Geoff Kresge
Encyclopedia
Geoff Kresge is a songwriter
, guitarist
, bassist
, who played with AFI
for most of their early career, from 1992 through 1997, and co-wrote the majority of their early material alongside frontman Davey Havok
. During an AFI hiatus in 1993, he briefly moved to New York
to join Blanks 77
. He later went on to play with Canadian horror rock
group The Forbidden Dimension and also a high-energy rock band, The Daggers
, before subsequently joining Tiger Army
. Though he played an electric bass
in his previous bands, for Tiger Army he chose an upright bass
.
Upon leaving Tiger Army in September 2004, Kresge formed the band Viva Hate
with longtime friend Matt "Wedge" Wedgley (formerly of The Force
). Before Viva Hate's permanent lineup had solidified, Kresge joined the HorrorPops
on guitar, but continued writing songs with Wedge for Viva Hate. Ultimately Viva Hate began performing live whenever Kresge's schedule allowed for them to do so and subsequently the band completed a regional tour with one of Kresge's former bands, AFI.
In July 2007, Kresge announced that he had left HorrorPops as well as his recording label Dead Body Records, stating that he wished to dedicate full attention to Viva Hate, followed by an American tour in support of Sick of it All
and Madball
.
In January 2008, on Tiger Army's
official website, it was announced that Kresge had rejoined the band after the departure of then current bassist, Jeff Roffredo.
Kresge is married to Kamilla Vanilla (also formerly of the HorrorPops) and was also part-owner of Dead Body Records, as well as the founder and owner of the now-defunct Key Lime Pie Records
, which released several early recordings by AFI. He has produced for several other bands, including Tiger Army, Heckle
, Graveyard Shift and 12 Step Rebels.
Compilation appearances
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, who played with 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...
for most of their early career, from 1992 through 1997, and co-wrote the majority of their early material alongside 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....
. During an AFI hiatus in 1993, he briefly moved to New York
New 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...
to join Blanks 77
Blanks 77
Blanks 77 is an American street punk band active from 1990–2001, and again from 2004 onward. Originally based in Hillside, New Jersey, they are currently located in Denville....
. He later went on to play with Canadian horror rock
Horror Rock
Horror Rock is a rock lying 3.5 nautical miles west of South West Point, Annenkov Island, South Georgia. Named by United Kingdom Antarctic Place-Names Committee from the circumstances of the rock's discovery by HMS Owen on February 21, 1961. The ship avoided striking the rock in rough weather...
group The Forbidden Dimension and also a high-energy rock band, The Daggers
The Daggers
The Daggers are a punk rock n roll band from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The band formed in 1997 and their music is heavily influenced by late seventies punk and rock n roll bands...
, before subsequently joining Tiger Army
Tiger Army
Tiger Army is an American psychobilly band that was formed in 1995 in Berkeley, California. Its constant member and lead song writer is Nick 13. The band have released a total of four studio albums.-History:...
. Though he played an electric bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
in his previous bands, for Tiger Army he chose an upright bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
.
Upon leaving Tiger Army in September 2004, Kresge formed the band Viva Hate
Viva Hate (band)
Viva Hate is a rock band that was formed late in the summer of 2004 by Geoff Kresge after he left Tiger Army. Shortly after forming Viva Hate, Kresge was asked to join the HorrorPops, with whom he played guitar with from 2004 to 2006, although the official statement of his departure was not made...
with longtime friend Matt "Wedge" Wedgley (formerly of The Force
The Force (band)
The Force is a Grass Valley punk/hardcore band. Members Matt Wedgley , Hunter Burgan , Mark Roustabout , and Chad Cox were all in different punk bands before forming The Force in May 1995. Between 1996 and 1998, The Force released a 7", a 10"/CD and a split 7" as well as a number of songs on...
