DYS (band)

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DYS was a straight edge hardcore punk band from Boston, Massachusetts, and part of the notorious "Boston Crew" along with contemporaries such as SSD and Negative FX. They released two LPs: Brotherhood, an album still held in high regard by fans of hardcore music (with original copies selling for in-excess of $150 on ebay), and DYS (i.e., self-titled), an album that is more a hard rock or heavy metal album than a hardcore album. In fact, "DYS" is considered by many to be (for better or worse) one of the first Crossover Thrash albums released and features what might be punk rock's first Power Ballad.

Both albums have been re-issued together on a CD by Taang! Records (titled Fire and Ice), and Brotherhood has also been reissued on CD in early 2005 by Taang! Records in its original format with the addition of the Wolfpack demo tape with Husker Du singing back-up vocals.

DYS took its name from the Department of Youth Services, a Massachusetts governmental organization where deliquent youth were housed as well as the Alice Cooper song "Department of Youth."

Guitarist Andy Strachan later co-founded the more rock-focused band Slaughter Shack. Slaughter Shack went on to win the Boston musical contest the "Rumble." After leaving the business, Strachan has since converted to Sikhism. His new name is Mahan Atma Singh Khalsa, and he is active as an influential Kundalini Yoga teacher in Amritsar, India. Added lead guitarist Ross Luongo is now playing in the re-formed line-up of Jerry's Kids.

Co-founder and singer Dave Smalley went on to sing for Dag Nasty, ALL and Down By Law before founding the the Jam-influenced band the Sharpshooters. Dave is a noted Newspaper Editor and conservative punk columnist.

Co-founder and bassist Jonathan Anastas became a founding member of Slapshot, writing, recording and touring behind their debut album "Back on the Map." Prior to starting DYS, he had also founded the short-lived band Decadence. Their song "Slam" was documented on the "This Is Boston, Not L.A." compilation, and later adopted for an M.T.V. advertising campaign. Anastas left the music business for a career in advertising and marketing.

[edit] Discography

1983 - DYS "Brotherhood"
1985 - DYS "DYS"
1993 - Various Artists "Faster and Louder, Volume Two" (Contributed the track "Wolfpack" which was the band's unreleased first demo tape and a live favorite)
1993 - DYS "Fire and Ice" (first two albums combined on CD)
2005 - DYS "Wolfpack" - "Brotherhood" re-released with the band's original Wolfpack radio demo featuring Husker Du added