Vic Bondi
Encyclopedia
Vic Bondi is a singer/songwriter and one of the founding members of political Chicago punk band called Articles of Faith
. Bondi was originally a protest singer with decidedly leftist views. He went on to form Alloy, and Jones Very after AoF's demise. At the time of AoF's original breakup Bondi was working as a history instructor at the University of Massachusetts
. Bondi's subsequent day jobs included working on Microsoft
's Encarta
as managing editor of the Encarta Interactive English Learning edition (Bondi's comments on this fairly ironic form of employment can be found here). Bondi resurfaced with another politically charged band, Report Suspicious Activity, in 2006, and was featured prominently in the documentaries "American Hardcore
" and "You Weren't There".
in DeKalb, Illinois
where he majored in history.
in the early 1980s. Combining thrash, reggae, and noise, the group was notable for its political lyrics, three-guitar attack, and sponsorship of the Chicago
scene. AoF released two EPs (What We Want is Free and Wait) and two LPs (Give Thanks and In This Life, both produced by Bob Mould
, and toured North America many times from 1983-1985. The group disbanded in 1985. Alternative Tentacles
Records released the complete discography of the band in 2002. All the original members of the band for a brief European tour in 1991. They have not played together since but will reunite to perform at Riot Fest in Chicago in the fall of 2010. A new EP is also being prepared for release on Alternative Tentacles.
and Darren Zentek.
Vic has also played with Tom Morello
of Rage Against the Machine
in a project called Weatherman.
Vic Bondi is currently performing with J. Robbins
of Channels, Jawbox
, and Burning Airlines
, Darren Zentek from Kerosene 454
/Oswego
/Channels, and Erik Denno from Kerosene 454
in a project called Report Suspicious Activity.
Compilation and soundtrack appearances
Articles of Faith (Band)
Articles of Faith were a Chicago-based hardcore punk band notable for songwriting in a class above most of their contemporaries . The band's later work, the posthumous In This Life LP in particular, either founds or foreshadows the emo sound...
. Bondi was originally a protest singer with decidedly leftist views. He went on to form Alloy, and Jones Very after AoF's demise. At the time of AoF's original breakup Bondi was working as a history instructor at the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
. Bondi's subsequent day jobs included working on Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
's Encarta
Encarta
Microsoft Encarta was a digital multimedia encyclopedia published by Microsoft Corporation from 1993 to 2009. , the complete English version, Encarta Premium, consisted of more than 62,000 articles, numerous photos and illustrations, music clips, videos, interactive contents, timelines, maps and...
as managing editor of the Encarta Interactive English Learning edition (Bondi's comments on this fairly ironic form of employment can be found here). Bondi resurfaced with another politically charged band, Report Suspicious Activity, in 2006, and was featured prominently in the documentaries "American Hardcore
American Hardcore (film)
American Hardcore is a documentary directed by Paul Rachman and written by Steven Blush. It is based on the book American Hardcore: A Tribal History also written by Blush. It was released on September 22, 2006 on a limited basis...
" and "You Weren't There".
Early life
Bondi was the son of a US Navy captain and his family moved frequently when he was young: by his own count, he moved to new homes twenty-two times before the age of eighteen. He attended Northern Illinois UniversityNorthern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
in DeKalb, Illinois
DeKalb, Illinois
DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 43,862 at the 2010 census, up from 39,018 at the 2000 census. The city is named after decorated German war hero Johann De Kalb, who died during the American Revolutionary War....
where he majored in history.
Articles of Faith
Bondi founded Articles of FaithArticles of Faith (Band)
Articles of Faith were a Chicago-based hardcore punk band notable for songwriting in a class above most of their contemporaries . The band's later work, the posthumous In This Life LP in particular, either founds or foreshadows the emo sound...
in the early 1980s. Combining thrash, reggae, and noise, the group was notable for its political lyrics, three-guitar attack, and sponsorship of the Chicago
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...
scene. AoF released two EPs (What We Want is Free and Wait) and two LPs (Give Thanks and In This Life, both produced by Bob Mould
Bob Mould
Robert Arthur "Bob" Mould is an American musician, principally known for his work as guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s.-Early life:...
, and toured North America many times from 1983-1985. The group disbanded in 1985. Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
Records released the complete discography of the band in 2002. All the original members of the band for a brief European tour in 1991. They have not played together since but will reunite to perform at Riot Fest in Chicago in the fall of 2010. A new EP is also being prepared for release on Alternative Tentacles.
