Sniper (American band)
Encyclopedia
Sniper was an early, American glam punk
band that formed in New York in 1972. They were one of several bands that played at the Mercer Arts Center
, Max's Kansas City
and The Coventry, alongside the New York Dolls
and Suicide
.
Sniper is most famous for its former members. Joey Ramone
was their first singer, prior to forming the Ramones
. Ramone (Jeff Hyman) played with Sniper under the name Jeff Starship. Joey Ramone: "I used to wear this custom-made black jumpsuit, these like pink, knee-high platform boots- all kinds of rhinestones- lots of dangling belts and gloves". . Mickey Leigh: I was shocked when the band came out. Joey was the lead singer and I couldn't believe how good he was. Because he'd been sitting in my house with my acoustic guitar, writing these songs like "I Don't Care", fucking up my guitar, and suddenly he's this guy on stage who you can't take your eyes off of. He continued playing with them until early 1974, when he was replaced by Alan Turner. In 1975 they recorded their only demo, "Hots", at Record Plant Studios
. Other notable members of Sniper include Frank Infante
, who later joined Blondie
, and Bob Butani, who played with Tuff Darts
.
Sniper played regularly at Max's Kansas City, Club 82, CBGB and Mother's, as the punk scene developed. In 1975 Bob Butani left Sniper to join Tuff Darts and was replaced by Frank Infante. Later that year Sniper changed their name to Kid Blast. In 1977 Alan Turner was replaced by Michael Harrington, and Frank Infante left to join Blondie. They continued playing until 1978, when they changed the name of the band to Grand Slam. The band consisted of Harrington (vocals), Vinnie Sanchez (keyboards), and original members Danny Wray (guitars), Peter Morales (bass), and Patrick Franklyn (drums).
Grand Slam continued to play dates on the east coast and NYC, eventually recording "Stitch In Time" at the Record Plant (NYC) for the Max's Kansas City Vol.2 album. They finally disbanded in 1979. Vinnie Sanchez went on to play in various NYC clubs bands, while Peter Morales and Patrick Franklyn started the band Hunter with Bob Chabala /vocals on Click records, in London.
Glam punk
Glam Punk is a music genre that mixes elements of glam rock with protopunk or punk rock ....
band that formed in New York in 1972. They were one of several bands that played at the Mercer Arts Center
Mercer Arts Center
The Mercer Arts Center was a group of live theaters on Mercer Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, and was part of the Broadway Central Hotel until its collapse on August 3, 1973....
, Max's Kansas City
Max's Kansas City
Max's Kansas City was a nightclub and restaurant at 213 Park Avenue South, in New York City, which was a gathering spot for musicians, poets, artists and politicians in the 1960s and 1970s.-Origin of name:...
and The Coventry, alongside the New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
and Suicide
Suicide (band)
Suicide is an American electronic protopunk musical duo, intermittently active since 1970 and composed of vocalist Alan Vega and Martin Rev on synthesizers and drum machines. They are an early synthesizer/vocal musical duo....
.
Sniper is most famous for its former members. Joey Ramone
Joey Ramone
Joey Ramone was an American vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist in the punk rock band the Ramones. Joey Ramone's image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon.-Early life:Joey Ramone was born Jeffry Hyman to parents Noel and Charlotte Hyman...
was their first singer, prior to forming the Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
. Ramone (Jeff Hyman) played with Sniper under the name Jeff Starship. Joey Ramone: "I used to wear this custom-made black jumpsuit, these like pink, knee-high platform boots- all kinds of rhinestones- lots of dangling belts and gloves". . Mickey Leigh: I was shocked when the band came out. Joey was the lead singer and I couldn't believe how good he was. Because he'd been sitting in my house with my acoustic guitar, writing these songs like "I Don't Care", fucking up my guitar, and suddenly he's this guy on stage who you can't take your eyes off of. He continued playing with them until early 1974, when he was replaced by Alan Turner. In 1975 they recorded their only demo, "Hots", at Record Plant Studios
Record Plant Studios
The Record Plant was a series of three famous recording studios which were founded by Gary Kellgren and Chris Stone, beginning in New York City in 1968. The next year, Kellgren and Stone opened a second studio in Los Angeles. In 1972, the company expanded again with a third location in Sausalito,...
. Other notable members of Sniper include Frank Infante
Frank Infante
Frank Infante is an American guitarist and bassist best known as a former member of the punk/new wave band, Blondie.Prior to Blondie, he established himself playing guitar in heavy, electric blues groups such as The Elegant End and World War III. In 1975, he joined Sniper, an early, American glam...
, who later joined Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
, and Bob Butani, who played with Tuff Darts
Tuff Darts
Tuff Darts is an American punk rock band. They were one of the first bands to establish an audience at CBGB. They reached their greatest fame in the mid-late 1970s with such songs as "Slash", " Nuclear Waste" and their biggest hit single, "All For The Love of Rock and Roll." The band appeared at...
.
Sniper played regularly at Max's Kansas City, Club 82, CBGB and Mother's, as the punk scene developed. In 1975 Bob Butani left Sniper to join Tuff Darts and was replaced by Frank Infante. Later that year Sniper changed their name to Kid Blast. In 1977 Alan Turner was replaced by Michael Harrington, and Frank Infante left to join Blondie. They continued playing until 1978, when they changed the name of the band to Grand Slam. The band consisted of Harrington (vocals), Vinnie Sanchez (keyboards), and original members Danny Wray (guitars), Peter Morales (bass), and Patrick Franklyn (drums).
Grand Slam continued to play dates on the east coast and NYC, eventually recording "Stitch In Time" at the Record Plant (NYC) for the Max's Kansas City Vol.2 album. They finally disbanded in 1979. Vinnie Sanchez went on to play in various NYC clubs bands, while Peter Morales and Patrick Franklyn started the band Hunter with Bob Chabala /vocals on Click records, in London.