Filth (band)
Encyclopedia
Filth is a hardcore punk
band from East Bay
, California
.
, the Vagrants, and Crimpshrine
; Filth was a crustcore band that would help define the later "East Bay Hardcore" style. The band combined the more upbeat, sometimes poppy guitar styles of Isocracy's Lenny Rokk with harsh screamed vocals, courtesy of Crimpshrine roadie, Jake Sayles. The rhythm section was composed of an East Bay punk known as Mike-o the Psycho on bass, and Dave (E.C.) Henwood (of the Vagrants) on drums, also on guitar was Jim Gray, who had moved to the Bay Area from Canada. Dave left the band after recording the shit split LP (1990) and Toby was brought in to replace him. They released a split album with Blatz
, known as the Shit Split (1991), which is now available on CD, containing both bands complete discography via lifeisabuse.com, and the This Is Why We Are the Drunks split 7" with Submachine. Toby left the band, and Joey of Blatz stepped in shortly before the band's premature 1991 break-up.
Mike and Jake founded a band with Shoshanna Wheaton and members of Queen Mab and Talk Is Poison, called Fields Of Shit, who only recorded one 10" EP before disbanding. It is available via Life Is Abuse.
Jim moved back to Canada and formed a band called Tension, who released a CD called "War Cry" on Cargo Music
/Grilled Cheese Records, and later joined the Exploited.
Jake, Clara (Hue and Cry), Jerry (Fields of Shit), and Mauze (Dystopia
, Life Is Abuse Records) formed Abandon in 2003, and in 2004, 5 songs were released on a compilation titled Letters From the Landfill, on Left Off The Dial Records. Abandon is broken-up.
Dave later played in the Wynona Riders
and later the Vagrants reformed as Pot Valiant.
Filth re-united in 2010 and performed three shows: June 4 at the 924 Gilman Street, another on June 5 at The Hazmat in Oakland, CA, and another June 10 at The Uptown in Oakland, CA.
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 from East Bay
East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
The East Bay is a commonly used, informal term for the lands on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay, in the San Francisco Bay Area, in California, United States...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Biography
Formed in the East Bay in 1989, from the ashes of IsocracyIsocracy (band)
Isocracy was an American punk rock band from the Berkeley, California-area, formed in 1986. The band was one of the key bands in the MRR/Gilman Street project. John Kiffmeyer , who later went on to form Green Day, was the drummer for the band...
, the Vagrants, and Crimpshrine
Crimpshrine
Crimpshrine was an American punk rock band from Berkeley, California. The group was formed in 1982 by Aaron Cometbus, founder of the seminal punk rock zine Cometbus, and a friend, Jeff Ott. Within D.I.Y...
; Filth was a crustcore band that would help define the later "East Bay Hardcore" style. The band combined the more upbeat, sometimes poppy guitar styles of Isocracy's Lenny Rokk with harsh screamed vocals, courtesy of Crimpshrine roadie, Jake Sayles. The rhythm section was composed of an East Bay punk known as Mike-o the Psycho on bass, and Dave (E.C.) Henwood (of the Vagrants) on drums, also on guitar was Jim Gray, who had moved to the Bay Area from Canada. Dave left the band after recording the shit split LP (1990) and Toby was brought in to replace him. They released a split album with Blatz
Blatz (band)
Blatz was a punk band formed in 1989 in Berkeley, California. Blatz came out of the 924 Gilman Street Project scene during the late '80s, and early '90s along with bands like Operation Ivy, Filth, and Green Day.-History:...
, known as the Shit Split (1991), which is now available on CD, containing both bands complete discography via lifeisabuse.com, and the This Is Why We Are the Drunks split 7" with Submachine. Toby left the band, and Joey of Blatz stepped in shortly before the band's premature 1991 break-up.
Aftermath
Len Rokk and Mike-O Psycho were some of the founding members of Strychnine in 1995, and both left the band after recording the Dead Rats and Oakland Dogs LP, for Len's (now defunct) label, East Bay Menace Records.Mike and Jake founded a band with Shoshanna Wheaton and members of Queen Mab and Talk Is Poison, called Fields Of Shit, who only recorded one 10" EP before disbanding. It is available via Life Is Abuse.
Jim moved back to Canada and formed a band called Tension, who released a CD called "War Cry" on Cargo Music
Cargo Music
Cargo Music Inc. is a record label based in San Diego, California. It distributes records for other labels such as Cherry Red Records, Earth Music, FistPuppet Records, Grilled Cheese, Headhunter Records, Re-Constriction Records, RPM Records and Tackle Box. Notable artists that have been signed to...
/Grilled Cheese Records, and later joined the Exploited.
Jake, Clara (Hue and Cry), Jerry (Fields of Shit), and Mauze (Dystopia
Dystopia (band)
Formed in Orange County, California in 1991, Dystopia was a sludge metal band, popular in both the heavy metal and crust punk scenes, due in large part to their bleak, misanthropic imagery...
, Life Is Abuse Records) formed Abandon in 2003, and in 2004, 5 songs were released on a compilation titled Letters From the Landfill, on Left Off The Dial Records. Abandon is broken-up.