Other projects
Bondi was also the lead singer and guitarist of Jones Very and Alloy. Bondi's newest project is Report Suspicious Activity which also features J. RobbinsJ. Robbins
James Robbins is an American rock music artist. He began his career as a bassist for Government Issue, and has also led four of his own bands: Jawbox, Rollkicker Laydown, Burning Airlines, and Channels. He was a touring bassist for Scream and played bass on the debut 7" from Jack Potential, which...
and Darren Zentek.
Vic has also played with Tom Morello
Tom Morello
Thomas Baptiste "Tom" Morello is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist best known for his tenure with the bands Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, his acoustic solo act The Nightwatchman, and his newest group, Street Sweeper Social Club...
of Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
in a project called Weatherman.
Vic Bondi is currently performing with J. Robbins
J. Robbins
James Robbins is an American rock music artist. He began his career as a bassist for Government Issue, and has also led four of his own bands: Jawbox, Rollkicker Laydown, Burning Airlines, and Channels. He was a touring bassist for Scream and played bass on the debut 7" from Jack Potential, which...
of Channels, Jawbox
Jawbox
Jawbox was an alternative rock band from Washington, D.C., U.S.. Its original members were J. Robbins , Kim Coletta and Adam Wade...
, and Burning Airlines
Burning Airlines
Burning Airlines were an American rock band from Washington, D.C.. J. Robbins and Bill Barbot of Jawbox formed the band with Peter Moffett, formerly of Government Issue...
, Darren Zentek from Kerosene 454
Kerosene 454
Kerosene 454 was a punk rock band from Washington, D.C.. They formed in 1992. The core of the group, brothers John and Jim Wall along with Erik Denno, went through a number of drummers before hooking up with Darren Zentek in time to record their 1st LP, Situation At Hand...
/Oswego
Oswego
Oswego is a word from the Iroquois language, meaning "The Outpouring". The word may refer to:-Place names:In the United States:*Oswego, Illinois, a village in Kendall County*Oswego, Indiana, an unincorporated place in Kosciusko County...
/Channels, and Erik Denno from Kerosene 454
Kerosene 454
Kerosene 454 was a punk rock band from Washington, D.C.. They formed in 1992. The core of the group, brothers John and Jim Wall along with Erik Denno, went through a number of drummers before hooking up with Darren Zentek in time to record their 1st LP, Situation At Hand...
in a project called Report Suspicious Activity.
With Articles of Faith
- What We Want is Free EP (Affirmation, 1982)
- Wait EP (Affirmation, 1983)
- Give Thanks (Reflex, 1984)
- In This Life (Lone Wolf, 1985)
- Core (Bitzcore, 1991)
- Your Choice Live Series 022Your Choice Live Series 022Your Choice Live Series 022 is an album by Articles of Faith . It was recorded live at "Oberhaus" in Alzey/ Germany by Rock City Studios in Udenheim/ Germany the 31st of March 1992 and produced by Tobby Holzinger.-Personnel:*Articles of Faith...
(Your Choice RecordsYour Choice RecordsYour Choice Records was a German independent record label founded in 1988 by producer Tobby Holzinger. The label specialized in independent punk music, including live releases of German and other international acts...
, 1994) - Complete, Vol. One (Alternative Tentacles, 2004)
- Complete, Vol. Two (Alternative Tentacles, 2004)
Compilation and soundtrack appearances
- American Hardcore - The History Of American Punk Rock 1980-1986American Hardcore (film)American Hardcore is a documentary directed by Paul Rachman and written by Steven Blush. It is based on the book American Hardcore: A Tribal History also written by Blush. It was released on September 22, 2006 on a limited basis...
soundtrack (2006)
With Jones Very
- Words and Days (Hawker/Roadrunner, 1989)
- Trains of Thought EP (Jade Tree RecordsJade TreeJade tree may refer to:*the jade plant, Crassula ovata*the dwarf jade plant, Portulacaria afra*Jade Tree...
, 1991) - Radio Wave (Bitzcore, 1991)
- New Life For Lies (Jade Tree, 1992)
With Alloy
- Eliminate (Bitzcore, 1992)
- Alloy (Engine, 1993)
- Paper Thin Front (Engine, 1994)
With Report Suspicious Activity
- Report Suspicious Activity (Alternative Tentacles, 2005)
- DreamlandDreamland-Amusement parks:* Dreamland at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York* Dreamland * Dreamland Margate, in Kent, UK* Nara Dreamland, near Nara, Japan* Yokohama Dreamland, in Yokohama, Japan...
(Underground Communiqué, 2006) - Destroy All Evidence (Alternative Tentacles, 2008)