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Judge | |
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| Origin | New York City |
| Genres | Hardcore punk, [1] heavy hardcore [2] |
| Years active | 1987–1991, 2013–present |
| Labels | Revelation, Schism |
| Members | Mike Ferraro John Porcell Sammy Siegler Charlie Garriga Matt Pincus |
| Past members | Luke Abbey Jimmy Yu Lars Weiss Ryan Hoffman |
Judge is a New York hardcore band formed in 1987 by Youth of Today guitarist John "Porcell" Porcelly and former Youth of Today drummer Mike "Judge" Ferraro.
Their first release was a 7-inch EP on Porcell's label Schism (which he ran along with Side by Side/Gorilla Biscuits guitar player Alex Brown) entitled New York Crew . The record featured five songs, one of which was a cover of "Warriors" by the British oi!/punk band Blitz. On this recording, the band was merely a two-piece, featuring Porcelly on bass and guitar, and Ferraro on vocals and drums. But with the addition of bass-player Jimmy Yu (of Mike's former band Death Before Dishonor, which eventually evolved into Supertouch) and drummer "Lukey" Luke Abbey (Warzone/Gorilla Biscuits), they got together a fully functional live line-up.
The band received much criticism due to their militant straight edge lyrics, especially from fanzines like San Francisco's Maximum Rock'N'Roll. The militant lyrics were a conscious move on the band's part, as they were sick of seeing bands like Youth of Today, who in reality had a very positive message, get slagged for being too militant. So they decided to give the nay-sayers exactly what they wanted – the most militant Straight Edge band imaginable. Mike Ferraro has later on admitted that provocation was an important aim for the band.
Judge was not just heavy in message, the music had very metal-influenced riffing, but remained close to its hardcore roots, without going all out metal, such as bands like Agnostic Front and D.R.I.
With a new line-up of Sammy Siegler (Side by Side/Youth of Today/Project X etc.) on drums and Matt Pincus on bass, the band proceeded to record their full-length LP Bringin' It Down for Revelation Records at Chung King Studios in New York City. The recording was finished, but the band were so unhappy with the result that they decided to scrap it and re-record it at Normandy Sound in Rhode Island, where the Cro-Mags had recorded their Best Wishes album. Revelation did however put out a limited pressing of the original recording, fittingly titled Chung King Can Suck It . It was given to people who had pre-ordered the record, and with only 110 copies pressed (all on white vinyl), it is one of the most sought-after hardcore records in existence, going for as much as $6,600 on online auction sites such as eBay. [3] Eventually, Bringin' It Down was released in 1989. Judge continued touring up until 1991, and even released another 7-inch EP, There Will Be Quiet, featuring "The Storm" and "Forget This Time" (the CD-version also contains a cover version of "When the Levee Breaks", originally by Led Zeppelin).
In May 2013, Judge reunited and played two shows in New York City. In 2014 and 2015, the band continued to play shows in United States as well as in South America and Europe.
John Porcelly went on to tour and record with Hare Krishna hardcore band Shelter (featuring Ray Cappo of Youth of Today, as well as a revolving line-up of more and less well-known hardcore musicians, including Tom Capone of Bold and Quicksand, and Vic DiCara of Beyond, Inside Out, and 108). Porcelly later started the bands Never Surrender and Last of the Famous, and ran a record label called Fight Fire with Fire and the website TrueTillDeath.com, but all these projects seem to be either scrapped or inactive. He played with the reunited Bold in 2005–06, and a book chronicling all issues of his fanzine Schism was also released in late 2005.
Mike Ferraro (musician) (not to be confused with television and filmmaker Mike Judge) formed the band Mike Judge & Old Smoke with Judge roadie Todd Schwartz, a band playing Neil Young-inspired acoustic as well as guitar driven music. They released a 12-inch "Sights on Revelation Records in 1993. In his free time, Ferraro now raises chickens on a family farm in West Virginia, despite the band's once militant Straight Edge message.
Sammy Siegler played in several late 1980s/early 1990s hardcore bands, either regularly or as a replacement. In the mid-late 1990s he recorded and toured with the band CIV, featuring Anthony Civarelli and Arthur Smilios of Gorilla Biscuits. He has also appeared in Shelter, and major label rock band Rival Schools, featuring Walter Schreifels (also of Gorilla Biscuits, as well as Quicksand and several other bands) He recorded Glassjaw first full-length. In 2005 he joined Limp Bizkit as temporary replacement for drummer John Otto.
Matt Pincus is the Founder and former CEO of Songs Music Publishing which, until its sale in 2017, was the leading contemporary independent music publisher in the United States. SONGS clients included The Weeknd, Lorde, Diplo, DJ Mustard, and many other songwriters in all genres of music. In 2017, SONGS was acquired by Kobalt Music Publishing.
Jimmy Yu became a Chan/Zen Buddhist monk in 1991 under the name Guogu, and now teaches Buddhism and meditation under the direction of Chan/Zen Master Sheng Yen. Yu is currently an Assistant Professor of Religion at Florida State University. Yu received his Ph.D. from Princeton University's Department of Religion in 2008. Yu teaches courses in East Asian religious traditions, specializing in Chinese and Japanese Buddhism and late imperial Chinese cultural history. His research interests include the cultural history of the body, Buddhist monasticism, Chan/Zen Buddhism, and popular religions within the broader context of fifteenth to seventeenth centuries China. Here is a 2008 Double Cross Hardcore fanzine interview with Jimmy Yu in which he talks about growing up in the hardcore scene.
