Antiseen

Antiseen
Origin Charlotte, North Carolina[1]
Genres Punk rock, hardcore punk, cowpunk
Years active 1983–present
Associated acts G.G. Allin
Hank Williams III
Website www.antiseen.com
Members Jeff Clayton
Mad Brother Ward
Barry Hannibal
The Gooch
Past members Joe Young
Doug Canipe
Greg Clayton
Dale Duncan
Marlon Cherry
Doug Throgmorton
Thomas O'Keefe
GG Allin
Tripp McNeill
Sir Barry Hannibal
Byron "Spitbubble" McDonald
Lee "Flea" Howard
Steve Sadler
Brad Keeter
Bill Cates
Mitch Cooper
Joe Williams
Dana "Ace" Davis
John Bowman
Phil Keller

Antiseen (often stylized as ANTiSEEN)[2] is an American punk rock band formed in Charlotte, North Carolina by Jeff Clayton and Joe Young in 1983. The name "Antiseen" serves as a deliberate deviation of the phrase "anti-scene" - the group not wishing to adhere to standard perceptions of punk rock in specific and rock music in general. Musically Antiseen draw influence from groups like the Ramones or Stooges; employing short, heavily distorted chord-driven songs largely free of guitar solos or advanced musicianship. The band has a catalogue of over 100 LPs, EPs, CDs and DVDs recorded with various line-ups and have performed all over the world.

The band members consist of vocalist Jeff Clayton, guitarist Mad Brother Ward, bassist Sir Barry Hannibal and drummer The Gooch.

History

In 1987, Jeff Clayton partnered with Thomas O'Keefe to form Judas Bullethead, an avant-punk outfit which released three EPs between 1987 and 1991. Clayton and O'Keefe performed under assumed identities controlled by the fictitious godhead known as 'Charlie'. Although only performing in public three times, the records were critically lauded and have become collectors items. Reportedly there is an entire album of unreleased material.

In 1988 guitarist Joe Young released a solo EP, 'Bury The Needle' which featured several ANTiSEEN members. Jeff Clayton has recorded two solo EPs, 'Jeff Clayton & the Slimegoats' in 1988 and 'Jeff Clayton & the Mongrels' in 2009. The Mongrels featured Mike Hendrix of the Belmont Playboys on lead guitar.

GG Allin used Antiseen as his backing band on his Murder Junkies album. The band has stated that this album was a mixed blessing, saying that although they regret the "backing band" stigma that it gave them, they loved the way the album turned out.

Sometimes it seems like that's all people wanna talk about. I don't regret those days at all, but we have done more than just that. We miss GG a lot though. —Jeff Clayton[3]

After GG Allin's death in 1993 Clayton fronted Allin's surviving band, also known as the Murder Junkies for several tours.

Clayton has also appeared as lead vocalist on the Alcoholics Unanimous EP 'Dixie Fried' and was involved as vocalist in the Simon Stokes tribute band 'Conqueror Worm'(featuring members of Rancid Vat and Poison Idea), the album 'Rock inferno' by Australian band Rupture and has an uncredited backing vocal on Hank III's 'Damn Right, Rebel Proud'.

Clayton has also produced recordings by Hellstomper and Mad Brother Ward.

The band were also charter members of the now-defunct "Confederacy of Scum." The COS were a loose collective of bands including Rancid Vat,Seducer, Limecell, Hellstomper, Cocknoose, Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13, Hammerlock, Before I Hang, and The Tunnel Rats. Many of these acts would unite yearly in various cities to stage a weekend long event known as the "Supershow".

After several years playing regularly throughout the East Coast and southern United States, Antiseen embarked on their first major world tour in 1992 performing in 19 countries in Europe and North America. This was repeated semi-annually for the rest of the 1990s. By the close of the decade the group tired of the routine and began to focus on shorter trips concentrating on individual regions (e.g. the west coast, east coast, midwest etc.) while returning to Europe for festivals.

In 2003 Antiseen staged a twentieth anniversary concert in Charlotte which featured many past members of the group participating during the show. The set was professionally filmed and released on DVD.

In 2004 Steel Cage Records released a "coffee table" book entitled Destructo Maximus. The contents include interviews with current and past members of the band, testimonials of friends and fans, press clippings, reviews and over 300 captioned photographs chronicling the band's history to that point. It also features fan artwork, a poster and flyer gallery, song lyrics and a full discography.

