iron Cross

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
iron Cross
General information
origin Washington (United States)
Genre (s) Hardcore , Oi!
founding 1981, 2003
resolution 1985
Founding members
singing
 Sab Gray
guitar
 Mark Haggerty
bass
 John Falls (1985)
Drums
 Dave Ferrando
Current occupation
singing
 Sab Gray
guitar
 Mark Linskey (since 2009)
guitar
 Shadwick Wilde (since 2009)
Drums
 Scotty Powers
former members
bass
 Chris Haskett
bass
 Wendel Blow
bass
 John Dunn
bass
 Paul Cleary
bass
 Dimitri Medev (2009–2012, † 2012)
bass
 Eric Fauver (2012–2015, † 2015)

Iron Cross was one of the first skinhead bands in the United States and is considered to be one of the first hardcore punk bands from Washington, DC Although the group never released an album, they are considered one of the most influential groups in these two musical genres.

Band history

1981-1985

The group formed in 1981 with teenagers Sab Gray (vocals), Mark Haggerty (guitar), John Falls (bass) and Dante Ferrando (drums). Except for the drummer, all members of the band were skinheads. However, Falls left the group early and was replaced by Chris Haskett. This only played on the first demo of the group and then left it again. He would later play in the Rollins Band . Wendel Blow from State of Alert then took over the vacant position. With his first recordings for the developed flex your head - Sampler , which gave an early glimpse of the Washington hardcore scene. Then the first EP Skinhead Glory was released . After John Dunn took over the bass post for a short time, Paul Clearly got on. With him the EP Hated and Proud was created . Both EPs were released through Dischord Records . From 1983 the group was on hold, in 1985 the official dissolution was announced.

The time after the split and reunion

Ferrando then played in the group Gray Matter together with Mark Haggerty and in Ignition . Gray moved to England in the 1980s and did not return to America until the 2000s. There he played in the rockabilly band The Royal Americans and was a solo artist. Since 2003 he has played several tours under the name Iron Cross, but in a completely different line-up. Bassist Dimitri Medev died in 2012 and was replaced by Eric Fauver, who also died in 2015. Since then, the band's activities have been suspended. Since then, Gray has hosted a music history Internet radio show called Dork Time Radio .

meaning

Iron Cross, whose name is derived from the German Military Order of Merit until 1945, the Iron Cross , were the first skinhead band in the United States. Even before Minor Threat and Agnostic Front , they made this style popular there too. They adopted British Oi! Elements in their fast-paced punk rock and became the pioneers of the American hardcore movement. Her radical image, embodied by radical texts and the use of different versions of the Iron Cross, caused irritation in the Washington scene. Although the group clearly distanced itself from any political line and admitted that they were not fascists, in many places they were mistaken for such.

The group became known nationwide and beyond the hardcore scene, as Agnostic Front often played the song Crucified for Our Sins at their concerts. It also appeared on their albums Liberty and Justice for ... (1987) and Something's Gotta Give (1998). Other cover versions exist of The Business , Madball , 25 Ta Life and Discipline .

Various compilations and bootlegs with old material have been published so far. The best known in Europe is a release by Lost & Found Records from 1999.

Discography

EPs

  • 1982: Skinhead Glory ( Dischord Records )
  • 1983: Hated & Proud (Skin Flint Records)
  • 2007: 2 Piece And A Biscuit ( Split- EP with Sab Gray And The Royal Americans, Teenage Heart Records)
  • 2009: Koi Records Split Vol. 5 (Split EP with Keyside Strike, Koi Records)
  • 2012: Est. 1980 (Skinflint Music)

Compilations

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Iron Cross in the All Music Guide
  2. ↑ Biography on Dischord.com
  3. ↑ VVCRadio.com: Dork Time Radio. Retrieved July 19, 2020 .
  4. ↑ Search on Secondhandsongs.com