SS Decontrol

 Today in 1985 SSD released the album Break it Up

Boston, Massachusetts Hardcore punk, Crossover thrash, Heavy metal, Straight Edge

Status:Split-up

Years active: 1981–1985

Originally known as Society System Decontrol (and later SS Decontrol), SSD is credited with having been the band that brought the straightedge movement to Boston's hardcore/punk world. Motivated by the unity of the Washington, D.C., hardcore scene, eventual SSD leader and guitarist Alan Barile formed Society System Decontrol with vocalist David Spring (known in the band as Springa), bassist Jamie Sciarappa, and drummer Chris Foley. Their first demo, How Much Art, was released not long after their first official gig in 1981. Their tendency to focus on EP releases followed, beginning with 1982's The Kids Will Have Their Say! (on the band's own XClaim! label), considered by many to be one of the essential early straightedge releases. Touring ensued, and with their own traveling fan support (known as the Boston Crew), SSD made a name for themselves in the nascent national straightedge scene. 1983 saw the addition of second guitarist Francoise Levesque, as well as the release of the EP Get It Away! In 1984, now known simply as SSD, the band released their more metal-influenced How We Rock on Modern Method. The band finally put to rest their penchant for EP-only releases in 1985, but that year's Break It Up lived up to its billing and was the final active release from SSD, which split in November of that year. The band retained a fan base over the years, and in 1992 Taang! and Alan Barile compiled the band's 1981-1985 material for CD release, a collection entitled Power. Select members of the band remained in the music world, with Barile forming Gage, Foley drumming with various bands and solo artists, Sciarappa taking up bass duties with Slapshot, and Springa playing with Razorcaine and Die Blitzkinder.

Homestead

Springa - vocals

Al Barile - guitar

Francois Levesque - guitar

Jaime Sciarappa - bass

Chris Foley - drums

Side A

"Break It Up" (3:19)

"Children Will Rock" (3:46)

"Heart Failure" (4:35)

"Hit the Bottom" (4:28)

"Blood Flood" (5:07)

Side B

"No Solution" (4:17)

"Baby Black" (3:49)

"Calendar" (5:27)

"Screams of the Night" (4:58)

"Feel the Flame" (4:11)

Break It Up was the fourth and final release from Boston Crossover Thrash band SSD. It had both feet planted in the metal genre, leaving behind all semblance of punk and hardcore.

The Kinks

 Today in 1984 The Kinks released the album Word of Mouth

Muswell Hill, London, England Rock

Status:Active

Years active:1964–1996, 2018–present

Although they weren't as boldly innovative as the Beatles or as popular as the Rolling Stones or the Who, the Kinks were one of the most influential bands of the British Invasion. Like most bands of their era, the Kinks began as an R&B/blues outfit. Within four years, the band had become the most staunchly English of all their contemporaries, drawing heavily from British music hall and traditional pop, as well as incorporating elements of country, folk, and blues.

Arista

Ray Davies - guitar, keyboards, harmonica, vocals

Dave Davies - guitar, background vocals, lead vocals on "Guilty" and "Living on a Thin Line"

Jim Rodford - bass, background vocals

Mick Avory - drums on "Missing Persons", "Sold Me Out" and "Going Solo"

Bob Henrit - drums on all other tracks

Ian Gibbons - keyboards, background vocals

All tracks written by Ray Davies, except as noted.

Side 1

No. Title Length

1. "Do It Again" 4:14

2. "Word of Mouth" 3:51

3. "Good Day" 4:35

4. "Living on a Thin Line" (Dave Davies) 4:16

5. "Sold Me Out" 3:44

Side 2

No. Title Length

1. "Massive Reductions" 3:15

2. "Guilty" (Dave Davies) 4:12

3. "Too Hot" 4:08

4. "Missing Persons" 2:53

5. "Summer's Gone" 3:52

6. "Going Solo" 3:58

1999 CD reissue bonus tracks

No. Title Length

12. "Good Day" (extended edit) 5:31

13. "Summer's Gone" (extended edit) 4:54

Word of Mouth is the twentieth studio album by the English rock group, The Kinks. "Do It Again" was released as a single from the album in 1985.

