Kraut (band)
Kraut was a New York City punk rock band who formed in 1981. The original members were Davey Gunner (vocals), Doug Holland (guitar/vocals) Don Cowan (bass/vocals), and Johnny Feedback (drums/vocals).
History
Kraut's very first performance was opening for the The Clash at Bond International Casino in New York on June 11, 1981. While recording their debut album, An Adjustment to Society (produced by Ryk Oakley), they opened for The Professionals at the Channel in Boston. Former Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones became good friends with Kraut and recorded extra guitar tracks on the album. Jones' playing was included on "Kill for Cash", "Sell Out" and "Onward". A video clip for "All Twisted" appeared in rotation on MTV, making Kraut the first independent band to be played on the station. The band went on to release a second album, Whetting the Scythe, and toured the USA.
While the band's early sound was more in the classic hardcore punk vein, by the mid-1980s, Kraut had become a hard rock/metal band similar to later period SSD. Christopher Smith from Battalion of Saints joined on second guitar and recorded with the band.
Guitarist Doug Holland went on to play for New York hardcore band the Cro-Mags.
A Kraut reunion show with all the original members took place in 2002 at CBGB during the New York Thrash reunion, yielding a live album titled Kraut - Live at CBGB's.
Discography
- "Kill for Cash" 7" (Cabbage, 1981)
- "Unemployed" 7" (Cabbage, 1982)
- An Adjustment to Society LP (Cabbage/Faulty/I.R.S., 1982)
- Whetting the Scythe LP (Cabbage/Enigma, 1984)
- Night of Rage LP (New Red Archives, 1989)
- Live at CBGB's CD (New Red Archives, 2004)
Collections
- The Movie CD (New Red Archives, 1990)
- Complete Studio Recordings 1981-1986 CD (New Red Archives, 2002)
Compilation Appearances
- New York Thrash tape (ROIR, 1982) "Getaway", "Last Chance"
- Son of Oi! LP (Syndicate, 1983) "Onwards"
- Something to Believe In LP (BYO, 1983) "Pyramids"
- Bang Zoom No. 3 tape (Bang Zoom, 1983) "Don't Believe (live)"
- Flipside Vinyl Fanzine LP (Gasatanka/Enigma, 1984) "Flossing with an E String"
- Enigma Variations (Enigma, 1985) "Juvenile Justice"
- Hardcore Breakout USA (New Red Archives, 1990)
- The Punk, The Bad & The Ugly (Cleopatra Records, 1997)
- At War with Society (New Red Archives, 1998)
- At War with Society II (New Red Archives, 1999)
- Hardcore Breakout - Essential Punk (New Red Archives, 2012)