Only Living Witness
Encyclopedia
Only Living Witness was an American
metal
/ hardcore
band.
, Massachusetts
, by Jonah Jenkins
(vocals) and Eric Stevenson (drums, ex-Formicide). Eric's brother Kevin Stevenson (guitar) and former Formicide bandmate Roy Costa (bass) completed the line-up. In 1991, Kevin Stevenson and Costa were replaced by Craig Silverman and Chris Crowley. Kevin Stevenson and Costa went on to form The Shods
.
Only Living Witness released a few demos before being signed by Century Media Records
. Their debut album
, Prone Mortal Form was released in 1993. The band performed concerts in fourteen countries including Sweden, England, France, Canada, Italy, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. In 1996 their follow-up CD Innocents was released, but the band had already split up.
Only Living Witness briefly reformed in 2008 for four reunion shows: 14 June and 21 June at The Middle East in Cambridge, Massachusetts
, 22 August in Clinton, Massachusetts
, and the final show on 30 August in Eindhoven, Netherlands
. Jenkins went on to perform the vocal duties in Miltown
, Milligram
and Raw Radar War
. Silverman now plays guitar in Slapshot and Blood for Blood (touring guitarist).
Eric Stevenson, main songwriter and drummer, died on August 9, 2011, at the age of 43.
Past members
1992 : Prone Mortal Form demo (audio cassette)
1995
Have contributed with the track Bad Blood
1993
Have contributed with the track Twitching Tongues
1994
Have contributed with the track Too Far Down
1995
Have contributed with the track Deed´s Pride
Have contributed with the track Bad Blood
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
/ 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...
band.
Career
The band was formed in 1989 in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, by Jonah Jenkins
Jonah Jenkins
Jonah Jenkins is/was the vocalist in the following bands:* Only Living Witness* Miltown* Milligram* Raw Radar War-Biography:Born Jonah Moore, October 6, 1970, Jonah Jay Jenkins is best known for being the vocalist for the American hardcore/metal/rock band Only Living Witness.He formed Only Living...
(vocals) and Eric Stevenson (drums, ex-Formicide). Eric's brother Kevin Stevenson (guitar) and former Formicide bandmate Roy Costa (bass) completed the line-up. In 1991, Kevin Stevenson and Costa were replaced by Craig Silverman and Chris Crowley. Kevin Stevenson and Costa went on to form The Shods
The Shods
The Shods are a punk band from Lowell, Massachusetts who have released five albums and an EP to date. The Shods have a loyal regional following, and remain well known in their home state.-Origins:...
.
Only Living Witness released a few demos before being signed by Century Media Records
Century Media Records
Century Media Records is an Independent record label with offices in the United States, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom.- Background :...
. Their debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Prone Mortal Form was released in 1993. The band performed concerts in fourteen countries including Sweden, England, France, Canada, Italy, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. In 1996 their follow-up CD Innocents was released, but the band had already split up.
Only Living Witness briefly reformed in 2008 for four reunion shows: 14 June and 21 June at The Middle East in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, 22 August in Clinton, Massachusetts
Clinton, Massachusetts
Clinton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,606 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Clinton, please see the article Clinton , Massachusetts....
, and the final show on 30 August in Eindhoven, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Jenkins went on to perform the vocal duties in Miltown
Miltown (band)
* They Came From Massachusetts compilation Contribution with track "No Matter" - 2:531998* Tales of Never Letting Go unreleased 1999* Up The Dosage compilation...
, Milligram
Milligram (band)
2002-Compilation Appearances:2001* Music With Attitude: Volume 31Have contributed with track "Not Okay" - 4:012002* Sucking the 70sHave contributed with track "Rumblin' Man" a cover song of the band Cactus - 3:47-External links:***...
and Raw Radar War
Raw Radar War
Raw Radar War is an American punk/sludge/doom metal from Boston.-Biography:Raw Radar War, formerly called Septic Youth Command, was formed by Jonah Jenkins in 2002, after the Milligram's disbanding...
. Silverman now plays guitar in Slapshot and Blood for Blood (touring guitarist).
Eric Stevenson, main songwriter and drummer, died on August 9, 2011, at the age of 43.
Band members
- Jonah JenkinsJonah JenkinsJonah Jenkins is/was the vocalist in the following bands:* Only Living Witness* Miltown* Milligram* Raw Radar War-Biography:Born Jonah Moore, October 6, 1970, Jonah Jay Jenkins is best known for being the vocalist for the American hardcore/metal/rock band Only Living Witness.He formed Only Living...
- vocals - Eric Stevenson - drums
- Craig Silverman (1989-1991) - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Chris Crowley (1989-1991) - Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Past members
- Kevin Stevenson (1991-1995) - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Roy Costa (1991-1995) - Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Discography
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1993 | Prone Mortal Form Prone Mortal Form European digipak bonus tracksTrack listing-Audio cassette version:...
|
| 1996 | Innocents Innocents (album) -Audio cassette version:... Century Media Records Century Media Records is an Independent record label with offices in the United States, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom.- Background :... |
| 2006 | Prone Mortal Form/Innocents Prone Mortal Form/Innocents 2006 bonus tracks* Tracks 11-15 taken from the 1992's Prone Mortal Form .-Disc 2 - Innocents:2006 bonus tracks* Track 11 recorded during the "Innocents" sessions. Tracks 12 & 13 taken from the Freaklaw 7" EP. Tracks 14, 15, 16 taken from the "Innocents" pre-production demo.-Vinyl version:Disc 1 -... (re-released) Century Media Records Century Media Records is an Independent record label with offices in the United States, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom.- Background :... (CD re-issue) Reflections Records Reflections Records is a primarily hardcore record label based in Arnhem, The Netherlands. It started in 1994 as a fanzine that in 1998 added a 7-inch compilation to one issue that proved successful and sparked a change to becoming a record label. At present, Reflections releases albums in a number... (Vinyl re-issue) |
Demos
1990 : Self-titled demo (audio cassette)1992 : Prone Mortal Form demo (audio cassette)
Singles
1991- Complex Man 7" limited press of 1000 copies (Look Again Records)
1995
- Freaklaw 7" limited press of 3000 copies (Chainsaw Safety Records)
Compilation Appearances
1991- Planned Obsolescence compilation (RRRecordsRRRecordsRRRecords is a used and new record shop. RRRecords is distinguished as being the first American record label to specifically publish underground noise music in the early 1980s, and published the first American vinyl by Merzbow, Masonna, The Hanatarash, Violent Onsen Geisha, and many more artists...
)
Have contributed with the track Bad Blood
1993
- East Coast Assault compilation (Too Damn Hype Records)
Have contributed with the track Twitching Tongues
1994
- Case Closed?: An International Compilation of Husker Du Cover Songs (Snoop Records)
Have contributed with the track Too Far Down
1995
- Bloodlines: The Seeds of Rebellion compilation (Century Media RecordsCentury Media RecordsCentury Media Records is an Independent record label with offices in the United States, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom.- Background :...
)
Have contributed with the track Deed´s Pride
- Boston Hardcore '89-'91 (Taang! RecordsTaang! RecordsTaang! Records is an American independent record label founded by Curtis Casella in Boston, Massachusetts which is currently based in San Diego...
)
Have contributed with the track Bad Blood