In 2006, TKO Records released a tribute album entitled "Everybody Loves Antiseen" which features 58 various artists including Hank III, ZEKE, Thomas O'Keefe, Chaos UK, Limecell, Texas Terri Bomb and Jeff Dahl, Simon Stokes and notorious rap legend Blowfly.

O'Keefe started "Thomas O'Keefe and the shitBirds" with Ex-Antiseen Drummer Barry Hannibal in 2008 to perform at the Antiseen 25th Anniversary show. They played a few shows in 2009. They currently remain on hiatus due to O'Keefe's schedule.

Antiseen has also collaborated with Hank Williams III.[1] The band has appeared on split 7" EPs with HANK III, Electric Frankenstein, Brody's Militia, The Hookers and Blowfly.

O'Keefe has spent the last decade as the Tour Manager for Columbia Records band Train.

On April 30, 2014, Clayton posted on his Facebook page that Young had died. It was later reported in local news that he died of a heart attack.[4]

ANTiSEEN continues to play live tour dates can be found on the band's website.

Style

Music and lyrics

The lyrics of Antiseen deal with issues such as the military ("Stormtrooper", "Pledge Allegiance to the Bomb", "Warhero"), a love for the South ("Trapped in Dixie"), independence and pride ("Glad I Am The Way I Am", "Fuck All Y'All", "No Apologies"), and songs that defy political correctness ("Animals, Eat 'Em", "F.T.K.", "Spare Change", "Watch the Bastard Fry"). Antiseen's lyrics, which the band has described as satirical, are confrontational and caustic. Critics of the band have claimed that Antiseen's lyrics are racist, homophobic and misogynistic.[5] However, the group has included female, African-American and homosexual members in past incarnations.

Clayton writes most of the lyrics, although on their most recent studio release, Badwill Ambassadors, Sir Barry Hannibal and Doug Canipe handled most of the songwriting duties.

The band has a strong love for professional wrestling. They have displayed this by making musical tributes to various wrestlers, including Cactus Jack, Sabu, Terry Funk, and Abdullah the Butcher. Non-specific songs include "(I'm a) Babyface Killer" (sung from the viewpoint of a heel) and "From Parts Unknown" (a tribute to wrestlers who wear masks).

Additionally, Antiseen has covered songs by artists such as Hank Williams Sr., Skrewdriver, Ernest Tubb, Hellstomper, GG Allin, Anti-Nowhere League, Black Flag, Broken Talent, Alice Cooper, Dave Dudley, Bob Dylan, Roky Erickson, George Jones, The Kinks, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blowfly, Curtis Mayfield, Roy Orbison, Ramones, Rancid Vat, Rose Tattoo, Steve Sadler, Jumping Gene Simmons, Jack Starr, Sun Ra, Screaming Lord Sutch, The Stooges, Talking Heads, The Trashmen, and The Troggs.

Live performances

Early Antiseen performances featured bizarre theatrical stage props involving mannequins, fake blood and pyrotechnics. Such performances found the group often banned from clubs unused to such presentations. Eventually the group tired of the logistics and legalities involved with a theatrical stage presentation and phased it out of their act, while increasing the physical mayhem of their stage antics - often destroying their own equipment. Vocalist Clayton began employing acts of self-mutilation, often cutting his face or arms with shards of broken glass or pounding his head with a microphone drawing blood and abrasions.

Political views

Guitarist Joe Young was a member of the Libertarian Party, and states that he has voted libertarian since 1978.[6] In 2000, Young ran for state house as a Libertarian.[6] Young ran for city council in 2001.[6]

The band members have stated that Antiseen is an apolitical band, although their songs have satirized extremist politics.

Discography

[7]

In addition to this, the band has released at least 35 different 7-inch vinyl records.

Band members

Current members

Former members

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Desrosiers, Mark. "ANTiSEEN: Drastic / E.P. Royalty < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  2. ↑ ANTiSEEN home page
  3. ↑ October 2001 interview
  4. ↑ Devores, Courtney (5 May 2014). "Antiseen guitarist dies of heart attack". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "The Boys From Brutalsville". Antiseen. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "SLUG Magazine | ANTiSEEN". Slugmag.com. 2004-09-29. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  7. ↑ Antiseen, at Discogs

External links