The Freeze

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The Freeze is a Hardcore Punk Rock band from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The Freeze formed in late 1978[1]. At the time all members were in highschool. The Freeze are considered to be Boston hardcore, but they never truly fit into the typical Boston mold. Additionally The Freeze were not taken seriously, because many Boston hardcore listeners viewed the members as high school "townies" from Cape Cod[2]. Clif Hanger and crew welcomed this seemingly immature brush-off as a challenge that they have gone on to make a mockery of, for The Freeze have outlasted all of their early naysayers. Today The Freeze remain the sole band from the divisive period who are still active as a live, touring and recording unit. Much more importantly, The Freeze maintained their original ideals and vision so that now, over 25 years later, there is no longer any doubt as to if this legendary Punk Rock juggernaut deserved defamation or exclamation! At the highest point of popularity which was after the release of their first record, The Freeze failed to cultivate a massive following, because they were not old enough to drive to Boston,[2] the local mecca of hardcore. In spite of that set back, more importantly The Freeze lacked vital connections to the Boston hardcore scene and music. The Freeze were neither straight edge or heavy metal influenced like their Boston contemporaries DYS and SSD [2].The Freeze have a more melodic sound which hints more to punk rock than hardcore. Clif Hanger, the lead singer of the Freeze, set up dozens of all-ages shows in Cape Cod.Virtually all the Boston hardcore bands played with The Freeze at these shows[2]. They also went on two considerably successful tours following the release of their "Guilty Face" EP and "Land of the Lost"LP[2]. The Freeze have undergone numerous line up changes, but they are praised for their longevity and unwavering idealism. Currently, Clif Hanger, whos real name is Clif Croce, is the only remaining original member. The Freeze have not had the greatest success in the realm of hardcore punk, but their influence on more recent punk and hardcore is far more reaching than their fan base. 2007 will be the band's busiest year for them ever. With the help of their new label Beer City, The Freeze will be putting out a Comprehensive "Best Of CD/DVD" titled 25 YEARS OF DEFIANCE in the Spring to be followed by their 3rd headlining tour of Europe as well as their long awaited second tour of the U.S. Beer City has plans to put The Freeze back in the recording studio sometime during Fall 2007 so they can record their 10th new release

Contents

[edit] "I Hate Tourists"

The band's very first release was the "Don't Forget Me Tommy" b/w "I Hate Tourist's[sic]" 7" in 1980. "I Hate Tourist's" became a local hit, and then became a regular lunchtime favorite played on Boston's WBCN radio station. The Freeze released the "Don't Forget Me Tommy" b/w "I Hate Tourist's" 7" on their own Rebel Records. The project was funded by a high school friend of the band who had become their manager. Rumor had it that some of the money needed to pay for the recording of the 45 came from drug dealing[1]. The Freeze pressed a total of 2,000 records in 1980[1]. The first 200 original press records were wrapped in pink construction paper stolen from the Freeze's high school art department and labeled in plain black marker[1].The next 300 were wrapped in orange construction paper obtained by the same method[1]. The remaining 1,500 of the original 2,000 records that were pressed in 1980 were just wrapped in clear plastic and handed out as demos[1]. Up until 2005, "Don't Forget Me Tommy" b/w "I Hate Tourist's" 7", was hardly available, and were going for up to $500 with original wrapping [1]. In 2005 Schizophrenic Records re-pressed the "Don't Forget Me Tommy" b/w "I Hate Tourist's" 7". The record was wrapped in a faux orange construction paper sleeve which sought to imitate the original. The re-press comes with a second sleeve, in addition to the orange one, which contains liner notes and alternate cover art. In the liner notes of the re-issue of "Don't Forget Me Tommy" b/w "I Hate Tourist's" 7" Clif Hanger discusses how this album almost never happened. The parents of Rob Rosthenthal A.K.A. Rob Decradle, the guitarist of the Freeze, objected to the language and topics of the songs [1]. His parents found it to be so offensive that he attempted to involve a Cape Cod based Christian organization to help intervene in the production and distribution of the record[1]. This release is not considered to be The Freeze's best work. One must remember that though the a-side song, "Don't Forget Me Tommy" may have had very low appeal to many hardcore punk listeners, the songs bizarre lyrics and dark synth sound did not connect with the target audience, the song was written in 1979, over a year before HC Punk struck. Criticism aside, the "Don't Forget Me Tommy" b/w "I Hate Tourists" 7" served its purpose as a first release, helping the Freeze gain a record deal with Modern Method records, and established a dedicated, modest yet ever growing fan base.