Led Zeppelin

 Today in 1982 Led Zepplin released the EP Coda

London, England Hard rock blues rock folk rock heavy metal

Status: Split Up

Years active 1968–80

(reunions: 1985, 1988, 1995, 2007)

Though Black Sabbath was arguably a more influential band in regards to the history of heavy metal, no hard rock/metal discussion is complete without a mention of Led Zeppelin. Besides recording one of the most popular rock songs of all time ("Stairway To Heaven"), Led Zeppelin's back catalog has served as a blueprint for blues-based hard rock for decades. The list of instantly recognizable hits is staggering: "Whole Lotta Love", "Kashmir", "Communication Breakdown", "The Immigrant Song", "Rock And Roll", and on and on. The band abruptly broke up shortly after the unfortunate death of John Bonham in 1980, the remaining three asserting they could not continue without their drummer. Robert Plant and Jimmy Page both have managed successful solo careers, and the two have played Zep tunes (with an elaborate backing band) together in recent years.

Swan Song

John Bonham (R.I.P. 1980)– drums, percussion

John Paul Jones – bass guitar, piano, keyboards

Jimmy Page – acoustic and electric guitars, electronic treatments, production

Robert Plant – lead vocals, harmonica

All tracks produced by Jimmy Page, except for "Travelling Riverside Blues", produced by John Walters, and "White Summer/Black Mountain Side" produced by Jeff Griffin.

Side one

No. Title Writer(s) Length

1. "We're Gonna Groove" (Live on 9 January 1970 at the Royal Albert Hall, London, England) (Edit; remix with guitar overdubs and live audience eliminated)

James BetheaBen E. King

2:37

2. "Poor Tom" (Led Zeppelin III outtake, 1970)

Jimmy PageRobert Plant

3:02

3. "I Can't Quit You Baby" (Live on 9 January 1970 at the Royal Albert Hall, London, England: sound rehearsal, edited version) Willie Dixon 4:18

4. "Walter's Walk" (Houses of the Holy outtake, possibly with later overdubs, 1972)

PagePlant

4:31

Side two

No. Title Writer(s) Length

5. "Ozone Baby" (In Through the Out Door outtake, 1978)

PagePlant

3:36

6. "Darlene" (In Through the Out Door outtake, 1978)

John BonhamJohn Paul JonesPagePlant

5:06

7. "Bonzo's Montreux" (Recorded in 1976) Bonham 4:22

8. "Wearing and Tearing" (In Through the Out Door outtake, 1978)

PagePlant

5:27

1993/2008 compact disc editions bonus tracks

Four bonus tracks were added to the remastered compact disc edition included in the career-spanning boxed set Complete Studio Recordings (disc ten), and the subsequent Led Zeppelin Definitive Collection (disc twelve).

No. Title Writer(s) Length

9. "Baby Come On Home" (Led Zeppelin outtake, 1968; also appeared on Boxed Set 2, 1993)

Bert BernsPagePlant

4:30

10. "Travelling Riverside Blues" (Recorded live on 24 June 1969 in London, England, also appeared on Led Zeppelin Boxed Set, 1990)

Robert JohnsonPagePlant

5:08

11. "White Summer/Black Mountain Side" (Recorded live on 27 June 1969 in London, England, also appeared on Led Zeppelin Boxed Set) Page 8:01

12. "Hey, Hey, What Can I Do" (B-side of the "Immigrant Song" single, 1970)

BonhamJonesPagePlant

3:52

Deluxe edition bonus discs

Disc two

No. Title Writer(s) Length

1. "We're Gonna Groove" (Alternate mix)

BetheaKing

2:40

2. "If It Keeps On Raining" ("When the Levee Breaks") (Rough mix)

BonhamJonesMemphis MinniePagePlant

4:11

3. "Bonzo's Montreux" (Mix construction in progress) Bonham 4:57

4. "Baby Come On Home"

