The World/Inferno Friendship Society

Infobox musical artist
Name = The World/Inferno Friendship Society


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Origin = Brooklyn, New York, USA
Genre = Punk rock
Punk cabaret
Circus punk
Anarcho-punk
Years_active = 1996 - present
Label = Chunksaah Records
Go-kart Records Europe
Gern Blandsten Records
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Current_members = Brian Viglione
Jack Terricloth
Lucky Strano
Semra Ercin
Peter Hess
Maura Corrigan
Raja Azar
Franz Nicolay
Ken Thompson
Sandra Malak
Kevin Raczka

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The World/Inferno Friendship Society (commonly referred to as "World Inferno" or "The Inferno") is a cabaret punk band from Brooklyn, New York. Its style merges punk, klezmer, and gospel, while its collective membership features horns, piano, guitar, a number of percussionists, as well as a variety of other instruments such as accordion, xylophone and orchestra bells.

This musical collective has historically had over 30 members, including former members of Dexy's Midnight Runners. Usually one can expect to see about nine or ten members on-stage when they perform. The group is led by singer Jack Terricloth and guitarist Lucky Strano, who have been the most constant members throughout the group's history. Terricloth is known for his pointed commentary during shows: his monologues have touched on politics, his transformation from the "old school," and baiting of bouncers which usually end up with the band buying drinks for the whole staff.

Members have also played in Sticks and Stones, Guignol, The Hold Steady, Nanuchka, Kid Casanova, Anti-Social Music, Morning Glory, Planned Collapse, and have been guests on Mischief Brew, stellastarr*, Public Radio International and Leftöver Crack recordings, as well as having The Casualties, along with Paul Maroon of Jonathan Fire*Eater on guitar, make a guest appearance on the recording of "Our Candidate".

Their lyrics often concern historical and/or biographical subject matter, such as Weimar-era Germany, Peter Lorre, Jeffrey Lee Pierce of The Gun Club, Paul Robeson, Leni Riefenstahl, Dante Alighieri, Jonathan Fire*Eater and other personages deemed to be of historical significance. Other songs deal with the terrifying, exulting, magical, and awful aspects of life that "make it more than waking up and going to work every day". One notable composition is a three-song cycle about love and loss in a temporary autonomous zone which appears on the 2002 album "Just the Best Party". The lyric pattern and subject matter of the song cycle are similar to The Wild Party.

History

The origins of the group are the subject of some speculation, but what is known is that evidence of the group's existence and activities began to surface in the mid 1990s. For a complete history, see [http://www.worldinferno.com/history.php the band's official website] .

Hallowmas

Their annual Halloween show, Hallowmas, is traditionally the most important performance of the year. This event is known for its elaborate planning and grand-scale surprises. Past Hallowmases have included a burning effigy of Mr. Terricloth constructed and set alight by a large, caustic cat; an ethereal string quartet performing throughout the evening in the back of the hall (see: Anti-Social Music); circus performances and fire breathing by the Odd Child Uprising circus troupe; a cadaverous marching band materializing on stage for the last (and hallmark) song of the evening, Pumpkin Time; and spontaneous rallies to the street (audience in tow) during this song, which references The Great Pumpkin of "Peanuts" fame. This song is performed by the band exclusively during Hallowmas shows.

ociety Members

Members Active in Current Projects Include

*Jack Terricloth - Lead Vocals "(Sticks and Stones)"
*Lucky Strano - Guitar "(Morning Glory, Sewage)"
*Semra Ercin - Percussion, Orchestra Bells, Backing Vocals "(Casa de Chihuahua, Kid Casanova)"
*Peter Hess - Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet "(Guignol, Anti-Social Music, Balkan Beat Box, Capital M, The Peter Hess Quartet)"
*Maura Corrigan - Alto Saxophone (Georgia Redcoat Marching Band, Mod Alpert)
*Franz Nicolay - Accordion, Piano, Backing Vocals "(Guignol, The Hold Steady, Anti-Social Music)"
*Ken Thomson - Baritone Saxophone "(Gutbucket, Anti-Social Music, The Dirty Sock Funtime Band)"
*Sandra Malak - Bass "(SHLSHKD)"
*Raja Azar - Piano, Backing Vocals "(Jollyship the Whiz-Bang)"
*Matthew Landis - Piano, Backing Vocals
*Brian Viglione - Drums "(The Dresden Dolls, Nine Inch Nails, HUMANWINE)