Dave later played in the Wynona Riders
Wynona Riders
The Wynona Riders are an East Bay pop punk band formed in 1988 as Miss Conduct by Jim Tyler , Eric Matson , Ron Murphy and Mike Lipari . In 1989 Ron Greer joined the band as the lead singer, changing their name with their first 924 Gilman Street performance...
and later the Vagrants reformed as Pot Valiant.
Filth re-united in 2010 and performed three shows: June 4 at the 924 Gilman Street, another on June 5 at The Hazmat in Oakland, CA, and another June 10 at The Uptown in Oakland, CA.
Members
- Jake Sayles - Vocals, later of Fields of Shit, Abandon, Wild Dog Gods, Blackie and Our Mother of Sorrows.
- Len Rokk - Guitar, formerly of IsocracyIsocracy (band)Isocracy was an American punk rock band from the Berkeley, California-area, formed in 1986. The band was one of the key bands in the MRR/Gilman Street project. John Kiffmeyer , who later went on to form Green Day, was the drummer for the band...
and later of Strychnine - Jim Gray - Guitar, Later of The ExploitedThe ExploitedThe Exploited are a Scottish punk band from the second wave of UK punk, formed in 1979. Originally a street punk band, they transformed into a faster hardcore punk band with a heavy political influence. From about 1987 on they changed into a crossover thrash band...
and Tension - "Mike-O the Psycho" - Bass, later of Strychnine and Fields Of Shit
- Dave E.C. Henwood - Drums, formerly of the VagrantsThe VagrantsThe Vagrants were a Long Island-based rock and blue-eyed soul group from the 1960s. The group was composed of Peter Sabatino on vocals, harmonica, and tambourine, Leslie West on vocals and guitar, Larry West on vocals and bass guitar, Jerry Storch on organ, and Roger Mansour on drums.- Rise to...
and later of Wynona RidersWynona RidersThe Wynona Riders are an East Bay pop punk band formed in 1988 as Miss Conduct by Jim Tyler , Eric Matson , Ron Murphy and Mike Lipari . In 1989 Ron Greer joined the band as the lead singer, changing their name with their first 924 Gilman Street performance...
pot valiant, the tantrums,and three years down also ruby deville & the sons of coco county. - "Toby" - Drums
- Ben Econochrist - Bass, before the band found Mike-O the Psycho, also of EconochristEconochristEconochrist was a political hardcore punk band active in the late eighties and early nineties. They moved from Arkansas to the San Francisco Bay Area to become part of the punk music scene there...
and many other Oakland Punk bands - Joey Perales - Drums, formerly of BlatzBlatz (band)Blatz was a punk band formed in 1989 in Berkeley, California. Blatz came out of the 924 Gilman Street Project scene during the late '80s, and early '90s along with bands like Operation Ivy, Filth, and Green Day.-History:...
, later joined Jack Acid, Dead and GoneDead and Gone-Remixes:*"Things Gotta Change" - Avery Storm*"When We Rock" - Bone Thugs-n-Harmony*"I Don't Like White People" - Rucka Rucka Ali-Cover versions:...
and Creeps on Candy
Discography
- 1990: Live the Chaos 7" (Lookout! RecordsLookout! Records-History:Larry Livermore and David Hayes formed the label in 1987. From the start, Lookout released punk rock records, but over time expanded its scope to include various types of pop rock, reggae fusion, acoustic rock, pop punk, and indie rock...
) - 1990: If You Can See Through It... It Ain't Coffee compilation (Very Small RecordsVery Small RecordsVery Small Records is an independent record label, formed in 1989 by David Hayes, co-founder and former co-owner of Lookout! Records. The label releases primarily pop punk and punk rock records....
) - 1990: The Shit Split (split with BlatzBlatz (band)Blatz was a punk band formed in 1989 in Berkeley, California. Blatz came out of the 924 Gilman Street Project scene during the late '80s, and early '90s along with bands like Operation Ivy, Filth, and Green Day.-History:...
) Lookout! RecordsLookout! Records-History:Larry Livermore and David Hayes formed the label in 1987. From the start, Lookout released punk rock records, but over time expanded its scope to include various types of pop rock, reggae fusion, acoustic rock, pop punk, and indie rock... - 1992: This Is Why We Are the Drunks (split w/ Submachine) (Rust Records)
- 1992: There's a Faggot in the Pit compilation (Bobo Records)
- 1999: Later That Same Year... compilation (S.P.A.M. Records)
- 2000: The Shit Split (split with BlatzBlatz (band)Blatz was a punk band formed in 1989 in Berkeley, California. Blatz came out of the 924 Gilman Street Project scene during the late '80s, and early '90s along with bands like Operation Ivy, Filth, and Green Day.-History:...
) (Life is Abuse Records) - 2000: Live the Chaos (Life Is Abuse Records)
- 2008: The Shit Split (split with BlatzBlatz (band)Blatz was a punk band formed in 1989 in Berkeley, California. Blatz came out of the 924 Gilman Street Project scene during the late '80s, and early '90s along with bands like Operation Ivy, Filth, and Green Day.-History:...
) (Alternative Tentacles Records) - 2008: Live the Chaos (Silver SprocketSpringman RecordsSpringman Records is an independent record label founded in 1998 by Avi Ehrlich that was run out of his parent's garage in Cupertino, California until late 2005, when Ehrlich moved the label to Sacramento...
)