Scissorfight

Scissorfight
Origin Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States
Genres Crust punk, Stoner metal
Years active 1995–present
Labels Wonderdrug Records
Tortuga Recordings
Website scissorfight.com
Members Jay Fortin
Paul Jarvis
Kevin J. Strongbow
Christopher Shurtleff

Scissorfight is an American four-piece band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, fronted by singer/songwriter Ironlung. The band has a strong libertarian viewpoint and defines itself as "acid mountain rock".

Biography

Scissorfight formed in 1995 in the town of Portsmouth.[1] The original lineup consisted of guitarist Jay Fortin, bassist Paul Jarvis, and drummer Joel Muzzey. Blending extreme genres such as grindcore and post-hardcore, the band hired vocalist Ironlung (named for his ability to take in illegal substances) to "stand there and look scary".

Relocating to Boston, the band was not easily accepted by the local music scene due to their extreme behavior. At one show, Ironlung dislocated his shoulder and then spent the entire show trying to punch it back into place. Muzzey left the band soon after, and was replaced by Ironlung's brother Kevin J. Strongbow. They recorded their debut, 1996's Guaranteed Kill, and found themselves getting quite a lot of press in the underground. The band followed it up with 1998's Balls Deep, which received good reviews from mainstream publications. Their success in Boston was now quite impressive, and they signed to independent label Tortuga Recordings to release 1999's New Hampshire.[2] The radio play they received locally earned them a spot at the River Rave festival, where they performed with Cypress Hill and Stone Temple Pilots. They released an EP of covers entitled Piscataqua soon after, and were featured on MTV's "You Hear It First" segment. In 2001 the band released two albums, the original Mantrapping for Sport and Profit and an album of re-recorded songs to be released in Britain called American Cloven Hoof Blues. A series of EPs (Potential New Agent for Unconventional Warfare, Deathchants, Breakdowns and Military Waltzes, Vol. 2, and Victory over Horseshit) followed, with the full-length Jaggernaut arriving in March 2006. Scissorfight was named "best hard rock band" at the Boston Music Awards in 2003[3] and 2004.[4]

The band is believed to be on hiatus after Paul Jarvis and Jay Fortin went on to form the band Mess With the Bull. Though they continue to retain a dedicated fanbase, their future is in question. Kevin Strongbow has since worked with Steve Brodsky, formerly of Cave-In, and as of early 2009 vocalist Ironlung has been reportedly pursuing a new solo project appropriately titled Dead Whale. In 2012, Paul Jarvis and Jay Fortin joined up with Mike McNeil and David Nebbia to form their newest creation, Supermachine. In March of 2012, they signed with Small Stone Records out of Detroit Michigan and the debut self-titled record comes out on May 14th of 2013.

The band's name comes from the lesbian sexual practice called tribadism. Muzzey named the band.

Members

Current

Former

Discography

References

  1. ↑ Vizzini, Ned (March 5, 2002). "Scissorfight; Franzese's Bully Party; Stony Awards; More Shopping and Fucking". New York Press. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
  2. ↑ Carioli, Carly (December 9, 1999). "Metal militias: The wild kingdom of Scissorfight and Nightstick". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
  3. ↑ Boston Globe, September 5, 2003
  4. ↑ Boston Globe, September 30, 2004

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