Choking Victim

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Choking Victim
Origin New York, NY
Genre(s) Ska punk
Hardcore punk
Crust punk
Years active 1992-1993
1995-1997
1999
2005-2006
Label(s) Hellcat
Members
Stza
Sascha Scatter
John Dolan
Skwert
Former members
Skwert
Alec Baillie
Shayne
Ezra

Choking Victim was a crust ska punk band (the band described itself as performing "crack rocksteady"), from New York City, in the 1990s.

Contents

[edit] Background

The band became became well-known at the C-squat in the Lower East Side of Manhattan for their innovative music and politically charged lyrics. They also became infamous for their Satanic imagery and references to the vagrant lifestyle, such as crack-smoking, shoplifting, and squatting. Like many other bands in the punk scene, they had strong anti-police sentiments in their songs. The band prides itself on its atheism, making reference to Satan for the purpose of being offensive, rather than any actual worship of the deity. On the album No Gods, No Managers, they use excerpts from the lectures of political scientist Michael Parenti.

Choking Victim broke up after the first day of recording for their first full-length LP, No Gods, No Managers, but the recordings from that one day were enough to make a full album. After they broke up, (Stza and Ezra Crack) formed the band Leftöver Crack, and Skwert and Ezra formed INDK. Sascha has spent the last several years organically farming in upstate NY. Choking Victim and Leftöver Crack are anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-homophobic and anti-fascist.

On November 11th, 2000, Choking Victim reunited to play a show in Tompkins Square Park with the lineup from their album. Later, in late 2005, Choking Victim's reunited a second time, performing four shows. On June 11th, 2006, they played a show at the Lower East Side's Tompkins Square Park, which featured various political speakers, including members of the Mislead Youth Project. At the end of July 2006, they toured the Dominican Republic, before Leftöver Crack embarked on their European Tour.

In addition to Leftöver Crack and INDK, Choking Victim also spawned Morning Glory and the Crack Rock Steady 7.

[edit] Members

1992 (original) Lineup

1993 Lineup:

1995-1997 Lineup:

1999 Lineup:

  • Vocals/Guitar - Stza
  • Vocals/Bass - Shayne
  • Vocals/Guitar - Ezra
  • Drums/Vocals - Skwert
  • Back-Up Vox - Eden, Brad, Popeye

2005 Lineup

[edit] Discography

(CD)Albums:

Vinyl records/EPs:

  • No Gods, No Managers 12" (1999)
  • Crack Rock Steady 7" (1995)
  • Squatta's Paradise 7" (1996)
  • Victim Comes Alive 7" (1998)

Demos:

  • Crack Rock Steady Demo (1993)

Compilation Releases:

  • Wicked City Soundtrack - 1998, Velvel Records ("Fuck America")
  • Give 'Em The Boot - 1997, Hellcat Records ("Infested")
  • Give 'Em The Boot II - 1999, Hellcat Records ("Crack Rock Steady")
  • Ska Sucks - 1998, Liberation Records ("Suicide (a better way)")
  • Smash Ignorance Up - 1998, Possible Problem Records ("Money")
  • Skanarchy III - 1997, Elevator Records ("Born to Die")
  • Picklemania NYC - 199?, Riot Records ("500 Channels")
  • Finding a Voice: A Benefit For Humans - 1999 Repetitively Futile Records ("Sweet Dreams")

[edit] External links

[edit] See also