Bored Suburban Youth
Encyclopedia
Bored Suburban Youths was among the hardcore punk
bands that rose up in the Southeastern United States in the "second wave" of the 1980s. Along with bands such as Bedlam Hour, Mass Appeal
and The Sex Mutants, BSY contributed to the nascent punk scene in the decidedly un-punk environs of the politically and socially conservative New South
.
Inspired by an early 1980s Black Flag
show in Columbia, South Carolina
, Bored Suburban Youths was formed by a group of local high school students. The original lineup consisted of John Hathaway (guitar), Troy Tague (drums) and Shannon Burgess (bass). An early lineup featured John Dickerson on vocals. Later, Darren Walker fronted BSY as a throat-shredding screamer in the tradition of Henry Rollins.
The definitive BSY lineup was Hathaway, Tague, Walker, Steve Sonic (guitar) and Brian Molin (bass). The band’s work of this era is best captured in the Live at the Drama Lab recordings; another live recording featuring this lineup appears on the compilation lp "Method To Our Madness" issued by Phantom Records in 1986. Sonic joined BSY after the disintegration of seminal Orangeburg, South Carolina
punk band Red Menace
, which had blazed trails of its own in the early 1980s. Later lineups of BSY would feature two other former members of Red Menace: Kenny Jolt (drums) and Carl (bass).
Like many punk bands of the time, BSY burned out in a few years, but they made an impact on the Southeastern US punk scene by building up a loyal grassroots following and embracing all-ages venues in the region. To this end, BSY would play anytime, anywhere. This DIY ethic led to shows in barns, lodges, galleries, record shops and even high school theatres.
An 8-song 7" record posthumously released under the name "Red Menace: Farewell Suburbia'' marked the end of the band in 1988 , but BSY’s missionary dedication to the punk ethic gave rise to a vibrant alternative music scene in South Carolina
and spawned other original bands spanning many musical genres.
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
bands that rose up in the Southeastern United States in the "second wave" of the 1980s. Along with bands such as Bedlam Hour, Mass Appeal
Mass Appeal
Mass Appeal is a two-character play by Bill C. Davis. The comedy-drama focuses on the conflict between a complacent Roman Catholic pastor and the idealistic young deacon who is assigned to his affluent, suburban parish.-Plot:...
and The Sex Mutants, BSY contributed to the nascent punk scene in the decidedly un-punk environs of the politically and socially conservative New South
New South
New South, New South Democracy or New South Creed is a phrase that has been used intermittently since the American Civil War to describe the American South, after 1877. The term "New South" is used in contrast to the Old South of the plantation system of the antebellum period.The term has been used...
.
Inspired by an early 1980s Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
show in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, Bored Suburban Youths was formed by a group of local high school students. The original lineup consisted of John Hathaway (guitar), Troy Tague (drums) and Shannon Burgess (bass). An early lineup featured John Dickerson on vocals. Later, Darren Walker fronted BSY as a throat-shredding screamer in the tradition of Henry Rollins.
The definitive BSY lineup was Hathaway, Tague, Walker, Steve Sonic (guitar) and Brian Molin (bass). The band’s work of this era is best captured in the Live at the Drama Lab recordings; another live recording featuring this lineup appears on the compilation lp "Method To Our Madness" issued by Phantom Records in 1986. Sonic joined BSY after the disintegration of seminal Orangeburg, South Carolina
Orangeburg, South Carolina
Orangeburg, also known as "The Garden City," is the principal city in and the county seat of Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States. The city is also the fifth oldest city in the state of South Carolina. The city population was 12,765 at the 2000 census, within a Greater Orangeburg...
punk band Red Menace
Red menace
Red Menace or red menace may refer to:* Red Scare or Red Menace, a term starting during the Cold War era to describe the Soviet Union or an "international communist conspiracy"...
, which had blazed trails of its own in the early 1980s. Later lineups of BSY would feature two other former members of Red Menace: Kenny Jolt (drums) and Carl (bass).
Like many punk bands of the time, BSY burned out in a few years, but they made an impact on the Southeastern US punk scene by building up a loyal grassroots following and embracing all-ages venues in the region. To this end, BSY would play anytime, anywhere. This DIY ethic led to shows in barns, lodges, galleries, record shops and even high school theatres.
An 8-song 7" record posthumously released under the name "Red Menace: Farewell Suburbia'' marked the end of the band in 1988 , but BSY’s missionary dedication to the punk ethic gave rise to a vibrant alternative music scene in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and spawned other original bands spanning many musical genres.