Hickey (band)
Encyclopedia
Hickey was a "melodic" punk band from San Francisco's Mission District, the band recorded, released and distributed their own music. Elaborate and very personal artwork was the style used for the band's records.
Bass player Chubby left Hickey in 1997, and was replaced by Dwight Trash. The band went on to record another LP, as well as the Hickey/Voodoo Glow Skulls split 7", both for Probe Records
. Hickey called it quits in 1998, refusing to contribute any new material for a proposed split with Screeching Weasel
, and handing their last recording, "Robots Never Cry," over to trend is dead! records
for the Worse Than Alternative It's Another Punk Comp CD.
The original Hickey line-up of Matty, Chubby and Aesop re-united and soon began recording a plethora of new material as Yogurt, almost all of which remains unreleased. Yogurt was essentially an experimental recording outlet for the band, and dissolved after Matty Luv's death on October 5, 2002. 9 Yogurt songs appear on the All Seeing Monotony split CD (Nothing Enterprises).
Matty Luv died of a heroin overdose on October 5, 2002.
Aesop currently plays drums with Ludicra
and Agalloch
.
Before Matty's death he played guitar in the bands Miami and Unit Breed.
1-2-3-4 Go! Records (http://www.1234gorecords.com) is re-releasing the two out-of-print full length CDs the band released; the S/T full length (originally on Probe Records
) and Various States of Disrepair (singles and comp track compilation, re-released once before in 2002 on defunct independent S.P.A.M. Records
). 1-2-3-4 Go! will also be releasing a second volume of Various States of Disrepair that includes the tracks left off the previous volume.
. On one side of the 7" was the Hickey song "Food Stamps and Drink Tickets" and the other side members of Hickey played the trumpet that was stolen from Voodoo Glow Skulls
over the answering machine messages left by Voodoo Glow Skulls
members and Epitaph Records
employees demanding the return of the instrument. The 7" also falsely had the Epitaph Records
logo on the back as Epitaph had no official part in the release.
According to the zine included with the 7", the two bands played together at the Nile Theater in Mesa, Arizona
. Matty Luv, singer of Hickey, made disparaging remarks about Epitaph Records
and the commercialization of punk. After members of both bands had a confrontation, the Voodoo Glow Skulls convinced the venue owner to eject Hickey without pay. In response, Hickey stole the trumpet in question out of the Voodoo Glow Skulls
van.
After receiving threatening messages on their answering machine, Hickey filled the trumpet with pudding and returned it.
Founding members
Founding members Matty Luv (guitar, vocals) and Aesop (drums) were members of the Florida punk rock band Fuckboyz. Bass player Chubby had previously been in the band Schleprock.History
Hickey recorded their first 7" EP, Us vs. Them within a month of forming, and released it soon afterwards. The band quickly became a part of the Probe Records/zine scene. Probe included them on a few compilations. Later, Hickey made 7" records with bands such as All You Can Eat, Fuckface and V.B.F.Bass player Chubby left Hickey in 1997, and was replaced by Dwight Trash. The band went on to record another LP, as well as the Hickey/Voodoo Glow Skulls split 7", both for Probe Records
Probe Records
Probe Records was a sub-label of ABC-Paramount Records. It was started in 1968 as their label for psychedelic rock and progressive rock.-Releases:Number - Title - Artist [Release Date]...
. Hickey called it quits in 1998, refusing to contribute any new material for a proposed split with Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1986 by Ben Weasel and John Jughead.Since their formation, Screeching Weasel have broken up and reformed numerous times with numerous line-up changes. Ben Weasel has been the only constant...
, and handing their last recording, "Robots Never Cry," over to trend is dead! records
Trend is dead! records
tREND iS dEAD! records is an independent record label based out of Normal, Illinois, United States. The label was founded in 1995, initially releasing cassette and vinyl titles, before switching to more modern compact discs....
for the Worse Than Alternative It's Another Punk Comp CD.
