Detroit hardcore

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Detroit Suburbs was the location of one of the first important hardcore punk scenes that swept underground America in the early 1980s. By the end of 1981 the new style sometimes known as "Midwest Hardcore" had exploded across North America and Detroit was one of several important regional centers fostering its spread.

Hardcore punk was a perfect fit in Detroit. Rock music there had always been louder, harder and more aggressive than in the rest of the country. In the 1960s while other rock music scenes were consumed by countless acts riding the "flower children" zeitgeist, Detroit musicians such as the MC5 and the Stooges were playing to huge crowds at the Grand Ballroom and arguably inventing punk rock in the process. While once epitomizing the prosperity of the working class "American dream," Detroit had seen its massive base of high paid manufacturing jobs decimated. Thousands of applicants would line up for a dozen job openings. By the time the eighties rolled around there wasn't a kid in South East Michigan who didn't know quite well that the days affording a comfortable life through a factory job were long gone. The rage and anger which permeated the hardcore punk of the era was something the Detroit area had in seemingly unlimited supplies.

One key event in the birth of the Detroit scene was the screening of the documentary film "Decline of Western Civilization" at the Punch and Judy theatre. Hundreds of Detroit kids saw in its portrayal of the west coast punk scene something that suited their own situation perfectly and quickly dedicated themselves to bringing this new subculture to bloom in Detroit.

The Detroit scene wasn't an isolated phenomena but also the focus for a number of sister scenes throughout Michigan and northern Ohio. The major hardcore bands of this early regional scene included Lansing, Michigan's The Meatmen and Violent Apathy, The Crucifucks, Toledo, Ohio's Necros, and Detroit's Negative Approach.

[edit] The 80s and 90s

The Detroit scene has become most important over the years for Touch and Go Records, which was started in Lansing, Michigan by Tesco Vee and Dave Stinson as a popular local fanzine also started this small hardcore label then moved to Washington DC and finally to Chicago, and is now one of the most important indie rock labels in the multiverse.

A crucial venue for hardcore in Detroit was known as The Greystone. A previous venue called The Hungry Brain had been forced to relocate several times and by 1985 found a permanent home at a run down old hall on Michigan Ave. deep in the city of Detroit called The Greystone. For several years it was unquestionably the most important hardcore venue in Michigan Ave. For several years the vast majority of all hardcore bands that toured anywhere within 250 miles of Detroit played at least one gig at the Greystone.

Throughout the 80s and 90s Detroit was a mecca for hardcore punk bands. The band Cold As Life developed a loyal following right up to there demise in the early 90s, even surviving the murder of their frontman Rawn Beauty. Other important bands of that time period were the Almighty Lumberjacks of Death (A.L.D), fronted by the charismatic and deep voiced Jimmy Doom. A.L.D. always filled the house opening up for all the heavy hitting punk stars of the time(Social Distortion, Circle Jerks, etc.)at venues such as St. Andrew's Hall and Blondies.

Other notable acts of that often violent and exciting time were Heresy, Ugly But Proud, VH8, Disgust, SBLC, The Rouges and The Skraps. The Skraps were fronted by members of the uber punk gang, The Apple Sids. Known for their uniform of engineer boots, Wilson's leather jackets, and evil tattoos -- the Sids were a joke in the scene, especially because they were employed as bouncers at Andrew's Hall, the major venue for shows during the late '80s through today. The Sids called themselves a club, but these tough guys were as much of a gang as the Backstreet Boys, and they had the SIDs emblem painted on the back of their jackets to prove it. Burly, tough and evil -- the SIDs paid homage to the likes of Elton John and Michael Jackson with their devil locks and slicked back hair. These were some hard drinking boys from the suburbs who would suck hard on any kid who so much as shot one of their members a dirty look at a show.

At one time, a major feud broke out between the SIDs, and Disgust who formed their own club called the American Beer Allies (ABA). ABA were all about drinking beer, getting high and having a good time. The SIDs did not like the good time antics of ABA members and swore to squash any hardcore kid associated with this group and the band, Disgust. During this period, shows in the city became a tense outlet for the SIDs vengeance and some members of ABA felt the fury of the SIDs. Actually the squids were no threat to the A.B.A who weren't worried about them at all. No member of the A.B.A ever felt any "vengeance" while the SIDS probably dreamed of feeling many things on the A.B.A

By 1991 most of the punk in Detroit centered around hardcore, with the band Pittbull leading the way into the future. Shows became much more intense, and the dancing moved from the traditional circle pit of the past to an all out war "hootenanny".

Throughout the mid '90s many shows were held at the coffee shop located on the University of Detroit campus. The scene at this time had a much more progressive tone, with a heavy emphasis placed on straightedge and veganism. The style quickly moved from tight black jeans, Misfits T-shirts and flannels to baggy jeans, BK Ratch Tech shoes, and Fila vests. Fights at these shows were minimal, and the spirit of DIY was strong. One could now go to a show and instead of getting a boot in the head they could purchase a fanzine about some kids road trip to the Circle K while engaging in a lively discussion with Ray Cappo about the merits of Krishna. But the good times and unpredictability of the old scene were now replaced by a new, more politically charged environment. In many regards the shows started to become much more about knowing the right people (Eric Z. & Leto to name a few) instead of about Punk Rock. The air of fury and vegetable energy that was the trademark of early Detroit Hardcore shows was diminishing.

Some bands carrying on the hardcore scene in Detroit include H8.INC,Bill Bondsmen, Attack Of The... ,Open Face Kombat, State ,and Bloody Knuckle Combat.

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