D Generation

For other uses, see D Generation (disambiguation).

D Generation

D Generation (also known as DGen) were an American glam punk band formed in 1991 in New York City. During its history the band released three albums, to much critical acclaim. The group's sound blurred the lines between punk rock, glam rock and garage rock.

History

The original line-up for D Generation consisted of vocalist Jesse Malin (who had previously played with New York band Heart Attack during the 1980s), guitarists Danny Sage (also an ex-Heart Attack member), John Carco on bass, Howie Pyro on guitar, and drummer Michael Wildwood. The band had not yet been named, although much of the material would later be performed and recorded by D Generation. The line up did not last. After bassist John Carco quit (later to join forces with Dee Dee Ramone), Malin and Pyro continued to play, naming the band, and Sage and Wildwood left briefly to finish up their previous projects and were replaced for a brief time by Georgie Seville and Belvy K respectively. Sage and Wildwood soon returned, and this is the line-up D Generation is best known for.

Debut release

The band first signed with Chrysalis Records, with whom they released their debut album D Generation. Despite a generally favourable critical reaction, the album failed to garner high sales. The band, however, did earn a spot on the Airheads soundtrack in 1994 (with a cover of "Degenerated" by Reagan Youth), but the movie's director felt Jesse Malin's voice did not fit the face of Brendan Fraser, so Brendan was asked to overdub his vocals.

The second D Generation album, titled; No Lunch

No Lunch and touring

Feeling that Chrysalis was not supporting them and their debut release properly, the band abandoned their contract and moved to Columbia Records, releasing their second album, No Lunch on the label in 1996. The Cars frontman Ric Ocasek produced the record. Around this time D Generation played shows supporting such bands as Social Distortion, Ramones, and KISS. Shortly after, Bacchus left the band, and was replaced by ex-Murphy's Law and Agnostic Front member Todd Youth. The band toured Europe with Green Day in early 1998.

Through The Darkness and band split

D Generation then recorded their third album, Through the Darkness, this time with David Bowie and T.Rex producer Tony Visconti. However, once again the album failed to reach the sales that were hoped for, despite scoring the lead-off single on the soundtrack of the film The Faculty just a few months prior.

Just prior to the tour in support of that album, Youth and Wildwood left to form the short-lived but critically acclaimed Chrome Locust with bassist Jim Heneghan (formerly of Richard Bacchus's Vásquez), and released one self-titled album. For the tour, the band recruited drummer Joe Rizzo and Richard Bacchus briefly returned on guitar, and was then replaced during the band's last few dates by Jim Wallerstein. The band toured the US with The Offspring and The Living End, before playing their final show in their hometown at Coney Island High on April 24, 1999. This show was recorded by Greg Di Gesu from The Rolling Stones Mobile Studio, and has since remained unreleased. After this, D Generation broke up.

Post-D Generation

Michael Wildwood formed Chrome Locust with guitarist Todd Youth and bassist Jim Heneghan, releasing only one self-titled record. Wildwood then toured with New Jersey's Monster Magnet and played on their album Monolithic Baby!. In 2005, Wildwood joined Atomic#76, although the group disbanded in 2007. Wildwood has since been working on a solo record which was scheduled to be released in 2008 but has since been delayed.

Danny Sage recorded solo the self-titled Danny Sage and Don't Look Down, and has performed live.

Both Wildwood and Sage lent their hands to help Hurricane Katrina victims, backing up Blondie front woman Deborah Harry at a benefit in 2005.

After the demise of D Generation in 1999, Jesse, Howie and Joe Rizzo formed the band PCP Highway with guitarist Esko Poldvere. The band recorded a number of demo tracks and toured the east coast of the United States in their formative year. During the beginning of 2000, Howie Pyro was invited to join Glenn Danzig's band (which then included former D Generation member Todd Youth on guitar). Pyro accepted and PCP Highway disbanded; a planned album, titled Dreamless, was never released.

Meanwhile, Bacchus was performing with his new project, Vasquez, which included Eric Kuby on drums and former Hanoi Rocks bassist Sami Yaffa. This group released an independent EP, entitled Two Songs.

Malin began playing a series of solo shows and released a self-produced EP titled 169 in 2000. However, by the end of that year, Malin had re-teamed up with Esko and Joe Rizzo, along with bassist Johnny Pisano, to form a new band which was initially called Tsing-Tsing (a handful of shows were played under that name) and then re-christened Bellvue. Together they released one album, To Be Somebody in April 2001 on Goldenseal Records. This album was re-released in October 2001 with a slightly different tracklist. The following year, Bellvue disbanded, and Jesse revived his solo career, releasing the Ryan Adams-produced The Fine Art of Self Destruction in late 2002, followed by The Heat in 2004. He released his third album, Glitter in the Gutter, on March 20, 2007. The fourth album, "On Your Sleeve", was released on April 2008. It consists entirely of famous rock covers, such as "Wonderful World" by Sam Cooke and "Walk on the Wild Side" by Lou Reed. Malin has played with rock icons such as Green Day's singer Billie Joe Armstrong and Bruce Springsteen throughout the years.

Currently, Bacchus is recording and touring with his band The Luckiest Girls. He released an album produced by Hanoi Rocks / New York Dolls bassist Sami Yaffa titled Jet Black and Beautiful on Stay Gold Records and an independent CD titled The Bicycle Diaries.

Howie Pyro and Todd Youth have also both left Danzig.

In September 2011, the band will reunite with the original lineup to perform a few shows in Spain and in New York City at Irving Plaza.

Discography

Albums

• D Generation - (1994)
• No Lunch - (1996)
• Through The Darkness - (1999)

EP

• Prohibition - (1998)

Singles

• No Way Out - (1993)
  • Re-released in 1994 and 1996.
• Wasted Years - (1993)
• No God / Degenerated - (1994)
• She Stands There - (1996)
• Capital Offender - (1997)
• Helpless - (1998)
  • Re-released in 1999.

Members

Current members

• Jesse Malin — vocals (1991-1999, 2011-)
• Howie Pyro — bass (1991-1999, 2011-)
• Richard Bacchus — guitar (1991-1997, 1999, 2011-)
• Danny Sage — guitar (1992-1999, 2011-)
• Michael Wildwood — drums (1992-1999, 2011-)

Former members

• Georgie Seville — guitar (1991-1992)
• Belvy K — drums (1991-1992)
• Todd Youth — guitar (1997-1999)
• Joe Rizzo — drums (1999)
• Jim Wallerstein — guitar (1999)

Timeline