[edit] "This Is Boston Not L.A."

In 1982, the greatly influential "This Is Boston, Not L.A." compilation was released. The "This Is Boston, Not L.A." compilation competed with the equally important, but more popular Flex Your Head compliation realesed in 1982 by Washington, D.C. based label Dischord Records. The Freeze featured eight songs on the compilation, including the title track "This Is Boston, Not L.A." . They also provided "Broken Bones", "Idiots at Happy Hour", "Now or Never", "Sacrifice Not Suicide", "It's Only Alcohol", "Trouble If You Hide", and "Time Bomb". The Freeze presented some of their most powerful, fast, and truly hardcore driven work on this record. "Broken Bones" is regarded as a great punk anthem, which fully embodies the mindset of punk rock. Regardless to the importance of this record, much of the meaning of "This Is Boston, Not L.A." was lost on the members of the Boston scene.It created large riffs between the typical "macho" straight edge Boston Crew, and the other members of the Boston scene who believed that there were many flaws in the music, mentality, and behavior of the hardcore punk Bostonians. Regardless of the meaning behind the motivation of "This Is Boston Not L.A." it is undeniable that the complitation and The Freeze's contribution to it are a keystone of the development and growth of hardcore punk.

[edit] Other releases

The Freeze has released over 17 records, including 7 compilations, 2 LPs, 1 EP, and 5 full length CDs, and one split CD with The Bollweevils. They have released records for their own Rebel Records, Modern Method, Gasatanka/Enigma, Weird System, Ax/ction, Taang!, Lost & Found, and Dr. Strange, respectively. Schizophrenic Records, Bitzcore, and Dr. Strange added 3 re-issues to the Freeze's discography. Following their first release, The Freeze featured one song, "American Town", on the "Wicked Good Time vol.2" compilation LP produced by Modern Method Records in 1981. In 1983 The Freeze also had one song, "Refrigerator Heaven", on the "Unsafe At Any Speed" 7" EP which was a collection of out takes from the "This Is Boston, Not L.A." recording sessions. In 1984 they released the "Guilty Face" 7" EP, considered the most powerful and truly hardcore of all The Freeze's work. Later that year The Freeze released their first full length record, "Land of The Lost" LP, on Modern Method. Agian in 1984, on "Flipside Vinyl Fanzine" compilation LP The Freeze featured the song "No One's Ever Coming Home". In 1985 the Freeze followed up their busiest year with the release of their "Rabid Reaction" LP on Modern Method, and afforded the track "Warped Confessional" on Modern Methods "Mr. Beautiful Presents: All Hard" compilation LP which included songs by fellow Boston hardcore bands, and collaborators on the "This Is Boston, Not L.A." compilation, Gang Green and The F.U.'s. "Life Is A Joke vol.3" compilation LP by Weird System Records, released in 1987, offered songs by Government Issue,White Flag and The Freeze, among others. The Freeze featured the already released "Refrigerator Heaven" on the "Revenge of the Kamikaze Stegosaurus From Outer Space" compilation LP from Ax/ction Records in 1988. This compilation had mostly unlreased or re-recorded songs. The LP included work by G.G. Allin,Wretched, and The Mentors. After the release of the "Revenge of the Kamikaze Stegosaurus From Outer Space" compilation LP The Freeze remained under the radar until 1991, with the release of their "Misery Loves Company" LP on Taang! Records. After their brief stint with Taang! Records, the bands welcomed the interest of the German HC Punk label, Lost & Found. From 1991-1995, The Freeze and Lost & Found would record and release a Live CD, FIVE WAY FURY, and two superb studio works; CRAWLING BLIND and FREAK SHOW, which would remain almost totally unheard in the States until Dr. Strange took charge.