BernsPagePlant

4:30

5. "Sugar Mama" (mix) (Led Zeppelin outtake)

PagePlant

2:50

6. "Poor Tom" (Instrumental mix)

PagePlant

2:16

7. "Travelling Riverside Blues" (BBC Session)

JohnsonPagePlant

5:08

8. "Hey, Hey, What Can I Do"

BonhamJonesPagePlant

3:52

Disc three

No. Title Writer(s) Length

1. "Four Hands" ("Four Sticks") (Bombay Orchestra)

PagePlant

4:43

2. "Friends" (Bombay Orchestra)

PagePlant

4:25

3. "St. Tristan's Sword" (Rough mix) (Led Zeppelin III outtake) Page 5:40

4. "Desire" ("The Wanton Song") (Rough mix)

PagePlant

4:08

5. "Bring It On Home" (Rough mix) Dixon 2:32

6. "Walter's Walk" (Rough mix)

PagePlant

3:18

7. "Everybody Makes It Through" ("In the Light") (Rough mix)

JonesPagePlant

8:31

Total length: 1:04:02

The CD edition of the album incorrectly lists the running time of "Bring It On Home" (Rough Mix) as 4:19, which is actually the exact time of the finished version listed on Led Zeppelin II.

Coda is a rarities compilation album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. The album is a collection of unused tracks from various sessions during Led Zeppelin's twelve-year career. It was released in 1982, two years after the group had officially disbanded following the death of drummer John Bonham. The word coda, meaning a passage that ends a musical piece following the main body, was therefore chosen as the title.

Scorpions

 Today in 1979 Scorpions released the album Best of Scorpions

Sarstedt, Lower Saxony,Germany Traditional Heavy Metal/Hard Rock

Status:Active

Years active: 1964-present

The band name is "Scorpions," not "The Scorpions."

One of Germany's oldest and most well-known metal bands, Scorpions didn't really achieve worldwide fame until their second decade of existence, with songs like "Rock You Like A Hurricane" catapulting them into the spotlight. Actually they are probably the oldest metal band period, having been formed way back in 1964 (!) by guitarist Rudy Schenker, and he along with vocalist Klaus Meine are the sole remaining original members from their first release, 1972's Lonesome Crow. While albums such as Animal Magnetism, Blackout, and Love At First Sting represent the familiar mainstream Scorpions sound, their work in the 70's was a bit different, with then-guitarist Ulrich Roth's overt Hendrix stylings giving the band a different feel. The BNR pick for their best album would be Lovedrive, featuring a brief return from UFO guitarist (and brother of Rudy) Michael Schenker -- it signalled the end of the Roth era, and the beginnings of their more radio-friendly period, but it stands as their most metallic album. Typical of bands who last this long, Scorpions' later studio albums haven't had the same impact as their classic works, but the band is still a great live draw and who knows how much longer they'll be around. They had declared that they'd retire after a tour following 2010's Sting In The Tail, but five years later they released another album and are still in action.

RCA Victor Records

Compilation

Rudolf Schenker Guitars (rhythm)

Klaus Meine Vocals (all tracks, except track 6)

Francis Buchholz Bass

Hans-Jürgen Rosenthal Drums (track 5)

Ulrich Roth Guitars, Vocals (track 6)

Rudy Lenners Drums (tracks 2-4, 6, 8, 9, 11)

Herman Rarebell Drums (tracks 1, 7, 10)

Side A

1. Steamrock Fever 03:35

2. Pictured Life 03:21

3. Robot Man 02:42

4. Backstage Queen 03:10

5. Speedy's Coming 03:32

6. Hell-Cat 02:54

Side B

7. He's a Woman, She's a Man 03:14

8. In Trance 04:42

9. Dark Lady 03:25

10. The Sails of Charon 04:24

11. Virgin Killer 03:41

38:40

Tracks 1, 7 and 10 appeared on "Taken by Force" (1977).

