The Press were one of the first Oi!

Oi!

Oi! is a working class subgenre of punk rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The music and its associated subculture had the goal of bringing together punks, skinheads and other working-class youths ....

 bands in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Formed in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 in 1984, the outspoken anti-fascist

Anti-fascism

Anti-fascism is the opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals, such as that of the resistance movements during World War II. The related term antifa derives from Antifaschismus, which is German for anti-fascism; it refers to individuals and groups on the left of the political...

 band was associated with Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice

Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice

Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice are anti-racist skinheads who oppose neo-Nazis and other political racists, particularly if those racists identify themselves as skinheads....

, of which their singer, André Schlesinger, was an early member. Schlesinger also supported the views of the British Socialist Workers Party

Socialist Workers Party (Britain)

The Socialist Workers Party is a far left party in Britain founded by Tony Cliff. The SWP's student section has groups at a number of universities...

, and this was reflected in some of the band's lyrics. Their songs appeared on several compilation albums, as well as in a full CD collection of their recordings called The Complete Press: 1984-1994, released by Insurgence Records

Insurgence Records

Insurgence Records is a Toronto-based independent record label specializing in anti-fascist and anti-racist hardcore, Oi! and punk rock. The label is associated with the anti-racist skinhead subculture, including redskins...

 with liner notes by Garry Bushell

Garry Bushell

Garry Bushell is an English newspaper columnist, rock music journalist, television presenter, author and political activist. Bushell also sings in the Oi! band The Gonads and manages the New York City Oi! band Maninblack. Bushell's recurring themes are comedy, country and class...

. Their song "21 Guitar Salute" has been covered by Dropkick Murphys

Dropkick Murphys

Dropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....

.

Former members

• André Schlesinger: lead vocals, guitar
• J. Christopher Noone: vocals, guitar
• John Monahan: vocals, guitar
• Mike Alba: guitar
• Gideon Greenburg: bass
• James Marshall: vocals, bass
• Jordan Pontell: vocals, guitar, bass
• Pete Parneros: drums
• Bob "Dextrose" Rodrigues: vocals, drums
• Tom Hamilton: drums
• Leon the Hippy: drums
• "Baby Aqua": saxophone (one show)

Compilation appearances

• New York Beat: Hit And Run, 1986, Moon Records
  Moon Records
  Moon Records may refer to:*Moon Records Ukraine, a Ukrainian record label*Moon Ska Records, a former American record label*Moon Records , a former Canadian record label mainly for Rush...
  
   (released in Europe by Oi! Records as Skaville USA)
• Skins 'N' Punks Volume 5 (split EP with The Radicts), 1987, Oi! Records
• Oi! Skampilation Vol. #1, 1995, Radical Records
• The Best of Oi! Records, 1997, Oi! Records

External links

• Tribute to The Press
• Interview with The Press
• This is a 21 guitar salute to The Press, the very first US Oi! band. - column by Garry Bushell
  Garry Bushell
  Garry Bushell is an English newspaper columnist, rock music journalist, television presenter, author and political activist. Bushell also sings in the Oi! band The Gonads and manages the New York City Oi! band Maninblack. Bushell's recurring themes are comedy, country and class...
  
  about The Press
• Interview with Andre Schlesinger about The Press
• Interview with Andre Schlesinger that mentions The Press
• Video clip of the first SHARP benefit show in NYC circa 1987 featuring The Press
• Video clip of The Press, live circa 1992
• Scanned interview with André Schlesinger about The Press in Maximumrocknroll, #304, September 2008