Alumni

*Kevin Raczka - Drums "(Jollyship The Whiz-Bang, Hungry March Band)"
*Ara Babajian - Drums "(Leftöver Crack, The Slackers)"
*Benjamin Kotch - Drums - 1997-2007 "(Eve's Plum)"
*Yula Be'eri - Electric Bass, Backing Vocals - 1999-2006 "(Nanuchka)"
*Karen Kanan Correa - Electric Bass, Backing Vocals, Viola - 2005-2006 "(Demander)" [http://www.demandernyc.com]
*Gina Rodriguez (Moist Gina) - Electric Bass, Backing Vocals - April-May 2005 "(Moisturizer)" [http://www.moisturizer.tv]
*Erik Proft - Bax - 2007 "(Planned Collapse)"
*Steve Paelet - Electric Bass - 2002
*Dan Bailey - Baritone Saxophone - 1998-2005 "(The Grown-Ups)" [http://www.dcwallin.com/GUPS/index.html]
*John Moore - Baritone Saxophone - 1997-1998
*Brian Pearl - Piano - 2000-2001 "(Matt Pond PA)" [http://www.wheelkickrecords.com/mattpondpainterview.html]
*Scott Hollingsworth (Powder) - Piano - 1996-2000 "(Sticks and Stones, Product)"
*Ms. Xtal Chaos - Tuba - 1996-1998 [http://www.myspace.com/msxtalchaos]
*Detroit Rios - Percussion - 1997-1998
*Stephe Polier - Tenor Saxophone - 1997-1999 [http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2004-07-20/restreview.html]
*Geoff Blythe - Tenor Saxophone - 1999 "(Dexys Midnight Runners, The Bureau, Black 47, The TKO Horns)"
*Sam Burns - Tenor Saxophone - 1999-2000
*Rio Glenn (Rio No ABC) - Backing Vocals - 1999-2000 [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0322653/]
*Kika Von Kluck - Backing Vocals - 1997-1998
*Sioux Kovax - Backing Vocals - 1996-1997; Graphic Design - 1994-2003
*Mike "The Jerk" Wagner - Trombone - 1999 "(Antibalas)"
*Klaus Schank - Trombone - 1998 "(Scrapy)" [http://www.scrapy.de]
*Lauren Black - Trumpet - 1997-1999 ("The Kenn Firpo Rent Explosion") [http://livecheapordie.blogspot.com]
*David Patrikios - Marimba and Banjo - 1997-1999 "(Serpico, Milhouse, Greensleep, The Realistics, The Flying Aces)"
*Chris Leo - Trombone - 1997 "(The Van Pelt, The Sin Eaters, The Lapse, Native Nod)"

Discography

Full-Length albums

*The True Story of the Bridgewater Astral League - 1997
*East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today - 2000
*Just the Best Party - 2002
*Live at North Six - 2003
*Red-Eyed Soul - 2006
* - 2007

ingles and EPs

*Tattoos Fade - 1994
*The Models and the Mannequins - 1996
*Our Candidate - 1996
*It's Pumpkin Time! - 1999
*I Wouldn't Want to Live in a World without Grudges - 2000
*Hymns of International Smashism! - 2001
*Zen and the Art of Breaking Everything in This Room - 2002 (test press only)
*Speak of Brave Men - 2004
*Me V. The Angry Mob - 2005

They also appeared on the Rock Against Bush Volume 1 compilation.

Unreleased Demos

*A Lexicon of Friends & Enemies - 2004
*The Bridgewater Demos League - 1996-1997

External links

* [http://www.worldinferno.com The World/Inferno Friendship Society's official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/worldinferno The World/Inferno Friendship Society's myspace]
* [http://pinstand.com/pins/wifs.html Links to World/Inferno Friendship Society interviews and articles]