Vincent Capuccio (born December 3, 1955), better known as Vinnie Stigma, is an American guitarist and occasional vocalist who is a founding member of the New York hardcore band Agnostic Front. He also has his own solo band called Stigma and has played for Madball in the past. He and his bandmate Roger Miret are often referred to as "the godfathers of hardcore" with Revolver Magazine stating that the two "carried the torch for punk's unapologetic cousin, hardcore, across the globe."[1][2]
Stigma was born on December 3, 1955, into a large Italian-American family, and grew up in a part of Little Italy, Manhattan, which is now known as Nolita.[3][4] He and his immediate family all lived in the same apartment complex on Mott street in the Lower East Side.[4][5] Growing up, he would play handball and stickball in the apartments courtyard.[4] He and his bands would practice in his grandfathers wine cellar which was also located in the apartment complex.[4] Growing up, Stigma was a fan of Frank Sinatra and Bruce Lee, and has credited Jimi Hendrix for his inspiration to start playing guitar.[6][7]
Career
Stigma started out his career with one of the first New York hardcore bands called the Eliminators, where he played bass. The group never recorded any original material however they played all over the U.S. but never gained a substantial following outside of their home state of New York.[5][8]
Stigma with Agnostic Front in 2011Stigma with Agnostic Front in 2022
In 1980 at the age of 25 Stigma helped form a new group with Diego on bass, Rob Krekus on drums and John Watson on vocals. Despite being billed at their first concert as the Zoo Crew, Stigma introduced them as Agnostic Front, saying that the poster had been made prior to deciding on the name.[9][10] They soon added Ray Barbieri, on drums and Adam Mucci on bass. After Watson was arrested, the band hired James Kontra as their vocalist, who eventually quit before a performance at Great Gildersleeves after a disagreement with Capuccio about how to hand out stickers. Although never having spoken to him before, Stigma told some of his friends to ask Roger Miret (former bass player of the Psychos) if he wanted to be the vocalist of Agnostic Front, because he liked his style of slam dancing.[11] In 1983, the group recorded their debut EP United Blood.
This was then followed by their debut album, Victim in Pain (1984), which is regarded as a seminal New York hardcore release. Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic dubbed it "the ultimate document of the New York hardcore scene."[12] The group's second effort Cause for Alarm was released in 1986 and has been described as a "essential piece to the history of crossover music".[13] The group then temporarily disbanded later that year in an attempted to oust Joe Montanaro, Stigma and Roger Miret formed a new incarnation of AF over the summer of 1987 and later released Liberty and Justice For and One Voice in 1992.[14] The band's supposed last show was at CBGB on December 20, 1992. The show was recorded for the live album Last Warning which was released by Roadrunner Records in 1993.
However his bandmate Roger Miret claimed the band never officially broke up stating:
"We never really broke up. We just took a break. I'm a father and I felt like I needed to spend more time with my daughter. During that time, I became better at what I do. I became a better technician. When I knew it was time, I got together with [guitarist] Vinnie [Stigma] and it sounded right."[15]
Stigma and Miret reformed Agnostic Front in May 1996 and did a few reunion shows in December 1996 since then the band has toured continuously and has released an additional 9 records with the most recent being Echoes in Eternity (2025).
During a Melbourne tour in 2012 Stigma became a local hero when a young child had slipped away from his mother and darted into the road. Stigma reacted immediately, rushing out after him and pulling him out of the path of an oncoming car. He managed to jump clear while holding the child, though the car still grazed his foot. Fortunately, he had boots on and came away with nothing more than a bruised ankle.[16][17]
In celebration of Agnostic Fronts 30th anniversary in 2012, Artist Series Guitar released a limited edition signature guitar named in Stigma's honor.[18][19]
Madball was founded in 1988 and featured most of Agnostic Front's members. Madball consisted of Stigma on guitar, Miret on bass, , Will Shepler on drums, and then Miret's 12-year-old brother Freddy Cricien, as the vocalist. The group originally played unused Agnostic Front songs however in 1989 they released their first EP Ball of Destruction. Their second EP Droppin' Many Suckers was released in 1992. During Agnostic Fronts hiatus Stigma continued playing in Madball and recorded their debut 1994 album Set It Off. however he then left the band following Agnostic Fronts reunion.[20][21]
Stigma
In 2008 started a namesake solo project and released his first album New York Blood in collaboration with Jamey Jasta, Agnostic Front bandmate Mike Gallo, Lorenzo Antonucci from Sworn Enemy, and Luke Rota from Roger Miret's side project The Disasters. In a 2008 interview Stigma described the project stating "we touch bases on all the musical influences I listen to and enjoy. It's a great blend of hardcore punk, country and just straight up street rock n roll." He then toured in support of the album.[22][23] In 2013 in between tours with Agnostic Front Stigma put out a second album titled For Love & Glory, it was produced by Phil Caivano, Rancid's Lars Frederiksen and Agnostic Front's Mike Gallo.[24]
After taking over a decade off from his solo career Stigma returned with his first Americana album The Outlaw Vinnie Stigma. The album consists of a collection of cover songs that span several decades of influences, while anlso including an handful of originals from Stigma. The album was made in collaboration with former One Man Army/US Bombs drummer Chip Hanna. Additional contributors JonnyWickersham Roy Valencia of Agnostic Front, Jesse Wagner (The Aggrolites).[25] Stigma then toured in support of the album.[26]
Stigma who has many tattoos himself opened up his own tattoo shop in New York alongside Jimmy Gestapo of Murphy's Law called the NYHC Tattoo shop in 1999.[27] Stigma does not work at the shop but does occasionally give tattoos.[5]
Stigma starred as a drug dealing mobster named Vinny in the 2009 horror film New York Blood.[22][28]
Stigma has been a pro wrestling fan since his youth and has been involved with the sport, his first experience came in a match vs. Johnny Valiant, with some of the match taking place in Stigma's tattoo shop.[29] In 2023 he took part in an official independent event in New York, where he was supposed to just serve as a manager. However he ended up getting involved in the match jumping off the top rope.[30][31] He has since sporadically appeared on the Out Law Wrestling promotion based in Brooklyn.[32]
In 2017 Stigma alongside Agnostic Front bandmate Roger Miret appeared in a documentary about the band titled The Godfathers of Hardcore, directed by Ian McFarland.[33]
In 2012 Stigma wrote a children's book titled I Thought You Were My Friend however the book was never officially published.[34] In 2024 Stigma released his autobiography The Most Interesting Man in the World, which was co written by Howie Abrams. The book goes over his entire childhood, music career along with all the other ventures he has made.[2][35]
Personal life
Stigma still resides in the same apartment complex in the Lower East Side that he lived in during his youth, he is a supporter of the Pittsburgh Steelers.[6] Stigma also enjoys cooking and attended culinary school for a brief period of time,[2] he has also trained in mixed martial arts and has credited the sport for helping him keep focus.[6]
↑Steven Blush (2001). American Hardcore: A Tribal History. Feral House. p.215. ISBN978-0-922915-71-2. The band AF started in early 1982 as The Zoo Crew at Apartment X, Crazy Emily's Eldridge Street storefront squat. ... they tried with James Kontra and Keith Burkhardt, before teaming with Roger Miret (ex-The Psychos/Distorted Youth), ... When people thought of New York, they automatically thought of Agnostic Front.
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