Neighborhood Watch (band)
Encyclopedia
Neighborhood Watch is a crossover thrash metal
and punk
band from Palms, Los Angeles, California
who defined the "Venice Scene" in the '80's with bands like Suicidal Tendencies
, Beowülf
, No Mercy
and Excel
, who all played a mix of skate punk
, hardcore
, heavy metal
and thrash
. Not to be confused with the San Diego punk band, the Canadian punk band, and Gainesville, Florida indie-pop band of the same name.
, with which they played many shows, and part of the "Suicidal Scene" which was strong in Venice
in the beginning of the '80's.
The first line-up of the band featured Chris Howly-Bra (real name: Chris Howell) on vocals, Mike Jensen on guitar, John Flitcraft on bass and Dave Hutchinson on drums. Jensen soon quit to join Black Sheep which turned into Beowülf
, so he got replaced by former Symbol Six member Mark Conway
.
Managed by future Suicidal Tendencies
guitar player Jon Nelson
, the band signed on Deeder Deets Records and released their self-titled LP in 1983, which Nelson produced.
During that time, Flitcraft and Hutchinson lived in an old house with Mike Muir
of Suicidal Tendencies, who wished to include Neighborhood Watch on the Welcome to Venice
compilation he was about to release in 1985 on his own Suicidal Records. However, Flitcraft and Hutchinson had a falling out with Muir about the rent and were never included on the comp.
The band split in the mid 1980s but re-united in 1992 for an infamous reunion gig at the Anti Club. They reformed in 2006 with all original members, except Flitcraft who now plays jazz-fusion in the band Altered. Brian Fortenberry, (former Bass player for Dry Entry, Guardian and Strain 999) now takes care of the bass duties.
The band recorded two new songs for the Welcome 2 Venice compilation, due to be released in 2007 and two of their old tracks, "Creation" and "Riot", were also featured on the Farewell to Venice compilation, released in 2006 on CD by BDF RECORDS and on vinyl by WWW.PUNKRECORDS.COM.
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...
and punk
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 Palms, Los Angeles, California
Palms, Los Angeles, California
Palms is a community founded in 1886 in West Los Angeles, California, and was the oldest neighborhood annexed to the city of Los Angeles, in 1915. The 1886 tract was marketed as an agricultural and vacation community...
who defined the "Venice Scene" in the '80's with bands like Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
, Beowülf
Beowülf
This article is about the American heavy metal band. For the epic poem, see Beowulf; for other uses see Beowulf .Beowülf is a crossover thrash metal band formed Venice Beach, California in 1981 by Michael Alvarado, Dale Henderson, Mike Jensen and Paul Yamada...
, No Mercy
No Mercy (American band)
No Mercy are a thrash metal band from Venice, California, the brainchild of guitar player Mike Clark, who later played in Suicidal Tendencies.-History:...
and Excel
Excel (band)
Excel was a punk/metal fusion band from Venice, California founded in 1983 by singer Dan Clements and guitarist Adam Siegel. They were influenced by famous 70's punk rock musicians like The Police and The Sex Pistols, and heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath, Trouble, Slayer, Corrosion of...
, who all played a mix of skate punk
Skate punk
Skate punk is a sub genre of punk rock, originally a derivative of the West Coast hardcore punk scene, that is named after its popularity among skateboarders and association with skateboarding culture. Skate punk most commonly describes the sound of melodic hardcore bands from the 1990s with an...
, 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...
, heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
and 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...
. Not to be confused with the San Diego punk band, the Canadian punk band, and Gainesville, Florida indie-pop band of the same name.
Biography
Neighborhood Watch started in 1981 and were friends of Suicidal TendenciesSuicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
, with which they played many shows, and part of the "Suicidal Scene" which was strong in Venice
Venice, Los Angeles, California
Venice is a beachfront district on the Westside of Los Angeles, California, United States. It is known for its canals, beaches and circus-like Ocean Front Walk, a two-and-a-half mile pedestrian-only promenade that features performers, fortune-tellers, artists, and vendors...
in the beginning of the '80's.
The first line-up of the band featured Chris Howly-Bra (real name: Chris Howell) on vocals, Mike Jensen on guitar, John Flitcraft on bass and Dave Hutchinson on drums. Jensen soon quit to join Black Sheep which turned into Beowülf
Beowülf
This article is about the American heavy metal band. For the epic poem, see Beowulf; for other uses see Beowulf .Beowülf is a crossover thrash metal band formed Venice Beach, California in 1981 by Michael Alvarado, Dale Henderson, Mike Jensen and Paul Yamada...
, so he got replaced by former Symbol Six member Mark Conway
Mark Conway
Mark Conway is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s who at club level has played for Stanley Rangers ARLFC, Leeds, Wakefield Trinity, and Dewsbury, playing at /, i.e. number 7, and occasionally /, i.e. number 6...
.
Managed by future Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
guitar player Jon Nelson
Jon Nelson (guitarist)
Jonathan D. "Jon" Nelson is best known for playing lead guitar in the controversial punk band Suicidal Tendencies.-Early life:...
, the band signed on Deeder Deets Records and released their self-titled LP in 1983, which Nelson produced.
During that time, Flitcraft and Hutchinson lived in an old house with Mike Muir
Mike Muir
Mike Muir is the lead vocalist of the Venice skate punk bands Suicidal Tendencies Los Cycos and the funk rock band Infectious Grooves...
of Suicidal Tendencies, who wished to include Neighborhood Watch on the Welcome to Venice
Welcome to Venice
Welcome to Venice is a crossover thrash album that features local Venice Beach, California punk and metal bands. It was released in 1985 on Suicidal Records.-Album History:...
compilation he was about to release in 1985 on his own Suicidal Records. However, Flitcraft and Hutchinson had a falling out with Muir about the rent and were never included on the comp.
The band split in the mid 1980s but re-united in 1992 for an infamous reunion gig at the Anti Club. They reformed in 2006 with all original members, except Flitcraft who now plays jazz-fusion in the band Altered. Brian Fortenberry, (former Bass player for Dry Entry, Guardian and Strain 999) now takes care of the bass duties.
The band recorded two new songs for the Welcome 2 Venice compilation, due to be released in 2007 and two of their old tracks, "Creation" and "Riot", were also featured on the Farewell to Venice compilation, released in 2006 on CD by BDF RECORDS and on vinyl by WWW.PUNKRECORDS.COM.
Members
- Chris Howly-Bra - vocals
- Mark ConwayMark ConwayMark Conway is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s who at club level has played for Stanley Rangers ARLFC, Leeds, Wakefield Trinity, and Dewsbury, playing at /, i.e. number 7, and occasionally /, i.e. number 6...
- guitar - Brian Fortenberry - bass
- Dave Hutchinson - drums
Former members
- Mike Jensen - guitar (1981–1982)
- John Flitcraft - bass (1981–1985) 1992
Discography
Neighborhood Watch - Deeder Deets Records 1983Compilations
- Farewell to Venice BDF Records/punkrecords.com 2006
- Welcome 2 Venice Built on an Ounce Records 2007