Isocracy (band)
Encyclopedia
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
(a.k.a. Al Sobrante), who later went on to form Green Day
, was the drummer for the band. The other members were Lenny Johnson (guitar), Martin Brome (bass) and Jason Beebout (vocals), who went on to form Samiam
.
, released in 1988 through Lookout! Records
(L005). The band was later featured on the Lookout! Records' compilation, The Thing That Ate Floyd
. Additionally, Isocracy's EP tracks were re-released on (L293) Punk Rock 7″s Volume 1.
During their active years from 1986 through 1988, Isocracy was known for their wild performances where anything could happen. According to the book written about the Gilman St. Project, Isocracy was one of the main bands who brought a new sense of positive anarchy
to the punk scene
. During this time in the mid-1980s hardcore punk
was the dominant musical style in the scene. Isocracy's live shows included playing in laundromats and covering the audience with garbage and shredded paper. In this regard, Isocracy bridged hardcore punk with performance art
. Green Day benefited from Sobrante's contacts he had made in the scene prior to their formation.
"Happy Now" on The Thing That Ate Floyd
- Lookout! Records
, 1988
"Confederate Flags", "ZBHR" on Turn It Around (LP) - Very Small Records
, 1991
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
punk rock
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 from the Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
-area, formed in 1986. The band was one of the key bands in the MRR/Gilman Street
924 Gilman Street
924 Gilman Street is an all-ages, not for profit, collectively organized music club usually referred to by its fans simply as "The Gilman." It is located in the West Berkeley area of Berkeley, California about a mile and a half west of the North Berkeley BART station and a quarter-mile west of San...
project. John Kiffmeyer
John Kiffmeyer
John Kiffmeyer , was born on July 11, 1969. He was the first drummer of the punk rock/alternative rock band Green Day. He was given his nickname in reference to his hometown, El Sobrante.-Biography:...
(a.k.a. Al Sobrante), who later went on to form Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
, was the drummer for the band. The other members were Lenny Johnson (guitar), Martin Brome (bass) and Jason Beebout (vocals), who went on to form Samiam
Samiam
-Biography:Samiam was formed in late 1988 after the breakup of the Gilman club mainstay Isocracy. Their first show was in January 1989 with Christ on Parade. They released records through New Red Archives and Hopeless Records in the US and Burning Heart Records in Europe. In the mid-'90s, the band...
.
History
The group recorded an 11 song 7″ EP titled Bedtime for IsocracyBedtime For Isocracy
Bedtime for Isocracy is the first and only studio release by the American punk rock band Isocracy. It was released in January 1988 through Lookout! Records on seven-inch vinyl with picture sleeve...
, released in 1988 through Lookout! Records
Lookout! 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...
(L005). The band was later featured on the Lookout! Records' compilation, The Thing That Ate Floyd
The Thing That Ate Floyd
The Thing That Ate Floyd is a compilation album released in December 1988 by Lookout! Records. The album is a compilation of bands from the 924 Gilman St. punk rock scene. It includes bands such as Operation Ivy, No Use for a Name, Crimpshrine and The Mr...
. Additionally, Isocracy's EP tracks were re-released on (L293) Punk Rock 7″s Volume 1.
During their active years from 1986 through 1988, Isocracy was known for their wild performances where anything could happen. According to the book written about the Gilman St. Project, Isocracy was one of the main bands who brought a new sense of positive anarchy
Anarchy
Anarchy , has more than one colloquial definition. In the United States, the term "anarchy" typically is meant to refer to a society which lacks publicly recognized government or violently enforced political authority...
to the punk scene
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
. During this time in the mid-1980s 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...
was the dominant musical style in the scene. Isocracy's live shows included playing in laundromats and covering the audience with garbage and shredded paper. In this regard, Isocracy bridged hardcore punk with performance art
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
. Green Day benefited from Sobrante's contacts he had made in the scene prior to their formation.
Appearances
"Confederate Flags", "ZBHR" on Turn It Around! - Maximumrocknroll, 1987"Happy Now" on The Thing That Ate Floyd
The Thing That Ate Floyd
The Thing That Ate Floyd is a compilation album released in December 1988 by Lookout! Records. The album is a compilation of bands from the 924 Gilman St. punk rock scene. It includes bands such as Operation Ivy, No Use for a Name, Crimpshrine and The Mr...
- Lookout! Records
Lookout! 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...
, 1988
"Confederate Flags", "ZBHR" on Turn It Around (LP) - Very Small Records
Very Small Records
Very 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....
, 1991