Choking Victim
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Choking Victim |
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Choking Victim was an influential ska-core band (the band calls itself "Crack Rocksteady", a slight satire on the Rocksteady style of music which Choking Victim's style was influenced by) band from New York City in the 1990s.
Background
The band became hometown (C-squat in the Lower East Side of Manhattan where they squatted) legends for their innovative music and highly political lyrics. At the same time they also became infamous for their Satanic imagery and numerous references to the vagrant lifestyle such as crack-smoking, shoplifting, and squatting. They also, like many other bands in the punk scene, have strong anti-police sentiments in their songs. The band prides itself on its Atheism, often making sarcastic references to Satan, for the sole purpose of being offensive, rather than any sort of actual worship of the deity. In the songs on the album No Gods, No Managers they use several excerpts from the lectures of political scientist Michael Parenti.
Choking Victim broke up after the first day of recording for their first full-length LP, No Gods, No Managers, but the recordings from that one day were enough to make a solid album. After they broke up, (Stza and Ezra Crack) formed the band Leftöver Crack, and Skwert and Ezra formed INDK. Sascha has spent the last several years organically farming in upstate NY. Choking Victim and Leftöver Crack both are anti racist, anti sexist, anti homophobic and anti fascist.
On November 11th, 2000, Choking Victim reunited to play a show in Tompkins Square Park with the lineup from their album. Later, in late 2005, Choking Victim's 3 original members had a reunion and put on 4 live shows. On June 11th 2006, they also played a show at the Lower East Side's Tompkins Square Park, which featured various political speakers such as members of the Mislead Youth Project. At the end of July 2006 they toured the Dominican Republic before Leftöver Crack embarked on their European Tour.
Choking Victim has spawned many different bands after their break-up including Leftöver Crack, Morning Glory, INDK, and the Crack Rock Steady 7.
Members
1992 (original) Lineup
- Vocals/Guitar - Stza
- Bass - Sascha Scatter
- Drums - John Laye
1993 Lineup:
- Vocals/Guitar - Stza
- Bass - Sascha Scatter
- Drums - Skwert
1995-1997 Lineup:
- Vocals/Guitar - Stza
- Bass - Alec Baillie
- Drums - Skwert
1999 Lineup:
- Vocals/Guitar - Stza
- Vocals/Bass - Shayne
- Vocals/Guitar - Ezra
- Drums/Vocals - Skwert
- Back-Up Vox - Eden, Brad, Popeye
2005 Lineup
- Vocals/Guitar - Stza
- Bass - Sascha Scatter
- Drums - John Dolan
Discography
(CD)Albums:
- No Gods, No Managers (1999)
- Crack Rock Steady/Squatta's Paradise (2000)
Vinyl records/EPs:
- No Gods, No Managers 12" (1999)
- Crack Rock Steady 7" (1995)
- Squatta's Paradise 7" (1996)
- Victim Comes Alive 7" (1998)
Demos:
- Crack Rock Steady Demo (1993)
Compilation Releases:
- Wicked City Soundtrack - 1998, Velvel Records ("Fuck America")
- Give 'Em The Boot - 1997, Hellcat Records ("Infested")
- Give 'Em The Boot II - 1999, Hellcat Records ("Crack Rock Steady")
- Ska Sucks - 1998, Liberation Records ("Suicide (a better way)")
- Smash Ignorance Up - 1998, Possible Problem Records ("Money")
- Skanarchy III - 1997, Elevator Records ("Born to Die")
- Picklemania NYC - 199?, Riot Records ("500 Channels")
- Finding a Voice: A Benefit For Humans - 1999 Repetitively Futile Records ("Sweet Dreams")