The original Hickey line-up of Matty, Chubby and Aesop re-united and soon began recording a plethora of new material as Yogurt, almost all of which remains unreleased. Yogurt was essentially an experimental recording outlet for the band, and dissolved after Matty Luv's death on October 5, 2002. 9 Yogurt songs appear on the All Seeing Monotony split CD (Nothing Enterprises).
Matty Luv died of a heroin overdose on October 5, 2002.
Aesop currently plays drums with Ludicra
Ludicra
Ludicra was a metal band from San Francisco. They originally formed in 1998 as a quartet and later expanded to five members. Ludicra's sound has been described as black metal or as avant-garde metal. Influences include bands such as Darkthrone, Gorgoroth, Dødheimsgard, and Bethlehem, and genres...
and Agalloch
Agalloch
Agalloch is an American metal band formed in 1995 in Portland, Oregon. The band is led by vocalist and guitarist John Haughm and so far have released four limited EPs, four full-length albums, two demos, one split album, one compilation album and one live DVD....
.
Before Matty's death he played guitar in the bands Miami and Unit Breed.
1-2-3-4 Go! Records (http://www.1234gorecords.com) is re-releasing the two out-of-print full length CDs the band released; the S/T full length (originally on Probe Records
Probe Records
Probe Records was a sub-label of ABC-Paramount Records. It was started in 1968 as their label for psychedelic rock and progressive rock.-Releases:Number - Title - Artist [Release Date]...
) and Various States of Disrepair (singles and comp track compilation, re-released once before in 2002 on defunct independent S.P.A.M. Records
Geekfest
Geekfest is the name of a series of free, all-ages concerts organized by California indie label S.P.A.M. Records during the 1990s. The first Geekfest was held in June 1996 on the shoreline at Point Molate in Richmond, California...
). 1-2-3-4 Go! will also be releasing a second volume of Various States of Disrepair that includes the tracks left off the previous volume.
Voodoo Glow Skulls controversy
Probe records released a 7" which was made to look as if it were a split between Hickey and the Voodoo Glow SkullsVoodoo Glow Skulls
Voodoo Glow Skulls are an American ska punk band formed in 1988 in Riverside, California by brothers Frank, Eddie and Jorge Casillas and their longtime friend Jerry O'Neill...
. On one side of the 7" was the Hickey song "Food Stamps and Drink Tickets" and the other side members of Hickey played the trumpet that was stolen from Voodoo Glow Skulls
Voodoo Glow Skulls
Voodoo Glow Skulls are an American ska punk band formed in 1988 in Riverside, California by brothers Frank, Eddie and Jorge Casillas and their longtime friend Jerry O'Neill...
over the answering machine messages left by Voodoo Glow Skulls
Voodoo Glow Skulls
Voodoo Glow Skulls are an American ska punk band formed in 1988 in Riverside, California by brothers Frank, Eddie and Jorge Casillas and their longtime friend Jerry O'Neill...
members and Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
employees demanding the return of the instrument. The 7" also falsely had the Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
logo on the back as Epitaph had no official part in the release.
According to the zine included with the 7", the two bands played together at the Nile Theater in Mesa, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
. Matty Luv, singer of Hickey, made disparaging remarks about Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
and the commercialization of punk. After members of both bands had a confrontation, the Voodoo Glow Skulls convinced the venue owner to eject Hickey without pay. In response, Hickey stole the trumpet in question out of the Voodoo Glow Skulls
Voodoo Glow Skulls
Voodoo Glow Skulls are an American ska punk band formed in 1988 in Riverside, California by brothers Frank, Eddie and Jorge Casillas and their longtime friend Jerry O'Neill...
van.
After receiving threatening messages on their answering machine, Hickey filled the trumpet with pudding and returned it.
Full lengths
- Hickey (1995) Probe Records
- Various States of Disrepair: Complete Works 1994–1996 (1997) Poverty Records
Extended plays
- Us Vs. Them (1995) Truth About Fonzie Records
- Art, Messianism & Crime (1995) Last Resort Records
- Gaia (199?) Little Deputy Records
Split releases
- All You Can Eat/Hickey – Banana Split (1995) Monitor Records
- Hickey/Viejos Bien Feos (1996) Yucky Bus Records
- Fuckface/Hickey (1996) Shapunk Records
- Hickey/Voodoo Glow SkullsVoodoo Glow SkullsVoodoo Glow Skulls are an American ska punk band formed in 1988 in Riverside, California by brothers Frank, Eddie and Jorge Casillas and their longtime friend Jerry O'Neill...
