Strike Under
Encyclopedia
Strike Under was an influential Chicago
punk rock
band of the early 1980s. It was started by Steve Bjorklund
(vocals, guitar) after the demise of The Rabbits. The principal musicians, besides Bjorklund, were his brother Chris (guitar), Pierre Kezdy (bass), and Bob Furem (drums).
Strike Under was founded in 1979 or 1980. Although American punk is generally considered to have started four or five years earlier, punk and New Wave music
arrived in Chicago far later than on either coast, so that Strike Under is correctly still considered an "early" Chicago punk band. They can also be seen as one of the first and most important bands of the "second wave" of Chicago punk, as it turned toward a more hardcore
scene and sound, and as an archetype of Chicago hardcore
.
In 1981, Strike Under released a 5-song 12" EP record, Immediate Action, notable as the first release by the new label Wax Trax Records
(the record is commonly known as WAX 001, although the actual catalog number is Wax Trax 103015X). The album cover
resembled a book of matches (the band's name derives from the phrase commonly seen on cheap matchbooks). Songs included "Sunday Night Disorientation", "Context", "Closing In", "Elephant's Graveyard" (which later appeared on the Wax Trax Best of boxed set
), and the title track. Immediate Action received mixed reviews; however, as one of the first actual recordings by a local punk outfit in the Windy City, looms large in the memory of denizens of the early Chicago punk scene, and has been called an "integral document to the history of punk rock in Chicago".
Strike Under, besides releasing its own record, played out at clubs such as O'Banion's, and also appeared on the 1981 Busted at Oz LP , which is usually viewed as an historic document of the second wave of Chicago punk, recorded at the club Oz before it closed down.
Strike Under broke up in late 1981. Steve Bjorklund briefly formed another Chicago punk band, Terminal Beach, then ultimately relocated to Minneapolis to pursue playing and recording with various punk and industrial music
bands, including Breaking Circus
. The other three members formed Trial By Fire, which played throughout Chicago in 1982. After Trial By Fire broke up, Pierre Kezdy went on to play with Naked Raygun
and Pegboy
. Chris Bjorklund played first with Bloodsport and then with The Effigies
during the mid and late 1980s, the latter being another leading 1980s Chicago hardcore band who happened to be fronted by Pierre Kezdy's brother, John Kezdy.
Strike Under was profiled in the 2007 documentary You Weren't There. The film featured interviews with both Bjorklund brothers and Pierre Kezdy.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
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 of the early 1980s. It was started by Steve Bjorklund
Steve Bjorklund
Steve Bjorklund a/k/a Steve Björklund a/k/a Steffan Bjorklund was born ca. 1960 in Chicago, Illinois. He was an early figure in the first punk rock music scene in Chicago. He briefly attended Roycemore School in Evanston, Illinois...
(vocals, guitar) after the demise of The Rabbits. The principal musicians, besides Bjorklund, were his brother Chris (guitar), Pierre Kezdy (bass), and Bob Furem (drums).
Strike Under was founded in 1979 or 1980. Although American punk is generally considered to have started four or five years earlier, punk and New Wave music
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
arrived in Chicago far later than on either coast, so that Strike Under is correctly still considered an "early" Chicago punk band. They can also be seen as one of the first and most important bands of the "second wave" of Chicago punk, as it turned toward a more 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...
scene and sound, and as an archetype of Chicago hardcore
Chicago hardcore
Chicago developed a hardcore punk scene in the early 1980s. Chicago Hardcore is now characterized by fast, hardcore punk rock with familiar sounds to Boston, New York, and Los Angeles hardcore....
.
In 1981, Strike Under released a 5-song 12" EP record, Immediate Action, notable as the first release by the new label Wax Trax Records
Wax Trax! Records
Wax Trax! Records was an independent record label in the United States. Wax Trax! began as a record shop in Denver, Colorado opened by Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher. They sold the store in 1978 and, in November of that year, opened a new one under the same name at 2449 North Lincoln Avenue in...
(the record is commonly known as WAX 001, although the actual catalog number is Wax Trax 103015X). The album cover
Album cover
An album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially released audio recording product, or album. The term can refer to either the printed cardboard covers typically used to package sets of 10" and 12" 78 rpm records, single and sets of 12" LPs, sets of 45 rpm records , or the front-facing...
resembled a book of matches (the band's name derives from the phrase commonly seen on cheap matchbooks). Songs included "Sunday Night Disorientation", "Context", "Closing In", "Elephant's Graveyard" (which later appeared on the Wax Trax Best of boxed set
Boxed set
A box set is a compilation of various musical recordings, films, television programs, or other collection of related items that are contained in a box.-Music box sets:...
), and the title track. Immediate Action received mixed reviews; however, as one of the first actual recordings by a local punk outfit in the Windy City, looms large in the memory of denizens of the early Chicago punk scene, and has been called an "integral document to the history of punk rock in Chicago".
Strike Under, besides releasing its own record, played out at clubs such as O'Banion's, and also appeared on the 1981 Busted at Oz LP , which is usually viewed as an historic document of the second wave of Chicago punk, recorded at the club Oz before it closed down.
Strike Under broke up in late 1981. Steve Bjorklund briefly formed another Chicago punk band, Terminal Beach, then ultimately relocated to Minneapolis to pursue playing and recording with various punk and industrial music
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
bands, including Breaking Circus
Breaking Circus
Breaking Circus was a postpunk band from the 1980s, based in Chicago and later Minneapolis, led by guitarist and vocalist Steve Björklund.-History:...
. The other three members formed Trial By Fire, which played throughout Chicago in 1982. After Trial By Fire broke up, Pierre Kezdy went on to play with Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun is a Chicago-based punk rock group. Initially active from 1980 to about 1992, Naked Raygun had several short-lived reunions afterwards and a full-time reformation in 2006....
and Pegboy
Pegboy
Pegboy is an American punk band from Chicago, Illinois with a relatively large cult following. They were founded in 1990 by John Haggerty , along with his brother Joe Haggerty , Larry Damore , and Steve Saylors...
. Chris Bjorklund played first with Bloodsport and then with The Effigies
The Effigies
The Effigies is an early post-hardcore group from Chicago. The band, first formed in 1980, was active for approximately a decade, undergoing multiple personnel changes, with frontman John Kezdy the only constant, before disbanding in 1990 . The band released 5 LPs and several EPs, most on...
during the mid and late 1980s, the latter being another leading 1980s Chicago hardcore band who happened to be fronted by Pierre Kezdy's brother, John Kezdy.
Strike Under was profiled in the 2007 documentary You Weren't There. The film featured interviews with both Bjorklund brothers and Pierre Kezdy.
Compilation Appearances
- "Fucking Uniforms" & "Anarchy Song" on the Busted At Oz compilation LP (Autumn Records, 1981)
- "Elephant's Graveyard" on the Black Box - Wax Trax! Records: The First 13 Years CD box set (Wax Trax! Records, 1994)
- "Elephant's Graveyard" on the You Weren't There: A History Of Chicago Punk 1977-1983 soundtrack LP (Factory 25 Records, 2009)