Birthright (band)

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Birthright

Origin Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Years active 1994–2000
Genres hardcore punk, metalcore
Labels Catalyst Records, Good Life Recordings, Words of War Records
Website(s) Birthright Myspace page

Birthright (1994-1999) was an Indianapolis, Indiana based vegan straight-edge hardcore punk band in existence during the mid to late 1990's.

Contents

[edit] Band History

Birthright was founded by Kurt "Catalyst," after he left his previous band Jackhammer, and his short stint as bass player for Earth Crisis on that band's first US tour. His goal was to start a band with the intentions of promoting the straight edge lifestyle, animal liberation, and D.I.Y hardcore in general.

Though the band originally had a strong vegetarian slant to their lyrics, after a number of members quit the band in the early stages of development, Birthright eventually evolved into a vegan straight edge band. The band was outspoken in support of living a drug free lifestyle, of earth, human and animal liberation, as well as the practice of direct action to achieve these goals. The lyrics also centered around these issues, though near the end of the band's life songs became more political in their focus, while the music developed a more metal-influenced sound.

During the height of the band's popularity Birthright was a mainstay of the Indianapolis punk hardcore scene, and commonly played shows at the local punk collective space, The Sitcom. Birthright also played numerous shows around the Midwest, toured once to California in 1998 and once in Europe in the winter of 1998/1999.

The band broke up shortly after their European tour, primarily due to constant problems with keeping a stable line-up, and personal differences between current band members.


[edit] Members

At the time of their last show Birthright was:

  • K. Austin - vocals
  • Ian Phillips - guitar
  • Brett Bunting - drums
  • Neal Tafflinger - bass
  • Jeff Dawes - guitar


[edit] Former Members

Birthright had a great number of member changes over the course of the bands existence (especially the second guitar player position) many of whom played only a few appearances with the band. An incomplete list of former members includes:

  • Pete Wentz- guitar (formerly of Extinction and Arma Angelus; currently of Fall Out Boy)
  • Bryan Grimes - guitar
  • Jason McCash - guitar
  • Nathan Stambro - guitar
  • Tony Reitz - guitar
  • Matt Thomas - drums (formerly of Morning Again)
  • Bob Peele - bass

[edit] Later Projects of Birthright Members

Various long and short-term members of Birthright went on to be in a number of other bands including Risen (Kurt's current vegan straight edge project), Burn It Down, Morning Again, Upheaval, and most famously, Fall Out Boy, among many others.


[edit] Releases

  • Ascension (1996, Catalyst Records) - 7" E.P. later followed by a MCD
  • Split 7" w/ Unconquered (1997, Words of War Records)
  • Stones to Mark a Fire (1997, Militant Records)
  • Ceremony of Fire (1998, Uprising Recordings) - a re-issue of the Stones to Mark a Fire compilation
  • Out of Darkness (1998, Goodlife Recordings) - 7" E.P. and MCD formats
  • These Words Run in My Veins (2007, Catalyst Records) - upcoming discography

[edit] External links

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