). Before Viva Hate's permanent lineup had solidified, Kresge joined the HorrorPops
HorrorPops
HorrorPops are a Danish punk band that formed in 1996. The band's sound is rooted in psychobilly, pop punk, rockabilly, and new wave.-History:...
on guitar, but continued writing songs with Wedge for Viva Hate. Ultimately Viva Hate began performing live whenever Kresge's schedule allowed for them to do so and subsequently the band completed a regional tour with one of Kresge's former bands, AFI.
In July 2007, Kresge announced that he had left HorrorPops as well as his recording label Dead Body Records, stating that he wished to dedicate full attention to Viva Hate, followed by an American tour in support of Sick of it All
Sick of It All
Sick of It All is an American hardcore punk band from Queens, New York. Formed in 1986, the band consisted of brothers Lou Koller on vocals and Pete Koller on lead guitar, Rich Cipriano on bass, and Armand Majidi on drums. There have been only two member changes since their inception, with Max...
and Madball
Madball
Madball is a New York-based hardcore band that originated in the late 1980s, as a side-project of Agnostic Front .- History :Madball was founded in 1988 and featured most of Agnostic Front's members...
.
In January 2008, on Tiger Army's
Tiger Army
Tiger Army is an American psychobilly band that was formed in 1995 in Berkeley, California. Its constant member and lead song writer is Nick 13. The band have released a total of four studio albums.-History:...
official website, it was announced that Kresge had rejoined the band after the departure of then current bassist, Jeff Roffredo.
Kresge is married to Kamilla Vanilla (also formerly of the HorrorPops) and was also part-owner of Dead Body Records, as well as the founder and owner of the now-defunct Key Lime Pie Records
Key Lime Pie Records
Key Lime Pie Records was a record label founded by Geoff Kresge in 1993. It was not actually a licensed record label; it was the garage of Geoff Kresge. Their releases were not sold in stores, but only during concerts. Only three records have been released by this "label" and they were AFI releases...
, which released several early recordings by AFI. He has produced for several other bands, including Tiger Army, Heckle
Heckle (band)
Heckle was a melodic hardcore/punk rock band from New Jersey, United States.Brandishing a unique blend of West Coast melody with East Coast fury, Heckle were somewhat reminiscent of the early New York and DC hardcore bands, yet the band brought a fresh new perspective to this old school format...
, Graveyard Shift and 12 Step Rebels.
With AFI
- DorkDork (EP)Dork is an EP by American alternative rock band AFI, released on March 2, 1993 on Key Lime Pie Records. It is a split 7" with Loose Change , with AFI's Dork on one side and Loose Change's Stick Around on the other side.This was AFI's first release, put out within a year of forming, and was limited...
7" EP (1993, Key Lime Pie RecordsKey Lime Pie RecordsKey Lime Pie Records was a record label founded by Geoff Kresge in 1993. It was not actually a licensed record label; it was the garage of Geoff Kresge. Their releases were not sold in stores, but only during concerts. Only three records have been released by this "label" and they were AFI releases...
) - Behind the TimesBehind the TimesBehind the Times is an EP by AFI released on 11 June 1993 on Key Lime Pie Records. This release was limited to 500 copies, in addition to test pressings. The 1st pressing of 400 and a 2nd pressing of 100 all on black vinyl. They can be distinguished, as the first pressing of the vinyl is...
7" EP (1993, Key Lime Pie Records) - Eddie Picnic's All WetEddie Picnic's All WetEddie Picnic's All Wet is a live EP by American rock band AFI. It was released on March 18, 1994 through Key Lime Pie Records. The 7" only pressed 200 copies on pink vinyl. The second pressing was limited to 100. It is currently out of print....
live 7" EP (1994, Key Lime Pie Records) - This Is Berkeley, Not West BayThis Is Berkeley, Not West BayThis Is Berkeley, Not West Bay is a 7" EP released in 1994 on Zafio Records, and featuring AFI, Screw 32, Dead and Gone, and Black Fork. There were 2 identical pressings in 1994 and 1995, both on black vinyl. The first was 2,000, the 2nd was 1,000....