Dr. Strange Records, over the past 3 or 4 years have re-released most everything from The Freeze's back catalog. Bill Plaster, the "Doc" from Dr. Strange, first put band into the studio to record 4 new tunes for release on a shared CD with labelmates The Bollweevils titled A DEADLY DUO. The band then went to work collecting all of their out of print, hard to find and unreleased material, 30 songs strong, which Dr. Strange released as the Cd TOKEN BONES. In 1999 Dr. Strange released what is arguably the band's strongest all around Cd to date in ONE FALSE MOVE. What made/makes ONE FALSE MOVE even more special is in it's artistic collaboration between Freeze vocalist Clif Hanger and the world renowned artist and Illustrator, Edward Gorey. Keeping the story short, Hanger and the then 74 year old Gorey had constructed a personal friendship one would assume, surrounding all thing's macabre. Mr. Gorey mentioned liking The Dead Kennedy's which led Hanger to offer his band up for listening. Upon excited approval, Gorey offered to create totally original front and rear cover artwork for the project, even adding a few lyrics of his own to one of the band's songs. The 5 Freeze members were asked by Dr. Strange to each autograph 1000 numbered and limited edition, colored vinyl Lp's. But it was when Edward Gorey also offered to sign the copies that an instant collector's item was born. Sold out prior to the publication date, the Gorey/Freeze signed Lp once offered for sale at $15 a pop now easily commands $100 and up on the collector's market since Mr Gorey's death in 2000. Fresh attention quickly came the band's way once again when Dr. Strange then decided to put out onto one disc the band's 2 seminal full length works from the 1980's; The Lp's; LAND OF THE LOST and RABID REACTION. The Doc also added the band's 4 tracks from it's equally legendary GUILTY FACE ep and suddenly a 27 track Hardcore Punk Rock "must have" CD was created. Selling new for under $10. The same 2 lp's on one disc idea was later repeated as Dr. Strange doubled up the band's FREAK SHOW and CRAWLING BLIND allowing most listeners here their first chance to hear a pair of The Freeze's strongest yet most elusive releases to date.

[edit] Current news

As of early 2007, a newly reformed Freeze have been playing regularly in both the Boston and the New York areas. Their return has been enthusiastically embraced by punk fans old and young alike.

[edit] Notes

The use of [sic] was justified by the conflicting spellings of the "I Hate Tourist's" song and 7" record. In all other sources, and the cover of both records, original and re-press, the song is spelled "I Hate Tourists", which is the grammatically correct way. In the liner notes of the "I Hate Tourist's" b/w "Don't Forget Me Tommy" 7" LP re-press on Schizophrenic Records, which were written by original member and vocalist Clif Hanger, the song and record is spelled "I Hate Tourist's", which is grammatically incorrect, but taken verbatim from the liner notes.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hanger, Clif (2005). "I Hate Tourist's, Tourist's SUCK, It's only their daughter's I wanna fuck" in "I Hate Tourists"[Record Liner Notes]. Hamilton: Schizophrenic Records.
  2. ^ a b c d e Blush, Steven [2001]. ““The Kids Will Have Their Say””, George Petros: American Hardcore: A Tribal History. New York: Feral House, 168-169. ISBN 0-922915-717-7.

The sources of the discographical information, are slightly questionable on their own, all the information found from these sources were only included if they could be confirmed by two or more sources. co

[edit] External links

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