Tracks 2, 4, 6 and 11 appeared on "Virgin Killer" (1976).

Tracks 3, 8 and 9 appeared on "In Trance" (1975).

Track 5 appeared on "Fly to the Rainbow" (1974).

Punk Flashback

 Todays Punk Flashback The Shapes

In the planets that revolve around planet punk The Shapes are definitely far out there along with planet Pluto. Fellow travellers would include the TV Personalities, Swell Maps and later on The Sconeheads and a whole host of indies. An antidote to the gothic splendour of Siouxsie, the intensity of The Clash, the rebellion of the Pistols and the growl of a thousand other punk bands. Basically the Shapes made music that you could jump to and at the same time make you smile and they played it in the places like The Vortex and The Roxy and they played it with bands such as The Killjoys, The Saints and The Cure.

The Shapes were so undeniably English and the masters of parenthesis. In the white hot anger of '78 they gave us 'Wots for lunch mum ? (not beans again!) ' and ' (I saw) Batman (in The Launderette)'. Its not yer 1234 punk more but a sound more akin to ATV but with humour. Never ones to take themselves seriously one of their last recordings was 'Jennifer Connifer' but that doesn't excuse naming a song Leamington (after Leamington Spa). If they don't make you smile then something's missing. Check out their Compilation 'Songs For Sensible People' on Overground Records which also contains the funniest sleeve notes I have ever read. Incidentally the bassist became a champion skydiver and the singer became Sister Bendy off Eurotrash!

Hardcore Flashback

 Todays Hardcore Flashback Caustic Christ

Pittsburgh, United States (2000 – present)

Caustic Christ is a hardcore punk band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are on Havoc Records. In late 2000, Bill Chamberlain (best known as the guitarist for The Pist) quit his band React and moved from Connecticut to Pittsburgh to start a band with guitarist/vocalist Eric Good and bassist Corey Lyons of Aus-Rotten. While Aus-Rotten’s split resulted in vocalist Dave Trenga forming the heavy, deeply political crust band Behind Enemy Lines, Caustic Christ was more in the vein of ’80s hardcore a la Negative Approach and Black Flag and surprisingly didn’t often cover politics as a topic. Together with drummer Ron Wingrove, Good and Lyons began to practice in Corey, Eric and Bill’s basement, played local shows and a few weekend tours, and recorded a demo. During that time, Aus-Rotten broke up and Bill also formed a band with their drummer and singer, Behind Enemy Lines. Sadly, in the spring of 2001 Ron was struck by a car and sustained brain damage that rendered him unable to play drums. After a hiatus, the band replaced him with Greg Mairs of Submachine. This was supposed to be a temporary solution while the band found another less busy drummer, but 5 years later Greg is still an integral part of the band.

With Greg, they recorded their first 7”, which was released on Havoc Records, as were all of their releases from then on. They have toured the entire United States extensively over the years with bands like Subhumans and Municipal Waste, and have been interviewed in Maximum RocknRoll, HeartattaCk, Suburban Voice, and numerous other punk zines. They are local favorites, greatly admired in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia scenes, and playing at the Roboto frequently.

Classic Flashback

 Todays Classic Flashback The Seekers

The Seekers were a group of Australian folk-influenced pop musicians which was formed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in 1962. They were the first Australian popular music group to achieve significant chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Their 60s hits included: "I'll Never Find Another You", "A World of Our Own" , "The Carnival is Over" (which the Seekers sung at various closing ceremonies in Australia, including Expo '88 and the Paralympics), "Someday One Day", "Walk With Me", "Morningtown Ride", and "When Will The Good Apples Fall". Their tune "Georgy Girl" in particular served as the title song of the film of the same name. These songs have had significant airplay on 'oldies' radio stations over the years.

Bruce Woodley and The Rain, The Park and Other Things's "I Am Australian", which has been recorded by The Seekers, and by singer Judith Durham with Russell Hitchcock and Mandauway Yunupingu, has become an unofficial Australian anthem.