Negative Approach
Negative Approach | |
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Harold Richardson Ron Sakowski | |
Past members | Pete Zelewski Zuheir Fakhoury Rob McCulloch Graham McCulloch Kelly Dermody Dave Mike McCabe |
Negative Approach is an American
Biography
Main career (1981–1983)
Negative Approach was formed in August 1981 in Detroit by Brannon and Pete Zelewski, supposedly after seeing a Black Flag/Necros show. The first NA lineup consisted of Brannon on vocals, Rob McCulloch on guitar, Pete Zelewski on bass and Zuheir Fakhoury on drums. Not long after, Zelewski left the band to form the Allied and was replaced by McCulloch's brother Graham.[2] Fakhoury was later replaced by Chris "Opie" Moore. The lineup of Brannon/McCulloch/McCulloch/Moore would remain unchanged until NA disbanded.
NA's first gig was in the basement of Necros drummer Todd Swalla's mother's home. Soon after, they recorded a demo, and followed that up with an appearance on the Process of Elimination compilation 7-inch EP, released on Meatmen frontman Tesco Vee's fledgling Touch and Go label, named after his fanzine of the same name. The comp also featured the Meatmen and Necros, among others. NA, the Meatmen and Necros then embarked on the Process of Elimination tour. Although this "tour" consisted of a mere three shows (Boston, New York City and Washington), it is cited as being a key event in the early spread of hardcore.
The first proper Negative Approach studio release came in 1982 with their self-titled 7-inch EP, also on Touch and Go. It contained "Can't Tell No One," "Ready to Fight" and "Nothing", the latter considered by many to be the quintessential NA song.[2]
The following year saw the release of the Tied Down album, also venerated as a hardcore classic.[2]
The classic lineup fell apart in 1983. Rob McCulloch claims that the band had grown weary of the group's reputation for writing negative lyrics but that Brannon was not comfortable writing differently.[5] Also, McCulloch stated that Brannon's involvement with Larissa Stolarchuk from L-Seven was another source of tension for the group.[6] The band regrouped long enough to record the Tied Down album, then split for good.[6]
Afterwards, Brannon assembled a new lineup with members Kelly Dermody (guitar), Dave (bass) and Mike McCabe (drums). This version of Negative Approach played a series of live shows throughout 1984 which featured some new songs, such as "Obsession", "Tunnel Vision", "Kiss Me Kill Me" and a cover of "I Got a Right" by
Post-breakup (1983–2006)
Brannon went on to front the punk blues band Laughing Hyenas with his girlfriend Stolarchuk (then calling herself "Larissa Strickland"),[7] and sings for Easy Action. In 2008, Brannon recorded vocals for two songs on Vitamin X's album Full Scale Assault, recorded by Steve Albini.
Moore moved out from behind the drums to front alt-rock act Crossed Wire along with Rob McCulloch. After Crossed Wire, McCulloch attended college and has not pursued a career in music, although he maintains a home recording studio. Moore later embarked on a respected solo career as a roots-oriented singer and songwriter. His band Moore & Sons, featuring Lambchop member Dennis Cronin, signed to the UK's Triumphant Sounds/Drawing Room label.
Graham McCulloch moved to Washington, DC and joined the Meatmen, before forming Earth 18 with Jon "Bubba" Dupree (formerly of Void). Earth 18 released several albums and toured the US, opening for Nitzer Ebb. After Earth 18 disbanded, McCulloch played for several years in Mother May I.
Reunion (2006–present)
In May 2006, it was announced that Brannon and Moore would play a Negative Approach reunion show of sorts, for Touch and Go's 25th anniversary show on September 9, 2006,
Negative Approach closed out the No Fun Fest in Brooklyn, New York on May 20, 2007. Thurston Moore played guitar on two songs at the start of their set.
The band did a brief reunion tour in the northeast United States in April 2008, performing in Brooklyn and Providence. They also played the wedding of Anal Cunt founder Seth Putnam. The band did a lengthier tour of Europe in June 2008, and later that year, a concert in Los Angeles. In 2009, they played a string of shows in the U.S.
In 2010, Brannon discovered several unreleased Negative Approach recordings, including the lost 1984 sessions of unreleased studio tracks. After meeting Brannon, Curtis Casella of Taang! Records offered to release the recordings, which include "Friends of No One", "Cargo Cult" "Kiss Me Kill Me", "Obsession", "Genocide" and a studio version of "I Got a Right". The tapes were brought to Jim Diamond to restore and preserve. In November 2011, Taang! released the recordings on the Nothing Will Stand in Our Way album, around the time that the band played the Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin with former Swirlies drummer Anthony DeLuca manning the kit in place of Moore. This lineup toured extensively throughout 2012 including a month in the U.S. with Off! and a month in Europe with Punch.
Influences and style
Negative Approach's musical style was based on Detroit proto-punk icons the Stooges.[4] Of the Stooges' guitarist Ron Asheton, John Brannon said, "So much of what NA stands for; our sound and lyrics were based on the music which he helped to create."
NA were also influenced by high-octane
Band members
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Discography
Studio albums
- Tied Down (1983, Touch and Go Records)
EPs
- Negative Approach 7-inch/CD EP (1982, Touch and Go Records)
- Friends of No One (recorded 1984) 7-inch/CD EP (2010, Taang! Records)
Demos
- 1st Demo (May 1981)
- Lost Cause Demo (August 1981)
- EP Demo First Version (late 1981/early 1982)
- Tied Down Demo (aka Rice City Demo) (June 1983)
Compilation albums
- Total Recall (1992, Touch and Go)
- Ready to Fight: Demos, Live and Unreleased 1981-83 (2005, Reptilian)
- Nothing Will Stand in Our Way (2011, Taang! Records)
Videos
- Fair Warning, Vol. 1 (2006)
- Fair Warning, Vol. 2 (2007)
- Can't Tell No One (2008)
Other appearances
- "Lost Cause" on Process of Elimination 7-inch EP (1981, Touch and Go Records)
- "Can't Tell No One" on Reagan Regime Review (1992, Selfless)
- "Sick of Talk" on Amphetamine Reptile)
- "Borstal Breakout" on Bash 13 10-inch split EP (2013, Amphetamine Reptile)
References
- ^ "Negative Approach | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Kantor, Matthew Isaac (2008). "Negative Approach". Allmusic (Zvents). Archived from the original on 2012-10-12.
- ^ a b Rettman, Tony (2008). "The Detroit hardcore scene". Swindle (issue 12). Archived from the original on 2007-10-25.
- ^ a b JC, Sammy (August 27, 2006). "F Yeah Fest Preview: An Interview with John Brannon of Negative Approach". The Set List. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008.
- ^ Arsehole, Stuart (2000). "Negative Approach Interview from Game of the Arseholes No. 4". KILL FROM THE HEART. Archived from the original on 2012-08-06.
- ^ a b c Rettman, Tony (2007). "The Detroit hardcore scene". SWINDLE Magazine (Issue 12). Archived from the original on October 25, 2007.
- ^ Christe, Ian; Ira Robbins (1995). "LAUGHING HYENAS". Trouser Press.
- ^ Hay, Edwina (September 12, 2006). "Touch & Go 25th Anniversary Block Party, Day Two". BrooklynVegan.
- ^ BBG (May 12, 2010). "Tesco Vee, Negative Approach & others playing Detroit hardcore book release shows & other dates". BrooklynVegan (a member of Spin Music).
- ^ Jackman, Michael (July 28, 2010). "Teenage wasteland: Detroit's first-wave hardcore finally gets its due". Detroit Metro Times. Archived from the original on 2016-10-22.