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Fear (band)

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This article is about the band. For the emotion, see fear.
Fear
Fear performing on the 2010 Warped Tour
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
GenresPunk rock
Years active1977–present
LabelsSlash, Fear, Sector 2
MembersLee Ving
br/>Dave Stark
Paul Lerma
Andrew Jamiez

Fear is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1977. The band is credited for helping to shape the sound and style of American hardcore punk,[1] the group started out as part of the early California punk rock scene, and gained national prominence after an infamous 1981 performance on Saturday Night Live. A re-recording of 1982’s The Record is due to release in early 2012.

Frontman Lee Ving has been the band's only constant member. Since its formation, the band went through various line-up changes and at one point featured Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers on bass.

History

1970s

Fear was formed in 1977 by vocalist/guitarist Lee Ving and bassist Derf Scratch. They recruited guitarist Burt Good, and drummer Johnny Backbeat to fill out the original lineup. In 1977, Fear released the single "I Love Living in the City". Shortly after this Good and Backbeat left the band and were replaced by Philo Cramer and Spit Stix.

1980s

Film director Penelope Spheeris met Lee Ving and Spit Stix while they were hanging handbills on telephone poles in Los Angeles on Laurel Canyon. After a brief discussion, she asked if they wanted to be in a documentary about the Los Angeles punk scene, [2]The Decline of Western Civilization(1981). It showed Fear performing a set in which they baited members of the audience with personal attacks and offbeat humor, inspiring some audience members to come on stage and try to fight them. Spheeris was then married to Slash Records president Bob Biggs who, later that year, signed a recording deal with Fear.

1981 appearance on Saturday Night Live

The movie brought the band to the attention of John Belushi, who lobbied successfully to get the band a spot as a musical guest on the 1981 Halloween episode of his former show Saturday Night Live. The band's appearance included a group of moshers, among them Belushi, Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat (and later Fugazi), Tesco Vee of The Meatmen (and later Tesco Vee's Hate Police), Harley Flanagan and John Joseph of The Cro-mags, and John Brannon of Negative Approach. The show's director originally wanted to prevent the dancers from participating, so Belushi offered to be in the episode if the dancers were allowed to stay.[2] The end result was the shortening of Fear's appearance on TV. They started their second performance by saying, "It's great to be in New Jersey", drawing boos from SNL's New York live audience. Fear played "Beef Bologna", "New York's Alright If You Like Saxophones", and started to play "Let's Have a War" when the telecast faded into commercial. The slamdancers left ripe pumpkin remains on the set. Belushi had offered Fear the soundtrack for his major motion picture Neighbors. The film's producers eventually forced Fear off the project, and Belushi got them the infamous SNL gig as compensation.

After their SNL appearance, which resulted in $20,000 in damages, some clubs chose not to hire the band. A New York Post article later reported the figure to be $500,000. This is believed to have originated from Ving, who told the Post that "...we caused $500,000 worth of damage, a cool half a million dollars worth of damage, ‘cause we’re professionals, and I counted the damage myself."[3]

1982-1989

In 1982, Fear released their debut album The Record. After touring in support of the album, Ving fired Derf Scratch. In the summer of 1983 through early 1984, while Stix toured in Europe with Nina Hagen, Chuck Biscuits had agreed to replace him, but Stix returned and Biscuits never played a show.[4] Eric Feldman of PJ Harvey, Captain Beefheart, Pere Ubu, and Frank Black, briefly filled in, before he was replaced with Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Flea left the band and was replaced by Lorenzo Buhne. In 1986, the band recorded, with Ving producing, their follow up album More Beer in two days.

1990s

In 1991, an album capturing a 1985 performance was released as Live...For the Record, and shortly afterwards bassist Will "Sluggo" MacGregor was hired. Following the 1991 through 1993 Fear North American touring the original Fear disbanded. Philo Cramer and Spit Stix left Fear citing disputes with Ving over finances, his right wing beliefs, and his lack of empathy. For the next two years Ving reformed in Austin, Texas as Lee Ving's Army. This eventually became the new Fear line-up including Ving backed by Lee Ving's Army members, guitarist Sean Cruse, bassist Scott Thunes, and drummer Andrew Jamiez. Of these new members Jamiez was the only one currently playing in the band. In 1995, an album was released, entitled Have Another Beer with FEAR. In 2000, Fear released the album American Beer, which featured Ving and Jamiez, along with new members Richard Presley and Mando Lopez. The album included new recordings of several previously unreleased older Fear songs, as well as some new compositions. Not long after Presley and Lopez began playing with Kim Deal and Kelley Deal in The Breeders.

2000s

In 2008, Fear (with Ving as the only original member) participated in the annual Warped Tour, a traveling punk rock-themed festival.

Band members

Current members

Former members

Discography

Studio albums


Singles

Soundtracks

Influence

Fear has influenced a number of bands who have paid tribute to the band by covering its songs.

References

  1. ^ Huey, Steve. "Fear". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  2. ^ a b "Spit Stix interview". Markprindle.com. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  3. ^ http://www.citizinemag.com/features/interviews/41-lee-ving-interview.html
  4. ^ "Fear". MisfitsCentral.com. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
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