7" EP (1994, Zafio Records) - Fly in the Ointment 7" (1995, Wedge RecordsWedge RecordsWedge Records is a 1990s California record label specializing in punk rock/hardcore. The label is most noted for releasing early AFI and Frantics records....
) - Bombing the BayBombing the Bay"Bombing the Bay!" is a split 7" single by Californian punk rock bands AFI and Swingin' Utters.Originally released in 1995 on Sessions Records, it was later re-released with the label's new logo.-Track listing:# "Values Here" – 2:17...
split 7" with Swingin' Utters (1995, Sessions Records)- featuring AFI's cover of "Values Here," by Dag NastyDag NastyDag Nasty was a Washington D.C. punk band formed in 1985 by guitarist Brian Baker of Minor Threat, drummer Colin Sears and bassist Roger Marbury, both of Bloody Mannequin Orchestra, and vocalist Shawn Brown...
- featuring AFI's cover of "Values Here," by Dag Nasty
- AFI/HeckleAFI/Heckle SplitThe AFI / Heckle split single was released in late 1995 by Wingnut Records. AFI's tracks were later re-recorded for their second full-length release, Very Proud of Ya.-Track listing:Side 1 – AFI# "Aspirin Free" – 2:40...
split with HeckleHeckle (band)Heckle was a melodic hardcore/punk rock band from New Jersey, United States.Brandishing a unique blend of West Coast melody with East Coast fury, Heckle were somewhat reminiscent of the early New York and DC hardcore bands, yet the band brought a fresh new perspective to this old school format...
(late 1995, Wingnut Records) - Answer That and Stay FashionableAnswer That and Stay FashionableAnswer That and Stay Fashionable is the debut studio album by American rock band AFI. It was originally released on August 1, 1995 through Wingnut Records. It was re-released on April 22, 1997 through Nitro Records.-Background:...
(1995, Wingnut Records; re-released in 1997 on Nitro RecordsNitro RecordsNitro Records is an independent record label created and owned by Dexter Holland and Greg Kriesel . They started the label in 1994. The label is famous for being an incubator for punk rock artists who have subsequently become successful, most notably AFI...
) - Very Proud of YaVery Proud of YaOn iTunes, two songs were misspelled. "Fishbowl" was misspelled "Fishbool" and "Modern Epic" was mistakenly "Modern Epidemic" but those were later corrected.-Personnel:*Producer: Michael Rosen, AFI*Engineer: Michael Rosen*Recorded At: TML Studios, Hayward, CA...
(1996, Nitro RecordsNitro RecordsNitro Records is an independent record label created and owned by Dexter Holland and Greg Kriesel . They started the label in 1994. The label is famous for being an incubator for punk rock artists who have subsequently become successful, most notably AFI...
) - Sing the SorrowSing the SorrowSing the Sorrow is the sixth studio album by American rock band AFI. It was released on March 11, 2003 through DreamWorks Records. It debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200. It was certified Platinum in December 2004 by the RIAA. The album was supported by three singles, "Girl's Not Grey", "The Leaving...
(background vocals) (2003, DreamWorks RecordsDreamWorks RecordsDreamWorks Records was an American record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG, the label operated until 2005 when it was shut down...
)
With The Daggers
- She Told Me She Said 7" vinyl on Sloth Records
- Right Between the Eyes on Sloth Records
With Tiger Army
- Temptation EP (Featured as producer) (1997, Chapter Eleven Records)
- Tiger Army II: Power of MoonliteTiger Army II: Power of MoonliteTiger Army II: Power of Moonlite is Tiger Army's second album, released on July 24, 2001. It featured London May on drums, Geoff Kresge on stand up bass and Nick 13 on vocals and guitar. London May left the band before their next album, Tiger Army III: Ghost Tigers Rise...
