bass John Dolan – drums
(1993–1994)	Stza Stza Scott Sturgeon, also known as Stza Crack , is a musician who has fronted several ska-punk bands in the New York City area, the best known being Choking Victim and Leftöver Crack... – vocals, guitar Sascha Scatter Sascha Scatter Sascha Altman DuBrul, aka Sascha DuBrul or Sascha Scatter, is an American anarchist, bi-polar activist, writer, farmer and punk rock musician. He is best known for his writing and as a founding and current member of the ska-punk band Choking Victim. He is a co-founder of the Icarus Project... – bass Skwert – drums	Crack Rock Steady Demo (1992) Crack Rock Steady 7" (1993)
(1995–1996)	Stza Stza Scott Sturgeon, also known as Stza Crack , is a musician who has fronted several ska-punk bands in the New York City area, the best known being Choking Victim and Leftöver Crack... – vocals, guitar Alec Baillie Alec Baillie Alec Baillie is an American bassist currently residing in Sacramento, California. Alec grew up in Manhattan and attended the same high school as future band mate Scott "Stza" Sturgeon. In the early nineties, Baillie, Dunia Best, Jay Nugent and Ara Babajian formed the third wave ska band, Agent 99... – bass Skwert – drums	Squatta's Paradise 7" (1996)
(1996)	Stza Stza Scott Sturgeon, also known as Stza Crack , is a musician who has fronted several ska-punk bands in the New York City area, the best known being Choking Victim and Leftöver Crack... – vocals, guitar Shayne Webb – bass Skwert – drums
(1996)	Stza Stza Scott Sturgeon, also known as Stza Crack , is a musician who has fronted several ska-punk bands in the New York City area, the best known being Choking Victim and Leftöver Crack... – vocals, guitar Alec Baillie Alec Baillie Alec Baillie is an American bassist currently residing in Sacramento, California. Alec grew up in Manhattan and attended the same high school as future band mate Scott "Stza" Sturgeon. In the early nineties, Baillie, Dunia Best, Jay Nugent and Ara Babajian formed the third wave ska band, Agent 99... – bass Skwert – drums
(1996–1998)	Stza Stza Scott Sturgeon, also known as Stza Crack , is a musician who has fronted several ska-punk bands in the New York City area, the best known being Choking Victim and Leftöver Crack... – vocals, guitar Shayne Webb – bass Skwert – drums
(1998–1999)	Stza Stza Scott Sturgeon, also known as Stza Crack , is a musician who has fronted several ska-punk bands in the New York City area, the best known being Choking Victim and Leftöver Crack... – vocals, guitar Ezra – guitar Shayne – bass Skwert – drums	No Gods, No Managers No Gods, No Managers No Gods, No Managers is the only full-length studio album by American hardcore punk band Choking Victim. The album was released in 1999 through Hellcat/Epitaph Records and re-released on LP format by Epitaph in 2004. Being the sole full-length album of Choking Victim, it became hugely popular in... (1999)
(Nov. 2000)	Stza Stza Scott Sturgeon, also known as Stza Crack , is a musician who has fronted several ska-punk bands in the New York City area, the best known being Choking Victim and Leftöver Crack... – vocals, guitar Ezra – guitar Alec Baillie Alec Baillie Alec Baillie is an American bassist currently residing in Sacramento, California. Alec grew up in Manhattan and attended the same high school as future band mate Scott "Stza" Sturgeon. In the early nineties, Baillie, Dunia Best, Jay Nugent and Ara Babajian formed the third wave ska band, Agent 99... – bass Skwert – drums
(2005–2006)	Stza Stza Scott Sturgeon, also known as Stza Crack , is a musician who has fronted several ska-punk bands in the New York City area, the best known being Choking Victim and Leftöver Crack... – vocals, guitar Sascha Scatter Sascha Scatter Sascha Altman DuBrul, aka Sascha DuBrul or Sascha Scatter, is an American anarchist, bi-polar activist, writer, farmer and punk rock musician. He is best known for his writing and as a founding and current member of the ska-punk band Choking Victim. He is a co-founder of the Icarus Project... – bass John Dolan – drums

Scott "Stza" Sturgeon
Stza
Scott Sturgeon, also known as Stza Crack , is a musician who has fronted several ska-punk bands in the New York City area, the best known being Choking Victim and Leftöver Crack...

– vocals, guitar (1992–1999, 2000, 2005–2006)
Sascha "Scatter" DuBrul
Sascha Scatter
Sascha Altman DuBrul, aka Sascha DuBrul or Sascha Scatter, is an American anarchist, bi-polar activist, writer, farmer and punk rock musician. He is best known for his writing and as a founding and current member of the ska-punk band Choking Victim. He is a co-founder of the Icarus Project...

– bass (1992–1994, 2005–2006)
John Dolan – drums (1992–1993, 2005–2006)
Skwert – drums (1993–1999, 2000)
Alec Baillie
Alec Baillie
Alec Baillie is an American bassist currently residing in Sacramento, California. Alec grew up in Manhattan and attended the same high school as future band mate Scott "Stza" Sturgeon. In the early nineties, Baillie, Dunia Best, Jay Nugent and Ara Babajian formed the third wave ska band, Agent 99...

– bass (1995–1996, 1996, 2000)
Shayne Webb – bass (1996, 1996–1999)
Ezra Kire – guitar (1998–1999, 2000)

Discography

Albums:

"No Gods, No Managers
No Gods, No Managers
No Gods, No Managers is the only full-length studio album by American hardcore punk band Choking Victim. The album was released in 1999 through Hellcat/Epitaph Records and re-released on LP format by Epitaph in 2004. Being the sole full-length album of Choking Victim, it became hugely popular in...

" (1999)

EP's (Vinyl):

"Crack Rock Steady E.P." (1994)
"Squatta's Paradise
Squatta's Paradise
Squatta's Paradise is the second extended play released by the American ska punk/anarcho punk band Choking Victim. The E.P. was recorded in April, 1996 and released later that same year....

" (1996)
"Victim Comes Alive" (1998)

Demos:

"Crack Rock Steady Demo" (2000)

Compilation Releases:

"Crack Rock Steady/Squatta's Paradise EP" (2000)
"Wicked City Soundtrack" - 1998, Velvel Records ("Fuck America")
"Give 'Em The Boot" - 1997, Hellcat Records ("Infested")
"Give 'Em The Boot II" - 1999, Hellcat Records ("Crack Rock Steady")
"Ska Sucks" - 1998, Liberation Records ("Suicide (a better way)")
"Smash Ignorance Up" - 1998, Possible Problem Records ("Money")
"Skanarchy III" - 1997, Elevator Records ("Born to Die")
"Picklemania NYC" - 199?, Riot Records ("500 Channels")
"Finding a Voice: A Benefit For Humans" - 1999 Repetitively Futile Records ("Sweet Dreams")

Live:

"Live 9/11 2005"

Background

Members

Discography

External links

See also