Youth of Today
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2008) |
Youth of Today | |
---|---|
Better Than a Thousand | |
Members | Ray Cappo John Porcelly Walter Schreifels Sammy Siegler |
Youth of Today is an American
After the band's dissolution, vocalist
History
Youth of Today was formed in Danbury, Connecticut, in 1985 by two members of the hardcore band Violent Children, Ray Cappo (vocals) and John Porcelly (Porcell) (guitar) were aiming to start a straight edge band at a time when most old school straight edge bands had disbanded. Having difficulty finding a bassist and drummer, Ray and Porcell found help from two high school friends, Graham Phillips and Darren Pesce, who had played with Porcell in a band called The Young Republicans in the past. Youth of Today played their first show at The Anthrax on July 2, 1985.[2]
Can't Close My Eyes
In 1985, Youth of Today recorded their debut EP Can't Close My Eyes for Kevin Seconds' (singer of the popular hardcore band 7 Seconds) label Positive Force Records with additional lyrics by John L Hancock III (a.k.a. Ratboy). At the same time the band contributed five songs to the Connecticut Fun compilation album; these tracks would later be combined with the aforementioned release to make the album version of Can't Close My Eyes that is commonly recognized today.
After touring for a while both Graham and Darren left the band, and two members of New York band Straight Ahead joined Ray and John,
Break Down the Walls
A short while later, Underdog vocalist Richie Birkenhead joined the band on second guitar. With this line-up, the first Youth of Today album was recorded, entitled Break Down the Walls, and released by Wishingwell Records, the label of California straight edge bands Unity and Uniform Choice.[3] Soon after recording the album Drew was replaced by Mike "Judge" (later to be the singer, along with John Porcelly on guitar, in the band Judge).
Craig left to reform Straight Ahead (and later played in Agnostic Front and Sick of It All), and Walter Schreifels of Gorilla Biscuits joined on as the new bassist. At the end of the Break Down the Walls tour that followed the release of the LP, second guitarist Richie left the band to concentrate on singing in Underdog, and with that line-up Youth of Today appeared with two songs on the Revelation Records compilation "New York Hardcore - The Way It Is", alongside New York bands like Bold, Gorilla Biscuits, Side By Side and Sick of It All.[4]
We're Not in This Alone
At the end of 1987, Mike left the band, and
When Youth of Today split, it seemed the beginning of the end for the second straight edge wave, which had begun in 1985, and which was at its height in 1988–1990. Together with bands like Uniform Choice, Gorilla Biscuits, No For An Answer, and Chain of Strength, Youth of Today were an inspiration for hundreds of bands all over the world, who combined the message of positive thinking and straight edge with energetic and fast hardcore, as well as an inspiration for hundreds of thousands of kids to live and lead a positive drug-free life.[citation needed]
Post-breakup
Ray Cappo of Youth of Today started the
(which featured members of Gorilla Biscuits) and multiple other bands.Reunion
Aside from several one-off reunion shows, Youth of Today did a European reunion tour in 2003 with original members Ray, Porcell and Sammy. Ray's friend Ken Olden from
Band members
|
|
Discography
Albums
Year | Album name | Record label |
---|---|---|
1985 | Can't Close My Eyes | Positive Force Records (Revelation Records 1997)[7] |
1986 | Break Down the Walls | Wishing Well Records (Revelation Records 1988)[8] |
1988 | We're Not in This Alone | Caroline Records (Revelation Records 1990)[9] |
1990 | Youth of Today EP | Revelation Records |
Singles
- Can't Close My Eyes 7-inch (1985, Positive Force Records No. 4; has since been re-issued in LP or CD format on four different labels: Schism Records, Caroline Records, We Bite Records, and Revelation Records)
- Disengage 7-inch/CD (Revelation Records, 1990)
Live albums/singles
- Yesterday 7-inch (1991) (Unofficial Release)
- Take a Stand 12-inch/ LP/ CD (Lost and Found Records, 1992)
- Anarchy in Vienna LP (1989) (Unofficial)
- Live at Van Hall 1989, Amsterdam 7-inch (Commitment Records, 1989)
- Live at CBGB's 7-inch (Reality Records, 1998)
Music videos
- "No More" (1988)
Compilations
- Make It Work 7-inch
- Connecticut Fun LP (1985)
- New York City Hardcore: Together 7-inch (1987, Revelation Records)
- New York City Hardcore – The Way It Is LP (1988, Revelation Records)
- Hold Your Ground CD
- Sunday Matinee LP/ CD
- In-Flight Program CD
- Voice of the Voiceless LP/ CD
- Another Shot for Bracken LP
- A Time We'll Remember LP
- We Bite 7-inch
- We Bite 100 2×LP
- The Sound of the Streets 4×CD
- Revelation 100 2×LP/CD (Revelation Records)
See also
References
- ^ "Youth of Today - Interviews". Archived from the original on July 4, 2004. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-578-03817-9.
- ^ "Youth Of Today "Break Down The Walls"". BandToBand.com.
- ^ "Youth Of Today 'New York City Hardcore · The Way It Is' compilation". BandToBand.com.
- ^ "Getaway Rock Festival 2011 - Gävle / Gasklockorna". March 22, 2011. Archived from the original on March 22, 2011.
- ^ "Within These Walls 2012 - Arizona Music Festival". Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Can't Close My Eyes". AllMusic. Retrieved January 8, 2011.
- ^ "Break Down the Walls (Reissue)". AllMusic. Retrieved January 8, 2011.
- ^ "We're Not in This Alone". AllMusic. Retrieved January 8, 2011.