Revelation Records is an independent record label focusing originally and primarily on hardcore punk. The label is known for releases by bands such as Youth of Today, Warzone, Sick of It All, Quicksand, Side By Side, Chain of Strength, Shelter, Judge, No for an Answer, Gorilla Biscuits, and End of a Year.
CIV was an American punk rock band from New York City. The band is named after its vocalist, Anthony Civarelli. Three of the band's members were members of Gorilla Biscuits. Siegler also played in other hardcore bands, including Youth of Today and Judge.
Poison Idea was an American punk rock band formed in Portland, Oregon, in 1980.
Youth of Today is an American hardcore punk band, initially active from 1985 to 1990 before reforming in 2010. The band played a major role in establishing the "Youth Crew" subculture of hardcore, both espousing and evolving the philosophies of the straight edge and vegetarian lifestyles.
Ray Cappo, also known as Raghunath Das, is an American punk rock musician, best known as the vocalist for the bands Youth of Today and Shelter, and founder of the independent record label Equal Vision.
Gorilla Biscuits are an American hardcore punk band from New York City, New York, United States, formed in 1986. The band currently consists of Anthony "Civ" Civarelli, Walter Schreifels, Arthur Smilios and Luke Abbey, and is signed to Revelation Records. Gorilla Biscuits are part of the New York hardcore scene.
New York Crew was a 7" EP released by the New York City hardcore band Judge. The record was released on guitarist John Porcelly's record label, Schism Records, in 1988. The record was then later repressed by Revelation Records.
Bringin' It Down is an LP released by the New York hardcore band Judge. It was released on Revelation Records in 1989. The original recording of the album was released under the title Chung King Can Suck It. This recording, which had been made at Chung King Studios, was rejected by the band after thousands of dollars had been spent on it. Since there had been substantial pre-orders of Bringin' It Down the label printed 110 copies of the rejected recording under its alternate title, to satisfy demand until the band could re-record it at a different studio. The popularity of Judge in the hardcore straight edge scene, and the severely limited release, has made Chung King Can Suck It likely the most sought after and expensive hardcore record ever. Copies, when they are sold, sell for over a thousand dollars.
Bold is an American late 1980s youth crew hardcore band from Westchester County, New York, which, along with bands like Youth of Today and Side by Side, were a part of the Youth Crew and an influence in the late 80s straight edge hardcore scene. The band progressed to a more rock-oriented sound in its later years.
John "Porcell" Porcelly, also known as Paramananda Das, is an American musician, best known as the guitarist for the 1980s hardcore bands Young Republicans, Violent Children, Youth of Today, and Judge. He also sang in Project X, and has had stints in other bands such as Bold and Gorilla Biscuits. More recently he has played in bands like Shelter, Never Surrender and Last of the Famous.
Project X was a short-lived hardcore punk/youth crew band from New York City, and also the name of their only release, being a five-track EP. The band consisted of members of other prominent NYC hardcore bands Gorilla Biscuits, Youth of Today, Side by Side and Judge.
Doom are an English hardcore punk band from Birmingham whose first lineup were together from 1987 to 1990. Despite its short existence, the band is considered pivotal in the rise of crust punk, a genre of punk rock that takes influence and elements from extreme metal. They recorded for Peaceville Records and are cited as an early precursor to grindcore. Doom were also a favourite of BBC Radio DJ John Peel.
Walter Schreifels is an American rock musician and producer from New York City.
Chung King Can Suck It is a limited-pressing colored vinyl album by New York City band Judge, containing the original version of what was to be the Bringin' It Down album. The title of the album is a direct insult to the Chung King recording studio in New York City.
We're Not in This Alone is the third and final full-length studio album by New York hardcore punk band Youth of Today. It was originally released by Caroline Records in 1988.
Gorilla Biscuits is the first album, released as a 7-inch EP, by the hardcore band Gorilla Biscuits. It was later released on CD.
Sammy Siegler is an American rock drummer, notable for his many contributions to the New York hardcore scene. He is currently living in Venice, California with his wife, model Siew Longhorn.
Up Front was an American hardcore band from New York City. They were an influential part of the late 1980s New York hardcore and Connecticut straight edge scenes. They played many of their early shows at the now famous Anthrax Club in Norwalk, Connecticut. In 1987 they appeared on the X Marks The Spot compilation 7-inch, one of the first documents of the burgeoning Connecticut straight edge scene.
Errortype:11 was an American punk/indie band formed in New York City. Members were Arthur (Arty) Shepherd, Phil Hanratty, Adam Marino, Scott Martin (bass), Erik Matheu, Keith Moore, Leroy Getaway, Sammy Siegler, Ti Kreck, Steve Sanderson (drums).
Don Fury is an American recording engineer and producer who owned three rehearsal and recording studios in New York City. He has recorded and produced music for a variety of punk and hardcore bands including GG Allin, Agnostic Front, Sick of It All, Youth of Today, Gorilla Biscuits, Madball, Warzone, Helmet, Into Another, and Quicksand. In 2008 Fury moved his studio to Troy, New York.
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