(2001, Hellcat RecordsHellcat RecordsHellcat Records is an independent record label based in Los Angeles, California. The label, an off-shoot of Epitaph Records, was started as a partnership between Brett Gurewitz carp Bad Religion, the owner of Epitaph, and Tim Armstrong of Rancid, the latter of whom is generally responsible for...
) - Early YearsEarly Years EPEarly Years EP is a re-released version of Tiger Army's vinyl Temptation EP with the added bonus of a few demo songs and cover songs.-Track listing:# "Temptation" – 2:10# "Jungle Cat" – 1:58# "Twenty Flight Rock" – 1:32...
EP (Background vocals) (2002, Hellcat Records) - Tiger Army III: Ghost Tigers RiseTiger Army III: Ghost Tigers RiseTiger Army III: Ghost Tigers Rise is Tiger Army's third full-length album. It was released by Hellcat Records on June 29, 2004. It takes the psychobilly of their first two efforts and layers it with elements of country, blues and punk to create a more mature and emotional sound than previous works...
(2004, Hellcat Records) - Music from Regions BeyondMusic from Regions BeyondMusic from Regions Beyond is the fourth full-length Tiger Army album, released on June 5, 2007. The album was produced by Jerry Finn. Unlike their previous albums, it does not have a numeral in the title. The album title comes from a line spoken in the Disneyland ride The Haunted Mansion, in the...
(Background vocals) (2007, Hellcat Records)
Compilation appearances
- Give 'Em the Boot IIIGive 'Em the Boot IIIGive 'Em the Boot III is the third compilation album in the Give 'Em the Boot series, released in 2002 .- Track listing :#"Sick of It All" - The Distillers#"The Legend of Finn MacCumhail" - Dropkick Murphys#"Die Alone" - U.S...
(2002, Hellcat Records)- Track 13 - "Power of Moonlite"
- Give 'Em the Boot IVGive 'Em the Boot IVGive 'Em the Boot IV is the fourth compilation album in the Give 'Em the Boot series, released in 2004 .- Track listing :#"Killing Zone" - Rancid#"Dirty Reggae" - The Aggrolites#"Atomic" - Tiger Army#"Propaganda" - The Slackers...
(2004, Hellcat Records)- Track 03 - "Atomic"
- Give 'Em the Boot VGive 'Em the Boot VGive 'Em the Boot V is the fifth compilation album in the Give 'Em the Boot series, released in 2006 .- Track listing :#"Tattoo" - Rancid#"Warriors Code" - Dropkick Murphys#"Cold Concrete" - Time Again...
(2006, Hellcat Records)- Track 04 - "Swift Silent Deadly"
With Viva Hate
- Hateful and Hollow Demo CD (2007, self-released)
- Save Me 7" EP (2008, Black Cat Records)
- Goodnight My Love 7" EP (2010, Black Cat Records)
Other
- NekromantixNekromantixThe Nekromantix are a Danish-American psychobilly band formed in 1989 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their music is generally structured around monster and horror themes. A central icon of the band's image is founder and frontman Kim Nekroman's "coffinbass", a custom-built double bass with a body in the...
- Brought Back to Life AgainBrought Back to LifeBrought Back to Life is the third album by the Danish psychobilly band the Nekromantix, released in 1994 by Intermusic Records. It was the band's first album to include drummer Tim Kristensen and only album to include guitarist Jan Daggry , replacing original members Peter Sandorff and Peek who...
(Digital Editing) (2005) - 12 Step Rebels - Go Go Graveyard Rockin' with 12 Step Rebels (Featured as producer) Dead Body Records
- Graveyard ShiftGraveyard Shift"Graveyard Shift" is a short story by Stephen King, first published in the October 1970 issue of Cavalier magazine, and later collected in King's 1978 collection Night Shift...
- Rest Without Peace (Featured as producer) Dead Body Records - Mr. Cliff Greenwood - Musical Heritage (Digital Editing) Dead Body Records
External links
- Geoff Kresge's Official profile on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Viva Hate's Official Website
- Viva Hate on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....