(1997) Probe Records
Compilation appearances
- This Ain't No Fucking Melodic Punk (1995) Probe Records – "Cool Kids Attacked By Flying Monkeys"
- Group Therapy Explosion... (1995) Slow to Burn Records – "My Last Night on the Planet" (live)
- Frontline Foundation (1995) Loony Bin Records – "Happily Ever After"
- Back Asswards (1996) Interbang Records – "Food Stamps and Drink Tickets" (alternate version)
- Scene Through My Eyes (1997) Shapunk Records – "The Export of Coffee..." (live)
- Viva La Vinyl Volume 2 (1997) Deadbeat Records – "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"
- Mission Accomplished (1997) Dill RecordsDill RecordsDill Records was a small punk rock/ska record label based out of Monte Sereno, California, that put out CDs/records from 1989-1998. The name is an allusion to initially the label's only band, Skankin' Pickle. It was started by Mike Park, a.k.a. Bruce Lee of Skankin' Pickle. The first other band...
– "Hickey Blvd." - Death to False Metal (1997) Probe Records – "Kingdom Come" (Manowar cover)
- Joey Vindictive Presents That Was Now, This Is Then (1997) VML Records – "American In Me" (The AvengersThe Avengers (band)The Avengers are an American punk rock band formed in 1977 in San Francisco, California. Penelope Houston, who has also been a folk musician, is their singer.-Original history:...
cover) - Worse Than Alternative: It's Another Punk Comp (1999) Trend Is Dead! Records – "Robots Never Cry"
External links
- http://www.mattyluv.com Matty Luv R.I.P. site, includes Hickey info
- http://www.1234gorecords.com 123 Go Records-reissuing Hickey records
- http://www.sfweekly.com/2002-10-23/music/make-sure-there-aren-t-any-squares-at-my-funeral/ Eulogy for Matty Luv in SF WeeklySF WeeklySF Weekly is a free alternative weekly newspaper in San Francisco, California. The newspaper, distributed throughout the San Francisco Bay Area every Wednesday, is published by Village Voice Media, a 16-paper alt weekly newspaper chain that also includes the New York City Village Voice and the Los...
, October 2002 - http://17dots.com/2007/03/30/hickey-the-best-album-youve-never-heard/ Hickey article on eMusicEMusiceMusic is an online music and audiobook store that operates by subscription. It is headquartered in New York City with an office in London and owned by Dimensional Associates. As of September 2008 eMusic has over 400,000 subscribers....
's 17dots.com - http://media.www.thetraveleronline.com/media/storage/paper688/news/2006/10/23/LifeStyle/Memories.Of.The.Naked.Cult.Of.Hickey-2380810.shtml The Arkansas TravelerThe Arkansas Traveler (newspaper)The Arkansas Traveler is the student newspaper of the University of Arkansas. It is printed four times a week and has an online edition that is updated daily....
writes about Hickey, October 2006 - http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JSE/is_285/ai_n6143217 Mike Wiebe of Riverboat Gamblers talks about Hickey in a Thrasher MagazineThrasher magazineThrasher is a monthly skateboarding magazine founded in 1981 by Kevin Thatcher, Eric Swenson, and Fausto Vitello. It regularly publishes articles , skateboard photography, interviews with professional skateboarders, interviews with and reviews of musical groups, skatepark reviews, and miscellaneous...
interview, 2004 - http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-112984542.html Matty Luv listed as first of five notable 2003 musician obituaries in Thrasher MagazineThrasher magazineThrasher is a monthly skateboarding magazine founded in 1981 by Kevin Thatcher, Eric Swenson, and Fausto Vitello. It regularly publishes articles , skateboard photography, interviews with professional skateboarders, interviews with and reviews of musical groups, skatepark reviews, and miscellaneous...
, January 2004, despite the fact that he died in 2002