| The World/Inferno Friendship Society | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York, USA |
| Genres | Punk rock Punk cabaret Circus punk Anarcho-punk |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | Chunksaah Records Go-kart Records Europe Gern Blandsten Records The Company With The Golden Arm |
| Members | |
| Jack Terricloth Rebecca Schlappich Matthew Landis Leslie Wacker Sandra Malak Mora Precarious Francis Morin |
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The World/Inferno Friendship Society (also known as "World Inferno" or "The Inferno") is a band from Brooklyn, New York. Its style merges punk, soul, klezmer and jazz, while its collective membership features horns, piano and guitar. The ensemble has over 30 members, including a former member of Dexys Midnight Runners.[1][2] About nine or ten members usually perform at a time. The group is led by singer Jack Terricloth, who has been the most constant member during the group's history. Terricloth is known for his pointed commentary during shows; his monologues have touched on politics and his transformation from the "old school".
Its lyrics often concern historical or biographical subjects, such as Weimar-era Germany, Peter Lorre, Jeffrey Lee Pierce of The Gun Club, Paul Robeson, Leni Riefenstahl, Dante Alighieri, Philip K. Dick, and Jonathan Fire*Eater. Other songs deal with many aspects of life. One 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.
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The World/Inferno Friendship Society's annual Halloween show, Hallowmas, is its most-anticipated performance of the year. The event is known for its elaborate planning and 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 rear of the hall; circus performances and fire breathing by the Odd Child Uprising troupe and a cadaverous marching band materializing on stage for the finale, "Pumpkin Time". The song (performed only at Hallowmas shows) includes street rallies, and references The Great Pumpkin from the Peanuts comic strip.
| Name | Instrument(s) | Years | Other groups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Terricloth | Lead vocals, guitar | 1996- | Sticks and Stones[3] |
| Sandra Malak | Bass, backing vocals | 2006- | SHLSHKD |
| Matthew Landis | Piano, backing vocals | 2008- | The Minor Arcana |
| Frank Morin | Guitar | 2010- | |
| Leslie Wacker | Alto saxophone | 2010- | Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band, Black Bear Combo, Blackberry Wood, Environmental Encroachment |
| Mora Precarious | Drums | 2010- | Ketman, Trabants |
| Rebecca Schlappich | Viola | 2010- | Kiss Kiss |
| Name | Instrument(s) | Years | Other groups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Hess | Tenor saxophone, clarinet | 1998-2011 | Guignol, Anti-Social Music, Balkan Beat Box, Capital M, The Peter Hess Quartet[4] |
| Ken Thomson | Baritone Saxophone | 2005-2011 | Gutbucket, Anti-Social Music, Signal[5] |
| Raja Azar | Piano, backing vocals | Jollyship the Whiz-Bang | |
| Benjamin Kotch | Drums | 1997–2007, 2010 | Eve's Plum[6] |
| Lucky Strano | Guitar | 1996-2010 | Morning Glory, Sewage, Devastation Wagon |
| Maura Corrigan | Alto saxophone | 1998-2010 | Georgia Redcoat Marching Band, Mod Alpert |
| Brian Viglione | Drums | The Dresden Dolls, Nine Inch Nails, HUMANWINE | |
| Kevin Raczka | Drums | Jollyship The Whiz-Bang, Hungry March Band | |
| Ara Babajian | Drums | Leftöver Crack, The Slackers, Star Fucking Hipsters | |
| Semra Ercin | Percussion, bells, backing vocals | Chandeliers, kiss Slash Crooked Smile, Casa de Chihuahua, Kid Casanova[7] | |
| Franz Nicolay | Accordion, piano, backing vocals | Guignol, The Hold Steady, Anti-Social Music, Against Me![8] | |
| Yula Beeri | Electric bass, backing vocals | 1999-2006 | Nanuchka, Star Fucking Hipsters, Yula & the eXtended Family[9] |
| Karen Kanan Correa | Bass, backing vocals, viola | 2005-2006 | Demander[10] |
| Gina Rodriguez (Moist Gina) | Electric bass, backing vocals | April–May 2005 | Moisturizer |
| Erik Proft | Bass | 2007 | Planned Collapse, Kama Rupa |
| Steve Paelet | Electric bass | 2002 | |
| Dan Bailey | Baritone saxophone | 1998-2005 | Milk Money, The Grown-Ups, The Panic, The Maspeth Holders[11] |
| Kevin Corzett | Tenor saxophone | 2007-2008 | Reverend Glasseye, Ketman |
| John Moore | Baritone saxophone | 1997-1998 | |
| Max Bank | Jazz flute | 1999-2009 | |
| Brian Pearl | Piano | 2000-2001 | Matt Pond PA |
| Scott Hollingsworth | Piano | 1996-2000 | Sticks and Stones, Product |
| Ms. Xtal Chaos | Tuba | 1996-1998 | |
| Detroit Rios | Percussion | 1997-1998 | |
| Stephe Polier | Tenor saxophone | 1997-1999 | |
| Geoff Blythe | Tenor saxophone | 1999 | Dexys Midnight Runners, The Bureau, Black 47, The TKO Horns[12][2] |
| Sam Burns | Tenor Saxophone | 1999-2000 | |
| Rio Glenn (Rio No ABC) | Backing Vocals | 1999-2000 | |
| Kika Von Kluck | Backing vocals | 1997-1998 | |
| Sioux Kovax | Backing vocals | 1996-1997 (graphics, 1994-2003) | |
| Mike Wagner | Trombone | 1999 | Antibalas |
| Klaus Schank | Trombone | 1998 | Scrapy |
| Lauren Black | Trumpet | 1997-1999 | Kenn Firpo Rent Explosion, 1,000 Pounds of People[13] |
| David Patrikios | Marimba, 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 |
| Dan Neustadt | Piano, backing vocals | The Hold Steady | |
| Jon Gilch | Drums | Sticks and Stones[14] |