Gang Green

Infobox musical artist
Name = Gang Green


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Origin = Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Genre = Hardcore punk
Skate punk
Years_active = 1981 – 1998
2000 – some tours
Label = Taang! Records
Roadrunner Records
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.taang.com/bands_ganggreen_body.html www.taang.com]
Current_members = Bob Cenci
Chris Doherty
Walter Gustafson
Matt Sandonato
Past_members = Brian Betzger
Kevin Brooks
Mike Dean
Mike Earls
Fritz Ericson
Joe Gittleman
Mike Lucantonio
Bill Manley
Tony Nichols
Josh Pappe
Chuck Stilphen
Glen Stilphen
Notable_instruments =

Gang Green is a hardcore punk band originally from Braintree, Massachusetts. The first incarnation of the band consisted of 15 year olds Chris Doherty, Mike Dean, and Bill Manley and contributed seven tracks to the "This Is Boston, Not L.A." compilation in 1982.

That same year the group disbanded and lead singer Chris Doherty joined the band Jerry's Kids for their album "Is This My World?"cite web | last =| first =| title = GangGreen| publisher = TrouserPress.com | url = http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=gang_green | accessdate = 2007-01-07]

New lineups

In 1985 Doherty reemerged with an all new Gang Green lineup consisting of himself (vocals, guitar), Chuck Stilphen (guitar, vocals), Glen Stilphen (bass, vocals) and Walter Gustafson (drums). This second lineup is the most famous nationally as it was both the first to tour and the one that recorded the songs "Alcohol" and "Skate to Hell". This edition of Gang Green released the "Another Wasted Night" LP on Taang! Records in 1986. This record is considered to be the band's best recording and was a defining moment in Boston punk in the 1980's.

By 1987, when they were signed by Roadrunner Records the band’s musical style had come to lean more toward heavy metal and the personnel of the band, save Doherty, had changed completely. This incarnation of Gang Green consisted of Doherty, Fritz Erickson (guitar), Joe Gittleman (bass) and former Jerry's Kids drummer Brian Betzger. In 1989 Gittleman left to devote more time to The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and was replaced by Josh Pappe, formerly of Dirty Rotten Imbeciles.

The nineties

After touring the United States with Social Distortion in 1990 Gang Green experienced a few more lineup shuffles before being dropped by Roadrunner and going on hiatus for several years in which Doherty founded the bands Klover (Mercury Records) and Hamerd.

In 1996 Gang Green surfaced yet again with Walter Gustafson returning on drums, along with newcomers Mike Earls (guitar, vocals) and Matt Sandonato (bass, vocals). They re-signed with Taang! Records and in 1997 released "Back & Gacked" (EP) and "Another Case Of Brewtality". These records saw the band returning to their punk roots and even moving in a pop direction. Gang Green toured Europe and the U.S. extensively in 1997 and 1998. Chris Doherty moved from Boston to Cincinnati shortly afterwards and in the early 2000s Gang Green played only once or twice a year in Boston and NYC.

Current

In 2005 Chris Doherty and a new Gang Green lineup supported the Dropkick Murphys’ tour of the U.S. west coast tour.

In early 2007, the band toured through Florida and up the east coast of the US with bands like Lucky Scars and Moral Decline before heading out for a European tour scheduled for spring 2007 that included UK and Irish dates.

Mike Dean moved to Maui in 1990 and now lives in Las Vegas with his wife and 5 kids.

2008 - Chris Doherty is rumored to be in the studio demoing tracks for an as yet untitled project.

Current members

* Chris Doherty – vocals, guitar (Jul 1981 – 1998, 2000 – occasional tours)
* Walter Gustafson – drums (Feb 1984 – Sep 1985, Feb – Aug 1991, 1996 – 1998, present)

* Bob Cenci – guitar
* Matt Sandonato – bass

Previous Members

* Chuck Stilphen – guitar (Feb 1984 – 1986)
* Tony Nichols – guitar (Nov 1986 – Apr 1987)
* Fritz Erickson – guitar (Apr 1987 – May 1990)
* Mike Lucantonio – guitar (May 1990 – 1992)
* Mike Earls – guitar (1996 – 1998)
* Bill Manley – bass (Jul 1981 – Mar 1983)
* Glen Stilphen – bass (Feb 1984 – 1986)
* Joe Gittleman – bass (Nov 1986 – Aug 1989)
* Josh Pappe – bass (Aug 1989 – 1991)
* Kevin Brooks – bass (1991 – 1992)
* Mike Dean – drums (Jul 1981 – Mar 1983)
* Brian Betzger – drums (1986 – Feb 1991, Sep 1991 – 1992)

Discography

*"Sold Out" 7" (1984) Taang! Records
*"Drunk And Disorderly" 10" (1985) Deluxe – live
*"PMRC Sucks" 12" (1985) HIM
*"Skate To Hell" 7" (1985) Taang! Records
*"Another Wasted Night" (1986) Taang! Records
*"You Got It" (1987) Roadrunner Records
*"I81B4U" EP (1989) Roadrunner Records
*"Older... Budweiser" (1989) Emergo/Roadrunner Records
*"Can't LIVE Without It" (1990) Roadrunner Records – live
*"King Of Bands" (1991) Roadrunner Records – compilation + 2 new
*"Back & Gacked" EP (1997) Taang! Records
*"Another Case Of Brewtality" (1997) Taang! Records
*"Preschool" (1997) Taang! Records – 1981 – 1984 material
*"Another Wasted Night" (1997) Taang! Records – 1984 – 1988 material

Various artists compilation tracks

*"This Is Boston, Not L.A." (1982) Modern Method
**"Snob" – "Lie Lie" – "I Don't Care" – "Rabies" – "Narrow Mind" – "Kill A Commie" – "Have Fun"

*"Unsafe At Any Speed" (1983) Modern Method
**"Selfish"

*"Thrasher Skaterock Vol. 3" (1985) Thrasher/High Speed
**"Skate to Hell"

*"Mr. Beautiful Presents: All Hard" (1985, Modern Method)
**"Let's Drink Some Beer"

*"American Hardcore: The History of American Punk Rock 1980-1986" [Soundtrack] (2006, Rhino)
**"Kill A Commie"

Their song 'Alcohol' was covered by Tankard a German thrash metal band who is also down for beer and it was featured on their album Chemical Invasion

The song 'Alcohol' was also covered by Impaled Nazarene, a black metal band from Finland. It appeared on their EP entitled 'Motörpenis' which was released in 1996.

The Song 'Alcohol' was also covered by Boston punkrock band Dropkick Murphys on their 'Back to the Hub' 7inch.

Links

* [http://www.ganggreenboston.com Official Gang Green website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/ganggreenhxc Official Gang Green MySpace page]
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5566063821549358746 GangGreen music video for "Alcohol" on BlankTV.com]
*http://www.taang.com/bands_ganggreen_body.html
*http://homepages.nyu.edu/~cch223/usa/ganggreen_main.html

References